This is for Simmons/Russillo, but could also apply to the media writ large for everyone putting the Celtics on even or lower ground than the remaining WC teams: If Boston ends up winning the title, absolutely everyone is going to act like it was inevitable. Historically great regular season team, tons of playoff experience for all the key players, 1st place in the east by record breaking margins, red carpet path to the finals, defending champ and best player knocked out by someone else, on and on. There will be 0 introspection to determine why everyone seemed so eager to write off Boston, and maybe there doesn't have to be. This is entertainment at the end of the day, and in the same way that an announcing crew will try to make a blowout interesting by talking up plays by the trailing team, everyone in sports entertainment is fighting for eyes and ears, and you don't get that by saying the obvious, boring thing.