BOSTON — As highlights performed on the Jumbotron above them, Celtics teammates Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Al Horford — staples of this chapter within the group’s storied historical past — gathered at mid-court, reliving their tenures in TD Backyard, which all culminated in Tuesday’s NBA championship ring ceremony.
“I’ve been teammates with JB for seven years,” stated Tatum. “I was 19 when I got drafted, and Al was in his 10th year; now he’s in his 18th year. The journey we’ve all been on together brought us to this point, and it was cool to share that moment with those two guys, soak it in, enjoy it and embrace it. That was dope.”
“It was just settling in,” added Brown. “Me, JT and Al were together, and I could feel it. When we won, I was in shock, but today all our emotions settled in. It was like, ‘We did it.’ We did something spectacular. Regardless of what everybody has to say, my name — alongside of my teammates — is going to be etched down in Celtics history, which is one of the biggest franchises not just in basketball but in sports.”
In entrance of them had been Celtics legends Bob Cousy, Cedric Maxwell, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen — extra chapters in Celtics lore. Behind them was a league-record 18th championship banner, able to be raised to the rafters. And as soon as it was, Tatum grabbed a microphone to handle the Backyard crowd.
“To the best fans in the world,” he stated, “let’s do it again.”
With that the New York Knicks had been presupposed to play a basketball sport towards the newly bejeweled champions. If the intention was to spoil Boston’s night, the Knicks failed miserably. The Celtics took a 20-point, first-quarter lead and tied an NBA report, making 29 3-pointers en path to a 132-109 victory.
It was stunning basketball on Boston’s behalf. They turned the fourth group in NBA historical past to log at the very least , all whereas registering 51/48/88 taking pictures splits.
As for the Knicks, who personal the Jap Convention’s second-best title odds, newcomers Karl-Anthony Cities and Mikal Bridges mixed for 28 factors on 22 photographs, a lot of which got here after the end result was decided. They appeared misplaced at instances, as if they didn’t but know learn how to complement Jalen Brunson.
“That’s the easy way out,” Brunson stated of excuses, “but we still got our ass kicked.”
Bridges did little to assuage considerations about his new-look jumper, lacking his first 5 photographs of the sport. His first make got here from the nook within the second half’s opening minutes, when the Knicks trailed by 26.
“We don’t care about all the background noise about Mikal and his shot,” stated Knicks teammate Josh Hart. “We don’t care about it. He puts the work in every day. He’s gonna be good. The talk around it is stupid. There’s stupidity to it because at the end of the day he’s been around a 40% 3-point shooter.”
On the brilliant aspect, Bridges made seven of his remaining eight photographs. The intense aspect ended there. Time will inform if the Knicks can shut the hole on Boston. And it’s a good factor they’ve time; there’s a lengthy technique to go.
New York’s protection acted as if it was not conscious the Celtics led the league in 3-point makes an attempt final season. They didn’t even have to hunt them; each look was a great one. The most important benefactor was Tatum, who walked into rhythm on the pick-and-roll, drilling 14 of his 18 photographs (8-of-11 from 3) for 37 factors.
A lot for the priority about Tatum’s wayward taking pictures stroke. He made his MVP case in Recreation 1.
“The shot felt good,” stated Tatum. “Offensively, I felt like things picked up where we left off last season. We brought almost everybody back. We played to our strengths. We know what we’re trying to do. We know where we’re trying to attack. We know what sets and actions to get in. We work on it all the time.”
Brown and Derrick White added 23 and 24 factors, respectively. Horford, Jrue Vacation and Sam Hauser reached double figures. Sure, it very a lot appeared just like the reigning champs picked up the place they left off. They moved the ball, spaced the ground and executed at a degree their chief opponents couldn’t attain.
“Three or four games a year where a team just shoots the ball at an absurd clip,” added Hart. “Give them credit — amazing energy, ring night, they came out and shot the ball a way we’ve only seen once before.”
The remainder of the league should keep this was an anomaly. For to suppose the Celtics are literally this good this early — to suppose they could replicate this all through the season — is to just accept an inevitable repeat.
For Boston, although, Tuesday felt as if one thing had been handed down from dynasties previous. There’s something totally different about this group now that they’ve gained. They know who they’re — champions.
“Having the legendary Celtics in the building — Bob Cousy, KG, Paul, Cedric Maxwell, all of the guys who have won — it’s almost like they were passing the torch,” stated Brown. “I was fighting them back at the start of the game. It was amazing. This is what we set out to do. My rookie year, when I got drafted, this is what I said I would do: I would go to war for this city. And it’s great to watch that banner get raised.”
The work to place one other one alongside it started anew with a beatdown of their Atlantic Division rival. Given a second probability to rethink his pregame speech, Tatum as an alternative doubled down. “I know we’re not supposed to talk about repeating, but the fans were just so excited, I said, ‘F*** it, let’s do it again.'”
