The Boston Celtics defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 113-98 in Game 5 Wednesday night to win the series and advance to the Eastern Conference Final. Boston has advanced this far in six of the last eight seasons and is heavily favored to go even further this year.

It would be a disservice to the Celtics’ performance in the first two rounds to say that they’ve had an easy road, but it can be said that the team has not wasted time on inferior opponents. The Miami Heat, an extremely familiar playoff rival for Boston, had to compete in the first round without star player Jimmy Butler. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers were heavy underdogs going into their series, eventually losing team leader Donovan Mitchell to injury. Both teams only lasted five games against Boston.

Boston has yet to be tested in their conference, but at this point, it would have been surprising if the team had met any resistance. With a staggering 64-18 record in the regular season, the Celtics towered over all their conference rivals by at least 14 games. They were presumed to be the best in the conference by a wide margin, and thus far, they have certainly looked the part.

Celtics lead scorer Jayson Tatum has played the superstar role on a star-studded team this postseason. The 26-year-old forward scored 20 points or more in eight-ten games while averaging 10.4 rebounds. Despite his performance, Tatum said Wednesday that it takes more than one person for a team to make it look this easy.

“People might think that it’s a given that we’re supposed to be here, but I give a lot of credit to everyone in the front office, the coaching staff, the trainers, the guys that hand out the equipment, the ball boys, the cooks, the chefs, the security team,” Tatum said. “We’re all in this together. I do, I mean that.”

Jaylen Brown has been Boston’s supporting star in name only this postseason, as he has also competed at an elite level alongside Tatum. He scored more than 20 points per game in both series and established himself well around the rim. 

Boston had to compete against Cleveland without big man Kristaps Porzingis, who sustained an injury in the first round. Porzingis has been a revelatory addition to the Celtics this season, providing much-needed paint presence for a team that was already lethal from beyond the arc. Getting an early series win over the Cavs could give him enough time to return for the Eastern Conference Final against the Knicks or Pacers.

In recent years, the Celtics have come to be known as postseason disappointments, as the team has consistently been labeled a contender before falling short. Despite those six conference final appearances since 2017, the team has just one Finals appearance. So far this year, however, Boston has steamrolled its conference rivals and only needs one more series win to finally clear that hurdle again.

The Brooklyn Nets were very uncertain about All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving‘s future at the conclusion of their 2022 NBA Season. The 30-year-old had come off an extremely shaky season that was marred by an embarrassing sweep in the first round of the NBA Playoffs to eventual Eastern Conference Champions, the Boston Celtics. This, plus his absence in 53 games for Brooklyn due to his vaccination status plus reported locker room differences that were instrumental in the trade of former MVP James Harden to Philly meant that this offseason would be a trying one for general manager Sean Marks and Irving.

Marks had originally said in May that extension talks were a possibility but also stated, “We need people here that want to be here. They’re selfless that want to be part of something bigger than themselves. There’s an objective and there’s a goal at stake here. And in order to do that, we’re gonna need availability from everybody,” citing Irving’s extended absences from the court during the season. Potential trade rumors and free-agent destinations if Irving had chosen to opt-out were abundant on social media leading some to believe that the former number-one pick’s time in Brooklyn was over.

However, according to Brian Lewis of the New York Post, “all signs are pointing to Irving returning to the Nets. Irving has until June 29 to decide whether he will opt out of the final, $36.5 million, years of his contract for 2022-23 and become a free agent. But both Nets and league sources told The Post “an extension is more likely.”

Irving’s contract would differ depending on his decision to opt in or out. If Irving opts in and signs the extension he would likely sign a five-year, $240 million contract but if he chooses to opt out, he can receive a slight pay raise with the total value being around $248 million. A deal to remain with Brooklyn would seem to be the best possible option for Irving as his trade value and free-agent stock are both low following the off-court debacles that took place this season.

Irving averaged 27.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 5.8 assists in 29 games for the Nets this season. He joined the Nets during 2019 free agency after a short but disastrous tenure in Boston. Irving was drafted first overall in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was with the team for six seasons, winning an NBA Championship with LeBron James in 2016.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are acquiring veteran guard Rajon Rondo from the Los Angeles Lakers after losing Ricky Rubio for the season with a torn ACL. The Lakers receive Denzel Valentine in the deal, but will likely waive him and open a roster spot.

The Cavs are 20-14 and sit in fifth place in the Eastern Conference. The Rubio injury is a hit for a team that is already missing Collin Sexton, who is out for the season with a meniscus tear in his right knee. The team also just plays much better when Rubio’s on the court. He played in every game this season and averaged 13.1 points, 6.6 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game. The Cavs will miss his leadership, too.

“I think this team is so close, so it’s like an extended family member goes down and it just pains you,” Cavaliers’ forward Kevin Love said of Rubio’s injury. “It just hurts to see anyone go down, but especially a guy like Ricky, who has been so consistent for us and brings so much to this team for so many different reasons.”

