Champions in the NBA come in different forms.
The Spurs beat you with the basics. The 2008 Celtics did so with their defense. The Warriors leaned heavily on their 3-point shooting. That’s of course an oversimplification, but the point is that there isn’t one foolproof formula for earning a ring.
There is, however, a common mindset that links all champions over the years. Every champion, at every level for that matter, has a killer instinct. The ability and guts to twist the knife in a crumbling opponent is really what separates the elite from the pack.
It’s still the regular season, but it’s clear the Celtics are consistently and methodically developing that killer instinct.