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Why the Celtics saved an unwatchable NBA playoffs

JR Isaga

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Why the Celtics saved an unwatchable NBA playoffs
Let’s take a step back and fully take in what just happened in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals

On a night poised to be as uneventful as a regular scrimmage, the Boston Celtics shocked the world as they rallied from a 21-point deficit to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers at the buzzer, 111-108. 

Let’s take a step back and fully take in what just happened here. 

The Celtics, who lost twice on their home floor in the Eastern Conference Finals by respective margins of 13 and 44 points, emerged victorious from the home of the defending champions. They held LeBron James, who is averaging 34.3 points per game this playoffs, scoreless for the final 16 minutes and 31 seconds of the game as he finished with just 11 points and 6 turnovers.

Due to a hip injury, they were playing without their All-NBA 2nd Team superstar, Isaiah Thomas, who has not missed a single playoff game this postseason even after the sudden death of his sister.

Lastly, they were carried by backup point guard Marcus Smart, who suddenly drained 27 points on 7 three-pointers while having terrible playoff shooting averages of 35% from the field and 36% from three. 

Simply put, this win should not have happened, but it did. Anyone expecting this win given all these contexts is either a psychic or kidding themselves. With that said, the Boston Celtics has just saved the NBA playoffs. 

Weeks upon weeks now, the Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors have demolished every team in front of them en route to a collective 21-0 record in the postseason. Although the double undefeated stretches done by the 2015 and 2016 finalists were a bit unexpected, their overall dominance in the playoffs has been expected since the beginning of the season.

This would then culminate in a historic third straight finals showdown – a feat never yet done by two teams in NBA history. So far, so good. 

With backlash already coming in early from fans who wish for a change of scenery in basketball’s biggest stage, NBA legend Kobe Bryant came to the two powerhouses’ defense, as per ESPN: 

“Why is that bad for basketball? That makes no sense. Just because it’s preordained that’s a bad thing?”

“I know I’m going to wake up in the morning. Is that a bad thing? I don’t think it is.” 

To refute the great Kobe Bryant is like diving into a pit of snakes, but heck, we’re doing it.

Sorry, Mr. Bryant, but too much of the same thing is bad. People crave for something new. There is no point in tuning in to a product with a predictable ending. Don’t take our word for it, let the numbers speak for themselves:

For the first time since 2006, NBA TV ratings dropped below the 2.0 mark. Meanwhile, the latest downward trend in ratings has happened from 2011 to 2014, with yearly marks of 3.3, 2.9, 2.3 and 2.2. Coincidentally, those were the years when the LeBron-led Miami Heat dominated the NBA Finals. Certainly, there are a lot more factors to consider in reading TV ratings, but you get the point. 

With this stunning upset, the depleted Celtics have breathed new life into a dying NBA playoffs. They showed that no matter how long one team has reigned supreme, there would always come a time when the mighty will kneel. No one is forever safe.

Tomorrow, the also-depleted San Antonio Spurs face elimination at the hands of the Warriors. Surely enough, today’s events will serve as a lesson to Golden State to not let their guard down no matter how far ahead they are. As history tells us, they of all people would know better. 

For now, this upset is still just a hiccup to an otherwise surefire Finals “threematch” between the Cavaliers and Warriors. However, this still serves as an inspiration to other up-and-coming teams to never quit on the grind, for their time will also come one day.

Like a Celtics legend once said, “Anything is possible.” – Rappler.com

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