The Celtics’ gutsy Game 4 triumph illuminated how far they’ve come

You can trust this team in the clutch. That shouldn’t be taken for granted.

As I watched the fourth quarter of the Celtics’ 107-98 Game 4 victory over the Magic on Sunday, I couldn’t help but take a step back to marvel at how far this team has come.

This was exactly the type of game they used to lose. When shots didn’t fall, the opposition made it tough and the stakes magnified, it was a crapshoot which version of the Celtics would show up. Sometimes, they’d rise to the occasion, and other times, they’d crumble in the clutch.

Now, they may not win every game (see: Game 3), but you have full faith when you watch them play a tight game. The pieces fit together, they’re battle tested and they understand what it takes to win.

Jayson Tatum doesn’t settle for contested jumpers as often. Jaylen Brown doesn’t turn it over in the paint as often. Payton Pritchard isn’t outmatched when guarding stronger players as often.

This team has seen it all, and you can feel it every time you watch the Celtics play. Sunday’s game was knotted at 91 with 3:59 remaining, then the Celtics convincingly closed on a 16-7 flurry to take care of business.

They didn’t let the Game 3 loss linger or spiral into anything more than it had to be. It didn’t have to be 2-2 heading back to Boston, so the Celtics didn’t let it. There’s more urgency, less complacency and a palpable poise.

Let’s look back at previous postseasons before the championship for reference. I know this Celtics team is better on paper, and the Magic aren’t quite as potent offensively as some of their past opponents, but it’s a telling trend nonetheless.

In the 2022 playoffs, the Celtics lost by 2 on the road to the Bucks to go down 2-1. They won Game 4 to even the series, then lost Game 5 at home by 3 before winning two straight. Against the Heat, all of their wins before Game 7 came by 13 points or more, and all of their losses were by 11 points or fewer.

Against the Warriors, they were almost ready, but not quite. You could see it unfold in front of you, as they were almost talented enough, almost experienced enough and almost resilient enough to do it, but came up just short.

In 2023, they lost by eight in Game 3 and 2 in Game 5 to the Hawks in the first round before winning in six. They then fell by 4 to the 76ers in Game 1 and 1 in Game 4 before prevailing in seven. All of the wins were by nine or more, and two of the losses by four or fewer. Again, tougher than it had to be.

They then lost by 7 and 6 to the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. Of course, they won some close games along the way as well, but it was like a game of Blackjack. Any time you felt confident, you saw it crumble before your eyes, which zapped the confidence away over and over again. Fans had to psych themselves up each time, cautiously optimistic yet knowing all too well that they might blow it.

Then last year, everything shifted. It’s still amazing that they only dropped three games the entire postseason. I don’t care who you’re playing; that’s incredibly impressive. Most of the games were blowouts, but they also won by 7, 5, 3, 3, 7 and 7, so it wasn’t all smooth sailing.

To me, it boils down to a few key ingredients. The first is experience for Tatum and Brown. They’re still going to take the occasional ill-advised shot (that’s life), but for the most part, you trust them fully.

Next is personnel. Kristaps Porzingis, Derrick White and Jrue Holiday are critical to the operation and make this team go. Talent is key, and the Celtics have that, but fit is even more critical.

Then comes player development. Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser and Luke Kornet are all much better players than they were a few years ago, and all three can be trusted in key spots.

Let’s not forget about Al Horford – the leader of it all, and the glue to the entire operation. What Horford did Sunday night, shaping the outcome without scoring, is a skill that shouldn’t be taken for granted.

Joe Mazzulla and the staff deserve a great deal of credit as well. Mazzulla’s confidence is contagious, and he knows how to get the most out of his players.

The Celtics may win it all and they may not. Time will tell. But regardless of how it shakes out, I trust this team, and you should, too. The Celtics have given us every reason to believe in them when everything’s on the line. That wasn’t always the case, but it is now.