Guest on the show « The Old Man And The Three » by JJ Redick last February, Marcus Smart had returned to the Celtics’ 2018 Playoffs: a campaign that ended in elimination in the Conference Finals against LeBron James’ Cavs after a suffocating Game 7. According to him, the Celtics would have beaten the Warriors if they had qualified for the final. A tasty statement to come out of the closet, a few hours before the start of the Finals between… Boston and Golden State.
Casually, the Celtics have had good seasons for a while and performed regularly in the Playoffs. Despite everything, the threshold of the NBA Finals has been slipping away again and again under their feet since 2010. However, it is not for lack of trying, with several Conf ‘Finals disputed. This was particularly the case in 2018, a year when the Celtics were strong when they were not expected. Remember: that season was to be the Celtics’ first season as real contenders for the ring. In the offseason, Gordon Hayward came to strengthen the ranks and Kyrie Irving landed in Boston in a sensational trade with Isaiah Thomas. Add to that two nuggets to be developed with the “Jay Brothers”, the experience of Al Horford, the hustle of Marcus Smart, the ardor of Terry Rozier and you get a very fine team. Unfortunately, not everything will go as planned. From the first minutes of the resumption match, Gordon Hayward’s ankle left in a Y on a bad reception. Season over for the winger. The Celtics take their courage in both hands and go for a nice 2nd place, but lose Kyrie Irving to a knee injury. Without their two stars, the leprechauns were in no condition to shine in the Playoffs. And yet… Driven by their youth and benefiting from home advantage, they eliminated the Bucks after a 7-game fight before ending the Sixers’ run. Here they are in the Final of Conf ‘against the Cavs of King LeBron James. Admirable courage, the C’s will end up bowing after an epic series in 7 innings, smothered in their TD Garden by a simply royal BronBron. A series that obviously left the Greens with regrets because Marcus Smart still seemed bitter last February.
“If we had been in the Finals instead of LeBron in 2018, we would have certainly beaten Golden State. »
“If [the Celtics in 2018] went to the championship instead of LeBron… we definitely would have beat Golden State that year.”
— Marcus Smart in February
???? @OldManAndThreepic.twitter.com/iZd5615cvb
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) May 31, 2022
So we come to this statement from Marcus Intelligent. Of course, it’s impossible to know what could have happened if Boston qualified in 2018, even if Golden was the big favorite with his monstrous quartet. One thing is certain, however, this excerpt launches the confrontation perfectly on the eve of the first confrontation. And the story is well made, since we will find on both sides a lot of major players already present in 2018: Klay Thompson, Steph Curry or even Draymond Green will face Al Horford, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and of course Marcus Smart. Here is what promises us interesting “duels in the duel”: which of Draymond or Marcus will win the honorary title of watchdog of the series? Can the Jay Brothers make the Splash Brothers old fashioned? Who of youth or experience will take over? Come on, only a few more hours to wait.
Always nice to bring out this type of declas, especially to launch a series like the one that awaits us. Marcus can say what he wants, we will never know if he was right. To see now if the 2022 version of the Celtics will be able to give some credit to its prediction.
Source texte : « The Old Man And The Three »