Celtics followers, how would you are feeling in the event you had recognized upfront that your guys would have a 3-1 lead returning to TD Backyard for Sport 5 of the NBA Finals?
Should you informed me earlier than the collection they’d be up 3-1 going house I’d be ecstatic. Get it executed Monday
— myles (@Myles__B) June 15, 2024
That’s proper, isn’t it? Sure, it’s 3-1 and the one cause you is likely to be feeling down is as a result of Boston misplaced the latest recreation. If the Celtics had as an alternative misplaced Sport 3 and gained Sport 4, you’d have extra confidence. It’s all about recency bias and notion.
So, we’re right here to say, are available in off the ledge, Celtics followers. Imagine it or not, playoff video games are separate entities. One group profitable a blowout doesn’t assure that group profitable the subsequent recreation, too. There’s no carryover of factors or momentum. A loss by 38 factors counts the identical as a loss by one level.
Clearly, the Sport 4 debacle hit additional exhausting as a result of the Larry O’Brien Trophy was within the Dallas enviornment, all polished and able to be handed to the Celtics. The champagne was on ice. It hurts to overlook out on that. However realizing by the third quarter that it was time to sit up for Sport 5 damage a lot lower than, say, shedding Sport 6 at house on a hellacious shot within the closing seconds of double time beyond regulation.
(Two days later, Boston gained Sport 7 and Banner 12 at Milwaukee, which was within the Western Convention on the time.)
Face it: The Celtics had been in all probability as a result of lose after profitable 10 straight playoff video games and 9 in a row on the highway relationship again to final yr’s postseason. And it takes extraordinary circumstances for them to lose.
The one time we lose is once we are completely ice chilly and the opposing group is insanely sizzling. It’s how Miami and Cavs every obtained a recreation. It occurs. We’re nonetheless profitable this collection.
— Mike G☘️ (@mgend72) June 15, 2024
In a single respect, in the event that they needed to lose, being humiliated within the worst Celtics playoff loss ever ought to present additional motivation for payback.
Simply look to latest historical past for an instance of that state of affairs: the 2017 Warriors took a 3-0 Finals lead however had been then blown out by 21 in Cleveland. The Dubs went house and closed out the collection in 5 regardless of LeBron James dropping 41 and 13 for the Cavs.
Some examples from Celtics historical past:
Within the 1982 Jap Convention Finals, the Larry Fowl Celtics buried the Sixers in Sport 1 by 40 factors. The Cs had been throwing lob passes to third-stringers within the final moments. However Julius Erving’s Sixers had been a proud bunch. They gained Sport 2 in Boston and went on to take the collection in seven, profitable the ultimate in entrance of a surprised Boston Backyard crowd.
Within the ’85 NBA Finals, an identical scene performed out. The Celts crushed the Lakers in Sport 1 by 34 factors. Scott Wedman actually couldn’t miss, hitting 11-of-11 with 4 threes. The rout was nicknamed The Boston Bloodbath. But Los Angeles got here again, 109-102, to steal Sport 2. They gained the title in six.
And one for the great guys: The 1984 Celtics had been run off the courtroom in Sport 3, shedding at LA, 137-104. In postgame, Fowl mentioned his teammates performed “like sissies.” Folks had been saying the collection was over, however the Cs fought again (actually), gained Sport 4 in time beyond regulation, and the title in seven.
In every case, the gamers took their embarrassment personally and had been pushed to have the final phrase. That’s common.
The Celtics, of their Finals historical past, have misplaced six occasions by 20 or extra factors. Within the ensuing recreation, Boston is 5-1.
1963, L by 20, W 108-1051964, L by 24, W 98-951965, L by 21, W 112-991984, L by 33, W 129-1251985, L by 25, W 107-1052010, L by 22, L 83-79
— Dick Lipe (@DickLipe) June 15, 2024
The query now could be: will the present Celtics have the satisfaction to place this collection away on Monday? If not, then in fact we must always all be involved. However for now…
They are going to be taking part in in entrance of house followers who will certainly have their depth cranked larger than excessive; Kristaps Porzingis was energetic for Sport 4 and presumably will play in Sport 5; and in the event you like omens, the date will probably be June 17, the sixteenth anniversary of the 2008 championship clincher.
In all probability better of all, the Mavs now have the Celtics’ consideration.
Jaylen Brown mentioned the Celtics will have a look at the movie and discover ways to get higher.
After which, on Monday:
“We play like our life will depend on it. As a result of it does.” pic.twitter.com/VWN0T47zlK
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzellNBA) June 15, 2024