The NBA Finals didn’t go easy on the Boston Celtics this year.
Ime Udoka‘s team was able to drastically turn itself around in the new year and surged through the Eastern Conference to make the Finals against the Golden State Warriors.
But ultimate victory wasn’t meant to be this year as the Warriors took down the Celtics in six games.
The team should be proud of itself but it’s obvious that some shortcomings brought them down.
Brad Stevens said the Celtics' offensive production, more than anything else, was why they came short: "Our defense was good enough to win throughout the entire playoffs." He said the Celtics struggled against Golden State's switching, overhelp and great defensive activity.
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) June 21, 2022
President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens had some input one what ruined the Celtics in the Finals: their offense.
“Our defense was good enough to win throughout the entire playoffs,” Stevens told the press.
However, he said his team wasn’t able to overcome Golden State’s switching and defensive skills.
Sure enough, the Warriors brought the Celtics down to Earth in a very big way.
Bullied Boston
The Celtics had the best defensive rating in the league for most of the season.
And Stevens is right: their defense remained impressive through the Finals.
But it’s not just defense that wins games, offensive obviously needs to be on point in order to win a single game and definitely a series.
And when it came to offense, the Warriors simply had the Celtics figured out.
There were multiple instances where the Celtics looked downright sloppy.
They were committing bone-headed plays and their turnover rate skyrocketed.
Their lead player, Jayson Tatum, was minimized throughout the series as well, greatly harming their offensive output.
In so many ways, the Warriors’ experience and skill came out to shine during the Finals.
And there was just no stopping them.
That being said, the Celtics proved they really are a special, up-and-coming team.
With a few tweaks and enhancements, they may be winning a ring within just a few seasons.
NEXT: Why The Celtics Aren't Favorites To Reach The 2023 NBA Finals