The Boston Celtics stared down a win-or-go-home Game 6 loss to the Miami Heat in the 2023 Eastern Conference finals with only three seconds left on the clock, trailing by a point, and did not blink. The play designed by Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla had star forward Jaylen Brown setting a back screen for veteran guard Marcus Smart, who then set a flare for Brown.
The Heat’s defense anticipated a post-entry to Jaylen, which allowed Smart to get free on the left wing. Despite Smart’s missed 3-point attempt, Boston guard Derrick White managed a buzzer-beating putback with 0.3 seconds left, sealing a dramatic victory for the Celtics.
This win made the Celtics the fourth team in NBA history to force a Game 7 after trailing 0-3 in a series. The question now is whether the Celtics can make history and complete the series comeback or if they will fall victim to complacency, like the 150 teams before them.
Take a look at the clip put together by the folks behind the D Flow Hoops YouTube channel that dissects the end of Game 6 with an eye to what might be coming down the pike in Game 7.
Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi
YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ
