After going 12-2 in the playoffs this season on their way to the NBA Finals, the Boston Celtics are facing some harsh criticism as they await the start of the next round of the playoffs.
Much of this criticism has revolved around Boston's road to the NBA Finals, where the Celtics beat three teams plagued by significant injuries: the Heat, Cavaliers and Pacers.
While a team like the Dallas Mavericks is on the brink of an NBA Finals berth after beating the 51-win Clippers and 57-win Thunder (and losing the series to the 56-win Timberwolves 3-1), Boston's three series wins have come against teams with 46 wins (Miami), 48 wins (Cleveland) and 47 wins (Indiana).
Warriors forward Draymond Green hasn't been shy about calling out opposing players or teams throughout his career, but the outspoken Golden State veteran defended the Celtics during a recent discussion about Boston's path to the championship game.
“The Celtics went to the Finals with only two losses and everybody's saying, 'Their road wasn't that tough,'” Green said on the latest episode of “The Draymond Green Show.” “I don't think the Eastern Conference is that tough, to be honest with you, but I went to the NBA Finals and didn't lose a game in the process. Nobody's going to say our road wasn't that tough. So don't say, 'The Boston Celtics' road isn't that tough.'”
The Celtics benefited from their opponents losing key members, beating the Jimmy Butler-less Heat in five games. Boston also beat Cleveland in five games, but the Cavs were without Jarrett Allen for all five games and Donovan Mitchell for Games 4 and 5.
Boston beat the Pacers in their closest four-game series in recent memory, while Indiana's season ended with star guard Tyrese Haliburton missing Games 3 and 4 with a hamstring injury.
But Green disagrees that the Celtics haven't been tested in the postseason this season. Boston has won some close games and upset an 18-point deficit against Indiana, but most of that upset came without the injured Kristaps Porzingis.
“[Critics say] “They're game-dead,” Green added. “Whether they go to the NBA Finals and win or lose is not going to be because they're game-dead. I'll be very clear with you: You can't go to the NBA Finals and not have game-dead the whole year. Not this time.
“I want to congratulate them on their run,” Green added. “Whoever was in front of them, they beat them. They missed some games that I don't think they should have missed, and yet they made it to the NBA Finals with two losses.”
The Celtics will get a chance to prove even more doubters wrong next week, when Game 1 of the NBA Finals begins at TD Garden on June 6.
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