Celtics enter playoffs embracing adversity, tougher path to repeating as NBA champions

The Boston Celtics are days away from beginning their quest to repeat as NBA champions. It was just over a month ago that Holiday missed four games after being diagnosed with a condition called mallet finger, a unique tendon injury that caused the tip of his right pinky finger to stay bent. The Celtics are, in fact, experiencing a lot of deja vu as they look to defend the Larry O'Brien Trophy they hoisted last season, and become the first repeat champions since the Golden State Warriors did it in 2018.