Celtics Win 2024 NBA Title vs. Mavs, Fans Hype Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown Legacies
Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacek
Featured Columnist IVJune 18, 2024
Eighteen.
No team in NBA history has won as many championships as the Boston Celtics, who added their 18th banner and broke the tie with the rival Los Angeles Lakers with Monday's commanding 106-88 victory over the Dallas Mavericks in Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden.
The closeout game was more of a coronation for a core group of Celtics winning their first championship than a truly competitive game. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown helped lead the franchise to five of the last seven Eastern Conference Finals and finally reached the mountaintop with Monday's performance.
Tatum was spectacular with 31 points, 11 assists, eight rebounds and two steals, while Brown added 21 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two steals on his way to the NBA Finals MVP.
The duo also drew plenty of reaction from social media:
Arash Madani @ArashMadaniIs this the greatest Celtics team ever?<br> <br>Regular season mark of 64-18.<br> <br>None of the 17 previous championship teams had a better playoff record. They've had only three postseason losses in 2024.<br> <br>And now, four Hall of Famers (Horford, Holiday, Tatum, Brown) are on the roster.
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBSI can't find it in me to dislike this Celtics title. I can't root against a team based on city.<br><br>Celtics did everything right. They drafted their centerpieces. Aggressively built an awesome and likable supporting cast. Overcame years of disappointments. Worthy and fun champs.
It was fairly clear how Game 5 would end in the early going.
Boston ripped off a 9-0 run to end the first quarter with Sam Hauser hitting a three and the Tatum-Brown combination finishing transition opportunities. The crowd reached a fever point as the avalanche continued with Jrue Holiday providing secondary scoring, Kristaps Porziņģis returning for the first time since Game 2 and the two stars stuffing the stat sheet.
Just when it looked like things couldn't get worse for the Mavericks, Payton Pritchard drained a half-court shot at the buzzer to give the Celtics a 21-point halftime lead.
Any chance at a comeback would have required vintage performances from Dallas' two stars, but those never came. Luka Dončić couldn't find his stroke from deep despite contributing in other areas on his way to 28 points, 12 rebounds and four assists, while Kyrie Irving shot an ugly 5-of-16 from the field against his former team.
They couldn't match Tatum, who was the best player on the floor for extended stretches and continued to show a willingness to facilitate even with an NBA Finals MVP hanging in the balance. That passing helped ensure the Celtics had an answer for any glimmer of hope for the Mavericks.
Boston's defense also deserves plenty of credit.
Dallas didn't even score during the first three minutes of the fourth quarter as seemingly every shot was contested. Even Derrick White blocked a Dereck Lively II dunk attempt at the rim.
Throw in Tatum taking over as a scorer on the offensive end in the fourth quarter, and all that was left to do was party for the Celtics and their fans.
And now they stand alone with the most championships in NBA history.