Just wondering how you are feeling now that the Celtics season has come to an end.
I've had 4 and a half hours of sleep since game 7 (tipoff was at 2:00 am and the game ended at 5:00 am) and I'm feeling empty. I'm not even frustrated or mad at the team, I was angry during the game but in the 4th quarter I accepted the fact that we were done, without anger, to my surprise.
This playoffs run appears to me as a kind of a dream. We all said "Well, we don't have KG but let's see how far we can go without him". The Celtics fought their best against the Bulls, and did so against the Magic. They had all the reasons to give up, to adopt a "we're doomed, whatever" attitude but they didn't.
A game 7 end against Orlando in the second round seems nice to me, considering how many weapons they had and how many weaknesses we had. Sure, I'm disappointed because I thought that we could have won the series after game 5 but obviously the reality made us pay.
The only things that I feel frustrated about is that Barkley and Ewing's predictions came true.
It sounds like a cliché but I'm really proud of this team. You can criticize the Celtics for their lack of defense, lack of offensive execution, stupid passes, turnovers, missed opportunities, etc. Sure. But frankly, we knew that this team was inconsistent ever since the second half of the season, and even more since KG's injury. It's frustrating to see the team perform well one day and poorly the following, or Ray playing well but not Paul and vice versa, but this team made us used to it.
I'm feeling empty but proud and even excited about our off-season at the same time. Ultimately, it's disappointing to lose on our own floor by 19 points. Or to recall all the missed opportunities (game 6, etc) that cost us the series/the playoffs. But I'm already considering this season as a great one, and the best one in many years for the defending champions. I had not seen a champion defend its title with such poise and desire whith such limited options and known weaknesses before. 62 wins, a epic series against the Bulls, and a good "We'll never back down" series against Orlando. Great season, great memories.
So I can truly say that this team made me proud, and that it was really a pleasure to watch Rondo, Perkins and Big Baby grow up and step up for the team. Thank you kids for improving and showing your amazing potential. Thank you Paul and Ray, you've been inconsistent but who can blame you for it? After a long season, many minutes played, with such a burden of your shoulders and at your age, you did your best and your best is still one of the best in the league.
Thank you Doc for keeping this team together through incredible adversity. It was great to see you express your joy after amazing finishes and buzzer beaters, you're really "in" with your guys and I'm not sure many coaches can say the same thing in this league.
Thank you Marbury and Scal for providing your desire from the bench. You've done your best and I hope that Marbury will re-sign with the Celtics next year, he seemed to enjoy his trip here and with a full season (+ summer practice) behind him he'll be very useful to this team. Thank you Mikki, you didn't play much in these playoffs, and maybe deserved to play more but I loved your enthusiasm and cheering from the bench. Great guy, unfortunately not so great bench player but it was an experience to bring you here and it can't always be positive.
Finally, a huge thank you to CelticsBlog. I registered here in March and slowly but surely I've become a "CB addict", spending much time on this blog, reading its great and daily articles, and enjoying my place in the community. It was a pleasure to follow the games in your company and to react and wait after each game. I'm sad that this habit comes to an end for a while but we've still got plenty of things to discuss and cheer about.
A great off-season and future awaits us, let's focus on it, try to get the best players this summer and add banner #18 to the rafters next season. If healthy, there is no doubt in my mind that we'll win again. Recover well KG, and we'll be back at full strenght next year!
Topic: How are you feeling? Time for some "thank you" (Read 2631 times)