Opposing fans have been begging for matchups with the Celtics this postseason – and they are all now wishing that they hadn’t.
Miami Heat fans chanted, “We Want Boston!” after earning a first-round matchup with the Celtics last month. Boston beat them in five games.
Cleveland Cavaliers fans got into the act after their first-round win over the Orlando Magic. After the Cavs, too, walked off the court after a 4-1 series loss to the Celtics on Wednesday, Boston fans held up signs spelling out a question.
“Who wants Boston next?”
For now the Celtics will have to wait for that answer after wrapping up their third consecutive trip to the Eastern Conference finals with a 113-98 win over the Cavaliers. Boston will face the winner of the matchup between the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers. New York lead that series 3-2.
While Boston won the final two games of their series over a depleted Cavs’ team who were missing injured Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert, the top seed in the East did have to overcome a dose of adversity this postseason.
The Celtics played the entire series without starting center Kristaps Porziņģis, who continues to recover from the calf strain he sustained against the Heat. They also had to bounce back after losing Game 2 and home-court advantage against the Cavs. Three consecutive wins later, Boston are just four victories shy of returning to the NBA Finals.
“People might think that it’s a given that we’re supposed to be here,” said All-Star Jayson Tatum, who will be making his fifth trip to the conference finals. “I give a lot of credit to everybody in the front office, the coaching staff, the trainers, the guys that hand out the equipment, the ballboys, the cooks, the chefs, security team. We’re all in this together.”
After enduring criticism for some lackluster performances last postseason, Tatum has been one of his team’s most consistent players, averaging 24.2 points and 10.4 rebounds a game. His rebounding numbers are up from 8.1 a game during the regular season. Fellow All-Star Jaylen Brown is following suit, averaging a career playoff-high 24.4 points to along with 6.9 rebounds.
Tatum and Brown are also getting big performances from their teammates. One of those came Wednesday from veteran center Al Horford, who connected on six three-pointers and finished with 22 points and 15 rebounds. Tatum said Horford’s energy chasing down loose balls and pumping up the crowd at age 37 is infectious. Horford said he’s just responding to the energy the Boston fans are giving him.
“It’s special when you’re here at the Garden. It’s something that I don’t take for granted,” Horford said. “I just felt very connected with them tonight. There were just a few times I wanted to be embraced by that moment.”
Horford said he also gives a lot of the credit to their second-year coach Joe Mazzulla, who he believes has found his voice this season. “Just as a leader of our group. We follow him,” Horford said. “He demands a lot from us. And we’re right there. We’re plugging away. And we know we still have a ways to go.”
Elsewhere on Wednesday night, the Mavericks pushed the Thunder to the brink of elimination. Luka Dončić scored 31 points in a triple-double to help Dallas beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 104-92 and take a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference series. Dončić made 12 of 22 field goals and had 11 assists and 10 rebounds in Game 5 for his sixth career playoff triple-double. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 30 points, eight rebounds and six assists for the top-seeded Thunder.
Dallas can advance to the Western Conference finals with a win on Saturday at home.
NBA playoffs: Tatum powers Celtics to third-straight Eastern Conference finals - The Guardian
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