Let's just get this out in the open right at the start here. LeBron James is trying to make his 7th consecutive trip to the NBA Finals representing the Eastern Conference. Not 1, Not 2, Not 3... 7. That's a whole lot of 'same old story' for fans to digest in this day and age, and people are yearning for a new narrative (or even a freaking rival) to be introduced into the mix.
That is probably why people are quick to jump on top of this Celtics and Cavaliers intrigue, with the Celtics beating LeBron in Boston for the first time since 2013 with their victory last night. But if you watched the game, an obvious yet alarming thing happened repeatedly in the fourth quarter that just isn't replicable in a real playoff series.
Isaiah Thomas made literally every play for the Celtics down the stretch, and if they were to play Cleveland in a 7 Game Series there is no way he would be able to make those plays night after night in the postseason. The Celtics would still get crushed by the Cavs in the playoffs, so let's cool it with the challenger talk.
You can hear this entire take and more on The Jason Smith Show every weekday from 11-2 am est. on Fox Sports Radio.