LET'S FUCKING GO!!!!!!!
Not only was today a MASSIVE internet day (#TeamHank), but the Boston Celtics had a must-win basketball game against the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks. By the grace of God via Al Horford and Jayson Tatum, they're going back to Boston tied 2-2.
Ladies, gentlemen, and theys, we've got ourselves a mother fucking series.
Going into Milwaukee, the goal was to make it back to Boston tied 2-2 and reclaim home-court advantage. Goes without saying that you'd love to be up 3-1, but I wasn't banking on that happening. I respect the shit out of the Bucks. They're a great team that's been through it before. Giannis gets to play like he's Lorenzo Neal; it's fine. Despite a Pawn Stars meme I made going into the series, I knew this would be a battle.
Even with their terrible third quarter, where the Bucks outscored the Celtics 34-17, game three was there for the taking. Given the questionable officiating and the performance the C's got out of Al Horford (22, 16, and 5), it felt like a missed opportunity. Sure, Jayson Tatum had one of the worst games of his career, shooting 4/19 for just 10 points, but the C's had a lead with less than a minute left and had a chance to extend their slim lead on a possession with multiple offensive rebounds...once they didn't score there, you knew they weren't gonna survive that sequence. This isn't even about my +1000 live ML bet going into the 4th quarter losing. Idc about that, I just want a ring, and that's still entirely possible after tonight.
The Celtics did not come out like a team in a nearly must-win situation to start game four. They played so sloppy, that you'd think they just left Truffoni's. But like they've done all year, they battled back; taking a brief lead in the 2nd quarter and were down just a point at halftime. The Bucks had another solid third and got the lead up to 11. A Derrick White three late in the quarter cut the Bucks' lead to 7, and despite a gross game from basically everybody but Al Horford up to that point, the C's were very much alive.
The Celtics had 12 minutes to save their season, and man, did they ever. Literally a historic 4th quarter effort for the Green Bleeders.
IF the Celtics go on to win their 18th NBA Title next month, that quarter deserves at least a three-minute segment on the championship Blu-Ray (if they even make those anymore). Much like game three, the Boston came out hot. This time with a quick 10-0 run to tie it at 80 with the moment of the night and possibly series.
Then it was pretty back and forth due to a bullshit tech called on the moment of the night and possibly series-----until about five and half minutes left when Al hit a three to put the C's up one, 95-94. It was a lead they'd never relinquish.
Al Horford's 30 points (a playoff career-high) is easily the night's story, but Jayson Tatum deserves plenty of credit for putting the game away; 12 fourth-quarter points, highlighted by this three ball.
It's been a see-saw battle. Neither team has won back-to-back games, and this series is far from over, but you have to love the heart and grit the C's showed late with their backs against the wall. Marcus had some huge buckets late to keep their flame going. S/o everybody, but I'll give Derrick White even more love for his defense. You can't do much better than this.
Boston is 2-0 this series with a starter missing which begs the question, who's sitting out Wednesday? lol jk, I want all our guys, but man, am I fucking jazzed up right now. I haven't said much about Jaylen cause he wasn't out there much. In just 32 minutes due to foul trouble, he still had a respectable 18 on an efficient 5/11 thanks to a perfect night on the line. It was gonna be a terrible drive home from my grandma's (where the Celts are now 3-0 when I watch a playoff game there) if the C's were on death's doorstep, but thanks to Al and the boys (minus Theis), they're still alive and have two chances at home to win two games.
It's not going to be easy, but we can soak this one in for the rest of the night and tomorrow. I love this team! It's crazy they're even in this position after being 18-21 on January 6th. This tweet says it all.
10 more wins.
P.S.
s/o John Mayer at the Garden tonight
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