June 17th, 2024 is a day that all of us will likely remember for the rest of our lives.
The night the Boston Celtics finally captured Banner 18.
“The best team in basketball all year. All the work, all the sacrifice, handing the enormous weight of massive expectations, ends tonight here. It’s over, time to say it again Boston: anything is possible. Banner number 18 has been secured, the Celtics are NBA champions,” Mike Breen said as the clock ran out.
That moment when it happens is one that I know I’ll never forget because the journey to get there was so difficult, even for the fans.
All the heartache in the journey to get there. The 2022 Finals and the 2023 3-0 comeback that never was, specifically. Those were the moments that made capturing that 18th title so great.
Enjoying the journey is also very important. From the 64-18 regular season to dispatching the Heat, to knocking out Cleveland in game 5, to Jaylen’s corner 3 and eventual sweep of the Pacers, to Game 1 Porzingis and the Finals as whole, it is those moments that make the championship so much fun to look back on.
Payton Pritchard’s half court buzzer beater that sent that game to halftime is one of the best moments in the history of one of the most historic franchises in sports.
The 2024 Celtics were also one of the most dominate teams of all time. Their .842 winning percentage from their 16-3 playoff record is the 10th best playoff winning percentage of all time. Their +10.72 point differential in the regular season is the 6th best in NBA history, they had been 5th best but will be passed by the 2024-25 Thunder who are at +11.9.
They were an all-time great team and deserve to be remembered as one.
The game itself was dominated from Boston, as well. The dominate the Mavericks from the jump and it ended in a 106-88 Celtics win. Jayson Tatum put together a huge game, with 31 points, 11 assists and 8 rebounds.
Jaylen Brown had 21 points, Jrue Holiday had 15 points and Derrick White had 14 points as the only other Celtics to score in double figures.
Derrick White also needed to get his teeth fixed after the game.
The way this season ended and what is coming next this summer is also a great reminder of how precious every season is and how every year you have a chance to win the championship, you have to grab it because it isn’t promised to be that way for long.
The 2024 Celtics did just that and their legacy will hang forever in TD Garden because of it, no matter what comes during this summer.
If you want to relive the championship, the NBA has their Chasing History series in Game 5 and the Raising 18 documentary that they put out in October.
Sideline films also put together a great video on the title as well that I highly recommend.
