The Similarities Between The 2020 Bubble Run And The Current Celtics Playoff Run Are Getting Downright Spooky
Michael Reaves. Getty Images.My entire life I've operated under the impression that no two NBA seasons are the same. Each one has different rosters, different circumstances, different narratives etc. That's especially true once you get to the playoffs.
At least, that's what I thought.
We're at the point where it has to be said. Something weird is going on right now with the Celts 2022 playoff run. We've talked about how this is the revenge tour seeing as how their 3 opponents so far are the 3 teams that had previously eliminated the Celts from the postseason. Here's the thing though, this shit goes deeper. We are legitimately reliving the 2020 Bubble ECF. Let me set the stage for you
First Round
In 2020, the Celts faced a division "rival" (lol who are we kidding, they aren't a rival) in the Philadelphia 76ers. They were a team that was all hype and no bite, per usual. A former Celtic had joined that team in hopes of finally getting over the hump. The Celtics handled that series in a quick 4 game sweep. In those 4 games, they held unstoppable superstar Joel Embiid to just 45% shooting and their second option Tobias Harris to 38% shooting. Ben Simmons missed the series
In 2022 the Celts faced a division "rival" in the Brooklyn Nets. They were a team that was all hype and no bite. A former Celtic had joined that team in hopes of finally getting over the hump. The Celtics handled that series in a quick 4 game sweep. In those 4 games, they held unstoppable superstar Kevin Durant to 38% shooting and Kyrie Irving to 45% shooting. Ben Simmons missed the series.
Second Round
In 2020, the Celts faced the defending NBA champions. It went 7 games. This series included one of the most gut wrenching losses with an OG Anunoby making a prayer game winning three with 0.3 seconds left on the clock. I would embed the video as a reminder, but fuck that. Eventually, the Celts won Game 7 behind a 29/12/7 performance from Jayson Tatum.
In 2022, the Celts faced the defending NBA champions. It went 7 games. This series included one of the most gut wrenching losses imaginable with Bobby Portis snagging a missed rebound off a missed Giannis FT in the closing seconds and somehow making a ridiculous put back.
Eastern Conference Finals
In 2020, the Celts faced the Miami Heat. The series started with their starting point guard dealing with injury and included a horrific collapse in Game 2 which consisted of blowing a halftime lead with a 37-17 third quarter. It was also during this series that Gordon Hayward had the birth of a child. He stayed in the bubble, but wasn't all that effective.
In 2022, the Celts are facing the Miami Heat. The series has started with their starting point guard dealing with injury and an epic collapse in Game 1, with the Celts blowing a halftime lead with a 39-14 third quarter. As we learned today, Derrick White has left Florida and is on his way back to Boston for the birth of his first child.
At times, I've been known to exaggerate things here and there. This is not one of those times. Every single round has basically been a carbon copy of the 2020 run. Part of me thinks this is what has to happen for the Celts to avenge how that run ended. You have to go through the same exact pain as before, only now your growth and development are at a point where you can finally overcome it. I dare you to find me another two playoff runs that are SO SIMILAR in basically every way, for all three rounds. Right down to someone having a kid. It's incredible, but I also have no idea what it means. Is it what I just described or am I just being set up to relive one of the most painful experiences of my life? I have no idea and that terrifies me. A lot.
Part of me thinks White is going to come back like Fred VanVleet and have this version of Dad strength that suddenly makes him the best basketball player on the planet. Remember that shit when he had his kid during the Finals run? It changed everything about his game.
All I know is this is getting way too spooky to just ignore or chalk it up to a random coincidence. No chance. It means something, we just don't know what. The only thing we can do is hope that it's all part of the journey to something positive. Collectively, let's get that energy in the universe because who knows what actually impacts these things. The NBA Finals are on the line here, you have to be willing to try anything and everything. In the last 24 hours I've convinced my brain that a dog on tik tok has correctly predicted this series. Things are weird right now, and based on how we're trending, it's only going to get weirder.
