Sick of the 01' ignorance!

[newdusk]

It seems that every week now a new article comes out talking about the Celtics "rise" to dominance and the fact that they are now a contender. The tone of every article makes it sound as if the Celtics have not been in the Playoffs since '92. I stopped following the C's in '96 only becasuse I did not have Fox Sports. I would still read the paper and follow the draft picks. I was a big fan of Eric Williams, Toine and even guys like Mercer. I really thought this team would have a future. The Patino era or Error was dismal but it ended with a kid named Paul Pierce stepping up his game after being stabbed before the start of the 2000 season. I remember they almost made it to the playoffs. I was exited for the following year because I thought this team was going to make some noise.

Granted the East was weak (still is). The Celtics had a team of untalented nobodies that surrouned Pierce and Walker. There was Eric Strickland who was good for taking a charge. Kenny Anderson who was practically washed up when his career began and Eric Williams who played through so many injuries he should be inducted into the Bill Walton Hall of Fame. This was a team of SCRUBS in a conferance of SCRUBS. I never saw a team that would scratch and claw and knaw the way the 01-02 Celtics did just for one win. If there was a "Nobody believes in us" team it was that Celtics team. This was also a team that should have lost to the defending ECC sixers in game 5 but didn't. They should have lost to the "harder nose" Detroit Pistons but didn't. The team played on emotion. The last game they won that season was a fourth quater 21 point comeback game 3 or the Eastern Conferance Finals. It was something no other NBA team has been able to accomplish since. They lost the series to the NETS but completely won my heart.

When this current Celtics team gets mentioned the media seems to gloss over the fact there was once a team that showed promoise not too long ago. A team that helped put fans back into their seats. How can you take for granted a team that worked so hard? They exemplified what it meant to be a Celtic. It was not the name in back of the jersey that mattered but the name in front. Sure Tony Batie never reached his potential and Antoine Walker never played the game properly but somehow that mess of individuals were able to band together. They did't just fight to win, they fought to get baskets, they fought to get the ball. Somehow I can't help but think that team helped get us where we are today. Who knows if the Wyc Steve and Irv would have bought the team had it not been for that season. For all we know Paul Gaston would have probably moved the team to Oklahoma after our GM Chris Wallace traded Paul Pierce for Kwame Brown and some magic beans. The point is I will always have respect for the 01' 02 Celtics and I will never undermine what they almost achieved. I will take a team of nobodies that plays their hearts out like that every night over a team of primadona's that think they are entitled to every foul call. (Note: Antione probably negates that previous sentance: But you can't say he didn't want to win). I love our current team don't get me wrong but this current team has not shown me the resiliancy and heart that our previous contender showed us. Nothing short of a championship will be a dissapointment especially when you consider the fact a less talented ball club made it a lot further not too long ago. Show some love to our Celtics of the past they may not have been the greatest but they worked their butts off for us.

[wdleehi]

The team in '01 wasn't a contender.  It was just good enough to make a run in that weak East. 

[guava_wrench]

I'm not sure who you are referring to when you say "I will take a team of nobodies that plays their hearts out like that every night over a team of primadona's that think they are entitled to every foul call.".

The only person that qualifies for that on this team is Pierce, and he was also on the 01 team with Toine. The current team is clearly not composed of primadonas, especially if you exclude Pierce as a holdover. Perk is the only other guy who cries a lot about calls, but he plays hard. And at least no one shimmies on the team, a classless move.

I agree with the gist of your post, though it is dripping with sentimentality. Still, the truth is, the C's weren't an elite team in '01, and they had to trade Joe Johnson to even get to the level they were at.

[WedmanIsMyHero]

Can you imagine how many points per game that team would have lost to the Lakers by in the finals?

I'm not sure who you are referring to when you say "I will take a team of nobodies that plays their hearts out like that every night over a team of primadona's that think they are entitled to every foul call.".

The only person that qualifies for that on this team is Pierce, and he was also on the 01 team with Toine. The current team is clearly not composed of primadonas, especially if you exclude Pierce as a holdover. Perk is the only other guy who cries a lot about calls, but he plays hard. And at least no one shimmies on the team, a classless move.

I agree with the gist of your post, though it is dripping with sentimentality. Still, the truth is, the C's weren't an elite team in '01, and they had to trade Joe Johnson to even get to the level they were at.

[BigAlTheFuture]

Yeah, I still can't figure out how that Celtics team made it that far. They were exciting and fun to watch but no way were they contenders. I thought that this year's 76ers team was better than 01' Celtics, IMO.

