Boston Celtics followers Even a blowout loss counts for only one loss

Celtics followers, how would you are feeling when you had identified upfront that your guys would have a 3-1 lead returning to TD Backyard for Recreation 5 of the NBA Finals?

That’s proper, isn’t it? Sure, it’s 3-1 and the one motive you may be feeling down is as a result of Boston misplaced the latest recreation. If the Celtics had as a substitute misplaced Recreation 3 and gained Recreation 4, you’d have extra confidence. It’s all about recency bias and notion.

So, we’re right here to say, are available off the ledge, Celtics followers. Consider it or not, playoff video games are separate entities. One staff profitable a blowout doesn’t assure that staff profitable the subsequent recreation, too. There’s no carryover of factors or momentum. A loss by 38 factors counts the identical as a loss by one level.

Clearly, the Recreation 4 debacle hit additional arduous as a result of the Larry O’Brien Trophy was within the Dallas area, all polished and able to be handed to the Celtics. The champagne was on ice. It hurts to overlook out on that. However figuring out by the third quarter that it was time to look forward to Recreation 5 damage a lot lower than, say, dropping Recreation 6 at dwelling on a hellacious shot within the ultimate seconds of double time beyond regulation.

(Two days later, Boston gained Recreation 7 and Banner 12 at Milwaukee, which was within the Western Convention on the time.)

Face it: The Celtics have been in all probability resulting from lose after profitable 10 straight playoff video games and 9 in a row on the highway relationship again to final yr’s postseason. And it takes extraordinary circumstances for them to lose.

In a single respect, in the event that they needed to lose, being humiliated within the worst Celtics playoff loss ever ought to present additional motivation for payback.

Simply look to current historical past for an instance of that state of affairs: the 2017 Warriors took a 3-0 Finals lead however have been then blown out by 21 in Cleveland. The Dubs went dwelling and closed out the collection in 5 regardless of LeBron James dropping 41 and 13 for the Cavs.

Some examples from Celtics historical past:

Within the 1982 Jap Convention Finals, the Larry Chicken Celtics buried the Sixers in Recreation 1 by 40 factors. The Cs have been throwing lob passes to third-stringers within the final moments. However Julius Erving’s Sixers have been a proud bunch. They gained Recreation 2 in Boston and went on to take the collection in seven, profitable the ultimate in entrance of a surprised Boston Backyard crowd.
Within the ’85 NBA Finals, an analogous scene performed out. The Celts crushed the Lakers in Recreation 1 by 34 factors. Scott Wedman actually couldn’t miss, hitting 11-of-11 with 4 threes. The rout was nicknamed The Boston Bloodbath. But Los Angeles got here again, 109-102, to steal Recreation 2. They gained the title in six.
And one for the nice guys: The 1984 Celtics have been run off the courtroom in Recreation 3, dropping at LA, 137-104. In postgame, Chicken stated his teammates performed “like sissies.” Folks have been saying the collection was over, however the Cs fought again (actually), gained Recreation 4 in time beyond regulation, and the title in seven.

In every case, the gamers took their embarrassment personally and have been pushed to have the final phrase. That’s commonplace.

The query now’s: will the present Celtics have the satisfaction to place this collection away on Monday? If not, then after all we should always all be involved. However for now…

They are going to be enjoying in entrance of dwelling followers who will certainly have their depth cranked greater than excessive; Kristaps Porzingis was lively for Recreation 4 and presumably will play in Recreation 5; and when you like omens, the date shall be June 17, the sixteenth anniversary of the 2008 championship clincher.

Most likely better of all, the Mavs now have the Celtics’ consideration.