Boston Celtics break through in Game 7 on the road; Warriors await

The Boston Celtics win Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals on the road, clinching an NBA Finals matchup with the Golden State Warriors.

There are plenty of things you can not like about the current state of the NBA. The load management is frustrating, the super team era was hard to watch at times, and the constant flailing is disappointing. But you have to respect what the Boston Celtics have managed to do over the past half-decade.

It’s not something you see often in the super team era. The Celtics paid their dues, experienced their fair share of heartbreak, and now have finally broken through in the Eastern Conference. This was their time and they proved that with a huge Game 7 victory on the road against the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Now, the Celtics will face off against the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals.

Before this season, since 2016, the Celtics had made the conference finals three times. They lost each of those times. Last season, the team lost in the first round. Heading into this season, the team was facing some big questions. If they didn’t breakthrough this year, there was a chance this team could face some series roster changes.

The Celtics don’t have to worry about that now as it all seemed to have clicked.

It started when Brad Stevens stepped away as head coach and moved to the front office. It opened the door for the team to hire Ime Udoka, who has already proven his worth as he went toe-to-toe with Erik Spoelstra in the conference finals.

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have remained steady throughout this Finals run and have the Celtics playing at an extremely high level on the offensive end, while also maintaining and helping steer the league’s best – and stingiest – defense.

The Celtics have finally broken through. This core went through it all. They felt the pain of defeat and now feel the joy of sitting atop the conference. It’s hard to dislike what the Celtics have evolved into over the last few years.

But the job isn’t over for Boston. Waiting for them in the NBA Finals is only the NBA’s most consistent and dominant franchise in the last decade – the Golden State Warriors.

Now, no matter what happens next, this season should be considered a success for the Celtics. Though, there’s no question, that winning a championship would be a cherry on top.