2024-01-02 19:08:02
When the Boston Celtics were winning championships with Larry Bird and Kevin McHale in the 1980s, they were known for how difficult it was to win at home. The old Boston Garden could be incredibly hot and the noise added another obstacle.
NBA arenas aren’t like that anymore, but the Celtics are currently in the midst of an impressive home stretch.
Boston is 16-0 at home. With a corporate name and a modern feel, the arena doesn’t have the mystery of the old Garden, but within it resides a great team trying to leave its mark on team history.
“We have the best fans in the league,” guard Derrick White said last month after receiving chants of “MVP!”
“I know I’m not the MVP, but it’s always nice to hear.”
Forgive Boston fans for getting carried away. At least at home the Celtics seem to deserve these honors.
Boston’s perfect streak at home nearly came to an end last week against a team trying to end its own streak. The Detroit Pistons led by 21 points in the second quarter on Thursday before the Celtics rallied to win 128-122 in overtime. With this duel the Pistons tied the record of 28 consecutive losses and Boston would have been the most unexpected place to win.
Detroit finally ended the streak two days later at home against Toronto, a day after the Celtics also beat the Raptors at home to narrowly maintain their winning streak. Boston’s next home game will be on Friday against Utah, but it will be next week that Minnesota will test them.
The interesting thing about this Celtics streak is that home advantage is no longer a parameter in the NBA. Last season, home teams won 58% of their regular season matchups. That number remains almost the same this year. In the eighties the average was 65%.
The Celtics have taken advantage of that home-field advantage in the past. In the 1954-55 season, Boston finished 21-5 at home and 4-22 on the road. In 1985-86 they went 40-1 at home in the regular season and 10-0 in the postseason en route to the title.
Nowadays no one feels invincible at home. Not even Denver with its altitude, which lost seven games at home and one in the playoffs last regular season, walked to the championship.
Whether travel is more comfortable, sands are less intimidating, or other reasons, winning on the road is becoming more common.
That does not mean that no one can dominate on their own turf. San Antonio matched Boston’s record of 40-1 in the 2015-16 campaign, its only loss coming in the penultimate home game against Golden State.
But that factor no longer matters. Between 1983 and 1994, home teams did not lose in a game 7. Today, home advantage guarantees nothing in a game 7. Last year two teams won under these circumstances — Golden State in Sacramento and Miami in Boston.
So the Celtics’ dominance at TD Garden is notable, but Boston knows they can’t take it for granted in the playoffs.
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