Celtics looking for a downtown turnaround against Raptors

If the determining factor in this series is a matter of who hits their open shots, then the Celtics are certainly living on both ends of the equation.

Over the first two games of their second-round series against Toronto, now tied at 2-2, the Celtics made an average of 16 3-pointers, with a huge boost from Marcus Smart's five-trey fourth quarter in Game 2. Toronto averaged 10.5 treys on 26% shooting over the same stretch.

Over the last two games, both Raptors wins, the Celtics averaged 8.0 makes, including a 20% (7-for-35)

showing on Saturday night. Toronto averaged 15.5 makes in Games 3 and 4.

Based on the open looks that Jaylen Brown missed in Game 4, when the Celtics wing's first nine trey attempts went astray before finishing at 2-for-11, they would like many of the same looks for Monday night's Game 5 at 6:30 p.m.

But the Celtics also had an energy drain in Game 4, especially offensively. Kemba Walker took only nine shots, and later admitted he wasn't aggressive enough.

Much has been pinned on Raptors coach Nick Nurse's rotation of socalled gimmick defenses and zones as the reason the Celtics have slogged their way through the last two games. Smart and Jayson Tatum had five turnovers apiece Saturday night, the former with two particularly illtimed mistakes early in the fourth quarter.

But Brad Stevens Sunday said that most of the Celtics' Game 4 trouble came from Toronto's man coverage.

"We've played pretty well against their zone, and we have really in the last couple of games," said the Celtics coach. "We played great against the box and the triangle, too, when they've done that. We've gotten good looks and played the right way. So I'd say most of our lesser possessions came against man, so it didn't have anything to do with the zone, per say.

"But they're good. They get into you. They're tough," said Stevens. "Again, you can't take anything away from them, and I certainly am not going to. The game is not going to be played perfectly. It just has to be played with great intentions; we've said that many times.

"I think there are things obviously that we can improve upon from (Saturday), but no matter what, we're not going to play perfect (Monday) night. Nobody is. So we just try to play as well as we can, as hard as we can, and then let the chips fall where they may. And so, if you can minimize your errors and maximize the purpose of every possession, that's what you're trying to do."

Though he declined to share what changes he was contemplating for Monday's Game 5, Stevens did acknowledge that Serge Ibaka, as usual, has been a problem. The Raptors forward bullied the Celtics on the

sive glass and stepped out for four treys as part of his 7-for-9 performance.

"The Ibaka pick-and-rolls were obviously giving us fits, so we went to a smaller switching lineup there during his normal stint," said Stevens, who cut back on his use of Rob Williams as a result, though Williams stood out over the first two games.

But regardless of what Celtic is on the floor at the time, Stevens needs an improvement over Game 4 when it's time to face Toronto again.

"These guys are extremely tough," Stevens said of the defending champs. "They're extremely physical. They came at us full head of steam.

“I thought that we had moments of excellent play and moments where they were quicker to things, but I still believe greatly in our competitiveness and I think our guys are looking forward to playing tomorrow."