BOSTON — The NBA Finals are a unique occasion. Every year, two of the NBA’s 30 teams battle it out on the biggest stage, competing to earn ultimate glory for their organization. It’s a special experience that few players get to be a part of.
The Boston Celtics are refusing to treat it as such.
They wholly understand the magnitude of the moment. They appreciate where they are at and how they got there. But when the game clock starts in Game 1 on Thursday, they won’t act like they’re in the Finals.
“What goes into winning a playoff game is no different than a regular season game,” Joe Mazzulla said after practice on Friday. “So, you just have to have a heightened awareness to the details, to the effort, to the execution, amongst all the things that are at stake.”
In the playoffs, teams and players are revered for their willingness to do whatever it takes to win. The Celtics have lived that mindset, but they haven’t expressed it in the way people are used to seeing it.
Historically, it takes shape in the form of Michael Jordan bullying his teammates, Kobe Bryant’s infamous practice routines, and now, Anthony Edwards and Luka Doncic’s visceral killer instincts.
For the Celtics, it’s taken the shape of doing all the boring things — and just doing them better.
“Once you get rid of the fact that you’re playing in the Finals and playing for a chance to win, it comes down to rebounding, transition defense, offensive execution, knowing your personnel, situational basketball, and the team that’s playing the hardest, the team that gets the most offensive rebounds,” said Mazzulla. “Like, it’s very, very simple.
“[But] just because it’s simple doesn’t mean it’s not really hard to do. And so, I think it is, not necessarily [that] the game plan isn’t simple, but the things that go into winning at this level are very, very simple. You just have to do them with a high level of physicality and discipline.”
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Mazzulla’s approach to the postseason is unusual. While focusing on consistency is normal, the Celtics’ treatment of this playoff run is unlike what some players are used to.
“I think it’s unique to this team because, I think just partially, based on how well we did during the regular season, how good we feel our team is, and the time that we had until the next game or competition,” Holiday said of if the simplistic mentality is something he’s experienced at his past stops. “I think before, for me, it was just about being consistent, which is still key now. But some things are just a little different now.”
Boston has been one of the best teams in the league all year. They have a 64-18 regular season behind them and now a 12-2 playoff run. But win or lose, they’ve treated every game the same. Every reaction, adjustment, and response has been level-headed.
It all boils down to Mazzulla’s emphasis on avoiding entitlement. And with the Finals staring the Celtics in the face, that point is more relevant than ever.
“You just can’t be entitled to think that you’re going to win a game or think that you’re going to be the harder playing team or think that you — like this whole thing about this entitlement towards success, that’s what the ‘no expectations’ is,” Mazzulla said. “You can’t go into this thinking that you’re going [or that] it’s going to be an easy road. It just takes what it takes.
“And so, as long as you stay open-minded to the journey and the process and all the details that go in, and then, at the same time, how you’re able to respond when something doesn’t go your way, that’s what you have to be ready for. And that’s any fight. That’s life.”
Since his introduction to the NBA, Mazzulla has been studying. He’s watched a ton of NBA Finals games. “Probably [going back to the] early 90s,” he said. And each time, the situation was different.
“When the Lakers beat the Magic, it was five games, but [in] three of them, they were losing with three minutes to go,” Mazzulla recalled. “Like, you just don’t know how it’s gonna go. If you spend more time worried about that your expectations weren’t met, you’re not able to be in the present and execute when it’s necessary.”
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Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images
In a few days, the Celtics will be making their second Finals appearance in three years. Last time around, they fell to a team with more experience, Golden State Warriors group that dominated an entire decade. Now, they have the experience.
But just because they’ve been here before doesn’t mean the moment is void of all anxiety. That feeling is still very present. It’s up to the Celtics to balance it with the methodical preparation that has gotten them to this point.
“There’s obviously excitement because we can’t wait to get to play and everything, but ultimately, we’re playing basketball,” said Al Horford. “The stakes are higher, but this is the position that we want to be in. This is what we’ve been talking about since the beginning of training camp, and we’re very fortunate to be in this position.”
The Dallas Mavericks are ready. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving are ready. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are ready. Everyone is ready. Now, it’s all about basketball.
And for the Celtics, they’re keeping it that simple.
“Both teams are going to make mistakes,” said Mazzulla. “Both teams are gonna get punched in the face. Both teams are going to have to respond. So, you have to have a level of that as well, and I think the team that’s able to withstand all that is the team that has the best chance.”