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Celtics Breakout Star Reveals Team's Mentality Before Shocking Upset Vs. Magic
TL;DR
The Boston Celtics, missing key players due to injuries, fielded their cheapest active roster in the season finale against the Orlando Magic. Despite this, the bench players embraced the challenge, aiming to showcase their skills before the playoffs.
Boston Celtics forward Ron Harper Jr.
Celtics Breakout Star Reveals Team's Mentality Before Shocking Upset Vs. Magic originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
With Jayson Tatum most of the season due to his Achilles injury, the Boston Celtics rarely had their full team on the floor this year. That included Sunday's season finale against the Orlando Magic, when the Celtics rested their starters and rolled out the cheapest active roster of any NBA team this season.
However, Boston's bench saw it as an opportunity, one last chance to prove itself and make the most of its erratic playing time before the playoffs start.
The Celtics seized their moment, upsetting the Magic 113-108 at TD Garden behind 30 points from Baylor Scheierman, 27 points from Ron Harper Jr. and 27 points from Luka Garza.
While their minutes have been inconsistent this year, they were ready when their team needed them.
"Luka said it before the game, huddled up, this is for all the times that we on the bench, all the times we want an opportunity, we had a chance to go out there and show it," Harper Jr. told reporters after the game.
That's been a theme for Boston all season, exceeding expectations and overcoming the odds at every turn. Sunday's victory was just one more reminder of the team's resilience, tenacity and scrappy identity.
"I just feel like we know our group. We know our capabilities, and, you know, some guys just need a chance. I feel like we all got a chance tonight and we capitalized great," Harper added. "But we definitely didn't go into this game thinking this is like David vs. Goliath, thinking we're like ultimate underdogs. We came into the game expecting to compete and expecting to win."
The Celtics have believed in themselves all season, even when nobody else did. That consistent confidence, while perhaps seeming irrational at times, served them well, allowing them to believe they could beat anybody.
And more often than not, they did.
More NBA: Shorthanded Celtics Stun Magic, Throw Eastern Conference Playoffs Into Disarray
Q&A
What was the Celtics' roster situation before the game against the Magic?
The Celtics were without Jayson Tatum and rested their starters, resulting in the cheapest active roster in the NBA this season.
How did the Celtics' bench respond to their situation against the Magic?
The bench players viewed the game as a final opportunity to prove themselves and make the most of their limited playing time before the playoffs.
What impact did Jayson Tatum's injury have on the Celtics' season?
Jayson Tatum's Achilles injury significantly affected the Celtics, as they rarely had their full team on the floor throughout the season.
