The Celtics finished 16-3 during their championship run, including a “gentleman’s sweep” of the Mavericks, finishing the series at home after strong performances from Tatum and Finals MVP Jaylen Brown. Tatum said he didn’t think it would be Dallas to come out of the Western Conference. Like many, he thought the defending champion Nuggets would emerge. “People always ask me, when did you guys know you were going to win a championship?” Tatum said. “When Minnesota beat Denver, I felt like Denver was the only team that they matched up best with us. I thought that we were going to play Denver in the Finals and it was going to be a good one.