Draymond Green knows what it’s like to be on the wrong side of history. He was part of the Warriors team that lost the 2016 NBA Finals after leading 3-1 against the Cavaliers. He was also suspended for a crucial Game 5 after a scuffle with LeBron James.
That’s why he’s hoping the Celtics can pull off a historic comeback of their own against the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics are down 3-2 in the series after winning the last two games, and they have a chance to force a Game 7 on Saturday night.
Green revealed his personal motivation for rooting for the Celtics on his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show”. “First team to come back from a 3-0 deficit? We would love to see it, wouldn’t we?” Green said. “Maybe I won’t have to hear about 3-1 anymore if this team comes back from 3-0. You could throw the 3-1 in the dirt. I’m sick of it. It would be a much better story for me personally. It would be a much better story.”
Green is still haunted by the memories of the 2016 Finals, when the Warriors squandered their chance to win back-to-back titles and cap off a record-breaking 73-win season. The Warriors were widely regarded as one of the best teams ever, but they couldn’t finish off the Cavs, who became the first team in NBA history to overcome a 3-1 deficit in the Finals.
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Can the Celtics do what no team has done before?
The Celtics have shown a lot of heart and grit in their last two games against the Heat, who have been one of the most impressive teams of the playoffs. The Heat are led by Jimmy Butler, who has been playing at an elite level, and a talented supporting cast that includes Bam Adebayo, Gabe Vincent, and Duncan Robinson. The Celtics have countered with their own star power, featuring Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Marcus Smart.
Celtics have outplayed the Heat in both ends of the floor in Games 4 and 5, especially in the first quarters, when they have built big leads that they have maintained throughout. The Celtics have also improved their defense on Butler and Adebayo, who have struggled to score efficiently in the last two games.
Duos in the Eastern Conference Finals:
Jimmy/Bam — Jaylen/Jayson —
43.1 PPG 44.6 PPG
15.8 RPG 16.1 RPG
10.0 APG 8.0 APG
3.8 SPG 1.3 SPG pic.twitter.com/EsFgsuE2i2
The Celtics will need to keep up their intensity and execution in Game 6 if they want to force a Game 7 on Monday night. They will also need to avoid complacency and overconfidence, as the Heat are still one win away from advancing to the NBA Finals.
The Celtics have a chance to make history by becoming the first team to come back from a 3-0 deficit in a playoff series. The stakes are high for both teams as they prepare for Game 6 on Saturday night.
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