Shaquille O’Neal and Udonis Haslem recently stirred up a conversation regarding the Boston Celtics’ 2024 NBA championship run on the “OGs” podcast, claiming that the Celtics had one of the easiest paths to an NBA title in recent memory. O’Neal, known for his candid takes, said. Despite their comments, both acknowledged that winning the championship is what matters.
Shaquille O’Neal: “We all know Boston had the easiest run ever to that championship.”
Udonis Haslem: “They did.”
Shaquille O’Neal: “Can they back it up? That’s all. OK, you had an easy run. It don’t matter. You won it. Can you back it up?”
The Celtics had an impressive regular season, finishing with the best record in the league at 64-18. They were dominant on both ends of the floor, with a deep roster that included Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and the newly added Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday. However, doubts lingered over their ability to close out big games after previous postseason failures, where they consistently fell short on the NBA’s biggest stage.
Their 2024 playoff journey began against the Miami Heat in the first round. The Heat, a perennial playoff contender, were severely undermanned, missing their star player, Jimmy Butler, for the entire series.
Additionally, Miami had been plagued by injuries throughout the season, making them far from the formidable opponent they had been in previous years. Boston took advantage, dispatching the Heat in five games, and though the Celtics played at a high level, critics like O’Neal pointed out the advantage they gained by facing a depleted Miami squad.
In the second round, the Celtics met the Cleveland Cavaliers, who had built momentum as an up-and-coming team with young stars like Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland. However, Cleveland’s hopes were dashed when Mitchell went down with an injury after just two games. Once again, the Celtics faced an opponent unable to put their best foot forward. Though Cleveland fought valiantly, the Celtics closed out the series in five games, leaving many to wonder if Boston had truly been tested.
In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Celtics squared off against the Indiana Pacers, another team that had enjoyed a strong season but was coming off a grueling series against the New York Knicks. The physical toll of that series was evident as the Pacers entered the matchup banged up.
All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana’s offensive engine, missed Games 3 and 4, making it even harder for the Pacers to compete at full strength. Despite the series technically being a sweep, each game was competitive, and Boston had to work harder than the final scorelines might suggest. Still, without Haliburton, the Pacers were overmatched, allowing Boston to punch their ticket to the Finals without much pushback.
In the NBA Finals, the Celtics faced the Dallas Mavericks, a team that had made an unexpected run to the Finals. While Dallas boasted star power in Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving, they were clearly overmatched in terms of depth and defensive versatility compared to Boston.
The Mavericks’ lack of size and overall team defense was no match for the Celtics’ firepower, and Boston wrapped up the series in five games, securing their championship. Though the Celtics played outstanding basketball, Shaq and Haslem’s comments reflected the belief that the Mavs were simply not up to the task of seriously challenging them.
While Shaquille O’Neal and Udonis Haslem’s remarks might seem harsh, their point reflects a larger narrative that the Celtics benefited from facing weakened opponents throughout their playoff run. Injuries to key players like Jimmy Butler, Donovan Mitchell, and Tyrese Haliburton, as well as an overmatched Mavericks team in the Finals, made their path less treacherous than it could have been.
However, as Shaq pointed out, the most important thing is that Boston capitalized on the opportunities they were given and took care of business.
The real question, as O’Neal stated, is whether the Celtics can back up this title win and prove they are truly deserving of being called the best team in the NBA by defending their championship against stronger competition in future seasons.
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