Another NBA season has concluded with a champion; as the Boston Celtics
capture their eighteen title to go in the rafters. Defeating the Dallas Mavericks in
five games with a 106-88 win with confetti and champagne bottles afterwards.
Through the agony of defeat, asking several questions if Jaylen Brown and Jayson
Tatum could lead the Celtics back to dominance has been answered. It wasn’t built
overnight in Boston, as the franchise stayed aggressive in competing for this
moment. Hoisting the prestigious Larry O’Brien Trophy where it all started with
the late great Bill Russell.
Being the best team all season and playing well rounded every night, Boston didn’t
flinch. There were questions going into the postseason as if old habits would rear
its ugly head due to past shortcomings. This team enjoyed playing and winning
together. No egos, bad attitudes, every player knew their roles and didn’t complain.
Jaylen Brown, whose been the most consistent player took home the Bill Russell
Finals MVP in front of the Celtics home crowd. Brown has grown into one of the
league’s best players and this was a crowning moment for him. Upon being drafted
in 2016, was there any doubt he’d become the player he is right now? The work on
and off the court speaks volumes as Brown is entering into superstar trajectory.
False narratives about his “character and marketability” was a topic, which he
questioned “First Take” host Stephen A. Smith, via twitter.
Nothing negative said about Brown, but the notion of being someone he isn’t
didn’t distract him from basketball. It’s an absolute disgrace when a prominent
sports media personality has to “source” someone who doesn’t spend a second of
time around Brown. He’s the leader of Boston and that won’t change moving
forward.
Jayson Tatum has become a strong postseason performer; his stats speak for itself.
Tatum being a part of this foundation after the 2017 draft grew into new depths the
last few seasons. Blocking out the noise and focusing on being the best teammate
to Brown and follow the leader. You can’t ask for a better young man in Tatum;
whose biggest role model and understudy the late great Kobe Bryant. He’s not
“Black Mamba 2.0” by any means but speaks very highly of Bryant’s impact in
developing his game. Tatum is a part of present and future as a Celtic.
With Finals defeat in 2022 versus the Golden State Warriors, Boston had to learn
how to lose to reach the finish. Fast forward to the offseason, trading Marcus Smart
and signing Jrue Holiday. The missing piece in propelling Boston to winning the
Finals was in place. Boston went through a stretch of “is it time to break this team
up soon?” They’d been to the big dance, but not crowned and it was a few years in
the making.
Some would argue their run wasn’t tough due to how certain players were hurt
during the series. Miami didn’t have Jimmy Butler in the first round, which Boston
won 4-1. Cleveland was gassed with a banged up Donavan Mitchell in round two
concluded with a 4-1 series win. Indiana lost Tyrese Haliburton and Boston cruised
to a 4-0 sweep. It was during the Finals where we all said: “it’ll be their toughest
matchup.” Nope, outside of game four, Boston controlled the series from start to
finish. Winning the Finals 4-1 over the Mavericks, which some believed could’ve
went the distance. Overall, 16-3 during this title run would put them in the
conversation as the greatest championship team the last five seasons.
Without the building blocks of Brown and Tatum, Boston would’ve been stuck in
the bottom. Think back to the blockbuster move of 2013 when Boston traded
Celtics legends Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to Brooklyn for all those 1 st round
picks. It looks pretty darn good right now eleven years later as Boston won their
first title in sixteen seasons.
When all the national media questioned if head coach Joe Mazzulla could fill the void left by former head coach Ime Udoka, that question was answered as well. With the Celtics core of Brown, Tatum, Holiday and veteran Al Horford who won his first championship, bringing back this team in 2025 is set. Kristaps Porzingis is under contract as well, but with winning comes bigger payrolls. Derrick White has been the unsung role player of this title run who deserves a new contract. Winning cures all things, but players know they must feed their families as well. Brad Stevens has some contracts to write out and hopefully run it back to become the first repeat champion since Golden State in 2017-2018.
