Celtics advance to NBA Finals with sweep; Remembering Bill Walton, Grayson Murray

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🏆 Good morning to everyone, but especially to …

THE EASTERN CONFERENCE-CHAMPION CELTICS

They were rarely at their best, and often far from it. That they’re sweeping into the NBA Finals, though, is impressive nonetheless. The Celtics topped the Pacers, 105-102, to finish off the sweep in frantic fashion. Derrick White played the hero, making the go-ahead 3-pointer with under a minute remaining, as Boston held Indiana scoreless over the final 3:33 of the game.

Jaylen Brown, who assisted White’s 3, was once again excellent with 29 points and was named Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals MVP. Jayson Tatum (26 points, 13 rebounds, eight assists) nearly had a triple-double, and Jrue Holiday (17 points) reeled in the offensive rebound that sealed the win.

The Celtics were tied/trailing in the final minute of three of their four wins, but style points matter not. Wins are what counts, and these types of games — grueling, sloppy, hectic, stressful — are the games previous Celtics teams have lost far too often. But those Celtics aren’t these Celtics. White is one of the league’s best role players and most improved players, period. Holiday is an elite defender, especially in those late, one-on-one scenarios. Brown has improved markedly, too, and that showed in this series particularly, when Tatum wasn’t at his best.

As Sam Quinn notes, though, they need more, and more is on the way.

• Quinn: “Yes, Kristaps Porzingis can make 3s, and yes, he’s important defensively as well. But when the offense bogs…