LeBron James has been a formidable rival to the Boston Celtics throughout his storied career. From his early battles with the Celtics' Big Three in Cleveland to his dominant performances with Miami and his second stint in Cleveland, and now as a leader of the Lakers, LeBron and the Celtics have shared a long-standing rivalry. Yet, over 23 years of intense competition, a mutual respect has developed between James and the Celtics' franchise.
In a recent episode of his "Mind the Game" podcast, LeBron, alongside Steve Nash, delved into the Celtics' surprising season. Both hosts described the current Boston squad as "sneaky dangerous," highlighting how Nikola Vucevic's addition has bolstered their offense. Despite offseason changes and Tatum's injury, the team still possesses that championship DNA.
LeBron also praised the Boston crowd, stating, "When you gotta go to Boston for a playoff game, you know how hard it is to win in that building. The crowd is… there’s not many crowds in our game that kind of (strikes) fear into you. They have that mentality…That crowd is definitely a factor."
Having faced the Celtics seven times in the playoffs, with a 5-2 series record, LeBron knows the intensity of the Boston faithful and the electric atmosphere of TD Garden. He acknowledges that few home crowds can truly impact a game, but Boston’s is one of them.
This homecourt advantage is crucial as the Celtics navigate the remainder of the regular season. Currently sitting in the second seed in the Eastern Conference, they are poised to secure homecourt advantage in the first two playoff rounds.
The only team in the East that could claim a Game Seven at home against Boston would be the Pistons. However, the standings are tight, with the Celtics holding a slim lead over the third-seeded Knicks and sixth-seeded 76ers.
With the Eastern Conference wide open and competition fierce, homecourt advantage could be a game-changer for the Celtics. Securing one of the top two seeds would significantly enhance their playoff prospects, making these final months of the season all the more critical.