Any team, at any level, can win pretty.
When the ball is zipping from side to side, shots are falling and vibes are high, basketball’s really a rather pleasurable game.
But when shots clang off the rim, and percentages dip lower and lower, it can be quite frustrating. What separates championship teams from the pack is often their ability to grind out ugly wins under those circumstances.
On paper, the Celtics had no right to win Game 2. Boston shot 25.6 percent from 3-point range, shot a lower percentage from the field and lost the rebound battle.