The Boston Celtics didnât just take a 3-1 series lead over the Philadelphia 76ers.
They backed up one of the boldest takes of the postseason.
Just days after former NBA guard Iman Shumpert called the Celtics a âguaranteedâ team to come out of the Eastern Conference, Boston delivered a dominant 128-96 win in Game 4 â a performance that looked exactly like what Shumpert described.
âI think Boston is the one team that can make this a good series,â Shumpert said. âAnd I think they are the guaranteed team, at the moment, at least from what my eyes see. They are the only team that could come out of the East.â
On Sunday, it was hard to argue otherwise.
Celtics Back Up the Talk Early
Boston wasted no time setting the tone.
The Celtics jumped out to a 34-18 lead in the first quarter, immediately putting Philadelphia on its heels. From there, the gap only widened. Boston controlled the pace, dictated matchups, and never allowed the 76ers to establish any real rhythm offensively.
By halftime, the game already felt out of reach. By the fourth quarter, it was a formality.
This wasnât just a playoff win â it was a statement.
A Mismatch in Execution
The most telling part of Game 4 wasnât just the final score. It was how easily Boston imposed its style.
The Celtics moved the ball with precision, knocked down shots efficiently, and turned defensive stops into transition opportunities. Meanwhile, the 76ers struggled to generate consistent offense, failing to match Bostonâs depth or versatility.
Itâs the exact dynamic Shumpert pointed to in his evaluation of the Eastern Conference hierarchy.
âIn the later rounds, I canât see it as much for the Knicks as I want to,â Shumpert said. âBoston being able to match up because they have a deeper bench, because they live and die from three. A lot of teams go out here and try to give you a healthy diet of just playing the right way. Boston puts the pressure on you to play like them.â
Philadelphia hasnât had an answer for that pressure.
76ers Running Out of Time
Now trailing 3-1, the 76ers face a steep climb.
There were brief moments in Game 4 where Philadelphia showed signs of life â particularly in the third quarter â but every push was quickly shut down. Boston responded to every run, never allowing the game to tighten or shift momentum.
Thatâs been the theme of the series.
This hasnât been a back-and-forth battle. Itâs been controlled, consistent dominance from Boston.
And now, one loss away from elimination, the 76ers must find something they havenât shown through four games â a way to disrupt the Celticsâ rhythm on both ends of the floor.
Boston Looks Like the Team to Beat
Through four games, the Celtics have looked exactly like a team built for a deep playoff run.
Theyâve won with defense. Theyâve won with shooting. Theyâve won with depth.
And in Game 4, they won with authority.
Shumpertâs âguaranteedâ comment might have sounded bold at the time. After Sundayâs performance, it feels a lot more grounded in reality.
Now, Boston heads into Game 5 with a chance to close out the series â and continue building a case that the road to the NBA Finals runs through them.
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