What if Boston loses?

What if the Celtics collapse? What if Boston enters the NBA’s final four six times in eight seasons and fails to pull one title?

This would be particularly disastrous. Dallas is the West’s hottest team, brimming since ruling over the trade deadline, but Boston enjoyed a 12-2 skip to the Finals, beating teams by an average of ten points per game, tied for the top offensive rating in the postseason, the third-best defensive mark.

Another Boston bridesmaid would be tough, in the prevailing years, to excuse away. “They weren’t prepared because the first three rounds weren’t that competitive” is a rationalization to lose a leprechaun with.

Or, biffing another Finals means the memory of fading in the face of Miami’s menace and Golden State’s last gasp looks less sinister. As if Boston was meant to sputter in this fashion, the chokiest regular season team we’ve seen since the “We Owe You One”-Philadelphia 76ers.