The 38-point defeat in the away game still couldn’t stop the Celtics from conquering everything. Returning to the strong fortress of Boston, they won again as expected, sweeping away the Mavericks in 5 games and winning another championship for the team after 16 years. , and also the 18th championship in team history. The Celtics once again surpassed the Los Angeles Lakers to become the team with the most championships in the history of the league. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown joined forces to reach the Eastern Conference championship game six times and the championship game twice, finally realizing their dream.
However, it seems that the overwhelming championship with 16 wins and 3 losses is like the autumn wind sweeping away the fallen leaves. In fact, it is a whole year of standing up from setbacks and gathering lessons step by step. Looking back on this road to the championship that is not simple at all, perhaps You can get a glimpse of how this famous team gradually builds a strong lineup and returns to glory.
Defeated the Heat and stood up again from the heavy blow
Last season, the Celtics made a comeback after losing to the Warriors the previous year and once again broke into the conference championship game. They faced an opponent that was overwhelmingly looked down upon by the outside world. The Miami Heat were inferior to themselves in terms of talent, size, depth and health. Even the Celtics themselves feel that they will compete on the championship stage again and have a great chance to finally realize their dream.
Unexpectedly, the Celtics lost miserably at their home court in Game 7 and were eliminated in humiliation. For a time, doubts about the young dual-core chemistry between Taytom and Brown resurfaced, especially since Brown will be eligible to sign a supermax salary in the summer. , who was appointed at a critical moment and was younger than Al Horford. Joe Mazzulla, who was promoted as the acting head coach, also received strong criticism.
However, Brad Stevens, the current general manager who initially nurtured Taytom and Brown and decided to let Mazzula take over as head coach, withstood all criticism and quickly signed the largest five-year contract in history with Brown during the summer vacation. A generous US$304 million contract extension; despite many doubts from the outside world, Stevens still has high confidence in the future of the two young players as the cornerstone. This contract extension also confirms that the Celtics will continue to focus on the two players. A dual-core forward who is under 27 years old.
Drastically reorganize the coaching staff and reintroduce a winning culture
Stevens’ second step is to let Mazzula coach without scruples, directly let go of the remaining players left by former coach Ime Udoka, and let the new coach reorganize his own assistant team.
Mazzula first found Sam Cassell, a former Green Blood who will definitely become an NBA coach in the future and is good at training players. Then he successively hired Charles Lee, the Bucks’ chief assistant at the time, and former Green Blood coach Sam Cassell. A new assistant coaching staff has taken shape, including Phil Pressey, who is a member of the Army, and Amile Johnson, who was born at Duke and played for the Magic.
Not only that, with Cassel’s connections, Mazzula also found many former Celtics players, including Paul Pierce, and invited them to participate in training; in the past few years, former Celtics players and The connection between the team seems to be getting weaker and weaker, and Mazzula hopes to use this to re-establish the “Green Blood Family” so that the current players can inherit the glorious torch and sense of glory of their predecessors. The addition of former ace Pierce has become a good mentor to current aces Taytom and Brown, helping them become more mature and resistant to pressure, especially mentally.
With the formation of the exclusive team completed, Mazzula can more confidently introduce his coaching philosophy to the team. His style is actually quite simple: emphasizing team basketball on both offense and defense, focusing on conduction, and then shooting a large number of three-pointers.
But in addition to the tactical side, Mazzula’s job also includes practicing and preparing the players for various scenarios. This is also reflected in this season’s playoffs, where he made almost all the right moves. Whether it is the tactical level, personnel scheduling or even the spiritual level of leadership, Mazzula himself has also shown significant progress, and at the same time gained the trust and following of the players.
Derrick White once said in an interview, “I think Mazzula is a basketball genius, so no matter what he says, I will try to use my best ability.”
Reflected on the court, we have indeed seen the practice of its philosophy. The only team in the league with more than 60 wins, it ranks second in offensive and defensive efficiency, ranks first in the league in net efficiency in both offense and defense, and also has the most three-pointers in the league. The team that scored the ball ranked fourth in the league in assists at the same time.
In the past, the Celtics were often criticized for only playing monotonous singles. Although their singles ability is still excellent, they are no longer the stereotype team. They have better team basketball. In this season’s Celtics, the slowness Slow fermentation, resulting in qualitative changes.
Find puzzle pieces around the cornerstone and continue to optimize the elite team
Of course, in the final analysis, although stabilizing the dual-core cornerstone and reorganizing the coaching staff is enough to ensure that the Celtics continue to be a strong team, the goal of winning the championship is not enough. It is always necessary to seek a stronger lineup in order to implement the best execution. Stevens then, with the support of his boss, continued to look for a lineup that fit his and Majora’s ideals.
