Celtics ipinagdiwang ang 18th NBA title
Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics celebrates with the Larry O’Brien Trophy after defeating the Dallas Mavericks 106-88 during Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Mike Lawrie / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
Gumawa ng kahanga-hangang 31-point si Jayson Tatum, nang dominahin ng Boston Celtics ang Dallas Mavericks sa score na 106-88, upang makuha ang isang record-breaking 18th NBA championship crown.
Pinangunahan ni Tatum ang isang “superb performance” sa magkabilang dulo ng floor upang iwanan ang kanilang arch-rival na Los Angeles Lakers, at maging nag-iisang koponan na may 18 NBA titles.
Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics celebrates after a play during the fourth quarter of Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by ELSA / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
Labing-anim na taon ang ipinaghintay ng Boston, matapos nilang makuha ang pinakahuli nilang NBA Finals win kontra Lakers noong 2008.
Sabi ni Tatum, “Oh my God. It’s a surreal feeling. We did it. We did it — oh my God, we did it! First of all, God is the greatest, not ’cause we won, but to put me in positions to maximize my God-given ability to surround me with these guys and with my family. This is an incredible feeling. I’m lost for words. I’m sorry.”
P.J. Washington #25 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots over Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics during the third quarter of Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by ELSA / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
Si Jaylen Brown, na pinangalanan bilang Finals Most valuable Player, ay nagbigay ng 21-points support kay Tatum habang si Jrue Holiday ay nag-ambag din ng 15 at si Derrick White ay nagdagdag ng 14.
Itinuturing na isang “miserable end” ang pagkatalo ng Mavericks sa finals para sa Dallas duo na sina Luka Doncic at Kyrie Irving, na siyang nanguna sa Western Conference fifth seeds sa isang “giant-killing journey” patungo sa NBA Finals.
Si Doncic, na naging sensational sa game four ay nakagawa ng 28 points.
Kristaps Porzingis #8 of the Boston Celtics blocks Derrick Jones Jr. #55 of the Dallas Mavericks during the fourth quarter of Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by ELSA / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
Subalit si Irving na tumanggap ng pambubuska mula sa Celtics fans na tila may nararamdaman pa ring inis sa pag-alis niya sa team noong 2019, ay nakaiskor lamang ng 15-points.
Samantala, pinagting pa ng top-seeded Boston ang kanilang “superiority” pagkatapos ng kanilang game four blowout, kung saan nanguna sila ng double digits hanggang sa final buzzer.
Naglatag ng pundasyon ang Celtics para sa kanilang panalo sa pamamagitan ng kontroladong first-half performance, kung saan nag-open sila ng 67-46 lead sa break.
Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics shoots over Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks during the third quarter of Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by ELSA / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
Sinelyuhan ni Payton Pritchard ang isang “superb first two quarters” para sa Boston, nang gumawa siya ng isang “mammoth buzzer-beating three-pointer” nang malapit nang mag-half way na nagbigay sa Celtics ng isang 21-point advantage.
Naging mabilis din ang Boston sa kanilang pagkilos, kung saan gumawa na agad sila ng 9-2 advantage sa unang quarter sa pamamagitan ng mahigpit na depensa, at hindi na binigyan ng pagkakataon ang Dallas na makabuo ng anumang uri ng “rhythm.”
Pagkatapos ng 13-5 advantage ng Boston, ay sinubukan ng Mavs na paliitin ang gap ng two points sa 17-15, ngunit agad ding nakabawi ang Boston sa pamamagitan ng kanilang depensa.
Jrue Holiday #4 of the Boston Celtics shoots over P.J. Washington #25 of the Dallas Mavericks during the third quarter of Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by ELSA / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
Dalawang “quick steals” mula kay Tatum at Sam Hauser ang nagbigay daan sa Celtics para muling makalayo sa score na 28-18 sa pagtatapos ng first quarter.
Habang dumadagundong ang TD Garden sa hiyawan ng suporta ng Boston fans, patuloy na nakakakita ng tyansa ang Celtics upang makaiskor at mapanatili ang isang komportableng double-digit advantage upang selyuhan ang kanilang panalo.
