We’re less than a month away from preseason Celtics basketball, but many Boston fans are still celebrating the Banner 18 run. After all, the Celtics had one of the most dominant playoff runs in history. The NBA champions were never pushed beyond five games in a series and finished 16-3 in the playoffs.
The Celtics will enter the 2024-25 season as high favorites to repeat their championship success, having returned their entire core and all of their key rotational players. The world champions are also well-positioned for a possible back-to-back run.
"Erik Spoelstra called a timeout with a 1:30 left down by 16, 30 seconds later that play happens… that looked shady to me."
Brian Scalabrine reacts to Caleb Martin's foul on Jayson Tatum pic.twitter.com/XRchYpbOVh
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) April 21, 2024
Despite their uncomplicated title run, the Celtics provided their supporters with plenty unforgettable postseason experiences to remember. Everyone on the Banner 18 roster provided fans with memorable moments, from superstars sinking clutch shots to role players making momentum-shifting plays.
Top 10 moments from the Boston Celtics’ 2024 championship run.
Honorable Mentions: Celtics—Heat Beef
Hoping Jayson Tatum is ok after he appeared to roll his ankle on this Bam Adebayo contest after the whistle
pic.twitter.com/dSPFOPv7rb— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) April 30, 2024
The champions maintained their calm throughout the playoffs, but they were never afraid to stand up for their teammates. Certain Celtics held their chests out with authority.
Jayson Tatum was knocked down hard in Game 1 of the playoffs against the Miami Heat as Caleb Martin collided with him while attempting for an offensive rebound. Jaylen Brown refused to let the play go because it appeared unnecessary and ugly.
Celtics supporters were excited and delighted to see Tatum get up so fast after landing hard on his back. Brown shoved Martin aside and got into his grill, sending the TD Garden crowd to their feet.
The Celtics-Heat rivalry remains one of the best in the sport, and this year’s game upheld that tradition despite a less contested series than normal. The series also taught the rest of the NBA to avoid body-checking Brown’s teammates.
Big Al stands up for Jayson. Tatum received another unnecessary dirty play in Game 4. Bam Adebayo, one of Tatum’s closest off-court pals, recklessly closed in on a JT practice jumper after a play was whistled dead. Tatum rolled his ankle on Adebayo’s foot, causing him significant discomfort.
"I was just mad… thankfully JT is fine, but it could've been bad"
Al Horford shares his reaction to Bam Adebayo's flagrant foul on Tatum pic.twitter.com/KSXQT0daB2
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) April 30, 2024
An enraged Al Horford dashed to rescue Tatum and sent Adebayo a message by bumping him to the side. Big Al vented his feelings in a post-game interview regarding Adebayo leaping into his teammate’s landing spot on a shot that didn’t count.
“I know he’s trying to compete over there, but I was just mad,” he remarked. “I don’t want any of my teammates to get hurt or anything like that. Luckily, JT is fine, but it could have been worse.”
TATUM PUT CALEB MARTIN ON A POSTER pic.twitter.com/9CZBFechFl
— Savage (@SavageSports_) April 30, 2024
Tatum exacted sweet revenge on Martin for his antics in Game 1. The All-NBA player immortalized Martin on a poster with a ferocious dunk, mean-mugging, and trash-talking against his victim as he walked away.
Celtics supporters especially loved Tatum’s baptism of Martin following his incredible performance in the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals against Boston. Tatum’s angry slam on Martin provided a cathartic sense of justice, and only Celtics fans knew why.
These moments did not quite reach the top ten, but we couldn’t leave them out. The Celtics versus. Heat series provided fans with some fantastic on-court highlights, but it also served as a stark reminder to the basketball world that Boston and Miami do not get along.
