By Harvey Hoffman
The Boston media aren’t typically as fawning as some cities, but the Pats Super Bowls, the Red Sox World Series and the Celtics NBA finals have given the Beantown scribes lots to prause.
Not always, though.
Here’s what Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy wrote.
They care about All-NBA and Subway sandwiches and social media love. But while playing for an organization that expects clutch plays and championships, they have done little to indicate they are anything more than posers.
There is still time for the 2022-23 Celtics to redeem themselves. It’s time for the two Jays (Jayson Tatum and Brown) to step up. This is supposed to be their time, but now they are on the threshold of an epic fail.
These Celtics could be like the 2004 Red Sox and pull off a miraculous comeback when all seems lost. They could win Thursday night in Philly, then come back to win again here Sunday, advance to the conference finals and eventually win banner 18 against the Nuggets, Suns, Lakers or Warriors.
How is this possible? We all keep saying that Boston is the best team still playing in the NBA tournament. The Celtics have more good players than anyone left standing. They are (were) Vegas favorites to win the title. They got to the Finals last year, led, 2-1 before failing and Brad Stevens added Malcolm Brogdon to an already talented mix.
But now there is trouble on Causeway Street. And we are suddenly afraid that the Celts might be infected with the poison that blew up the Bruins, who checked out in round one of the NHL playoffs after the greatest regular season in league history.
Seriously. Is this happening again? Is Boston doomed to another awful upset?
