The Celtics Sure Like Home Cooking For Closeout Games

After Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals tonight at the TD Garden, the Celtics can’t go home again this series. If Boston wins on the parquet, the Miami Heat will be on ice until the fall. But if the Celtics fail to close out the series, they head back to South Beach for Game 7.

In the current Big Three Era, the Celtics’ killer instincts have been decidedly stronger in Boston. Since 2008, the Celtics have played 13 playoff series (not including the current matchup with Miami). In eight of the 13, Boston had a chance to close out its opponent on the road, failed to do it, and returned home to win.

In the 2010 NBA Finals, the team had two chances to close out the Lakers. Both games were in LA, the Celtics won neither, and the Lakers celebrated on their home court.

In the same time period, Boston has only finished off two teams on the road: Detroit in 2008 and New York in 2011.

Naturally, Celtics fans will be rooting for the men in green to finish things off at home tonight. Given the team’s recent history, they might want to root even harder than usual.