Celts
There's no getting around it. Game 4 was an absolute disaster for the Celtics.
They suffered their worst NBA Finals defeat ever, losing 122-84 in a massacre that was as one-sided because it sounds.
But as is the case after most embarrassing defeats, there is commonly a silver lining.
In this case, it's because of Celtics radio commentator Sean Grande. Grande noted at 1:06 that the Celtics' last three championship teams all lost a vital road game before clinching the title in the subsequent game in Boston.
The losses may not have been quite as devastating, but they still occurred.
In 1984, the Lakers beat the Celtics 119-108 in Game 6 in Los Angeles, then Boston closed the series with a 111-102 home win.
Two years later, in 1986, the Rockets beat the Celtics 111-96 in Game 5 in Houston. Boston then dominated Game 6 114-97 to win the sport in convincing fashion.
In 2008, the Lakers beat the Celtics 103-98 in Game 5 in Los Angeles, then Boston crushed Los Angeles 131-92 in Game 6 to secure seventeenth place.
This victory over the Celtics was the second-highest victory (39) in a Finals game of all time. Only the Bulls' victory over the Jazz (42) in 1998 was higher. Friday's game was one point closer.
If the Celtics do find yourself on top, their 38-point loss could be probably the most of any championship-winning team, surpassing Miami in 2013 (36 points in Game 3).
Grande also noted that June seventeenth is the date the Celtics won their last title in 2008, so in the event that they manage to finish the title it’s going to be 16 years to the day. In the years since then they’ve lost No. 6 Bill Russell, No. 17 John Havlicek and No. 24 Sam Jones.
Perhaps crucial statistic of all, in fact, is that NBA teams have a 156-0 record once they take a 3-0 lead in an NBA playoff series.
Game 5 will happen on Monday at 8:30 p.m. in Boston.
image credit : www.boston.com