Per Boston.com:
The Celtics’ season ended in the most perfect, petite way possible: They were on the cusp of something extraordinary but just couldn’t make the decisive step in history.
The Celtics emerged as a team that should have been outstanding but never achieved it after their disastrous start. They were surprisingly sub-par when they played the Falcons. To defeat the 76ers, they needed seven games. They lost two games at home to a Heat team that didn’t match their firepower, as is normal.
On some level, it’s hard to blame the Celtics for not being able to come back from a 3-0 hole, just as it’s hard to blame them for losing the championship. After all, doing both has historically been a challenge. NBA teams have tried to come back after falling behind 3-0, but none have ever been successful. Each year, only one team out of 30 may win the tournament.
However, Monday’s defeat will stay with this team for a very long time, as will the one that will send the Celtics out of the Finals as a result. In recent years, the Celtics have played in two of those competitions.