By the numbers, the improved Cavs team can be good without Rubio. Without him on the floor, they’re still the fourth-ranked defense, and their offense still has the potential to be in the top 10. According to Tankathon, the Cavs also have the easiest remaining schedule.

Rondo is 35 and in his 16th season. He likely won’t be able to match Rubio’s production, as he averaged just 3.1 points and 3.7 assists in 16 minutes per game with the Lakers, but his experience and leadership should benefit a young Cavs team whose best players are early on in their career. He is a two-time NBA Champion and four-time NBA All-Star.

Rondo entered COVID protocol on Sunday and will have to be cleared before joining the Cavaliers.

Isaiah Thomas apologized after insulting the city of Cleveland on social media on Saturday.

Isaiah Thomas Apologizes For Cleveland Comments

The Denver Nuggets point guard, who briefly played for the Cavaliers last season, said in an Instagram live video that Cleveland was a “s—hole” and added “I see why Bron left. Again.”

“[Sacramento,] LA and Boston was all love,” said Thomas in the video. “Phoenix was cool.”

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Thomas was of course referring to LeBron James, who signed with the Los Angeles Lakes last month after spending four years with the Cavs.

After facing strong backlash for his comments, Thomas apologized.

“I shouldn’t have said that,” Thomas stated. “That was my fault. Cleveland was actually cool, it was all right. The situation just wasn’t the best. I apologize for saying it was a s—hole. It wasn’t a s—hole. The team was dope, the players was filthy. My guy Gio. Training staff was cold. Nah, Cleveland was cool. I shouldn’t have said that, that was my bad. I was just talking on IG Live, I didn’t think it was gonna get to where they’re posting it. It’s like damn, my bad.”

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Thomas, a former Boston Celtics star, also issued an apology on Twitter:

The Cavaliers traded Thomas and Channing Frye to the Lakers on February 8, just six months after Thomas landed in Cleveland. Thomas then signed a one-year deal with the Nuggets on July 16.

During Thomas’s brief stint with the Cavs, reports surfaced about tensions between him and other players on the team like Kevin Love. Therefore, it isn’t entirely surprising that Thomas was mad at the city, which hadn’t won a major sports title in over 50 years until the Cavaliers won the NBA championship in 2016.

One person who took offense to Thomas’s remarks was ESPN’s Jalen Rose, a Cleveland native.

“Yes, us midwesterners we like pop and coney dogs, and we actually talk to our neighbors,” said Rose. “But you can’t tell me that being in Cleveland was a worse experience than being in Sacramento, a team that hasn’t made the playoffs and hasn’t developed the lottery pick since I don’t know when.”

Rose then noted that the Cavaliers have had much more success as a team than the Kings have in recent years, partly because James played for them.

Ryen Russillo added of Thomas: “He’s got to get over the Cleveland thing,” although he also said he “sympathized” with the veteran point guard.

The NBA season opened last night with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Chicago Bulls facing off at the United Center in Chicago, with a very special guest in attendance to witness the game. President Barack Obama was seated courtside for the game with both players and fans in awe of his presence and his desire to witness his hometown team.

Bulls BEAT Cavs In Season Opener

The game itself was due to be a competitive one and it sure was leading up to its expectations in the fourth quarter, and the way the game ended had fans on the edge of their seats. With ten seconds to go, Bulls center Pau Gasol posted up defensively to Cavs star LeBron James and ended up blocking his lay-up attempt leaving 3.6 seconds on the clock. On the next play, an inbounds play intended for James saw Bulls forward Jimmy Butler blocking the pass, thus sealing the Bulls their first victory for the season. “That is how we are going to win every game,” Bulls point guard Derrick Rose said. “It kind of feels good going into every game knowing you have the possibility of winning. You have a chance of winning every game because we are so good and deep.”

The Bulls had been in the works of a new fast-paced offense with new head coach Fred Hoiberg at the helm, but defense played a huge factor in stopping the Cavs. Rose, playing with a mask to protect his fractured left orbital, finished with 18 points while power forward Nikola Mirotić had 19 points and Butler finishing with 17 points of his own. James had a double-double for the night with 25 points and ten rebounds while power forward Kevin Love, who played his first game in six months because of a separated shoulder, had 18 points.

President Obama was very thrilled that his beloved team won while he was in attendance and sees a bright future for the Bulls. “I think it’s very promising,” Obama told TNT. “You’ve got a new coach, he’s opening up the offense a little bit. The question is going to be can they hang on to the defense, with the new offense?”

Both teams will be on the road for their next games tonight with the Cavs visiting the Memphis Grizzlies and the Bulls visiting the Brooklyn Nets.

Photo: CHICAGO, IL – OCTOBER 27: Pau Gasol #16 of the Chicago Bulls blocks a shot by LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the final 10 seconds during the season opening game at the United Center on October 27, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls defeated the Cavaliers 97-95.  (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)