The Celtics beat the Heat on Thursday night in Boston as they try to go from zero to four in their 7 game series. Down 3-0, the Celts have now won 2 straight; can they come all the way back? Well, there is a little history here.
Although this has happened exactly zero times in NBA history, this has happened once in MLB history; another team from Boston pulled this historic feat off against their hated rivals the Yankees, in the ALCS, before the Red Sox broke their World Series curse. Just like the Cubs a few years later, you knew it would have to be something crazy for the Red Sox to break their curse. Coming back from a 3-0 deficit… that fits the bill. They are the only team to have ever done this in MLB history. Now, the Celtics look to become the first NBA team to do so, which would preface their chase for their NBA franchise leading 18th World Title; I’d prefer the Heat close them out Saturday in Miami.
This has happened a bit more in the NHL world. 4 separate times there have been teams who have come back from down 3-0. The Maple Leafs did this against the Red Wings in the 1942 Stanley Cup; imagine that! I’d be sick as a Detroit fan. The Islanders did it against the Flyers in 1975. The Flyers had their turn against the Bruins in 2010. In 2014, the Kings pulled it off against the Sharks; this one has a personal tie. Of course, the Kings would go on to meet the Blackhawks in the Western Conference Finals that year, knocking them off in 7 games; I was absolutely sick. The Blackhawks almost pulled off this feat a couple years earlier against the Canucks in the 2011 first round; that would have been super sweet, but… down in 7. Winning 4 straight happens all the time during the regular season, and for sure there have been a lot more 4 game sweeps than this alternate ending, but playing with your life on the line 4 straight times and coming out on top… that is really something. That is why it has only happened 4 times in all these years in the MLB, NHL, and NBA combined.
I am getting the feeling that Boston will pull it off this year; a lot of people are saying so, which is the only reason I’m thinking no. They’re better than the Heat IMO. The Heat are riding that heater, but… are they running out of gas? The Celtics look to have their mojo back. In the NHL, Dallas survived against Vegas; will they be able to pull it off? I will say this: I’m glad they both won at least on Thursday night. This means we’ll have some games to watch this Memorial Day weekend. But first, our 2nd trip of the year to Wrigley for some Friday afternoon baseball…
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