Ira Winderman: Game 4 notwithstanding, Celtics came to play this season, putting them on higher ground than Heat

MIAMI — The team with the best ability prioritized availability. So a lesson learned by the NBA, Friday night’s seeming blip notwithstanding?

We’re about to find out whether that turns out not only to be a takeaway from the Finals but the regular season, as well.

For all the teams and players that downplayed and took off large swaths of the regular season, the ultimate reality remains a likely impending championship by a roster that played for real not only in May and June, but the preceding seven months, as well.