Facing elimination, the Celtics are coming home for Game 5. They'd be better off on the road.
The Celtics are facing elimination heading into Game 5 at TD Garden. Boston is just 10-11 at home in the last 2 postseasons. Their 11 losses at home are the most over a 2-postseason span by any team in NBA history. pic.twitter.com/95Hjpjfzf6
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 25, 2023
Boston is 4-5 at home in TD Garden in these playoffs, and 5-3 on the road. The home-court disadvantage has been in place for the last two years. Last year, Boston was 6-6 at home, including losses in Games 4 and 6 of the NBA Finals, and 7-4 on the road, including a Game 7 road victory in Miami. Both times they've had a Game 5 at home this postseason, they've lost.
When did these home playoff struggles start? You need to go back to Game 7 of the 2018 Eastern Conference Finals, a year where Boston was a perfect 10-0 at home going into the deciding game.
Then, LeBron James happened.
2018 Lebron James absolutely HANDLED the Boston Celtics in game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals
— • (@ddanniok7) January 20, 2023
48 Minutes
35 Points
15 Rebounds
9 Assists
2 Blocks
Greatest I’ve ever seen man. pic.twitter.com/HYxxGtzWTN
James played every minute of the Cavaliers' 87-79 victory in front of the hostile Boston crowd, scoring 35 points and grabbing 15 rebounds. The game may have traumatized a generation of Boston fans, especially after James beat them in all three conference finals games in Boston the year before as well.
Since then, Boston is just 13-14 at home in the playoffs. Outside of the first round, where Boston has three sweeps, it's even worse. They're 5-12 since 2018 in playoff home games outside the first round.
It's also only a playoff phenomenon. Boston was 32-9 at home this year, and 28-13 at TD Garden last year in the regular season.
Perhaps it's that the passion of Celtics fans can backfire in big moments. Like when they booed their own players during last year's Finals.
Celtics fans boo loudly after Boston give up another easy Warriors layup and trail by 18 in the first half. pic.twitter.com/UhPqnLOj7o
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) June 17, 2022
Perhaps players are stressed out by the traffic in Boston, which a recent study called the fourth-worst in the world. Perhaps seeing Jack Harlow sitting courtside bums them out.
"Who's Jack Harlow?”
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 1, 2022
Scott Foster had no idea who was courtside
(via @NBA)pic.twitter.com/cywj4a2rnu
Whatever the reason, the Celtics need to work out their issues playing at home as soon as possible - or they'll be going home for the summer.
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