Boston Celtics protects home court, already an improvement from last year

The 2024-25 NBA Playoffs are already off to a greater begin for the Boston Celtics than final 12 months after the Celtics gained each of their opening video games of Spherical 1.

Because the two-seed, they earned the best to have residence courtroom benefit till the group reaches the convention finals (assuming that you simply play the No. 1 seed). For many groups who begin the collection on the highway, the purpose is to win one of many two highway video games to flip residence courtroom benefit. Within the first spherical final 12 months, the Miami Warmth took Sport 2 after Boston gained the primary recreation by 20. After dropping the second recreation by 10, all of the momentum appeared to have shifted to Miami, particularly after they defeated Boston the 12 months prior in seven video games, a collection the place Boston saved dropping at residence. Fortunately for Boston, they gained the following three video games to shut out the collection.

Within the second spherical, it was déjà vu over again. Boston took Sport 1 by 25 factors after which took the foot off the fuel in Sport 2 and misplaced by 24 factors to the Cleveland Cavaliers. It created a sample of letting ‘inferior’ opponents again into the collection.

When the Orlando Magic gained their Play-In recreation, my thoughts went again to the earlier matchups in opposition to the Magic. Many of the video games have been bodily through the common season and that physicality has continued into the playoffs.

I didn’t count on the Celtics to brush Orlando and in each video games, they have been in it till the top. However successful at house is tremendous necessary if the group needs to get again to the Finals. In Sport 1, with the vitality from the group, it felt just like the Celtics would have sufficient to win.

Nevertheless, within the second recreation, the Magic upped the physicality and with out Jayson Tatum, Boston had to ensure they didn’t get punked on their residence courtroom. Joe Mazzulla is all about studying from previous errors and capitalizing and successful the opening two video games to go to Orlando up 2-0 is a good lesson discovered.

Not solely is it helpful for Boston to win their residence video games, however it could actually additionally deflate their opposition’s hopes. Within the opening recreation, Paolo Banchero had 36 factors on 14-27 capturing whereas teammate Franz Wagner netted 23. The 2 of them have been making each robust basket, however they nonetheless ended up falling brief. On Wednesday, it was an identical story,; they threw their greatest punch at Boston and it nonetheless wasn’t sufficient. Now, they return residence in a gap needing a win.

Kristaps Porzingis, who’s beloved by the Boston devoted, talked about enjoying on the parquet.

“There’s no higher place to do it. The largest stage, and getting all of this love. That is what I dreamed of,” Porzingis stated.

Residence courtroom is significant for Boston for a lot of causes. Nevertheless, one cause that not many individuals are speaking about is due to their away document. The Celtics had the most effective highway document in your complete NBA at 33-8, which is unimaginable. Though the Celtics are highway warriors, the extra they’ll win at TD Backyard, it makes it even simpler and doesn’t put that stress on them considering they should win a certain quantity of video games on the highway.

This matchup is much from over however with a 2-0 lead, the stress is on Orlando to come back again to Boston with the collection tied whereas Boston will look to return to Boston having superior to the second spherical.