The Boston Celtics will be excited for a special game seven opportunity in TD Garden
The Boston Celtics are much younger than any second seed should be, and those young players have some of the biggest roles on the team. The most interesting part of their youth is that they are actually decently experienced, and that has given them some solid perspective for this game seven.
Al Horford, Terry Rozier, Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown all had to deal with multiple game sevens last season, so they know exactly what they should be expecting from TD Garden. The best part is that these players also seem to be aware of what it means to pay a game seven in TD Garden, and they are all ready to maintain the best home court in the history of the NBA.
The Celtics have won more game sevens at home than any other team, and there is not a single legend of this franchise that has not made his mark in a game seven in TD Garden. The Celtics know what kind of opportunity they have for the playoffs, and for their careers in this one.
The Celtics know that they could have closed this series earlier, but now they get to see how valuable the regular season can be, because it can completely change a mindset playing in TD Garden, as opposed to any other court in the NBA.
More from Hardwood Houdini
- Boston Celtics’ two-way contract decision will be made after training camp
- Proposed trade sends Boston Celtics playoff killer to the Cs from rival
- ‘Face of Germany’s stunning run’ in FIBA World Cup not the only ex-Boston Celtics player to win gold
- Proposed Boston Celtics trade target pitched for reunion with fired coach
- Battle For Banner 18: Will Boston Celtics battle historical foe in 2024 Finals?
Horford has an even more special relationship with game sevens in TD Garden, because he has also been on the other side. Before the Celtics won their last championship in 2008, they had to fight through a seven game series against the Atlanta Hawks, a team that Horford was on.
Horford has felt the intimidating of having to win a game seven in this building, and he has won with that confidence behind him. It is impossible to quantify, but Horford knows that it his responsibility to elevate himself and his teammates for what could be the best experience of a lot of young careers.
Brown, who is not quite as familiar with the stage as Horford, is embracing the situation just as much. He also sees what a special opportunity this is for so may young players: “We got a lot of young guys looking to make a name. And it’s the perfect time and a perfect stage. I think everybody is excited about it. So I can’t wait to get out there.” (Via Slam)
Brown has separated himself from the rest of the young guys at times, but this moment is something greater. The Celtics have a lot of young guys that have been up and down in these playoffs, who are still trying to prove they need to be a permanent fixture in the future of this team.
The young players also need to prove they can be the leaders that will step up in the most important moments, and you will not find a better opportunity than this for so many young players.
They get to do this at home, behind the best crowd in the NBA. They get to do it with minimal pressure, because of the injuries, and they get to have a lot of control, because the state of the roster.
Next: Keys to a game seven victory
Young players are not supposed to get these kinds of opportunities, and the Celtics are going to embrace every minute of it. It is hard not to get excited for a game seven in TD Garden, and this is a great time for the young players on this team to make it mean even more than a first round series victory.