Boston Celtics protects dwelling courtroom, already an enchancment from final 12 months

The 2024-25 NBA Playoffs are already off to a greater begin for the Boston Celtics than final 12 months after the Celtics received each of their opening video games of Spherical 1.

Because the two-seed, they earned the fitting to have dwelling courtroom benefit till the staff reaches the convention finals (assuming that you simply play the No. 1 seed). For many groups who begin the collection on the street, the purpose is to win one of many two street video games to flip dwelling courtroom benefit. Within the first spherical final 12 months, the Miami Warmth took Recreation 2 after Boston received the primary sport by 20. After shedding the second sport by 10, all of the momentum appeared to have shifted to Miami, particularly after they defeated Boston the 12 months prior in seven video games, a collection the place Boston stored shedding at dwelling. Fortunately for Boston, they received the subsequent three video games to shut out the collection.

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Within the second spherical, it was déjà vu another time. Boston took Recreation 1 by 25 factors after which took the foot off the fuel in Recreation 2 and misplaced by 24 factors to the Cleveland Cavaliers. It created a sample of letting ‘inferior’ opponents again into the collection.

When the Orlando Magic received their Play-In sport, my thoughts went again to the earlier matchups towards the Magic. A lot of the video games had been bodily throughout the common season and that physicality has continued into the playoffs.

I didn’t anticipate the Celtics to brush Orlando and in each video games, they had been in it till the top. However successful at house is tremendous necessary if the staff desires to get again to the Finals. In Recreation 1, with the vitality from the group, it felt just like the Celtics would have sufficient to win.

Nonetheless, within the second sport, the Magic upped the physicality and with out Jayson Tatum, Boston had to verify they didn’t get punked on their dwelling courtroom. Joe Mazzulla is all about studying from previous errors and capitalizing and successful the opening two video games to go to Orlando up 2-0 is a good lesson realized.

Not solely is it useful for Boston to win their dwelling video games, however it will probably additionally deflate their opposition’s hopes. Within the opening sport, Paolo Banchero had 36 factors on 14-27 capturing whereas teammate Franz Wagner netted 23. The 2 of them had been making each robust basket, however they nonetheless ended up falling brief. On Wednesday, it was an analogous story,; they threw their finest punch at Boston and it nonetheless wasn’t sufficient. Now, they return dwelling in a gap needing a win.

Kristaps Porzingis, who’s beloved by the Boston trustworthy, talked about enjoying on the parquet.

“There’s no higher place to do it. The largest stage, and getting all of this love. That is what I dreamed of,” Porzingis stated.

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House courtroom is significant for Boston for a lot of causes. Nonetheless, one cause that not many individuals are speaking about is due to their away file. The Celtics had the perfect street file in all the NBA at 33-8, which is unbelievable. Though the Celtics are street warriors, the extra they’ll win at TD Backyard, it makes it even simpler and doesn’t put that strain on them considering they should win a certain quantity of video games on the street.

This matchup is much from over however with a 2-0 lead, the strain is on Orlando to come back again to Boston with the collection tied whereas Boston will look to return to Boston having superior to the second spherical.