If the Celtics win game 4, they are winning this series.
Has there ever been a more obvious moment for a team down 3-0 to win a series? The team with the oddest and most unpredictable set of superstars who have repeatedly (predictably?) summoned big games when they are absolutely necessary, usually following the most pathetic and disgusting loss. Ok, actually it’s a bit hit and miss. Obviously, the finals last year was kind of a miss. But they’ve been here before. Ok, not this bad. But, last year against the Bucks? Down 3-2 playing in Milwaukee after losing a painful game 5 in Boston? Tatum silences the doubters with 46 points, Celtics go on to win game 7. Bad game 5 in Boston this year against Philadelphia? Tatum comes back big again in games 6 and 7. This is kind of what the Celtics do.
Ok, they haven’t done this. Down 3-0, next game in Miami. Blown out of game 3. They look like they’ve quit. They look scared. They look like they don’t particularly like each other. Their coach is younger than multiple rotation players on the Heat and he’s yet to use a time out in a relevant moment. He won’t play Blake Griffin. (Before you scoff, the Lakers are playing Tristan Thompson! Ok, yeah, they just got swept, too). And most importantly, Miami’s Fab 4 of undrafted players can’t miss an open shot.
But the Celtics clearly have the most talent. That’s simply not debatable. Miami almost lost both play-in games just a few weeks ago. (Has anyone’s value declined more precipitously than Tyler Hero?). And, if the Celtics could just win game 4, they would be favored in game 5 at home. If they win game 5, aren’t they the favored team in game 6, going in with renewed confidence? And, isn’t Miami the team in game 6 with all the pressure on them? Shouldn’t the Fab 4 start to look at their draft positions a bit more as the games get tighter? And, then…game 7 is a gimme, right? Back in Boston, on the verge of a historic comeback? A double nickel this time for Jayson Tatum? Grant Williams jawing at Jimmy Buckets? Al Horford giving Jimmy one more timeout sign? Blake Griffin finally getting 10 minutes to show he can still dunk? Big Poppy, Manny, and Johnny Damon on the big screen unnecessarily and gratuitously reminding everyone that yes, they are another Boston team that came back from 3-0? KG on the sidelines yelling… we know exactly what he’s yelling, and yes, we know that it is quite possibly true that anything might indeed be…possible.
Yeah, no. All of it, no.
