I still pinch myself everyday

[ScoobyDoo]

Great Topic, Tommy Point as well to original poster. Not only do we have three hall of famers...they are sandwiched in between tow very, very good book ends in Rondo and Perkins. Both of whom, in their own way, are role players..yet Rondo looks like he could become an all star as well...

[papa shuttlesworth]

I grew up watching the Celtics and UConn basketball.  Ray Allen was always my favorite.  Seeing him on the home team is awesome, in the literal sense of the word.  As an added plus, KG was always near the top of my list of favorite players as well.

AND they kept Pierce and my favorite of the young players, Rondo.

So yeah, it's like a dream come true.

[kenmaine]

Great topic, very good point. 
After 86 it was a long twenty year drought with mostly mediocre and a few bad teams, but I'm enjoying this latest team as much as any.
It reminds me of when Pedro was pitching for the Sox- I kept telling myself and my kids to appreciate the greatness we were seeing, since we Boston fans, myself included, really do tend to be a negative bunch.

Anyway, there's at least another two or three very good years with the big 3, and after that who knows? Rondo is here for a long time, Perk could be too if his shoulder holds up, Baby and Leon are both young, solid players.
But let's enjoy what we have right now. 3 sure HOF'ers(and maybe 4 with Rondo,don't laugh), playing together in their primes.
"You gotta stop and smell the roses"

[silvershamrocker]

After reading all the negativity about not getting Joe Smith and blah, blah, blah, threads like this are awesome.
I'm sure atleast 27 other teams would love to be in our place right now. So enjoy it, guys! 

[slamtheking]

Tis True, this adds perspective, however, if I might add, one of the problems with being a Celts fan is that whenever a squad gets *good*, one always looks for 2 titles within a 5 year span. It's kinda like Cowens/Hondo had set that in motion after '76. In a sense, it made it tough to take it, one season at a time so when Reggie Lewis passed away and we went into the long night, it was essentially a period where we'd never be good enough to have a five year window again. Now, it looks like we're in such a window, so the dual titles syndrome kicks in again. I think once they win #18, no one will be complaining (not all of us are greedy for a threepeat) until the next generation comes up for their window.

also note that if Len Bias didn't pass so soon theres no way the Lakers would have beat us in 87. and we'd be going for 19.

If Bias hadn't died, there's a good chance that the original big 3 could have gotten a few more--we could be shooting for 21 or 22.  
With Bias, no need to trade Ainge for Pinckney and Klein so we would still have a reliable shooting guard with a young Reggie Lewis off the bench.  Also, having Bias would have allowed Mchale to get his foot taken care of in 87 and not send his career into decline as soon.  He also would have bought Bird more rest for his back and probably extended the quality of play another couple of years.  That team would have been realistic contenders until '91 and possibly longer.  One small bonus to consider is that with Bias, the C's wouldn't have had the 13th pick the year Bird was injured so there's a good chance it wouldn't have been wasted on Michael Smith --> I'm not saying Tim Hardaway would have been there when they picked that time but several players that contributed more than Smith were available later in the draft.

Oh the joys of "what if"

[drza44]

I'll take this from another angle.  I'm not a lifetime Celtics fan, I came over with Kevin Garnett.  But just picture how DEPRESSING it was to be a Kevin Garnett fan for the past 13 years: 

The most talented player he ever played with, Stephon Marbury, jumped ship after 2 seasons due to jealousy and money before either could mature enough to compete. 

The best player we got in the Marbury trade, Terrell Brandon, quickly becomes injury prone and had his career end on the injured list 3 years later. 

The owner and GM get caught in an illegal signing (for Joe Smith, of all people) and costs the franchise a generations worth of draft picks.

Garnett's best friend/idol and probably the best SG on the Wolves during this period, Malik Sealy, dies due to a drunk driver going the wrong way on the highway ON HIS WAY HOME AFTER KG'S BIRTHDAY PARTY. 

The one time there is any modicum of talent on the team, Sam Cassell gets injured in the WCF to derail a possible title run.

I could go on with this, but the point is that for a solid decade it seemed like the basketball team that I lived and died with every night was outright cursed.  Seeing KG go to war against Shaq/Kobe with Troy Hudson as his second best player...it just was not fun.  So to go from that to seeing him able to go to war every night with Pierce and Allen, to being able to pull for a team that wins with teamwork, unselfishness and relentless defense, to watching them earn their place in the most storied franchise in NBA history...watching Bill Russell (!!!) adopt him like a son...to FINALLY win a ring, and to do it against my least favorite player in a marquee Lakers/Celtics final...it's like overload.  It's too much. 

In 2007 when the Wolves lost the lottery coin-flip with the Blazers that led to the Blazers getting the #1 pick and the Wolves getting Corey Brewer, I NEVER would have expected that 2 years later KG would have a championship ring and be challenging for another.  It's just too cool...

[Bankshot]

I'll take this from another angle.  I'm not a lifetime Celtics fan, I came over with Kevin Garnett.  But just picture how DEPRESSING it was to be a Kevin Garnett fan for the past 13 years: 

The most talented player he ever played with, Stephon Marbury, jumped ship after 2 seasons due to jealousy and money before either could mature enough to compete. 

The best player we got in the Marbury trade, Terrell Brandon, quickly becomes injury prone and had his career end on the injured list 3 years later. 

The owner and GM get caught in an illegal signing (for Joe Smith, of all people) and costs the franchise a generations worth of draft picks.

Garnett's best friend/idol and probably the best SG on the Wolves during this period, Malik Sealy, dies due to a drunk driver going the wrong way on the highway ON HIS WAY HOME AFTER KG'S BIRTHDAY PARTY. 

