Boston Celtics Gave the NBA What it Needed

The Boston Celtics gave the NBA the kind of doubt the fans had forgotten

Prior to game three of the Eastern Conference Finals, the NBA appeared to be in crisis mode. Too many blowouts and a far too predictable finals matchup has fans growing disdain for the greatness that currently is LeBron James and the Golden State Warriors.

When Kawhi Leonard went down, any hope for a decent Western Conference Finals went away. When Isaiah Thomas went down following a 44 points home loss, the Celtics became one of the biggest underdogs in the history of the playoffs as the were on their way to Cleveland without their top five MVP candidate.

Then something happened in game three that absolutely no one saw coming. Just when the NBA was going to reach its peak or predictability, the Celtics reminded the NBA of one of the most amazing thing in sports, absolutely nothing is guaranteed.

This may have no real bearing on the series or the finals, but for the first time in these playoffs there is at the the slightest amount of doubt about one of the two juggernauts. The Celtics kindly reminded everyone that even if one team is better than the other by every measurable standard, sports are not a math equation, and these kinds of games can happen to anyone at any time.

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Players step up and other players disappoint, and in game three the Celtics came together in a special way, punishing James for his first bad game of the playoffs. Marcus Smart may never be that good again, and James will probably never be that bad again, but that’s not the point.

Even if this game is likely going to change the sweep to a gentleman’s sweep, it gives those NBA fans that are complaining about the inevitable outcome of every single game the most doubt they could appeal to in the playoffs, at least for one conference finals game.

The Celtics could not have been lower, and the Cavaliers could not have been higher. The Celtics not only mounter a 21 point comeback against the reigning champs, but they were the biggest underdogs to win the game in the history of the playoffs. This game was supposed to be as sure of a thing as the first round was for the Cavaliers or the Warriors, and they lost.

This is why they play seven games, because you really never do know. Sports can be the weirdest thing in the world, and it is easy to forget that both teams have the same amount of professional basketball players, and there is always enough talent for crazy games to come from anyone on any side.

It really will take a perfect storm for the Celtics to have a chance, but now we have actual physical evidence that yes, there is a chance. No team had ever gone 12-0 to start the playoffs before, and it was taken as a given that two teams would do it this year.

The Warriors did not flinch, but the Cavaliers finally struggled in the kind of way that can lead to the unpredictable outcomes that the NBA fans have been searching for these playoffs.

It would be foolish to expect anything less than a wire to wire victory from the Cavaliers in game four, but this Celtics team gave themselves at least one more chance to shock the world again, and make sure that their last game in TD Garden would not be a 44 point blowout.

Avery Bradley gave the neutral NBA fan the most exciting moment of the playoffs, and certainly made sure that more people will be paying close attention to this series.

Some fans may enjoy the dominance. The lopsided victories means one team is playing at a level that cannot be seen every year, and there is an appeal to that. That being said, you cannot deny the pleads of countless people searching for some neutral interest in these playoffs.

If the Cavaliers go up 3-1 in a commanding fashion, most of this interest will be lost. One big win will bring everyone back to around they were before. But, at least for now, there is the slight doubt that simply has not been then before this game.

The Celtics know that too many things need to work in their favor to win anything else in this series, but you can no longer say it is impossible. People expected the Celtics to originally win at least a game against the Cavaliers, but certainly not without Thomas. By winning without Thomas the Celtics have defied the odds that have made these playoffs so predictable.

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Who knows how this will impact game four. Maybe that was a a slight reminder to James, and he has yet another gear he is going to turn on to close this series. Or, maybe the Celtics team really have found something and are about to embark on one of the all time great underdog stories. It is worse than a long shot, but getting that first win is the only place they can start.

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