Big Celtics Game 3 and the Kyrie T-Shirt Superstition

The first "swing game" of the NBA Finals presents the Celtics a big opportunity to go up 2-1 in the series. Although we started the playoff run strong with Jason Tatum popping off against Kyrie and the Nets in their first game 3 of the playoffs, the Celtics been pretty horrific in game 3s ever since. In those games against Miami and Milwaukee, they failed in one or multiple quarters to maintain the level of intensity and composure needed to defeat such teams. This time around, facing the Warriors (yes obviously a 2-1 Celtics deficit is nothing to worry about, just undesirable), the Celts need to capitalize on the golden opportunity in front of them: homecourt advantage. We played absolutely bonkers and snagged game 1, securing homecourt advantage. Let me be clear, yes that game would've been a blowout even sooner with Tatum making more shots (I mean the guy freaking shot 3-for-17 from the field that's horrendous), but in no way was he slumping – he literally broke the NBA record for most assists in a Finals debut. Something my hockey coaches always said (which contributed to our team's success) was "Do your job" and that's exactly what Tatum did in game 1. He was a brick in that game but found a way to contribute to the team through his consistent offensive pressure and prowess and his amazing looks to teammates, which more often than not resulted in made 3s. As I got up this morning to work on some Fundies there wasn't a doubt in my mind what I'd put on fresh out the shower... It was time to bring out the Kyrie shirt.

For those that don't know, following game 1 of the Nets series, Dave Portnoy put this amazing, hilarious shirt chirping Kyrie Irving up for sale on Barstool and I immediately copped it. I ordered express shipping to my dorm and was immediately clowned for "the stupidity" of wearing the shirt in public. The shirt, shown below, contains a list of despicable scumbags that the world would be better off without and reads "Putin... Isis... Kim Jong Un... Kyrie." 1) I think that any human that knows basketball would agree Kyrie Irving is a dbag. 2) The shirt is ironically hilarious because although every Celtics fan should hate Kyrie, he obviously isn't as horrible as the other psychopaths on the list. 3) If anybody weren't to understand the obvious joke of the T-shirt, at least they'd know how true of a Boston sports fan I am to be proudly wearing such a shirt.

Anyway, these playoffs have birthed a belief in superstitions inside of me, as the Celtics have won every game played on days where I wore the shirt beginning to end. On days that I didn't wear that Kyrie shirt or simply put it on come game time, the C's played so lackadaisical and sloppy. However, when I proudly repped the anti-Kyrie merch at Steast, Snell, and Marino, Al Horford had the game of his life and when I wore it on the T to Copley and Back Bay, Tatum put up 31 points against the Heat. Coincidence? No I don't fully believe so. I now partially blame myself when the Celtics take playoff losses due to my breaking of superstition. The Celtics and the officials obviously have their own things to work on – Draymond can't be allowed to get away with playing like a linebacker like he did in game 1 and we can't play another game missing layup after layup; that was pathetic. I want to see a hungry Celtics team tonight, a team ready to bounce back and show everyone watching and still saying "Warriors in 5" that they won't go down without a fight. Its only time before Klay Thompson shows up in the series and Steph Curry is always a threat. The warriors obviously have tons of star power and could take control of the series if the Celtics slip up tonight, but I have a tingling feeling in me that the Celtics can and will take a nice home dub tonight if two things happen: a change in officiating and improved shooting. If Draymond is prevented from doing things like tugging at the pants of Jaylen Brown like a horny, uncontrollable infant and running over Grant Williams like a hockey player, the game will be a lot more fair and more mental energy can be spent on the current game. Moreover, the infamous 3rd quarter collapses the Celtics always seem to fall victim to must stop immediately. Jaylen Brown added 17 on 5-17 shooting but Al Horford, Robert Williams, and Marcus Smart all only had 2 points each. The Celts need to play four consecutive solid quarters and not falter in intensity that entire time. If that, the stars, and the officiating aligns, the Celtics have game 3 on lock.