With the face of a warrior on a battlefield, Tyler Herro high-fives with intensity. On a pass from his teammate, Caleb Martin just converted a very important 3-point basket. It's not quite the “dagger”, but it looks like it.
With his award-winning basket, the Heat guard/winger gives his team a three-possession lead (96-105) with only three minutes to play. A lead well enough managed for the Heat to win and regain home advantage in this second round.
This shot ended Caleb Martin's very good evening after a first match where he had no impact offensively (4 points to 2/6 on shots). But for which he was noted for his foul on Jayson Tatum at the very end of the match, while the game was played.
The “villain” of the Garden
This gesture caused him to be whistled by the Boston public throughout Wednesday evening, with each ball touched. Nothing to disturb him. Like several of his teammates, he showed all his confidence behind the 3-point line, where he did not always shine during the regular season (35%).
Last night, Caleb Martin converted five of his six long-range attempts, and finished with 21 points (7/12 on shots overall). “ Being passive for my team puts us at a disadvantage, especially when we're missing guys. Having the mental stability and confidence to continue playing despite difficulties, bad possessions, defeats… It's so important to have a short memory, especially in the playoffs. “, he judges thus.
Memories from last year
Forget the previous match and get used to the idea that the Heat must fight without their main force, Jimmy Butler. But perhaps also remember that a year earlier, he had already done it.
In the conference final against the same opponents, the 28-year-old exploded on the biggest stage, averaging more than 19 points per game in the series.
“ It's a computer, it's the ultimate X-factor. This does not always mean that he will score as much as he did tonight, but it is the X factor of X factors. He will leave his mark on the game, he will always bring his competitive spirit, his leadership, his voice , its liveliness. And this materialized through these big 3-point shots and actions where he scored, but he also left his mark on defense “, recalls his coach, Erik Spoelstra.
The kind of performance that he will have to repeat to extend this series and keep the hope of winning it, despite not being the favorite. “ It's more about the mentality of the group, whatever happens, we've been in this situation many times before, but you have to stay in it. We have to have confidence in our group to put in place what is necessary to play well the next game, whatever happens. », Finishes Caleb Martin.
| Caleb Martin | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2019-20 | CHA | 18 | 18 | 44.0 | 54.1 | 81.0 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 6.2 |
| 2020-21 | CHA | 53 | 15 | 37.5 | 24.8 | 64.1 | 0.6 | 2.1 | 2.7 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 5.0 |
| 2021-22 | MIA | 60 | 23 | 50.7 | 41.3 | 76.3 | 1.2 | 2.7 | 3.8 | 1.1 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 9.2 |
| 2022-23 | MIA | 71 | 29 | 46.4 | 35.6 | 80.5 | 1.2 | 3.6 | 4.9 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 9.6 |
| 2023-24 | MIA | 64 | 27 | 43.1 | 34.9 | 77.8 | 1.2 | 3.2 | 4.4 | 2.2 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 10.0 |
| Total | 266 | 24 | 45.0 | 35.7 | 76.2 | 1.0 | 2.9 | 3.9 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 8.5 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
