The Celtics in perfect position to break the curse with first win over Miami!
NBA teams down 0–3 in a best-of-seven series are 0–150 in coming back to win. Just saying!
Someone has to break the spell on an unbreakable curse, though. The optimistic might say, "So why not now? Why not the Green ‘n White?
With that said, the Boston Celtics continue to stare down the barrel of inevitability in their Eastern Conference final against the Miami Heat, despite taking out Game 4 at Miami’s Kaseya Center.
Granted, it’s only one game; however, the Celtics did manage to rally and haul themselves off the Florida floor with a timely 116–99 win over the Heat. Solid defence, forced turnovers, and greater productivity from their starters certainly helped.
Preceding this—Game 3— the Celtics had turned in a game of unforced turnovers, missed shots—some of them airballs—technicals, open prison defence, and incessant whinging to the officials. It all led to a 128–102 drubbing. For all intents and purposes, it looked like the Celtics had given up the goat!
The Celtics coach, Joe Mazzulla, took the blame like a wily veteran. In case you didn’t know, Mazzulla is 34, the youngest head coach in the NBA, and has only been in the job permanently since February. His shouldering the blame for the loss was magnanimous, given the combined output of his esteemed starters.
When asked about his side’s abject Game 3 performance, Mazzulla said:
"I just didn’t have ‘em ready to play; I should have. Whatever it was, I have to get them in a better place. That’s on me—I think they’re doing everything they can—I just didn’t execute the proper game plan. It’s on me to be better so they can play better.”
Honourable, but a little bit ridiculous if truth be told. Mazzulla’s trump card, Jayson Tatum, was ice-cold again with just 14 points, a bunch of missed three-pointers and several turnovers. Jaylen Brown was equally frigid on a no-show night for the starters.
As you now know, we have a man on the inside, ‘Slim Pat Donnelly. However, Pat has been missing in action for several days. Post-Game 2 saw me in Sullivan’s Tap Room, expecting to resume our conversation. No dice. Pat was nowhere to be seen.
Granted, the North End is not his preferred destination, but post-Celtics home game, you would have to wager the house on him being in situ!
One can only imagine what Pat might have been saying after the Game 3 debacle. Something like this comes to mind:
"Slim Pat told ya so, ya won’t fackin’ listen, ya gotta fit that Butler like a damn glove. He’s one tricky roller; gotta friggin’ r’spect im." "What we do? Let im run the damn floor like he’s one uv us. I don’t get it for a minute."
Of course, Pat’s no dummy when it comes to the basketball caper. The Heat have turned the tables on Pat’s Celtics. Showing more heart and belief. Their defence has been exactly what Pat asked of the Celtics; their hustle and speed have lapped their more fancied opponents. And as for Jimmy Butler, my god, he’s run the show from start to finish!
For now, I’ll let Pat be, wherever that is. Hopefully, the win today will give him a spark, and I’ll find him in Sullivan’s after a Game 5 victory. Not wanting to dampen spirits, though, the Celtics have lost five of their last seven at TD Garden—the fackin’ North End curse!
So what can be done with this unbreakable curse? Maybe, just maybe, it will take some cross-town appreciation to get things rolling in Boston.
From now until Thursday, the Celtics and their fans should be reminding everyone that the Red Sox turned a comeback trick against the Yankees in 2004.
Last night saw both Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez at the game, and we can only hope they found their way into the Celtics locker room—not that there would be any chance of that. They do know a thing or two about comebacks, though!
Game 4 saw the Celtics trailing by 9 in the first quarter, by 6 at the half, then assume control with an 18-0 run early in the third—what do they say about third quarters and championships? In the end, they led by 18 late in the fourth. It was easily the Celtics best two-sided ball of the series. Pat must have been smiling!
Tatum finished with 33 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists. Here’s hoping he and Pat are warming up. See you all Friday.
As always, thank you for being here.
