Boston Celtics: 2 unsung studs from C’s NBA Finals clinching win in Miami
By Mark Nilon
The Boston Celtics were 20-21 through their first 41 games played in the regular season and saw themselves slotted right outside of the playoff picture heading into the second half of the campaign.
Now… THEY’RE HEADING TO THE FRICKEN 2022 NBA FINALS!
It was a tough road, but the C’s finally managed to get over the hump that, three times throughout the past six seasons, had cut their run a bit short. That said, it’s not like Game 7 was a walk in the park for Boston to get through.
In fact, it was anything but.
Though the shamrocks led the entire way, and even got out to a double-digit lead early on in the first, the Heat clawed their way back into the contest and made all of Celtics nation sweat down to the dwindling seconds of the contest.
Going on an 11-0 run during the final stretch, Miami had a chance to tie the game, or even take the lead with just under 20 seconds to go in regulation.
Star wing Jimmy Butler, who was firing on all cylinders all night long (finished with 35 points and nine boards on 54 percent shooting from deep) opted to try for the latter outcome and pulled up for a transition trey after getting a bit of separation from a back-peddling Al Horford.
Luckily for Boston, the shot fell short and was ultimately rebounded by Jaylen Brown who outlet passed it to Marcus Smart where he was then fouled, drained two free throws, and, in the end, clinched a hard-fought 100-96 victory for the No. 2 seed.
Eight players saw time on the hardwood Sunday evening, many of whom played major roles in the team’s advancement to the championship round. Of these players, we at HH view 2, in particular, as providing unbelievably studly efforts that wound up leading to the C’s NBA Finals clinching win in Miami: