By defeating the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals, the Boston Celtics put an end to their season-long collection of narratives and accomplished what the doubters said would be impossible once the postseason got underway.
There wasn’t as much space for criticism as there was with the team from the previous season, which collapsed against a far less skilled Miami Heat team in the Eastern Conference finals. The Celtics felt validated in ways they had been seeking for years after Boston’s 16-3 run, during which the club never lost twice in a row. This season, even Boston legend and Hall of Famer Kevin McHale noticed a change.
The three-time Celtics champion, McHale, stated on SiriusXM NBA Radio on Monday that he believed Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown had grown significantly.
Tatum and Brown were under a lot of pressure, which increased after the team’s sensational offseason in which Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday were brought in. After an embarrassing 2023 season, the Celtics refused to break up their pair, so as Opening Night rolled around in October, there was no room for error.
The Celtics earned their roses throughout the regular season by winning 64 games, dominating the league, clinging to the top seed during their comeback on November 14, and only suffering four home losses. Boston’s identity—which could be attributed to putting 3-pointers up front first and center in 2023—quickly shifted to prioritizing sacrifice up front.
That began with Tatum and Brown and continued in the postseason, ending with the two combining for 52 points in Game 5 of the Finals — the clincher.
