My very first blog was published in mid March 2015.
Without you guys, this isn’t my life.
I don’t get to do this.
I think that’s partly what makes this title so special for me, because we experienced it together.
We grinded through the post-Big 3 trade seasons.
You had your time.
Thank you for reading.
Thank you for clicking, not reading, and just skipping to the comment section.
Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
We really fucking did it.
A player with all the pressure of the world on his shoulders.
A player who is now stamped forever as a Celtics legend.
A player who just punched his ticket to the HOF at the old age of 26.
A player who has been through hell, only to come back stronger.
A player we have watched from his first NBA dribble to becoming a champion.
There’s no drama, there’s no headlines, there’s just hoops and winning.
Sorry he kicked the shit out of your favorite team and won before your favorite player.
Be better I guess?
Game 5 was Tatum’s “Fuck You” moment.
This was what needed to happen for the Tatum era Celtics to get over the hump and become champions.
He needed to step up and take it.
We were told he’s not a #1.
We were told he isn’t “the guy”.
We were told he didn’t have “it” or a “killer instinct”.
Well how do all those awful takes look now?
They said that was the opposite mindset of a champion.
He only went out and had the best game of his career, but OK!
Everything about Tatum’s performance was top notch.
Offensively, he once again picked apart the Mavs defense with ease.
Remember, we were told this was the best defense in the NBA.
Didn’t look that way to me, but oh well.
Sure the game was never in doubt, but that’s because Jayson Tatum exists.
This win and this season was validation.
Validation that Jayson Tatum IS the guy.
Validation that Jayson Tatum IS a superstar.
Validation that Jayson Tatum IS good enough to be a #1 on a title team.
Sorry, I misspoke.
I say this as a grown man who cried watching Jaylen Brown lift his trophies.
That’s right, plural.
This was the dream that began over 10 years ago, and now here we are
The best part?
We are JUST entering the NBA prime years of both Tatum and Brown.
The window hasn’t even opened yet and they already have 1 title under their belt together.
They dominated the NBA in ways the league had pretty much never seen before.
Again, that is fact not opinion.
That’s what the two options were this season.
You’re either GOATed or labeled a historic choker for the rest of your basketball life.
This is a team that did not lose more than 2 games in a row all season long.
They had like five or six separate 5 game winning streaks.
They had two separate 9 game winning streaks.
They won 10 straight playoff games, including 7 straight on the road.
They had more 30 point wins than double digit deficits.
They set the record for most 50 point wins in a season.
They had the best offense in NBA history.
Quite simply, this is one of the best teams in NBA history.
We knew it in October, and it was solidified in June.
- Let’s talk about that defense for a second.
On the season, the Celtics held their opponent to under 100 points a total of 26 times.
Was nobody watching the 2nd best defense in the NBA all season long?
That’s the beauty of how this team is built.
There are no defensive weaknesses.
- Al Horford forever.
Easily the best part of this entire title run is getting Al the ring he so clearly deserved.
Imagine not being able to figure out how to win with Al Horford?
It’s the easiest shit of all time.
The guy is the ultimate winner and you could’t figure out how to use him?
How embarrassing for you
Just do yourself a favor and listen to this man.
This is just what Payton Pritchard does.
47-6 at home this season including the playoffs.
9-2 this postseason including winning their last 6 in a row.
Not bad for a team that apparently struggled and couldn’t win playoff games at home.
- Sam Hauser has earned himself a blank check when it comes time for his extension.
Just name the price.
Remember, he makes like $2M a year.
Another win for Brad, but what else is new?
Jrue Holiday is a kingmaker.
It’s as simple as that.
13.2/6.1/4.4/1.1 on 50/40% splits with a TS% of 61.7% in 19 playoff games.
I’ll tell ya what, that extension by Brad before the playoffs is already aging beautifully.
Chalk that up as yet another Brad win.
All that crashing the offensive glass to keep possessions alive?
Those are the margins that make you a champion, and that is certainly what Jrue Holiday is.
As we say, the Basketball Gods are always watching.
They reward the team who plays the hardest and respects the game.
Last night, that was clearly Boston.
He’s another guy that has a blank check this summer when it comes to his extension.
Name the price and it’s yours as far as I’m concerned.
Sometimes it feels great when the good people actually win and come out on top.
We saw how kill the Celts got last year, eventually, it’s going to happen.
Instead, their story is of being an all time great team both in league and franchise history.
Instead, they are stamped forever.
I can’t lie, I much prefer this option.
His health will always be a factor for his entire time in Boston moving forward, but whatever.
He’s a champion.
He helped this team win a championship.
Whatever comes next is gravy as far as I’m concerned.
- New blog rule.
If you win the NBA title, you only get a Good section.
It’s only right.
So here we are.
They really did it.
Our dreams actually became our reality.
It doesn’t even feel real, and I’m not sure it ever will.
The 2024 Boston Celtics are NBA champions.
Say that shit out loud and try not to smile.