The first step is to use veteran Marcus Smart as the main dish during the summer vacation through a three-party trade, in exchange for providing the Celtics with more weapons, capable of playing in the low post and suitable for “5 Out” and a large number of three-pointers. The ideal Kristaps Porzingis; and then negotiated with the Trail Blazers to package Malcolm Brogdon, who had just won the sixth man of the year, Robert Williams III, and a Warriors first-round pick. Traded Jrue Holiday to make up for the backcourt lock and organizational vacancies after the Smart trade.
Although he was relatively displaced in the past few years, Porzingis’s extraordinary ability to open up space as an extension No. 5, as well as the relatively lightened burden after coming to the Celtics, made him hit it off with the Celtics.
A group of players with three-point threats can help each other maximize the space and reduce the pressure of being double-teamed. This makes this rare unicorn in the league who was once the master of the Knicks seem to be back to the top, even if he once thought he has degenerated. The rejuvenation of the low-post offense has become the team’s killer weapon at critical moments.
Porzingis contributed 20.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2 assists this season. His shooting percentage exceeded 60%, which is the best in his career. His three-point shooting percentage was also as high as 37.5%. Halladay has retreated from the Bucks’ Big Three to the fifth offensive option. Although his statistics have dropped a lot, he has achieved the best three-point shooting percentage and rebounding in his career. He has transferred more of his energy to defense and other drudgery matters, and worked with White. They formed the league’s strongest defensive backcourt, were jointly selected to the second team defensively, and won the sixth-place DPOY vote.
Of course, we can’t forget White, who was promoted from the bench to the starter. This season, he has been praised by fans as the real shadow ace of the Celtics. In addition to defense, he averaged 15.2 points, 5.2 assists, 4.2 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1.2 blocks on the offensive end. With a three-point shooting percentage of nearly 40% and an all-around career performance, he has completely become the “glue man” that every team dreams of. He can make up for whatever the team lacks. This is the biggest surprise for the Celtics this season.
Together with Taytom and Brown, the Celtics have created a star-studded group, all of whom have three threats. They can both handle and off the ball, pass, shoot and defend, making the offense difficult to defend and capable of attacking. An elite five-man team that executes defensive plans efficiently.
Let’s not forget that veteran Horford, who originally started, had the luxury of becoming the sixth man. Two self-raised white shooters, forward Sam Hauser and guard Payton Pritchard, also became An excellent substitute who played almost the entire season and was solid and focused on team basketball.
With a group of the league’s strongest starting five this season, coupled with a bench with both depth and strength, this is how the Celtics were able to securely take the lead from the beginning of the season and dominate it all the way to the end of the season, and were the only team in the league to break through. 60 wins, never losing three games in a row in the entire season, the only reason why they are a strong team that is stable and has a far leading record.
Dual-core leadership, dominate the playoffs and realize the dream of championship
Of course, what we haven’t mentioned yet is this year’s dual-core performance.
This season, both Taytom and Brown have played in more than 70 games, averaging 49.9 points, 13.6 rebounds, 8.5 assists and 2.2 steals per game. Although the points scored are less than last year, the most important thing is that more players have joined the team and the firing rights are dispersed, but they have also suffered. Developed better assisting and distributing abilities, and both achieved a career-high shooting percentage, with both three-pointers and three-pointers exceeding 35%.
Although they still have their own weaknesses: Tatom’s shooting percentage and critical moment performance have been criticized from time to time, as well as Brown’s left-handed ability, etc., but after the heavy losses in the playoffs in the previous two years, coupled with Mazzula’s performance this season, With the guidance of the college principal, and the guidance of the college principal, the two have greatly increased their psychological strength in the face of adversity, become more calm and calm, and are more able to accept their shortcomings than before.
When you are in a bad situation, you trust your teammates and help the team in other ways. Even if you win a big victory or lead the series, you will never take it lightly.
The two young cornerstones have matured further this year. Taytom has become a more versatile forward, and Brown has become a sharp terminator on both offense and defense. These are also reflected in the performance in the playoffs.
Even though Porzingis was injured and retired for a time, these two teammates, who had reached five conference championship games in the past seven seasons (only 11 in the league in the past 40 years), still broke the team history by scoring 25+ points in the same playoff game. The duo’s record of joint success (the original record was 17 times with Bird and McHale) continued to lead the team forward. In the third game of the championship, they became the first 30/5/5 combination in team history.
The two have averaged points, rebounds and assists per game in the playoffs this season. Not only in the history of the Celtics, but also in the entire NBA, they are definitely the best duo.
Led by their selfless desire to win and leading by example, even Jason Kidd once tried to arouse the competitive mentality of the two, but to no avail. Whether it was Tattom or Brown, they had already reached a consensus that they would win. First of all, in front of the O’Brien Cup, it doesn’t matter which one is better.
