Jamal Murray celebrates Denver's Game 3 win in the Western Conference Finals (from the NBA's official website)
Even Magic Johnson, the dry tweeter, reacted with a storm to the unusual outcome, and the way it happened. "In my 44 years in the NBA, I never thought I'd see a Boston team, a franchise that won 17 championships, break down like that. I know Celtics fans all over the world are now disgusted and broken. Miami dismantled them in Game 3." Commentator Charles Barkley also says, "This mental breakdown, it's embarrassing," Chuck said, "It was just a big embarrassment for the Celtics."
Indeed, it was a humiliating defeat. Beyond the fact that Boston is already 3-0 behind in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Celtics understand that they were defeated by 26 in front of the entire world and broke in the moment of truth after the 128-102 defeat in Miami in Game 3. Jaylen Brown admits, "I don't know where to start. It's definitely a disappointment - for the fans, for us, for the club. It's a group thing, for all of us. And in reality, it was just embarrassing."
Easier than expected. Vincent (Photo by Getty Images, Megan Briggs)
Where is he? Tatum (Photo by Getty Images, Megan Briggs)
Coach Joe Mazzulla, who has been criticized throughout the series, tried to take responsibility and argue that the debacle was his fault. "I should have been better, put them in a better position, put on a game plan, prepare them for the game," the coach said. I just didn't prepare them well, I didn't give them the right mentality, I have to do a better job, make sure they're strong enough, ready for the game."
Al Horford, one of Boston's longtime players, says the blame lies with the players: "Coach tries to be kind with us, but ultimately it falls on the players. We know what we need to do. We know the importance of this game, and what needs to be done. So I take responsibility for not having that." Jayson Tatum, who again disappointed, said: "We have to accept the situation, move forward, try to prepare for the next game, practice, do what needs to be done. Obviously we're in a tough situation, but we need to find some pride and recover from that."
Gabe Vincent tried to be polite at the end, saying that "we're not done yet, we have to get to four wins and we only have three, the Celtics are a strong team, they won't surrender easily" – to which Charles Barkley replied: "You probably didn't see the game tonight! Well trained and don't break? Look again at what happened here."
Experience the humiliation. Brown (Photo by Getty Images, Megan Briggs)
Miami is the first team to rank 8th and win a playoff game by more than 25 margins. It made an extraordinary journey, having barely made the playoffs, coming close to elimination in the play-in, yet moving forward, stunning Milwaukee, knocking out the Knicks, and now on the verge of completing the biggest sensation of all. Not the victory itself, but again, the way. "Are you a little surprised?" asked Miami center Bam Adebayo, who replied crushingly: "No! We just needed those ups and downs to get us ready for this playoffs. I'm not surprised. I see the work we're putting in. It's really not a market."
Gabe Vincent, who starred with a career-high 29 points, says it's about attitude. "We want a championship, our goal has never changed," he said, "We always go for the title, and this season is no different." Coach Spoelstra also knows that his team has a special character, driven by Jimmy Butler. According to the coach, "Jimmy and Bam have the fuel that feeds their friends with confidence. In moments of truth, Jimmy will give everything he wants on the court, and that's what everyone expects from him. And bam, too. The beauty is that everyone knows how special their relationship is, and its impact on the roster. They put a lot of life into the group around them, and that requires very strong emotional stability."
A bit of history: No team in the league has come back from falling behind 3-0 in the playoffs. In playoff history, there have never been two series that end in a sweep in regional finals. In league history, there have only been two teams that have been in last place in scoring average during the season and made it to the DeMar (Warriors in 1965 and Pistons in 1956), and Miami is about to complete that feat.
And of course, Jimmy Butler, the hot star who was once again there to tease the Celtics, with a moment in the pantheon when he signaled Boston players to take a timeout — a response to Hufford's movement from Game <>, when Boston was still leading and believing. But Miami shows a special glue. "You have to give them credit, they're playing great, above expectations," Boston said Brown, "They're hot right now, and you have to respect them for that. Vincent, Martin, Stross, Robinson. Players we're supposed to take over, and they give us a kick."
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