The Boston Celtics are looking to bounce back and win the 2024 NBA Finals in Game 5 on Monday night against the Dallas Mavericks. That's going to be easier said than done, though, after they got destroyed by the Mavs by a score of 122-84 in Game 4. If the C's do end up winning this series, it's likely going to be due in large part to Jayson Tatum and Joe Mazzulla.
Tatum hasn't exactly been playing his best basketball for Boston in the Finals (or the postseason as a whole, really), but he still has a chance to win the first championship of his career in Game 5. While there's clearly a lot on the line, Tatum shared an important message that Mazzulla relayed to the team ahead of their huge game against Dallas.
Jayson Tatum, Joe Mazzulla hoping to be smiling after Game 5
It's been tough for the Celtics to get too happy during their playoff run, because all season long, it's been championship or bust for them. Even once they made it to the playoffs, Boston has been heavily favored to beat every opponent they have come across, which makes losses like the one they suffered in Game 4 incredibly tough for the team to deal with.
Mazzulla knows that the heightened expectations have taken a toll on his team, but they are so close to reaching their final goal. With one more win over Dallas, they can raise Banner 18 at TD Garden. As we saw in Game 4, though, the pressure may have reached a boiling point for this team, which has now led to an interesting contest in Game 5.
The reminder from Mazzulla to smile amid the adversity they are currently facing is a good one. Sure, the Celtics would have ideally beaten the Mavs in Game 4 to win their first title since 2008, but the fact that they didn't is not the end of the world. They built a commanding 3-0 lead in the series to give them a bit of a margin for error, even if they wouldn't have to use it in a perfect world.
While many fans will suggest the sky is falling after their horrific loss in Game 4, the Celtics are still in control of this series for the time being. It's important to not get too caught up in the weight of winning, which is precisely what Mazzulla is saying after it appeared that's what happened in Game 4.
Boston now has a shot to clinch a championship in front of their home fans at TD Garden, and if Tatum can put together a big outing, there's a decent chance that will end up happening. Taking Mazzulla's message to heart could be the key for the Celtics, and it will be interesting to see whether or not it ends up leading to the long-awaited 18th title in franchise history.
Follow Us
Subscribe