(Photo : Dylan Buell/Getty Images) INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – MAY 27: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics accepts the The Larry Bird Trophy earning the Eastern Conference Finals MVP after winning Game Four of the Eastern Conference Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 27, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The brooms are out as the Boston Celtics swept the Indiana Pacers on Monday night through a 105-102 Game 4 win.
The Celts, who have now reached the NBA finals for the second time in three years, showed dominance and poise in all those four games.
They came in as favorites but the Pacers surely made life harder for them.
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Game 1 went to OT and the next one was a grind-it-out type of battle. Games 3 and 4 were just as hard as the Celtics trailed for the most part before pulling off a gritty victory.
The usual suspects led the team. Jayson Tatum became just the fifth player to lead his team in points, rebounds, and assists on the way to the NBA finals.
Jrue Holiday improved from the first two series as he led the team through his clutch plays down the stretch.
Jaylen Brown, adjudged the Eastern Conference Finals MVP, was consistent all throughout, stepping up big time whenever Tatum has an off day.
They are now waiting for the winner of the series between the Dallas Mavericks and the Minnesota Timberwolves where the former is leading 3-0 and could be head to a sweep, too.
The Celtics still don’t have someone to dance with the NBA finals but their title shot is already riped with many interesting and intriguing storylines.
Here’s five of them:
1. Jaylen Brown proves he’s no. 1
Tatum takes the spotlight for the Celtics for most of the time even if coach Joe Mazzulla and other players insist that they got to where they are now because of team effort.
JB already won the East Finals MVP and if ever he wins the NBA Finals MVP, there is a conversation to be had.
Is Celtics still Tatum’s team?
2. Kyrie Irving versus old team
If the Dallas Mavericks advance to the last dance, that means a reunion between the Celts and Kyrie Irving although the star point guard will be on the other end of the court now.
His relationship with his former team is not that pretty. Many Boston fans hate him and he’s shown before that the feeling is mutual.
3. Jayson Tatum is America’s hope
Tatum has some chips on his shoulder. His team has the best record and yet he is not in the conversations for MVP.
Winning the title and the Finals MVP can prove naysayers wrong at once.
This will also allow him to take the Best active American NBA player tag which right now goes to Anthony Edwards after his victory over the defending champions Denver Nuggets.
If it is Luka Doncic that advances, nothing will change. Tatum besting him will only mean that the crown is worn by an American again.
4. The battle for face of the league
Who’s the next face of the league? Again, Antman has more hype compared to Tatum or Brown.
Luka Doncic is within Top 5 of the best in the league and beating him can only accelerate Tatum or Brown’s status as the face of the league.
5. Jrue Holiday wins 2nd ring before Bucks, Giannis
Milwaukee Bucks let Jrue Holiday go to get Damian Lillard. They bowed out in the first round.
Holiday expressed disappointment over the Bucks front office’s decision to release him.
It will be interesting to see that he wins a second title to eclipse the organization’s 2021 championship title.
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