Long time lurker, first time poster. Being from the bluegrass state, I've always been a huge UK fan. Twelve years ago, I decided to follow Mr.Walker to the Celtics. Ever since, Ive kept my hand on the team's pulse slowly growing into a fan of the team.
I remember listening to games in that painful season, on the web, playing ping pong for Duncan. Lo' and behold, my "god" of the day got the job, and then came the draft. Billups, and Mercer came to the team. With Mercer, this helped reinforce my budding interest in the team. Unlike many fans at the time I thought Duncan was a good college player, but would be too soft for the more physical game in the NBA. Not getting the 1st pick was, instead, something I regretted years later. Still, I wonder if Duncan would of been Duncan had he started his career next to anyone else but Robinson.
I remember Paul Pierce falling in the draft. Young and talented, there was a lot to look forward to for the Celtics, but the man who saved a college, was clueless in how to manage an NBA team. Quick fix trades, and impacience on the youth would leave deep scars in the franchise, not easily healed. Still, after Pitino was gone, there was still enough left in the tank to make an improbable run to the ECF. Walker and Pierce, despite the flaws, proved to be an effective and dynamic duo. For that team, that ECF run proved to be lightning in a bottle. The current ownership showed an unwillingness to do what was required to win, and the GM proved to be an incredibly poor judge of talent. Drafting the likes of Jerome Moiso, and Kendrik Brown set the team back.
I remember new ownership, and the hiring of Danny Angie. A new era for the franchise began. Angie, not a fan of his game, shipped Walker out almost immediately. Some trades made early on for Angie were poor, some were fairly good. None were disastrous. In an odd move, Walker came back, to play for the team. Again, the Walker-Pierce combination worked, and there was a run in the playoffs. And, again, Walker was gone. Angie was learning on the job, but he always had a plan. He turned the team from one saddled with bad contracts, financially, and trade ability wise, to a flexible one. A tanked season, and we waited for ping pong balls to fall our way once again. Again, just as with Duncan, the gods did not look our way.
I remember when the trade for Ray Allen was announced. I was stoked. Paul Pierce was getting a legit running mate. Sure, without the pick used in that trade Garnett wasn't coming. No biggie, Al Jeff was still a very nice young player. More importantly, the team was going to get playoff experience. This was important. All the talent in the world does you no good. Players have to learn HOW to win. And with Allen as a running mate Pierce could teach these kids how.
I remember hearing rummors that the Garnett deal WASN'T dead. How? The mind boggled. Impossible without the pick. Still, the rumors persisted. I was getting anxious. Who was in the deal? No! Not Rondo. Im a UK fan. I know how good that kid is going to be! And still, we waited. It was a tense month. Nobody knew what was going to happen, but with all the rumors you knew Danny wasn't done. If not Garnett, someone else was still coming in.
I remember when the Garnett trade happened. I remember the three superstars holding their jerseys up. I knew this was going to be a special team. A year to get to know one another, then the title. How little I understood this team. I wasn't sold on Doc Rivers, and there were questions about the bench, and the very young Rondo. The team ROARED out of the starting gate. Unfathomable, a team can't come together that quickly can it? Yes, yes it can. They didn't just roar out of the starting gate, they mauled everythingin the way.
I remember the Atlanta series. 7 games... Atlanta? Didn't really bother me. This team was learning playoff basketball on the fly. None of these players had been in the playoffs together before. Atlanta was young, and full of energy at home. The Celtics were clearly the better TEAM, and game seven showed that clearly.
I remember the Clevland series. Paul and Lebron playing phenomenal defense on each other for 6 games. Boston may have been the better team, but Clevland was an underrated team. That and Lebron James scared me. Game seven. Lebron, the Lebron I was worried about showed up. Fortunatly, an equally dominate performance from Pierce also appeared. A game to remember for the ages. One of the greatest duels I've witnessed.
I remember the Detroit series. Welcome back Ray, we missed you. Still, Detroit won game 2. I was a bit worried, could we win on the road? The Celtics came right back in game 3, and eliminated my doubts. When all was said and done, Detroit was dealt with in a very tight six games.
I remember the Lakers series. Having been a Celtics fan for around a decade I didn't really hate the Lakers, but I always disliked Kobe. OMG, OMG, No! Piece's knee!! I feared the worst, but Pierce came back and toughed it out. Game 1 & 2, wins. All you hear from the Lakers side, after the games can be summed up with "but mommie, he didnt play fair!", or "I'll just take my ball and go home
~~~~." I've also gone from disliking Kobe, to absolutely hating him. I always thought the Kobe-MJ comparisons were silly, now they seem absolutely drug induced. Game 3 came and went with a Laker victory. In the forth game, L.A. seemed to have the momentum of the series in their hands, but then "it" happened. The Celtics imposed their will on the game, and the Lakers simply couldn't handle the presure. The same seemed to happen in game five, a big lead, a big run, but the result slightly changed. So the series came back to Boston, and the rest is, as they say history.
I am so proud to be a Celtics fan at this moment. Watching this team play was nothing but a joy. From KG's non-stop, over the top energy, to Allen's calm & cool demeaner, to Paul Pierce's dominant will this was a truely special season, and one I will cherish as much as Kentucky's 98 season. Thank you P.Pierce, R.Allen, K.Garnett, R.Rondo, Perkins, E.House, J.Posey, P.J. Brown, S.Cassel, T.Allen, G.Davis, L.Powe, S.Pollard, B.Scalabrine. Thank you Doc, Danny, & the rest of the Celtics organization. This season is WHY people are fans.
Topic: I remember.... (Read 1565 times)