When did you realize this team was special?

[fairweatherfan]

It's the first weekend since #17, and watching all the interviews and recaps has got me thinking back over the course of the season, and how I viewed the team over the course of the year. 

The KG trade was huge of course; I wasn't on the board then and have been kinda shocked to see the negative responses it got at the time, but I was thrilled to hear about it.  And after the 20 pt win over Washington on opening night I texted a bunch of friends to tell them that the C's were winning the title this year. 

But the first time I really felt like this would be a special year was after the win over Denver in the 3rd game of the season.  I was "watching" on ESPN GameCast and the Celtics absolutely destroyed a Nuggets team that at the time was considered a dark horse to take the West.  The score was 77-38 at the half, and we shot 65% for the game.  After that game I ponied up for League Pass for the first time ever (not an easy decision on a grad student's salary) and watched every game for the rest of the year.

When did some of you folks begin to feel the same?  Looking back, did you have a sense about how good this team would be, or did you stay a little reserved until the championship was assured?

[NicaraguanFan]

It's the first weekend since #17, and watching all the interviews and recaps has got me thinking back over the course of the season, and how I viewed the team over the course of the year. 

The KG trade was huge of course; I wasn't on the board then and have been kinda shocked to see the negative responses it got at the time, but I was thrilled to hear about it.  And after the 20 pt win over Washington on opening night I texted a bunch of friends to tell them that the C's were winning the title this year. 

But the first time I really felt like this would be a special year was after the win over Denver in the 3rd game of the season.  I was "watching" on ESPN GameCast and the Celtics absolutely destroyed a Nuggets team that at the time was considered a dark horse to take the West.  The score was 77-38 at the half, and we shot 65% for the game.  After that game I ponied up for League Pass for the first time ever (not an easy decision on a grad student's salary) and watched every game for the rest of the year.

When did some of you folks begin to feel the same?  Looking back, did you have a sense about how good this team would be, or did you stay a little reserved until the championship was assured?

I realize this season will be some special in very moment I knew about KG trade.  After I recovered for all happiness it brought to me I told my wife we had to go Boston for the opening night (we live in Costa Rica) because this season would be something we will never forget.

NF.

[ACF]

When we were 8 and oh.

[connerhenry43]

there were so many moments, so many games, but when they went into detroit and won, i know we were the team to beat in the east. we lost to DET in boston, and this team went into detroit and won behind Glen Davis and his huge fourth quarter.

it showed we can win a big road game in front of a hostile crowd, it showed we were a complete team. if we had lost, people would have still be skeptical of this team, but a win cemented to me that this team was going to be in the mix for a title.

[2short]

When Danny did the deals.  He upgraded our average players (some well liked) in trades w/ picks to get 2 special special players.  Signing Posey also.
So it was a lot like the commercial that you see with people celebrating KG arriving.  I was honestly in shock we were able to land him, thought gasol we had a chance.
My initial thoughts were championship game but we'd probably lose to San Antonio but win the next year with gelling. 

[TheReaLPuba]

Pre-season games in Rome.

You could clearly see that the team was a real together team. They absolutely wanted to share the ball and play a high level of defense.

Even from the start you found yourself thinking "hey maybe they're passing a little bit too much" but the philosophy was right and the whole team wanted to play the right way.

[Casperian]

I can´t put a finger on it, but if I have to, I would say it was the press conference where KG was introduced. Before that, I didn´t know what to think about the trade, since I was a fan of Big Al, but after the presentation, I was thrilled.

[Frontierboy]

I knew it was a special team when all 3 were holding their jersey's up during the press conference.

Then when they kicked Washington's butt during the opening game....

[rondofan1255]

I really loved it during that Spurs-Celts game where Cassell knocked down 3's. Garnett or someone wasn't there, but that was an AWESOME game. The blow-outs weren't as good for watching, but provided better rest =).

[Celtic]

Once they got KG I knew we were in for an amazing ride, but going to opening night, seeing the electricity in the building, the intensity on the court, I knew it was going to be a great year.

[Chief]

When they went undefeated on the 1st West Coast trip in December, then came back home and beat Houston and Memphis, and then went on the road again and beat Detroit.

[BudweiserCeltic]

When we got Ray Allen. It was a sign from Heaven for me. When got KG...

[liam]

Last July... With Pierce, Allen and Garnett, it's special.

[bbc3341]

When they traded for Allen, I went through my yearly off season ritual of hope, but with a little more, I thought if Allen could be as good as he's been, then with Pierce and Jefferson, that's a pretty good team right there. When they announced the KG trade, I thought they'd be one of the top teams in the East for sure, even without knowing how they'd fit together. But when they announced the Posey deal, it peaked my interest because I thought of him as primarily a defensive player. I just wondered if they could be in the top 15 defensively then with the O they had, they'd be a one of the top 5 teams in the league. The game that sealed it for me was the San Antonio game, but not the one that was part of the Texas sweep, it was the home game before that one. The C's just shut them down. I forever had feared SA because of Duncan, Ginobli and Parker, but then to be playing without Garnett, I mean wow! Then to watch them hold their backcourt in check, that was WAY impressive. It was when Big Baby became a man, I thought for sure he'd play a bigger role in the playoffs!

[WillyBeamin]

my interpretation of the question... when did I think this team WOULD win the title... after the texas triangle sweep. Before that I thought we were right there with DET, SAN, LAL, PHX, and NO... but after that I was convinced that we were the team to beat.

As far as when I knew this team would be a top team... the first detroit game because rondo showed he wasn't afraid of the big game/big stage.