Cavs the latest blast from Celtics' past to fuel their focus on Banner 18

Jaylen Brown says Boston's 2018 Eastern Conference finals loss to Cleveland still stings, which is why this year's playoff matchup against Cleveland will be "a little different."

BOSTON — Jaylen Brown had to pause and reflect on the moment when reminded that the Boston Celtics hadn’t seen the Cleveland Cavaliers in the playoffs since 2018.

“That was a long time ago, 2018, sheesh!” Brown said. “I feel like I’ve come a long way (since then). That was a great experience, journey, being able to play in the playoffs. It still stings a little bit that we lost in Game 7.”

Those lessons of pain in the pursuit of basketball nirvana, have been at the heart of what drives this Boston Celtics team this season.

They finished the regular season with one of the best records in franchise history. They exorcised one of their basketball demons in the first round by dispatching the always-pesky Miami Heat.

Is Cleveland next?

Boston’s postseason journey now includes an Eastern Conference semifinal matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Games 1 and 2 will be in Boston, beginning tonight and Thursday, respectively.