The Boston Celtics are, somehow, only one game from advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals. Give Brad Stevens the next five Coach of the Year awards. Though Boston is playing without its two best players, Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward, both recovering from injuries, the Celtics are on fire.
You could argue the Celts have played against two teams with more talent: the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers. Entering the second round, the Sixers were Vegas' favorites to come out of the East. Boston, however, has sprinted out to a 3-0 start.
After Game 3, in which Boston came back to win 101-98 in overtime, the Celtics have an opportunity to close out Philadelphia when they meet Monday at 6 p.m. EST in Philly. Celts second-year swingman Jaylen Brown has emerged as one of the team's stars this postseason. In the playoffs, he's averaging 17.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game while shooting 39.3 percent from downtown.
Brown said his squad doesn't plan on allowing Philly to creep back in the series. "We shouldn't get caught up. We've got to finish the drill," Brown said, according to NBC Sports Boston. "I'm not one—I was never taught to play with our food. When it comes down to it, we've got to finish it. It's four. It's first to four. We have to take care of business."
No squad in NBA history has ever come all the way back from a 3-0 deficit in the playoffs, so Boston is in strong position. With Cleveland also leading its series 3-0, a Celtics-Cavs showdown seems inevitable. The best player alive versus the best coach alive—that series should be very fun.
