© Matt Stone/Boston Herald/TNS Boston Celtics' Marcus Smart #36 celebrates during the first quarter of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat on Thursday at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) May 25, 2023The garden literally trembled.
Crouching in a corner of the floor with two cameras on my knees, gazing at the people who were ringside in Boston, I had a breathtaking view of the Celtics' relentless might in Game 5.
And the fans were almost overwhelmed.
Charlie Baker, sitting behind me with his wife, hit me while the three of them pointed at me. To my right, Paul Pearce, the former Celtic star, laughs and enjoys the praise of the fans around him as he sips a cocktail through a straw.
To my left, David Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports, sits steady next to his model girlfriend.
I'm keenly aware of the Heat's confidence when I see them doing their best in the pre-game warm-up, but that confidence wanes quickly.
Just before the show started, Jimmy Butler walked into the corner of my sprint area and punched a young woman who was sitting in one of the plush chairs on the floor. Seeing the Celtics fans, he went to the center of the field, snatched the ball from the referee, headed it by pushing and throwing, and then played it back.
Then it happened. Seconds after the warning, the Celtics exploded! The passes are quick and precise. Marcus Smart and Gaylene Brown slurped their balls unaware of the lethal potential of their super athletic bodies.
Jason Tatum easily shot three times and Derrick White never missed a shot. The crowd erupted! The deafening noise from the garden shook the building as the Celtics continued to dominate the Heat not only with their offense but also with their relentless defense. Baker and his wife stood alongside thousands of others who screamed with delight as the Celtics took a 10-point lead and then a 20-point lead.
Watching the Heat collapse right before my eyes while the home side survive is only seen once or twice a season. After the game was over, Charlie Baker gave me the top 5 and said, "See you here (Monday)!"
The Celtics defeated the Heat 110-97 and returned to Miami for Game 6.
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