The book is officially closed on the Celtics’ 2016-2017 season, with the story coming to an end in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals against LeBron James and the defending champion Cavaliers. Amid the inevitable disappointment that accompanies a playoff defeat, Celtics fans can take solace in the fact that their team emerged, seemingly ahead of schedule, as a top team in the NBA.
Winning an Eastern Conference-leading 53 games during the regular season, Boston secured a No. 1 playoff seed. And after trailing 2-0 against the Bulls in the first round, the Celtics rallied for four straight wins.