The brain is a complex organ. We’ve watched the Celtics drop consecutive home playoff games in demoralizing fashion. Twenty-point leads have dwindled away while we’re forced to sit there helplessly. The sting of each missed shot got progressively more painful as it became clear what was happening. Despite all of that, my mind has allowed hope to start creeping back in.
There is a blind optimism that comes with fandom, but this feeling isn’t from a place of ignorance. This isn’t the story of an overmatched team struggling to rise to the level of their opponent. Boston has been the better team for roughly 90% of the series.
Prior to each collapse, the Celtics have executed their gameplan successfully. Many of the anticipated matchup issues from the regular season are prominent on tape. That’s why it’s bizarre to be staring at an 0-2 hole.
This is a death sentence for most teams, but Boston is not like most teams. They are an all-time great road team—finishing just one win short of the record for the most single season road wins in NBA history.
Madison Square Garden has a history of being a difficult place to play, but Boston won both games there in the regular season. The Knicks dropped two games to the Pistons at home in the playoffs as well.
The self-described “road dogs” have plenty of experience playing spoiler to an arena full of excited fans. With the two losses fresh on their mind, they seem to be looking forward to the chance to respond.
It’s still first to four wins, but you can’t win all four at once. Taking it game by game is a mentality that the Celtics’ core is familiar with. Winning Game 3 is enough to flip the feeling of this series, and put pressure back on the Knicks.
This is the green teamer perspective, but it hasn’t taken mental gymnastics to get there. They’ve thrown away two games, no doubt, but there’s a reason they’ve been able to build up these leads in the first place though.
In their best moments, we’ve probably seen the B+ version of the Celtics. Two quarters of F basketball is the reason they’re not leading this series. If they can play a normal, average Game 3, it’s easy to feel good about their chances.
Coming up short on Saturday would mark an unofficial end to the season, but until then, the feeling of hope remains. Beating Boston four times has always been a difficult challenge.
If they lose, they lose. But I’m going down with the ship.
