One win away, C’s return home
Back in Boston with two chances at a title
Hold the confetti, keep the keys close to the Duck Boats and store the cigars in the humidor a little bit longer.
The Celtics insist they’re still in control of the NBA Finals, which they lead 3-2 heading into Game 6 against the Lakers tonight, but the championship parade that was rumored to overtake the city today has been replaced with one more game at the Garden.
“Well, we wanted to go back home, but we didn’t want to play,” Doc Rivers said after the Celtics’ loss on Sunday night. “You know what I mean?”
Clearly, the C’s had every intention of wrapping up the series in downtown Los Angeles. Now, the task is regrouping and re-establishing that fire they had before a giant punch to the stomach in Game 5 at Staples Center.
But for a franchise that has played 1,911 games since it last won a world championship, what’s one more?
At the very least, there could be a feeling of mounting pressure. After the Lakers blew a 24-point lead on their home court in Game 4, they figured their funeral had already turned into the Celtics’ after party. Since no team has come back to win the Finals after facing a 3-1 deficit, the Lakers have the mentality that they’re going all in with the house’s money.
The Celtics will be going through their second day gearing their emotions toward winning the title. A loss could be draining, and they surely don’t want to head into a winner-take-all scenario in a Game 7 against Kobe Bryant.
Still, that’s the furthest thing from their minds.
“We’re up one game with two games to go at home, so it still feels like we have the advantage in the series,” Paul Pierce said. “I do feel like we’re the better team.”
The key is the location. The Celtics are 12-1 at the Garden in the playoffs, and they haven’t lost back-to-back games at home all year.
“Hopefully, we can close this thing out at home, but the onus is on us,” Kevin Garnett said. “It’s going to be like coming into the Amazon, into the jungle. I look forward to going home and playing.”