[BASSTHUMPER]

nobodies...?...battie strickland mcarty kenny anderson walker.....if we had that crew with us now we would win on the road...i loved kenny game..he never took a shot unless he could make it...very few turnovers and made his free throws..what more could u want from a point...dont dis em...that was a good celtics squad..

[BigAlTheFuture]

nobodies...?...battie strickland mcarty kenny anderson walker.....if we had that crew with us now we would win on the road...i loved kenny game..he never took a shot unless he could make it...very few turnovers and made his free throws..what more could u want from a point...dont dis em...that was a good celtics squad..

Yeah, they were. I loved that Celtics team. I didn't think they were contenders, though.

[PierceMVP08]

I have to agree completely with the poster.  I loved that 2002 team and to this date it is still my favorite celts team I have ever seen.  It was great to see that team because we saw them grow into the team they were.  Every game was exciting because we were underdogs and the crowds were amazing.  It was really special to be at those games.

While I like this team we have today, it's not the same.  This team was put together overnight and we haven't seen this team start from scratch.  For anyone who "loves" KG, don't forget he is still more of a timberwolf than a celtic.  These guys are mercenaries.  What's worse is that everyone who doesn't really care about the celts are watching now and filling the stands which is killing the atmosphere.  I've been to half of the playoff games so far and the crowds have been terrible.  You all complain about prima donna players feeling that the championship should be handed to them, but what about ya'll?  The fans in this town are exactly the same.  The fans feel this team should just waltz its way to the championship and its sickening.  How else can you explain fans that aren't pumped for first or second round games?  How else can you explain fans jumping ship when you lose road games to the hawks?  Back in 2002 we had no idea where we were going and it was great.  No one had any expectations and we were all enjoying the ride.  Of course only real fans took note so it was fun and the Garden got its nickname of the jungle.  No everyone wants to pretend they've been a die hard.

I miss that 2002 team

[BigAlTheFuture]

And game 3 of the Nets series when they pulled off the 21 point comeback is still the best game I've ever seen.

[BASSTHUMPER]

And game 3 of the Nets series when they pulled off the 21 point comeback is still the best game I've ever seen.

ive mentioned this in past posts...now if doc was coachin us back then i know we would have had a ring....

thanks for remembering...also walker was a HUGE part of that come back...to the walker haters...

[TripleOT]

Can you imagine how many points per game that team would have lost to the Lakers by in the finals?

FYI, the Celtics beat the Lakers both times in the 2001-2002 season, a one point victory in LA on a Toine three, with Kobe's potential gamewinner being waved off as after the buzzer, and a 17 point whipping in Boston. 

I'm pretty sure that the Lakers would have handled the Cs if they advanced to the Finals that year, but I wouldn't have been surprised if the Cs battled them every game and maybe snuck in a win or two. 

Here's the video of the great Celtics win in LA, one of the best Celtics victories in the 2000s:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=pbNlHkvFr-8

[Who]

i loved kenny game..he never took a shot unless he could make it...very few turnovers and made his free throws..what more could u want from a point

I loved Special K. One of my favourite players of all-time. Loved watching him in college and prior to arriving in Boston as well. Special K and Sabonis working that high screen and roll up in Portland, oh the creative brilliance between those two. So classy, so intelligent, lovely passer, great floor general, great in the open court, great penetrator.

I was always a bit disappointed that he let his scoring go when he arrived in Boston but I loved everything else he did here. What a floor general. I could watch Kenny Anderson play all day long.

[newdusk]

I'm not hating on the current team. I'm just saying that the Celtics were not basement dwellers since '93. They were very similar to Detroit where they had a strong team defense Philosophy. One team ended up winning a championship while the other team ended up back in the cellar. I love the team we have now I think Garnett looks like he has always been apart of the Celtics. I'm just saying show some love to the '01 '02 team.

[Yakmanev]

I don't care how you slice it if you get within two games of getting to the Finals then you are a contender, at least for that season.

[celticmaestro]

Can you imagine how many points per game that team would have lost to the Lakers by in the finals?

FYI, the Celtics beat the Lakers both times in the 2001-2002 season, a one point victory in LA on a Toine three, with Kobe's potential gamewinner being waved off as after the buzzer, and a 17 point whipping in Boston. 

I'm pretty sure that the Lakers would have handled the Cs if they advanced to the Finals that year, but I wouldn't have been surprised if the Cs battled them every game and maybe snuck in a win or two. 

Here's the video of the great Celtics win in LA, one of the best Celtics victories in the 2000s:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=pbNlHkvFr-8

tp for that haven't seen that for ages!

kenny anderson was probably my fav celtic back then. solid and rarely let down.