After seven years of separation from one another, Brad Stevens and Gordon Hayward have finally been reunited and are looking to push Boston past the threshold that is the Eastern Conference Finals.
The duo is famously remembered for their climb through the March Madness Tournament of 2010. Stevens was the head coach of the Butler Bulldogs and had Hayward as his star player of that year. The fifth seeded Bulldogs of the Western Region came up just short of the national title, losing to Duke 61-59.
Throughout the famous tournament run, everyone was calling the team a “Cinderella Story,” and the clock barely struck midnight on their tall tale as Hayward nearly nailed a game-winning half-court buzzer beater.
But now that the two are back together again, in my opinion, they enter what seems to be a similar scenario to what they experienced back in 2010. Let me explain:
No one thought that Butler would have ever made it as far and as close as they did in the tournament. They were continuously counted out, but they persevered and proved everyone wrong, receiving 2nd place just behind the historically talented Duke Blue Devils.
Today, the Celtics still have one major problem standing between them and the NBA Finals: The Cleveland Cavaliers.
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I know that Celtics fans are probably thinking that I’m crazy and that Boston has the ability to take down Cleveland in a best of seven series as of right now, but COME ON!!! Do you really think that King James, Uncle Drew, and Kevin Love (plus the rest of that stacked roster) are going to let one additional star overthrow them in the east?
That’s not me saying that Boston’s chances of success against Cleveland next year haven’t improved, I’m just stating the obvious when I say that Lebron James is a completely different animal in the NBA Playoffs and I guarantee anyone that he and his princes won’t allow Boston to advance farther than the Conference Finals.
However, we’ve seen many cinderella stories throughout NBA history. For example, who could forget the 8th seeded New York Knicks from 1999 that made it all the way to the NBA Finals (they lost, sadly)? It’s happened before, so anything is possible for Boston.
And again, Hayward and Stevens know what it’s like to be counted out and still succeed. This reunion could mean more than just extra fan excitement and a better regular season, it could be destined for an 18th Championship.
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I don’t want to be responsible for Boston fans’ hopes being let up come next postseason, but how can I help myself? It’s very exciting in Boston, and Hayward and Stevens clearly have unfinished business to take care of. Let’s just hope the glass slipper fits this time.