The Boston Celtics did it. On June 17, they defeated the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals, 106-88, and the long-awaited, historic Banner No. 18 was raised into the rafters of TD Garden.
After six seasons as the faces of the franchise together, Jayson Tatum and Finals MVP Jaylen Brown claimed a championship. The two players are still 26 and 27 years old, respectively, and their careers are only just beginning. Al Horford won his first FInals after 17 seasons in NBA. Kristaps Porzingis fought through injuries and Derrick White needs to get his teeth fixed, but the Celtics got the job done for the first time since 2008.
Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck credited coach Joe Mazzula for his team's excellence all year. On June 21, for the 13th time in the city of Boston since 2000, Duck Boats will weave through the streets and confetti will rain.
"It wasn't about expectations," Grousbeck said. "it was about getting banner 18."
I’m shipping up to Boston.
— The Larry O’Brien Trophy (@nbafinalstrophy) June 18, 2024
Congrats to the NBA Champion @celtics! pic.twitter.com/atbHWL4ca9
The Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots raised championship trophies within months of each other after the 2018 seasons. The second-longest title drought since the Sox, Bruins, Celtics and Patriots have existed has ended, and probably bought the Red Sox some time.
Red Sox Nation entered the 2024 offseason with high expectations after the front office made it seem like they'd be going big. Months later, after no big signings and dozens of excuses from the men in charge, the Red Sox are still around a .500 team, although they've looked better as of late.
The Celtics' NBA Championship gives the Red Sox a break, but a short one
John Henry's recent Financial Times interview suggests he could learn a lot from Grousbeck's mindset. The Celtics owner traded away Marcus Smart and signed Brown to the largest contract in NBA history. Grousbeck has made the most of his star players' prime years, while Rafael Devers posts the best season of his career on a team stuck in limbo, surrounded by players who feel strangely impermanent.
The Celtics and Red Sox's places in the worlds of their respective sports are reflections of their owners. Grousbeck's commitment to winning is palpable — the Celtics have been deep playoff or NBA Finals contenders year in, and year out, and the Red Sox have only made the playoffs once since their 2018 championship.
Red Sox Nation knows it isn't Boston's year for a World Series, and the Celtics' victory may quell some of its anger at Fenway Sports Group. But the Red Sox don't have much longer to turn their ship around. The Celtics at least make the playoffs almost every year, and Red Sox ownership's effort looks paltry in comparison.
Boston's winningest team, the Celtics has satiated its hunger for titles this year. But, as they have every right to do, Red Sox fans will expect more next season.