The one time there is any modicum of talent on the team, Sam Cassell gets injured in the WCF to derail a possible title run.

I could go on with this, but the point is that for a solid decade it seemed like the basketball team that I lived and died with every night was outright cursed.  Seeing KG go to war against Shaq/Kobe with Troy Hudson as his second best player...it just was not fun.  So to go from that to seeing him able to go to war every night with Pierce and Allen, to being able to pull for a team that wins with teamwork, unselfishness and relentless defense, to watching them earn their place in the most storied franchise in NBA history...watching Bill Russell (!!!) adopt him like a son...to FINALLY win a ring, and to do it against my least favorite player in a marquee Lakers/Celtics final...it's like overload.  It's too much. 

In 2007 when the Wolves lost the lottery coin-flip with the Blazers that led to the Blazers getting the #1 pick and the Wolves getting Corey Brewer, I NEVER would have expected that 2 years later KG would have a championship ring and be challenging for another.  It's just too cool...

What a sad story!  It really reminds me a lot of PP's story, except Toine wasn't jealous and PP didn't have a friend that died (but he almost died).

It is too cool to watch these too finally get their 'ship.

[JSD]

Tis True, this adds perspective, however, if I might add, one of the problems with being a Celts fan is that whenever a squad gets *good*, one always looks for 2 titles within a 5 year span. It's kinda like Cowens/Hondo had set that in motion after '76. In a sense, it made it tough to take it, one season at a time so when Reggie Lewis passed away and we went into the long night, it was essentially a period where we'd never be good enough to have a five year window again. Now, it looks like we're in such a window, so the dual titles syndrome kicks in again. I think once they win #18, no one will be complaining (not all of us are greedy for a threepeat) until the next generation comes up for their window.

also note that if Len Bias didn't pass so soon theres no way the Lakers would have beat us in 87. and we'd be going for 19.

If Bias hadn't died, there's a good chance that the original big 3 could have gotten a few more--we could be shooting for 21 or 22.  
With Bias, no need to trade Ainge for Pinckney and Klein so we would still have a reliable shooting guard with a young Reggie Lewis off the bench.  Also, having Bias would have allowed Mchale to get his foot taken care of in 87 and not send his career into decline as soon.  He also would have bought Bird more rest for his back and probably extended the quality of play another couple of years.  That team would have been realistic contenders until '91 and possibly longer.  One small bonus to consider is that with Bias, the C's wouldn't have had the 13th pick the year Bird was injured so there's a good chance it wouldn't have been wasted on Michael Smith --> I'm not saying Tim Hardaway would have been there when they picked that time but several players that contributed more than Smith were available later in the draft.

Oh the joys of "what if"

Little off topic here... but "Shocking and tragic sports deaths": Bias was listed as #2

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/pgStory?contentId=8542092#sport=MLB&photo=8542814

[greenwise]

KG, Ray, Marbury...that was all a dream in 2007 but how about the fact of STILL having Paul Pierce in the team? Back then I thought he was on his way out that summer...

This is unreal, we are the defending champions and we are in a position to repeat.

Have fun and enjoy the ride, bring on the cavs!

[Kiorrik]

You guys are making me feel sorry for not being here before the turnaround But I just wasn't watching any NBA at all, Bloody Dutch TV won't broadcast any NBA games I HAD NO CHOICE [dang]IT

Hehehe

I'll stick with you guys though. Even if we ... *cough* -don't win it- *cough*.

[slamtheking]

Tis True, this adds perspective, however, if I might add, one of the problems with being a Celts fan is that whenever a squad gets *good*, one always looks for 2 titles within a 5 year span. It's kinda like Cowens/Hondo had set that in motion after '76. In a sense, it made it tough to take it, one season at a time so when Reggie Lewis passed away and we went into the long night, it was essentially a period where we'd never be good enough to have a five year window again. Now, it looks like we're in such a window, so the dual titles syndrome kicks in again. I think once they win #18, no one will be complaining (not all of us are greedy for a threepeat) until the next generation comes up for their window.

also note that if Len Bias didn't pass so soon theres no way the Lakers would have beat us in 87. and we'd be going for 19.

If Bias hadn't died, there's a good chance that the original big 3 could have gotten a few more--we could be shooting for 21 or 22.  
With Bias, no need to trade Ainge for Pinckney and Klein so we would still have a reliable shooting guard with a young Reggie Lewis off the bench.  Also, having Bias would have allowed Mchale to get his foot taken care of in 87 and not send his career into decline as soon.  He also would have bought Bird more rest for his back and probably extended the quality of play another couple of years.  That team would have been realistic contenders until '91 and possibly longer.  One small bonus to consider is that with Bias, the C's wouldn't have had the 13th pick the year Bird was injured so there's a good chance it wouldn't have been wasted on Michael Smith --> I'm not saying Tim Hardaway would have been there when they picked that time but several players that contributed more than Smith were available later in the draft.

Oh the joys of "what if"

Little off topic here... but "Shocking and tragic sports deaths": Bias was listed as #2

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/pgStory?contentId=8542092#sport=MLB&photo=8542814

Agreed -- off topic.  Lost my head.  should have added how much I enjoyed last season after waiting 22 years since the last one.  What's even better is that these Big 3 are still performing very well at ages where the original big 3 were in noticeable decline.  Beating the hated Lakers was even sweeter.

[makaveli]

I don't pinch myself, I just love to see the "Where I Remember Happens" commercial, it always gives me the chills and brings tears to my eyes.
GOD I LOVE THIS TEAM