Celtics vs. Warriors: Boston can still be NBA champions, but it’s going to have to show us something

June 16, 2022 World Sports

There may still be hope for the Boston Celtics. But their best chance to claim another banner sits firmly in the past.

Sure, yes, of course — Boston can technically still win this series if they hold homecourt in Game 6 Thursday night and then go back to San Francisco and then post a W on the Warriors’ home floor Sunday night in Game 7.

However they find themselves on the brink of elimination because they have betrayed the surge of resilience and star-squashing defense that got them here. Shutting down, and pushing past, Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jimmy Butler are impressive victories. Dealing with Steph Curry — and the real, brutal, rare, surprising effect of trying to win an NBA title — is something else entirely.

Call it pressure. Call it fear. Call it the moment that separates the talented from the winners, the professionals from the champions. Whatever it is, it beat the Celtics the last two games as much as Curry & Co. did.