In 2018 when the Red Sox were ripping through the league on their way to a 108-54 record for some reason, I never had the expectation that they were going to win in the postseason. When you watched them all year you could nitpick little things. Was the pitching really that strong, especially after Chris Sale got dinged up in the later part of the year? Had they really beaten the other good teams like the Yankees or Astros? In the end they lost three total games in the playoffs and won the World Series.
This is the exact feeling I have had all year with the Celtics. Who finished the regular season 64-18 and have only lost one game this postseason. ONE! I was constantly nervous about teams like Philly and Embiid, the Bucks with Giannis and Dame, the scrappy Knicks being physical and out working them. Oh shit, Luka!
Well, the Celtics are up 3-0 in the NBA Finals. I think I need to give these historically good teams more credit.
The Celtics have proven to me and everyone else that their record, their offensive efficiency, their net rating, all these stats are true. They have 6-7 players (when Porzingis is healthy) that can’t be ignored by the defense. They are death by 1,000 cuts.
Tatum has a bad shooting night? He is going to control the game with drives and dishes to find the litany of shooters on the perimeter.? Offense is getting stagnant? Jaylen Brown is going to attack and attack and attack. Things look like they are spiraling out of control? Jrue Holiday is going to be the steadying force that cuts at the right time, takes a big man off the dribble or makes a game-changing defensive play to spark the offense. Tight game and you need momentum? May I introduce Derrick White. That is not mentioning Porzingis who is a unicorn, Al Horford who’s motor won’t stop at 38-years-old or Pritchard and Hauser who can come off the bench and add 3 threes.
The Celtics should close this out quickly. Luka’s spirit seems broken. He complains a lot but Game 3 may have been his masterpiece. Fouling out, screaming at his bench to review the play, and then complaining about the officiating in the press conference. I don’t expect Kyrie to go off for 30+ points four straight games. The Celtics are just better and that has played out in these three games.
I still won’t be comfortable when the Mavs inevitable run happens knocking a big Celtics lead down to double digits. But one has to remember that they are historically good. They have Porzingis on the back burner as a possibility to play if they are desperate. The Celtics are on the brink of a championship and it needs to be enjoyed.
Photo from @Celtics
The Never Weres 
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