Celtics were too eager in Game 4 loss to Mavericks

The Boston Celtics dropped their first road game of the playoffs on Friday as the Dallas Mavericks recaptured some pride with a 122-84 victory in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. 

The Celtics will now head back to Boston for a potential close-out game on Monday.

On Sunday, Jayson Tatum admitted that the Celtics may have approached Game 4 with the wrong mentality. He cited an eagerness to close out the series and win a championship as factors in the team's uncharacteristic performance.

"I think after Game 4, (head coach Joe Mazzulla) just reminded us to have fun," Tatum said. "We wanted to go for the kill, essentially, and we wanted to win so bad that maybe we got away from what makes us special and what makes us the Boston Celtics."

Tatum is one win away from claiming the first championship of his career. Boston is one win away from taking home its first championship in 16 years. The Celtics have come close in recent seasons but have always failed to get over the hump. 

This season could be different. Brad Stevens has constructed a roster capable of dominating on both ends of the floor.

Nevertheless, the Celtics must stick to their game plan. They can't let their ego get in the way of their goal. One more win is all it will take to close out the season and etch their names in the history books. 

Their performance on Friday was not what fans have come to expect from this team. The lack of off-ball cutting, rebounding and successful drive-and-kick possessions were all tell-tale signs of a team playing outside of its collective personality.

If the Celtics can regroup for Game 5, they will likely secure a championship and end the 2023-24 season in the process.

Dallas won't make things easy. Fortunately for the Celtics, their path over the last few years has been anything but simple. They've been preparing for this last test for multiple years.