Jayson Tatum, Celtics Ridiculed By NBA Fans for Game 2 Loss to Heat With Butler Out

Featured Columnist IVApril 25, 2024

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 24: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics pleads for a goaltending call as Tyler Herro #14 of the Miami Heat cradles the ball during the second quarter of game two of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs at TD Garden on April 24, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)

Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images

Shooting the lights out is a pretty good strategy to adopt when you're missing your best player.

The Miami Heat evened up their first-round NBA playoff series with the Boston Celtics thanks to a 111-101 win in Game 2.

Without Jimmy Butler, the reigning Eastern Conference champions buried Boston under a barrage of three-pointers, going 23-of-43 from beyond the arc. All five Heat starters scored in double figures with Tyler Herro (24 points and 14 assists) leading the way. Bam Adebayo (21 points and 10 rebounds) posted a double-double as well.

Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum combined for 61 points. Their supporting cast was noticeably absent, however. Kristaps Porziņģis in particular was disappointing, finishing with six points on 1-of-9 shooting.

The Celtics will take some solace from the fact this kind of shooting performance was an outlier for Miami. The Heat were 19th in made threes (12.5 per game) and 12th in three-point percentage (37.0) during the regular season, and they've been slightly worse in both categories during the postseason.

Despite Miami's uncharacteristically strong showing from deep, Boston remained within striking distance throughout. One would think Game 3 is shaping up to be a clear regression to the mean situation.

Skip Bayless @RealSkipBayless
The Heat just made 13 threes - a season high for a half - yet the Celtics lead by three at half. No Jimmy. No Terry. No real chance.

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Still, memories of the Celtics' loss in the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals continue to linger. Wednesday's contest was one of those things that make you wonder whether the Heat simply have their number:

Jai @Jai_305_
CELTICS ARE SO LUCKY JIMMY AND ROZIER ARE INJURED 😂😂😂🔥 <a href="https://t.co/aFGc76CACA">pic.twitter.com/aFGc76CACA</a>

x - tyrese @londonstheory
celtics 4th quarter meltdown? <a href="https://t.co/o4wsoHH9bA">pic.twitter.com/o4wsoHH9bA</a>

owen @joemazzulla
like there's no way the celtics are this bad from 3 right now

Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Celtics need more from Holiday, White and Porzingis to win this one. Tatum and Brown have done, and will continue to do, their part. The other guys need to be better.

Emo Jimmy @WheelerJaylen
Tatum is out here flopping vs a hobbled 8th seed Have some shame man

Per Sources @PerSources
The only way Boston win a championship is if Jayson Tatum is your primary ball handler. The C's didn't trade Smart just for other guys to handle the basketball. Gotta be Tatum down the stretch. Udoka understood that

Shea Serrano @SheaSerrano
THE TATUM STOPPER START THE RUMORS JAIME JACQUEZ IS THE TATUM STOPPER <a href="https://t.co/LvpVe76xc8">https://t.co/LvpVe76xc8</a>

ClutchPoints @ClutchPoints
Celtics fans seeing their team trailing to the shorthanded Heat late in the 4th 😳 <a href="https://t.co/x2GjaUJ6Wc">pic.twitter.com/x2GjaUJ6Wc</a>

Camden Caps @CamdenCaps
Watching the Celtics fail with this much talent is a treat

Results like this also drive the narrative the Celtics aren't built for prime time, in stark contrast to their opponents:

Joe @GiantsSBchamps
The Boston Celtics when the lights are brightest <a href="https://t.co/uYHn8wtG3b">pic.twitter.com/uYHn8wtG3b</a>

Andrew Fulk @fulknA
The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Celtics?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Celtics</a> just didn't show up or really act like they cared tonight. From the jump. This is exactly why everyone says they don't trust them. Because they inexplicably act like this on any given night. Pathetic.

CSG_Sports @csg_sports1
Celtics are actually such a joke 😂

Lucro 💫 @lucrodontmiss
The Boston Celtics during the playoffs <a href="https://t.co/6dBok6GQDH">https://t.co/6dBok6GQDH</a> <a href="https://t.co/QbvS0eZfm9">pic.twitter.com/QbvS0eZfm9</a>

K.J. Hammond @_KJHammond
Unserious franchise. <a href="https://twitter.com/celtics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@celtics</a>

Mike Grenier @MikeGrenier_SN
The Boston Celtics. Regular season Goliaths but playoff chumps. Until further notice.

El Panariqueno 🍀 🇵🇦🇵🇷 @_SeanSheridan
Like I said the other night.. Celtics are such a disappointment.

It's too early to proclaim Boston is facing a must-win situation, but imagine if it goes on the road and drops Game 3 in Miami.

There would simply be no excuse for dropping two straight to the Heat when they don't have Butler in the lineup. If the Celtics want to prove they're a genuine contender, they better make a strong statement on Saturday night.