As last year’s Boston Celtics team walked off the TD Garden court after Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, they hung their heads. The Miami Heat’s trophy ceremony took place over the center-court leprechaun, and the city of Boston left disappointed.
Memories of Caleb Martin’s monster shooting performance dance in the heads of Celtics fans to this day. But that wasn’t the only problem for Boston in the series.
Miami’s zone defense felt impenetrable at times. The Celtics couldn’t find a way around it, looking helpless at times. So, the following offseason, Brad Stevens traded for one of the best zone-busters in the league in Kristaps Porzingis.