Less than a week before the end of the season, the Wizards, losers of six straight, walked into Boston with absolutely no playoff aspirations and walked out with a 106-96 win against the Celtics. The win gave the Wizards something to build on for next season, but in defeat, it may have given the Celtics much, much more.
The Wizards dealt the Celtics their fifth loss in seven games and it was the Celtics' 16th loss at home that season. CelticsBlog pondered whether or not the team was mailing it in and Kevin Garnett called out fans who booed the team at halftime when the team was down by 21.
The humiliating loss at home may have just been what the Celtics needed to wake up out of their season-long slumber and their particularly sharp slide over the final month of the season. In their next game, the Celtics picked up a 105-90 victory against a hot Bucks squad. They went on to lose on the road to Chicago in a must-win for the Bulls and then rested their starters in the final game of the season. Of course, then the Celtics went on to dispatch the Heat 4-1, upset LeBron James and the Cavaliers in the conference semifinals 4-2 and then knock off the Magic six games before taking a 3-2 lead on the Lakers.
Since the Wizards knocked off the Celtics, Boston has gone 16-10, including 8-3 at home and now they're one win away from another championship. With the Celtics on the doorstep, I ask you, did the Wizards play a role in this title run? The choice is yours.
Loading comments...