Lessons from Celtics-Mavericks Game 1: Just Win

The Boston Celtics showcased both their highest highs and lowest lows in a single quarter during Game 1 of the NBA Finals. While it didn’t end up mattering in the grand scheme, it raises the question: will this inconsistency ever matter?

Game Recap: Celtics 107, Mavericks 89

What if the Boston Celtics don’t fix their biggest issue of blowing massive leads and still win the NBA Finals?

This thought struck me after Game 1, which highlighted the Celtics' tendency to turn insurmountable leads into manageable deficits. Although it didn’t ultimately matter in this game, it opens up the amusing possibility that the Celtics could win it all without ever addressing this flaw.

Last season, the Celtics frequently lost games like this, albeit with smaller leads. It’s not a unique problem to the Celtics; professional NBA teams often make comebacks driven by adrenaline and their opponents letting up.

I’m not criticizing the Celtics for easing up because they didn’t intentionally do so. It’s human nature. I assure you this conversation did not happen during a Celtics timeout at the end of the first half:

Jrue Holiday: “Okay guys, we’re up almost 30. I think we should probably stop trying now.”

Jayson Tatum: “Yeah, that’s probably the polite thing to do.”

Derrick White: “If they get it back to single digits, we can start trying again, right?”

Jaylen Brown: “Indubitably.”

Joe Mazzulla: “This is like Season 3 of Cobra Kai when Robbie felt bad, so he stoppe—”

Kristaps Porzingis: “Not right now, Joe.”

The Celtics realized they were up by 29 and subconsciously began playing a different sport. In a close Finals game, your life is on the line, and you play with natural urgency and intensity. But up by that much, the killer instinct isn’t natural.

To date, there’s no stat showing “how often (player/team X) went up by 25 or more in the first half and didn’t allow their opponent to cut the lead down to 20 or fewer,” but it would be an interesting addition to the LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan debate.

Despite coaches’ efforts, you can’t manufacture desperation. Luka Doncic made shots because he had to, while the Celtics missed because they didn’t have to. Celtics fans will tell you this team has had bigger problems than human nature. Blowing leads of 10-20 points didn’t feel like a result of major schematic changes but rather a deer-in-the-headlights reaction, expecting the other team to give up while their opponents kept playing.

This is purely conjecture, but it might resonate with many fans. It seems the timing of the Celtics’ leads might be a factor in their disappearance. Their talent mismatch often allows them to demolish opponents early, flipping the mental switch too soon and leaving too much time for the opponent to make a comeback.

Three-point variance also plays a significant role. The Celtics’ heavy reliance on threes can lead to massive leads, but as the game progresses, this advantage often stabilizes.

The TD Garden crowd is like an Apple Watch, analyzing every piece of data about the Celtics. Any change in the Celtics’ rhythm triggers a stress alert, creating a feedback loop of anxiety that can lead to a collapse.

Fortunately, the Celtics corrected course last night, securing a dominant win with minutes to spare. Despite their propensity to blow leads, they could still win the championship due to their sheer talent and mathematical advantage.

This is the essence of Mazzulla Ball: many traditional NBA pitfalls don’t apply. Even if they blow leads, the Celtics can still win by leveraging their three-point shooting and overall talent.

I've spent countless hours worrying about the Celtics’ lack of killer instinct, celebrating when they do slam the door shut. Game 1 was a weird combination of both, leading me to stop worrying. The Celtics could blow every lead imaginable, and it might not matter.

The real question is: does it even matter?

The Celtics are three wins away from an NBA championship. If they weren’t going to lose after the Mavericks cut the lead to eight, the “blowing leads” narrative might not hold much water. The Celtics could choke away three more leads and still win due to their talent.

Ultimately, it doesn’t matter how the Celtics win. Just win. Whatever it takes, just win.

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.