(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
The Boston Celtics had the ultimate opportunity to take care of business and put an end to this season.
Fortunately for basketball fans all over the world, that wasn’t the case.
The Dallas Mavericks had arguably their best performance of the season, extending the series and managing to live for another day.
They were the hungrier team, and Al Horford had no choice but to tip his hat to them.
Talking after the game, the veteran claimed that the Mavericks were simply the better team, adding that they played harder than them (via Noa Dalzell).
Al Horford asked about Joe Mazzulla’s submission Dallas played harder than the Celtics:
“They were the better team — they were the team that played harder. He’s right.” pic.twitter.com/td7Ie16t5j
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzellNBA) June 15, 2024
That’s right on point.
The Celtics got outworked and outhustled.
It seemed like they got ahead of themselves and were already thinking about their vacations and recreating Kobe Bryant’s picture with the Larry O’Brien trophy, and that’s something that could end up dooming a team.
The Celtics should still win this series, whether it’s in five, six, or even seven games.
They were riding a ten-game winning streak and had only lost two games leading up to this series.
Also, they haven’t lost consecutive games in the playoffs thus far.
However, they will have to take intensity up a notch and match the Mavericks’ energy, which will be easier said than done.
Jason Kidd’s team no longer has any sort of pressure and it showed in Game 4, as they showcased their game and were in a rhythm on both ends of the floor, and crazy as it may seem, the Celtics now have everything to lose.
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