As I watched the fourth quarter of the Celtics’ 107-98 Recreation 4 victory over the Magic on Sunday, I couldn’t assist however take a step again to marvel at how far this group has come.
This was precisely the kind of sport they used to lose. When photographs didn’t fall, the opposition made it robust and the stakes magnified, it was a crapshoot which model of the Celtics would present up. Generally, they’d rise to the event, and different occasions, they’d crumble within the clutch.
Now, they could not win each sport (see: Recreation 3), however you might have full religion whenever you watch them play a good sport. The items match collectively, they’re battle examined and so they perceive what it takes to win.
Jayson Tatum doesn’t accept contested jumpers as typically. Jaylen Brown doesn’t flip it over within the paint as typically. Payton Pritchard isn’t outmatched when guarding stronger gamers as typically.
This group has seen all of it, and you’ll really feel it each time you watch the Celtics play. Sunday’s sport was knotted at 91 with 3:59 remaining, then the Celtics convincingly closed on a 16-7 flurry to handle enterprise.
This sport was tied at 91 with 4:18 left.#Celtics win it 107-98.
That is a championship shut.
— Justin Turpin (@JustinmTurpin) April 28, 2025
They didn’t let the Recreation 3 loss linger or spiral into something greater than it needed to be. It didn’t should be 2-2 heading again to Boston, so the Celtics didn’t let it. There’s extra urgency, much less complacency and a palpable poise.
Let’s look again at earlier postseasons earlier than the championship for reference. I do know this Celtics group is best on paper, and the Magic aren’t fairly as potent offensively as a few of their previous opponents, but it surely’s a telling pattern nonetheless.
Within the 2022 playoffs, the Celtics misplaced by 2 on the highway to the Bucks to go down 2-1. They gained Recreation 4 to even the sequence, then misplaced Recreation 5 at residence by 3 earlier than profitable two straight. Towards the Warmth, all of their wins earlier than Recreation 7 got here by 13 factors or extra, and all of their losses had been by 11 factors or fewer.
Towards the Warriors, they had been nearly prepared, however not fairly. You could possibly see it unfold in entrance of you, as they had been nearly gifted sufficient, nearly skilled sufficient and nearly resilient sufficient to do it, however got here up simply brief.
In 2023, they misplaced by eight in Recreation 3 and a couple of in Recreation 5 to the Hawks within the first spherical earlier than profitable in six. They then fell by 4 to the 76ers in Recreation 1 and 1 in Recreation 4 earlier than prevailing in seven. The entire wins had been by 9 or extra, and two of the losses by 4 or fewer. Once more, harder than it needed to be.
They then misplaced by 7 and 6 to the Warmth within the Japanese Convention Finals. After all, they gained some shut video games alongside the best way as properly, but it surely was like a sport of Blackjack. Any time you felt assured, you noticed it crumble earlier than your eyes, which zapped the boldness away again and again. Followers needed to psych themselves up every time, cautiously optimistic but understanding all too properly that they may blow it.
Then final 12 months, every part shifted. It’s nonetheless wonderful that they solely dropped three video games all the postseason. I don’t care who you’re taking part in; that’s extremely spectacular. A lot of the video games had been blowouts, however in addition they gained by 7, 5, 3, 3, 7 and seven, so it wasn’t all clean crusing.
To me, it boils down to some key elements. The primary is expertise for Tatum and Brown. They’re nonetheless going to take the occasional ill-advised shot (that’s life), however for probably the most half, you belief them totally.
Subsequent is personnel. Kristaps Porzingis, Derrick White and Jrue Vacation are vital to the operation and make this group go. Expertise is vital, and the Celtics have that, however match is much more vital.
Then comes participant growth. Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser and Luke Kornet are all significantly better gamers than they had been just a few years in the past, and all three could be trusted in key spots.
Let’s not overlook about Al Horford – the chief of all of it, and the glue to all the operation. What Horford did Sunday evening, shaping the end result with out scoring, is a talent that shouldn’t be taken without any consideration.
Joe Mazzulla and the workers deserve a substantial amount of credit score as properly. Mazzulla’s confidence is contagious, and he is aware of the best way to get probably the most out of his gamers.
The Celtics could win all of it and so they could not. Time will inform. However no matter the way it shakes out, I belief this group, and it is best to, too. The Celtics have given us each motive to consider in them when every part’s on the road. That wasn’t all the time the case, however it’s now.