Coupled with an excellent group of teammates (someone may jump out to score the highest score on the team in every game, as many as five players scored in double figures in the playoffs, and the six main players averaged more than 9 points per game), the playoffs have always been The Celtics continue to implement what they have insisted on since the season: super defense, trying to maintain a single defense by switching defenses as much as possible, and on the offensive end, the team conducts smoothly and plugs in a large number of three-point shots. They are invincible along the way and cannot be stopped.
Although he suffered defeats against the Heat and Cavaliers, he almost always won without any suspense in other games. Even though he was in danger several times in the Eastern Conference championship game with the Pacers, he finally relied on his better ability to withstand pressure. Win one victory after another.
Even so, they were ignored by many fans and commentators before the championship game because they were in the Eastern Conference and all their competitors along the way were plagued by injuries. In contrast, the Gray Wolves defeated the Golden Nuggets who were trying to defend their title. The Mavericks defeated the Gray Wolves easily. In addition, the previous continuous gains in health made the outside world feel that the victory was in vain, and there were long-standing doubts about the young dual-core ability to shoulder the responsibility. It seems that there is no need to be too surprised when such a voice appears.
However, facing Dallas, who was healthier and more complete than their opponents in previous rounds (although Doncic did play injured), Boston actually won easier than expected.
Even though they were defeated in other games, the Heat and Cavaliers each won a victory. Although the Pacers were swept, at least they pushed the Celtics into danger many times along the way. Although Dallas gave the Celtics the biggest defeat in the playoffs and even the championship series in team history in Game 4, they did provide the most courteous and intense defense against Doncic in the entire playoffs. Even in the fifth game, they changed their lineups on the offensive end to confront him, but after suffocating him, this team that emerged from the Western Conference did not seem to have any more trouble than its opponents in the first three rounds, except for that 38-point away loss. Outside of the ball, the remaining games are basically clear-cut, thus shattering all the disapproval and pessimism from the outside world before the start of the game. The NBA championship in the 2023-24 season is undoubtedly well-deserved!
On the road to consecutive championships, what else does Boston need to strengthen?
The Celtics in the era of Tatom and Brown finally fulfilled their long-cherished wish and won their first career championships, but both were still under 27 years old. Mazzula was also the youngest championship coach in history. There are still great opportunities and capital to create a long-term and glorious era, or even a dynasty.
The most important thing in front of us is naturally the sword pointing to the consecutive hegemony! Tatom also announced early that he wants to defend his title again next year to prove that even if his opponents suffer from injuries this year, the Celtics’ victory is no fluke!
The good news for the Celtics is that the eight main players who have played the longest time are all still under contract. To form such a star-studded starting five and a high-quality deep lineup in the league, it costs a lot of money. The current salary for next year alone has already exceeded the second-tier luxury tax. There are many restrictions on the team’s reinforcements, but Fortunately, the team has already signed long-term contracts with most of the main players.
Among the young players, only White has a major contract renewal problem, but with the support of the championship, there is no reason not to follow up. The starting five except Halladay are all under 30 years old. This is the Celtics’ desire to end the league. The biggest capital to change hands for the sixth consecutive championship.
The only things that can stop them are Porzingis’s health and Horford’s age. The good news for the former is that his salary in the next two years is still lower than this season, but with rare injuries, maybe the Celtics have to be determined and would rather I have reservations about the regular season, but also let Porzingis take care of the injury; it is reported that surgery would be a better solution, but it will take time to wait.
Horford may be the more crucial one. At the age of 38, he has played in 65 games this season. Regardless of whether he is a starter or a substitute, it seems that except for Tattom, all kinds of difficult problems in the team can be solved. ” “Versatile player.” But he is still approaching the end of his career, and his motivation to continue working hard after winning the championship may also have an impact.
With the two generals in the penalty area having their own concerns, it remains to be seen whether Luke Kornet and Xavier Tillman, both of whom have basic salaries on the bench, can successfully renew their contracts. But even these two long men are difficult to meet the all-round long man that truly matches Boston’s ideal type. In the case of trader selection, can Stevens be cast through the draft or the minimum salary of players who desire championships? , how about finding more insurance for the team’s penalty area?
But no matter what, what can be guaranteed is that with the advantage that the core is still young, as long as they are healthy, the Celtics will definitely be the leader in the Eastern Conference and the league in the coming year, as well as the favorite for the championship. It depends on whether the penalty area can be Maintain intensity.
As for the powerful teams and former championship challengers such as the Mavericks, Golden Nuggets, Timberwolves, Thunder, Knicks, Bucks and Pacers, how will they strengthen in order to challenge the new king!
THE BOSTON CELTICS ARE NBA CHAMPIONS 🏆🍀 pic.twitter.com/10iSWsN91P
— The Players’ Tribune (@PlayersTribune) June 18, 2024
The Boston Celtics raise the Larry O’Brien Trophy for the 18th time in franchise history! ☘️🏆 pic.twitter.com/nULYcvV2oK
— NBA (@NBA) June 18, 2024