By Darryl Harding Sr –
“We did it!” exclaimed Jason Tatum moments before clutching the Larry O’Brien trophy as Linus might clutch his blanket, “what are they going to say now?” Well all that’s left to say is that the Boston Celtics the 2024 NBA Champions, winning Banner #18 for the franchise, making them the greatest to ever do it.
Edging out the LA Lakers by one, Boston’s 18th championship marks their first in 16 years and also proclaims the Boston Celtics the best team in the history of the NBA. After so many hardships, a home loss in the NBA Finals two years ago, a home loss last year in the Eastern Conference Finals, but this year the Championship is Boston’s in Boston.
After seven years playing together Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown finally reached the pinnacle. Brown NBA Finals MVP was quick to mention Jason Tatum as his “partner in crime,” and Jason Tatum not worried about who won MVP but more worried about who won it all.
Tatum commented on Browns MVP, “I’m extremely happy for him, well deserved… he earned that.” After such a dismal outing in Game 4, Boston took control of game 5 and relentlessly strived to win, never relinquishing their lead throughout the game.
The Boston Celtics defense dominated forcing Dallas into seven turnovers in the first half. Again holding Dallas to under 100 points for the contest Celtics triumphed 106-88 and held Kyrie Irving to only 15 points.
Although Luca Doncic had a double-double with 12 rebounds and 28 points, Jason Tatum had a double-double with 31 points and 11 assists as well as Jrue Holiday with 11 rebounds and 15 points. Derek White not only won an NBA chip, but also chipped his front tooth diving for loose ball.
A scramble against Derek Lively that ended up with White’s face smashing to the Boston Garden parquet floor. “I’ll lose all my teeth for a championship,” joked White as he stood on the podium with the team accepting the Larry O’Brien trophy.
So many memorable highlights, Tatum huggings his son Deuce, Brown shedding tears as he talked about his Grandmother who passed, Kristaps Porzingis explaining how he was determined to play regardless of injury. Which Celtic deserves recognition, “I think it’s every player on this team,” said Holiday postgame, “we did it together… the world saw that. No individual player, we locked arms and got the job done.”
The truth of the matter is the Celtics achieved this as a team no one player was completely dominant. The Celtics players defensively shut down two of the most competent closers in Irving and Doncic. Constantly sharing the ball offensively even Celtics superstars made the right decisions toward team success and not individual accomplishments.
Boston finally beat Dallas in most categories, rebounding steals, and assists, but the most noticeable difference is that they match their scoring in the paint, something that Dallas had done handily throughout the series. There is incredible excitement for players like Al Horford, seventeen year veteran who can now top off his career as a NBA champion at 37.
Respect is due to Kyrie, who amidst “Kyrie sucks,” chants showed the professionalism, class and character to approach the opposing bench during the final minutes and personally congratulate some of his former Celtic teammates. Still clutching the championship trophy back in the locker room as a champagne began to flow, Jason Tatum held what had once been unattainable and becomes a champion at 26, younger than LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kevin Durant and Steph Curry when they won their first Championships.
Brown and Tatum cannot play together was the cry of the media in years past but now with Tatum about to get a max contract, it seems that this duo may not have seen their last finals run. The winningest team this season with most players already solidified to return can somebody say… repeat.
NewsTalk New England 