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Celtic Pride!
I realize this subject may not be within the realm of a typical Access Hollywood blog but I feel compelled to share some thoughts about these 2008 Boston Celtics.
Yes, they are beating their life long rivals, the Lakers. But what impresses me, and, likewise, irks me most is what a dynamic group of thirteen. These Celtics are and how, even today, they are still not appreciated for their talents. This very morning, all I have heard is how the Lakers fell apart in game four and how the Lakers are playing soft and how Andrew Bynum will be here next year.
Instead, I should be hearing how this Celtic team is so deep in talent that they could lose two starters (Rondo and Perkins) and find a way to pull off the greatest comeback victory in NBA playoff history. People, this is the team that swept the dreaded Texas Triangle, beating San Antonio, Dallas and Houston on the road, stopping Houston’s near record breaking winning streak in the process.
All year long, as well, we heard that the Celtics had an easy schedule and that the Western Conference was so much stronger. Yet, at one point in the season, we were 16-0 against the west. Still, few paid attention. My boss here at Access, Rob Silverstein, is an amazing basketball player and part-time coach as well as a huge sports fanatic. I was positively stunned when he said the Lakers would win the series in four or five. He added a few more fragments of what has become a familiar argument: Celts don’t have a “go-to” guy, Kobe is an MVP whom they can’t stop and hey, they’re going against Phil Jackson.
Taking each point one at a time, we are a defense based team and have anyone of a Big Three go-to guys WHEN we need them, defense Coach Tom T. and the rest of the green disrupted Lebron James who is bigger and stronger than Kobe and Phil Jackson, per my father, is an amazing coach as long as he has Jordan and Pippen or Shaq and Kobe. Moreover, Jackson, at this point in his career, appears to lack Doc Rivers’ heart, too. For me, he was all too casual, joking and smiling, in his interview during the pre-fourth quarter break of game four. Doc, who I have not been afraid to criticize, has made creative and excellent substitutions. Like his team, he has improved as the season has transpired.
However, I don’t want to make this blog so much about refuting points as much as I want to credit this great group of men. From Eddie House who was practically benched when Sam Cassell was acquired and maintained his condition and positive attitude to Leon Powe, the finest of role models and a throwaway second round pick playing against others six inches taller than him and succeeding wildly - to Kevin Garnett’s boundless energy, tremendous leadership and insanely contagious passion, this is simply a great team with too many weapons.
Let us not forget series MVP, Captain Paul Pierce, for everything he has done this year and in the playoffs - never ever giving up and for telling Coach to let him defend Kobe in the fourth quarter of game four. Nor should we forget the likes of Ray Allen for courageously shooting through his slump and silently carrying us through the finals. Consideration must be given to twenty-two-year-old Rondo for getting this far, for Perkins' underrated defense on other bigs, Sam Cassell's fire and play through the Eastern Conference series, P.J. Brown’s key and major contributions which grew as the playoffs went on and, my God, what about James Posey? WHAT ABOUT JAMES POSEY! James Posey’s defense and those backbreaking three pointers. Even Tony Allen’s defense helped throughout the season, as did the efforts of Big Baby (any of our regular season games against Detroit attest to this). And Scal, at the very least, was the cool head pulling Paul Pierce away from Horford in the Atlanta series. If you factor in Doc’s positive passion for winning blended with Thibodeau’s defense, you simply have a great championship team. And THAT’s what everyone needs to simply acknowledge today.
Well, the Lakers could come back and win this thing but I am sure they won’t. I said “Celts in six” but maybe I’ll be wrong…maybe they’ll just have to win the NBA World Championship in seven.
And you know what else? If Doc can cut Garnett’s, Allen’s and Pierce’s minutes next year while keeping Posey, House and Tom T. in green then, with the maturing of Powe, Baby, Perkins and Rondo, we will win again…and maybe even…again after that.
Maybe then they’ll get the credit they deserve
Your boys took it home tonight! Congrats!
There is no excuse: they were the better team this series. It was supposed to be an exciting series, but it wasn't - it was totally one-sided. They dominated the Lakers from the start.
all due respect to u m&m, hate the celts for ending the rockets streak hopefully Tracy gets more help next year. :-( peace
maybe they would get the credit they "deserve" if they played fair and respectfully. The 07-08 season is long gone, but don't be too sure they'll do it again this year.