What Winning The NBA Finals Would Mean To The Boston Celtics
Having just notched their second win last night, the Celtics are close to winning their first championship since 2008. What would winning, or losing, mean for the franchise? Read on as I tackle this question
And then there were two.
After an 82 game season and 3 rounds of intense playoff action that was full of memorable upsets, expected but still impressive dominance, and storylines aplenty, the stage is set for the final dance of this year’s NBA campaign. In seven games or less, the NBA will crown new champions. Two teams from opposing conferences with vastly different roads to this point have left us quite the intriguing matchup. But do both have the same amount to win…and lose? We’ll explore that question in a two-part series, beginning with the team in the lead.
The Green Juggernaut
Representing the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics were earmarked for the Finals at the bare minimum from the start of the season. And deservedly so. Since their Finals run in 2022, the Celtics have repeatedly lauded as a championship calibre team. Led by stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics have everything you could want in a team: superstar talent, quality depth, and solid (if at times questionable) coaching. And for good measure, the Celtics ended off this regular season with 64 wins, the most of any team in the league.
To be frank, if Boston hadn’t made it to the Finals it would have been both a massive shock and massive underachievement.
Say what you will about their path to the Finals being a cakewalk compared to their opponent’s. Many have already bemoaned that Boston has not faced any serious threats on their campaign through the Eastern Conference. As far as I’m concerned, they did exactly what they were supposed to do: beat everyone in the path in convincing fashion. Were they supposed to struggle in 6 or 7 game series over and over? And be ridiculed for ‘playing down to their competition?’ Exactly.
Which brings us to this series. With two games in the books, the Boston Celtics have a commanding lead as they go on the road to meet Dallas for the next two. With all the odds in their favour, all they have to do is steal one on the road. If they win game 3 the series is practically over. On the other hand, if they lose game 3, this series will be far from over.
If Boston wins, it would be no surprise. Many would complain as an illustrious franchise adding yet another trophy to an overstuffed cabinet. Success often breeds envy, and the Boston Celtics have earned the ire of many NBA fans simply for being as good as advertised. At the same time, I imagine all Celtics fans will finally breathe a sigh of relief in the same way Miami Heat fans did when LeBron and the ‘Heatles’ captured the first of their two titles. Even if they never win another, the Tatum and Brown era would no longer have to deal with the prospect of being labelled a failure. Both stars’ legacies would also earn a much needed accolade. For Tatum his superstar status would be solidified, while Brown would prove that he was worth the massive contract he was given. Some will still argue he is not worthy of being the highest paid player in the league, but he will certainly not be considered a potential liability and albatross contract.
But what if they lose?
While Boston may not have ‘much to gain’ in the eyes of those rooting against them, I would wager everyone can agree that Boston has a mountain to lose if they come up short. For one thing, coming up short in their second NBA Finals in 3 years would lead to widespread lambasting from analysts, the league, and fans in general. Once again the supposed ‘best team in the league’ would enter the offseason emptyhanded amidst much ridicule. To make matter worse, this loss would be another knock against Boston’s team being built around Tatum and Brown. For years this duo has been entrusted with the keys to the franchise, and so far they have little to show for it. Another loss would seriously call the value of these two players into question as far as credible stars who can take a team all the way. But perhaps the worst thing that could come from the Celtics losing would be the chance that Boston’s management would make a drastic change to the team’s construction.
It wasn’t long ago that news broke that Boston had made a play to trade for Kevin Durant, offering a package headlined by Jaylen Brown. While KD would ultimately end up in Phoenix, the fact remains that the attempt showed the front office had doubts in the Brown-Tatum pairing, and were willing to make a change in order to boost their chances of winning a championship. I am positive that moment has not been forgotten by Brown, Tatum, or the Celtics faithful. Another loss would not only reignite these questions, it would turn the smouldering embers into a blazing fire. The fact is franchises like Boston are accustomed to winning. They may not be willing to keep running it back and hoping for a different result. While I am not the type to buy into hyperbole, I don’t think it’s an overstatement to say that if Boston doesn’t win it all this year, the future of the Tatum and Brown era in Boston may come to an end.
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