Celtics vs. Mavericks in NBA Finals

Just like we all predicted.

Much has been made about the Boston Celtics perceived easy path to the NBA Finals, which is fair. Their first round foe, the Miami Heat, were missing their star player Jimmy Butler. Their second round opponent, the Cleveland Cavs, were missing their star Donovan Mitchell (and others).

And in the Eastern Conference Finals, they were dealt an overachieving Indiana Pacers squad which, by the end of the series, was missing Tyrese Haliburton. But this is nothing new. In fact, this has been the way of the NBA. Oftentimes, it’s not (just) the best team in the league that’s left standing, but the healthiest. 

Not to mention that the Celtics, for their part, have been missing one of their starters, Kristaps Porzingis too. But many times NBA champions have benefited from some injury luck along the path to their title.

The 1986-1987 Celtics dealt with injuries to just about every starter, allowing the Los Angeles Lakers to win the championship that year. The Raptors earned their first title in 2019, after Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson suffered injuries for the Golden State Warriors. 

Other examples include:

• 1958 Hawks (Bill Russell injury)

• 1971 Bucks (Gus Johnson injury)

• 1988 Lakers (Isiah Thomas injury)

• 1989 Pistons (Magic Johnson injury)

• 1991 Bulls (James Worthy and Byron Scott injuries)

• 1999 Spurs (Patrick Ewing injury)

• 2015 Warriors (Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love injuries)

• 2020 Lakers (Bam Adebayo and Gorgan Dragic injuries)

• 2021 Bucks (Kyrie Irving and James Harden injuries)

This doesn’t even mention the layoff the Lakers had in 2020, due to Covid-19, allowing them to be healthy for the bubble playoffs. Or 2016, where Draymond Green’s suspension, and even Andrew Bogut’s injury, swung the entire series. There was even a Derrick Rose injury in 2012 for the top-seeded Bulls and a Ja Morant injury in 2022 for the No. 2 seeded Grizzles.

It’s what happens… hence load management’s increased popularity over the years. Injuries have always impacted the NBA playoffs, this is nothing new. Plus, it’s not like the Celtics were a fringe playoff team. They had the best record in the league this season, winning seven more games than anyone else. 

The Celtics were the preseason favorite to win the NBA championship, based off of Vegas odds, and remained the favorite following the conclusion of the regular season.

Only 14 teams can say that since 1990, with 11 of them winning the title. So this shouldn’t be some sort of shock. Furthemore, the Celtics were underdogs just three times all season, which is tied for the fewest by any team to reach the Finals this century. If the Celtics get past the Mavericks, the title will still be earned.

The Mavericks have the best player in the series, and one of the best players in the league, in Luka Doncic. While the Celtics, meanwhile, will attempt to become the first NBA Champions since the 2014 San Antonio Spurs to win it all, despite not rostering a top five player in the league. 

As the series gets set to tip-off tonight, remember: this is nothing new for the NBA.