May 2, the visitors' locker room at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland.
There were still more than three hours until tip-off, but the entire Boston Celtics team had already arrived and begun its pregame preparations.
However, Goodwin, the team's central figure, seemed a little unaccustomed to this.
Frowning slightly, he muttered, "I never thought that even in the semifinals, we'd have to start on the road."
As soon as he finished speaking, all his teammates turned to look at him in unison.
As Goodwin's most loyal sidekick, Tony Allen immediately stepped forward and said earnestly, "I'm sorry, boss! It's all our fault for not playing well enough in the regular season. That's why we only finished third!"
Hearing this, the other teammates chimed in one after another, expressing their agreement and remorse.
Everyone on the Boston Celtics knew perfectly well that Goodwin had given so much for the team this season.
Whether it was the huge sacrifice he made by accepting reduced playing time, or the tireless guidance he gave them off the court to help them improve their skills and grow, Goodwin had never complained.
Yet the result was far from satisfactory. They had only managed to finish third in the Eastern Conference, which meant they had to begin their semifinal campaign on the road.
Honestly, facing this situation, his teammates felt deeply guilty and remorseful.
After all, the Boston Celtics had usually finished first in the Eastern Conference, and they had always opened their series at TD Garden.
Goodwin was baffled by their reaction. It took him a moment to collect himself before he frowned and asked, "What's going on with you guys? Why are you apologizing to me?
"So what if we finished third? It's no big deal.
"But listen up, the championship is ours. No one