“I did it. I did it. I got one of my own. I hope I made you proud.”
These were the words spoken to Bill Russell by Kevin Garnett just seconds after the Boston Celtics dropped a nuclear bomb on the LA Lakers a couple weeks ago, cementing KG as an NBA champion and surefire Hall of Famer. The C’s took the NBA Finals in six games, winning their 17th NBA Championship, and with it, making Boston the sports capital of the world – if only the Patriots won the Super Bowl….*sigh*
To watch my Celtics this year (as Seth could probably tell you) was really something special. Throughout my life (although I was once a Magic fan), I looked on as the Celtics endured some tough seasons. I was only 3 when the Larry Bird Celts won in ‘86, and since then, it has been a tragedy more heartbreaking than “The Notebook” (I have never seen the Notebook, but the mere mention of the movie to certain girls I know brings tears to their eyes, so I assume its pretty heartbreaking). The C’s run in 2002 to the Eastern COnference Finals was great and all, but one got the feeling they really weren;t going to get it done.
This year, however, it was a differnet story. A 66-16 regular season (completing a 42-game turn around – an NBA record, I might add), tough 7-game series against the Hawks and Cavaliers – a 6-game beat down of the Pistons, and then of course showing Kobe who his daddy was made me feel so good, I can hardly contain it.
There are so many memories, I can’t even list them….but OK I will:
Paul Pierce’s knee injury and return in Boston in the FInals, Pierce’s war (and 40-point game) against Lebron James in the C’s Game 7 win against the Cav’s, the Green’s magnificent comeback in Game 4 in LA from 24 points down in the 3rd quarter to take a 3-1 lead (and consequently watching Jack Nicholson squirm in his courtside seat), Ray Allen getting his groove back, KG’s baseball throw/and 1 shot in the C’s Game 6 massacre of LA – and the list goes on.
Speaking of Jack Nicholson, just a sidenote here – how annoying is it to watch a Lakers game in LA and see about 234 celebrities sitting courtside when none of them are probaby from LA in the first place. What a bunch of fakers! Isn’t WIll Smith from Philly? Where was he while his hometown 76ers were getting beat down by the Pistons?
So, I know it’s been a couple weeks now, and number 17 is behind us, but considering the season we had, what’s stopping us from #18? 19? With the Boston Three Party and most of our team returning next year (SIGN POSEY!), the stage is set for a repeat!
Go Celtics!
