BOSTON — The NBA Finals are a unique occasion. Every year, two of the NBA’s 30 teams battle it out on the biggest stage, competing to earn ultimate glory for their organization. It’s a special experience that few players get to be a part of.
The Boston Celtics are refusing to treat it as such.
They wholly understand the magnitude of the moment. They appreciate where they are at and how they got there. But when the game clock starts in Game 1 on Thursday, they won’t act like they’re in the Finals.
“What goes into winning a playoff game is no different than a regular season game,” Joe Mazzulla said after practice on Friday. “So, you just have to have a heightened awareness to the details, to the effort, to the execution, amongst all the things that are at stake.”
In the playoffs, teams and players are revered for their willingness to do whatever it takes to win. The Celtics have lived that mindset, but they haven’t expressed it in the way people are used to seeing it.
Historically, it takes shape in the form of Michael Jordan bullying his teammates, Kobe Bryant’s infamous practice routines, and now, Anthony Edwards and Luka Doncic’s visceral killer instincts.
For the Celtics, it’s taken the shape of doing all the boring things — and just doing them better.
“Once you get rid of the fact that you’re playing in the Finals and playing for a chance to win, it comes down to rebounding, transition defense, offensive execution, knowing your personnel, situational basketball, and the team that’s playing the hardest, the team that gets the most offensive rebounds,” said Mazzulla. “Like, it’s very, very simple.
“[But] just because it’s simple doesn’t mean it’s not really hard to do. And so, I think it is, not necessarily [that] the game plan isn’t simple, but the things that go into winning at this level are very, very simple. You just have to do them with a high level of physicality and discipline.”
Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images
Mazzulla’s approach to the postseason is unusual. While focusing on consistency is normal, the Celtics’ treatment of this playoff run is unlike what some players are used to.
“I think it’s unique to this team because, I think just partially, based on how well we did during the regular season, how good we feel our team is, and the time that we had until…
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