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Boston Celtics · On December 25, 2023 — fittingly, by defeating the team that once joined them on the 17-championship plateau — the Boston Celtics took hold of the NBA’s No. 1 win-loss record. As days became weeks and weeks followed months, one truth would become inevitably clear: the year would belong to those in green-and-white. For most, a half-decade’s worth of seasons knocking on the championship doorstep with two steadily-ascending All-Stars would represent a job well done to the public eye; for the Celtics, always close but never close enough, it merely inspired doubts on their ability to finish the job. Through a 64-win season and a near-perfect 16-3 postseason push, Boston proved capable of finishing the job, largely by finishing games. With a flawless 6-0 record in games decided by single-digits, they became a late-game task too mighty for even the Association’s best. The journey itself began first with a demon-conquering trip through archrivals in Miami. It then required using history’s most efficient offense to force Cleveland to no longer believe. The ensuing detours passed through Indiana and Dallas, where they showed newly-forced contenders the power of continuity, chemistry, and patience. Thus, for the league-leading 18-time title winners, that meant only one final stop: the championship parade. · State of Mint