BOSTON – The Celtics were tough enough on the defensive end in the NBA Finals to make the Marlboro Man look like Tinkerbell.
As the clock ticked down on their season, with the Celtics and their passionate crowd ready to celebrate, the Mavericks couldn’t think about their grand showing in 2023-24, the way they overachieved or the way they surpassed all reasonable expectations.
There was too much disappointment in their eyes to appreciate one of the best seasons in the franchise’s 44-year history.
That will come later.
But on Monday night, when the Mavericks were long on willpower, but must have left their shooting eyes back in Texas, they could mostly point toward the Celtics’ defense as the reason they were bounced in the NBA Finals 4-1 by the Celtics, who won Game 5 106-88 to close it out.