Four former Boston Celtics play for teams in the NBA finals, and this how the three suiting up for the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers did.
After watching the Los Angeles Lakers brutalize the Miami Heat in the 2020 NBA Playoffs, it’s difficult not to think of what might have been.
As an eenie-meenie, teeny-tiny, itty-bitty consolation prize, there will be at minimum a pair of championship rings headed to two of the four former Celtics currently playing in the Finals, with four total Boston alumni playing in pairs on each of the two teams currently fighting for the title, though for L.A. only one made the trip to the bubble.
On the Los Angeles Lakers, it’s former Celtics guards Rajon Rondo (Avery Bradley is also on the team, but elected not to join the team at the Disney restart bubble), while on the Heat it’s ex-Boston bigs Jae Crowder and Kelly Olynyk.
In Game 1 of the NBA Finals, the Heat did very poorly with Miami guard Goran Dragic injuring his foot, a potential scratch going forward.
Center Bam Adebayo also evidently aggravated a sore shoulder and had to exit the contest early as well.
In their absence, the Lakers romped to a 116 – 98 win, and look poised to cruise to a 17th title to all of our chagrin as Boston fans.
For the ex-Celtic playing for Los Angeles, Rondo put up 7 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists in 25 minutes of playing time.
On the Heat, Crowder scored 12 points, all 3-pointers on 4-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc to go with 2 rebounds and as many blocks, also playing for 25 total minutes.
Olynyk added 4 points, 5 boards, 4 assists and 2 blocks in just 18 minutes of playing time, after having had an off shooting night, connecting on just 20% of his field goals.
It’s looking like old friend Rondo will become the first player in league history to get a ring with both Boston and L.A.
But we’ll hold off on calling the series just yet; this Miami team has proven itself resilient, if nothing else.
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