Celtics’ Historic 2-0 Playoff Lead Record: A Closer Look

The Boston Celtics boast an impressive 43-1 record when leading 2-0 in a best-of-seven NBA playoff series, a testament to their storied history. In contrast, since 1993, several franchises, including the Suns, Clippers, Spurs, Mavericks, Knicks, and Rockets, have each lost multiple series after taking a 2-0 lead. The only time the Celtics faltered after a 2-0 lead was in the 2018 Eastern Conference Finals during Jayson Tatum’s rookie season. Despite a strong start, they succumbed to LeBron James’ Cavaliers in seven games.If the Celtics were to lose another 2-0 lead, especially in the NBA Finals, it would tarnish the legacies of Tatum and Jaylen Brown, marking them as the players who marred the Celtics’ almost perfect record. Unlike in 2018, Tatum can no longer rely on the rookie excuse; as a veteran star, he is expected to lead his team with resilience.However, the Celtics’ current mindset is positive.