The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Play it again: Celtics advance to face Heat
With rout of 76ers, Boston gets rematch with Miami in East.
BOSTON — As the Celtics’ 11288 Game 7 rout of the 76ers began to crystallize late in the third quarter, a Boston fan toting a neon pink inflatable flamingo held up a sign that read, “See you in Miami!”
Celtics vs. Heat: The rematch is now officially set for the Eastern Conference finals.
Last season, the Celtics had a 3-2 series lead over Miami in the NBA’S version of the final four before losing Game 6. Boston then came within a late missed jumper by Miami’s Jimmy Butler of seeing its season end in Game 7 before eventually holding on to advance to the NBA Finals.
Following a championship-round loss to Golden State, this season was themed “Unfinished Business” for this latest incarnation of the Celtics as they long to get another shot at the franchise’s 18th title.
They’re hoping to carry the momentum and lessons from Sunday’s blowout win over Philadelphia into what they expect to be another slugfest with the Heat. The teams split their four regular-season matchups.
“We had another opportunity today, as a team and for myself, just to kind of bounce back,” said Jayson Tatum, whose 51 points were the most ever in a Game 7. “I was relieved, I was happy about that, just to get another chance because our season could have been over in Game 6. Just being in another Game 7 . ... I was really excited, just for the moment.”
Tatum’s heroics topped the mark set by Stephen Curry in the Warriors’ first-round win over Sacramento just two weeks ago. It also silenced critics who began to doubt Tatum following back-to-back games in which he had trouble finding the scoring punch that put him in the MVP conversation this season.
“When he plays a wellrounded game, our team is different,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said.
Boston entered just 7-9 in its last 16 home playoff games but outscored Philadelphia 33-10 in the third quarter. That 23-point margin was the largest in any Game 7 quarter in league history.
The Celtics, who have played in more Game 7s than any team in NBA history, improved to 27-9 in those winner-take-all contests.
League MVP Joel Embiid, who became a force for the 76ers in the second half of the season after Tatum had been among the frontrunners in the first half, had nothing but praise for Tatum and the potential for the Celtics to represent the East again in the finals. “I think they’re probably the best team in the league,” Embiid said.
What might have been most impressive about getting past Philadelphia was how the Celtics adjusted to win the final two games of the series.
First, Boston benefited from pleas from the players and the ultimate decision by Mazzulla to insert Robert Williams III into the lineup to play alongside fellow big man Al Horford. Then, the Celtics made the tactical adjustment to use Williams as a third defender on the pickand-rolls between Embiid and James Harden, forcing tougher looks for both.
Now the Celtics will look to formulate a game plan to stop a Miami team that has fought its way back to the conference finals thanks to some epic performances by its biggest star, Butler.