Los Angeles (AFP) – The Boston Celtics, who dominated the NBA season, got the better of the Dallas Mavericks (4-1) on the night of Monday to Tuesday Monday to win a record 18th title, bringing the Jayson Tatum/Jaylen Brown duo into the rich history of the Massachusetts franchise.
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Head in his hands, a beatific smile, tears in his eyes, Jayson Tatum savored the last moments of a match dominated from start to finish (106-88) which made him enter the history of the prestigious League, and allows the Celtics to overtake the ancestral rivals of the Los Angeles Lakers (17 titles) and regain leadership of the major NBA franchises.
“ Knowing that you are part of history… All the sacrifices are worth it. I will remember this night all my life, the match, the celebrations “, Tatum said.
Boston has in fact dressed in green teams that remain in the memories, led by legends of the game, including the pioneer Bill Russell, conqueror of the first title in 1957 and ten other rings until 1969, John Havlicek (eight titles including the next two in 1974 and 1976), then Larry Bird (titles in 1981, 1984 and 1986) before slowing down in the modern NBA.
The Kevin Garnett/Paul Pierce/Ray Allen trio offered the last trophy in 2008 before the cloverleaf franchise began its recent reconstruction with two players No. 3 in the draft: Jaylen Brown (27 years old) in 2016 and Jayson Tatum (26 years old) in 2017.
“Brother” and “accomplice”
Named MVP of the Finals, Jaylen Brown immediately saluted his “brother” and “accomplice” Tatum: the two “Jays”, inseparable, now make up the face of the Celtics and lead a complete squad that has marched on the NBA, first during the regular season (64 wins – 18 losses, best record), then during the play-offs (16 wins – 3 losses).
Skillful shooting, powerful approaching the circle and athletic defenders, the versatile Tatum and Brown combine all the qualities of the modern NBA player.
Around them, the franchise has patiently assembled a complete group, bringing last summer the last two missing pieces to the puzzle, with Jrue Holiday, a formidable defender already crowned with Milwaukee in 2021, and the Latvian pivot Kristaps Porzingis, a rare alloy of height (2.18 m) and address with a fragile physique.
Boston had previously taken the winning risk of entrusting its team in 2022 to the young and unknown Joe Mazzulla (who will celebrate his 36th birthday on June 30), obsessive game theorist, admirer and friend of the Spaniard Pep Guardiola, another great brain of sport global.
” Broken Heart “
Boston was able to contain two of the most flamboyant attackers in the NBA in the final, the Slovenian Luka Doncic and the American Kyrie Irving.
“ They’re a great team, they’ve been together for a long time, they’ve been through everything together. They play with maturity, they have great players, we can learn from them. We will fight next season “, commented Doncic.
More than in bodies, it is in minds that Boston has been able to progress after experiencing two major setbacks in the last two seasons.
In 2022, the Celtics led 2-1 in the final against the Golden State Warriors before falling to Stephen Curry’s Vista (4-2). Last year, already big favorites, they suffered the law of the underdog Miami and Jimmy Butler in the Eastern Conference final (4-3).
“ All our experiences have led us here, said Jaylen Brown. The times we narrowly failed, it felt like we had let the city down. It makes our victory even sweeter. It took a broken heart, shame and defeat to reach the top of the mountain.. »
Like its season without much fear, Boston crushed Dallas on Monday, flying away at the end of the first quarter (28-18) never to be seen again, with 31 points from Tatum, compared to 28 points from Doncic.
Shadow hero, Prayton Pritchard once again scored a basket at the buzzer of the 2nd quarter from midfield, a habit for him, which made the ebullient TD Garden drunk with joy, a little taste of the celebrations of post-match on the floor.