Ever since the Boston Celtics began their 2024 postseason run, people have been trying to discredit them. They stormed through the regular season and dominated the playoffs, yet some are still trying to make light of their incredible accomplishments last season. And not just any people: People who work in the space.
Almost all of the conversations on television and podcasts were about how the Celtics had an easy road to a championship. Once they won, that was the excuse people used to diminish all they had achieved. Even now, months later, some are refusing to give them their flowers.
And that group even includes an NBA legend. (H/t Rob Greene of SI)
Shaquille O’Neal discrediting the Celtics is lame
During a recent appearance on The OGs Show, former Celtic and NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal made light of the Celtics’ path to the title.
“We all know that Boston had the easiest run ever to that championship,” O’Neal said.
In some capacity, he’s right. The Celtics had an easy path to the NBA Finals. Jimmy Butler was injured when they played the Miami Heat. Jarrett Allen was injured when they played the Cleveland Cavaliers. Tyrese Haliburton missed time when they played the Indiana Pacers. But what could the Celtics do about that?
Boston can only control how they play, not who they play. And they weren’t fully healthy, either. Kristaps Porzingis missed almost the entire playoff run.
Even the Dallas Mavericks were a pretty good matchup for the Celtics. But not in the eyes of the national media.
An overwhelming number of people picked the Mavs to beat the Celtics in the Finals—including O’Neal himself. He projected the Celtics to lose in the Finals, yet he’s now saying they had the easiest run to a championship ever. How does that make any sense?
Also, why are the Celtics being slandered because they were dominant? Other teams have gotten lucky in the playoffs, too.
The 2023 Denver Nuggets didn’t have to play a single 50-win team in the postseason when they won a title. The 2019 Toronto Raptors got to play an injured Golden State Warriors team in the Finals. The 2021 Milwaukee Bucks avoided Kyrie Irving and James Harden against the Brooklyn Nets and got to play the Atlanta Hawks in the conference finals.
Luck comes into play every single season when a team wins a championship. It’s part of the game.
Boston won 64 games in the regular season. Their dominance was proven. And when people picked the Mavs to beat them in the Finals, they still dominated.
But the discrediting continues. And it always will.
Lucky? Sure. Every team gets luck. But discrediting the Celtics’ title is ridiculous.
