Overcoming Adversity

[Kiorrik]

- I don't have the time to change this into a decent Fan Post, but I want to share this with you guys anyway, because of what it means to me, and what I think it means to you. Enjoy. -

I'm watching the Celtic DVD right now, on youtube, and I'll document my feelings through it. Why? Because right now, I need a little boost in my Celtic pride.

Click here to watch this too, it's a 9 part series.

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The beginning

A newspaper clipping just came past "Basketball Jesus Coming to Boston" and I got shivers.

The Italy part just came by, Scot Polard. I miss that first season, we looked so fresh, so excited, so eager. Kevin, Ray, Pose, Paul, Doc, everyone looked so [dang] psyched.

Ubuntu. All the time, that's all we heard back then. Everyone was explaining it, togetherness, everyone. From Scal to Rondo.

The big three were the talk of the town. 8 games, undefeated. A game winner by Rayray. A dunk by Perk off a feed by KG. Hungry, Paul used that word. We were hungry. We plucked the franchise players away from two other franchises, and added a perennial all-star point guard. There was so much will, so much power simply because we had the perfect storm of reasons to win. Three basketball greats who had never won it before, coming together under the many, many banners of the Celtics, trying to get themselves those elusive rings they hadn't been able to get in their entire careers up till that season.

Defense is mentioned; KG as the league's best defender getting recognized. Best defensive player in the league. More than just his intensity, Kevin brings focus to everyone. We see heim talking to Bill Russel. Shows how Kevin respects "history". It also shows how the rest of the basketball world watches us.

And Rondo, chosen for the all-star rookie game. He had to prove how good he was back then.

Sam and PJ, my god how I loved those guys for half a season. We did make it all seem easy back then, didn't we? We had the absolute perfect season.

The magic season

The hype is mentioned, and how we made the hype actually happen. We didn't live up to it, we exceeded expectations. The season went extraordinarily well, and were up against those pesky Hawks (there's no other way to describe them, is there!)

Doc mentions we didn't have any adversity during the season, no hard times, we cruised. He's right. We cruised. We cruised for 82 seasons, but we didn't cruise because we were that much better than the rest (well, not *just* that) but because there was energy, effort.

Playoff time

The Hawks. The first hard time we got. Atlanta was rough. They fought. Even back then we had the tendency to fail because of lacking effort. 7 Games. 7 Long, long games. We won it thought. Took it at home, as we always did. We took care of it. We, the Boston Celtics. God is was great to be a fan.

MVP chants for Pierce, Kevin beating his chest while eying the crowd, another Ray Allen three. "That's the exclamation point." the announcer said. We blew them out in game 7. As, we, should. Done.

Doc mentioning how it's the best thing that could've happened to us. He was right, we had to get some rough times.

LeBron James

LeBron was waiting in round 2.

The narrator mentions how we made LBJ into a jumpshooter, how we, as a -team- handled the challenge. We defended, as a team. Eddie talks about being a team on D. Team team team. Helping. Team.

LeBron 8 - 42 in two games? I had to rewind that to hear it again. Eight of forty-two. That's insane. That's how good we were. That's how good our D was. Our defense made our entire game, and the offense was flowing because of that.

2 and 0 in the series and again we fumbled at away games, 2 and 2. Yes, everyone was talking about the away-game issues. Oh btw, LeBron dunked "with no regard to human life" here. Heh, still an awkward statement. Game 5 was ours, 6, again, not so much. Game 7. That's what we were going to be known for. Game 7. We were MADE for game 7. We execute. When it matters, we finish. Pierce stepped up big, and we won. The captain, el Capitana. He was there for us.

I remember those games. I wasn't worried. Not worried at all. After all, we were the Boston Celtics. We were the crew to beat, we had the big season record, and we got it by fighting. PJ came through in the end in that game with some key buckets, and Pierce got that big, huge, gargantuan steal & freebies.

LeBron leaves the floor with his head down.

Paul Pierce, not so much. Head up in the air.

Paul and KG doing press conferences. How awesome were they. I didn't miss a single one. They made my day, time and again. They kept joking, kept telling how great it was to play together, kept talking about every new game as a new challenge.

- I just noticed that the user that has uploaded these movies to youtube is named GinobiliRules. Ugh. Bad shivers now. -

Dee-troit, basketball

Game 1, Pistons. It's funny to see KG shimmy and hit that J of his over Rasheed. Game one was a win.

Game 2, ... unfortunately it wasn't. So there we were, with a horrid road record in the playoffs, and a game behind, going into *their* home court... Everyone talking about how we'd have to get in there and just win. It's that easy. Take it to them and win. Well doh. 2 - 2 was inevitable though.

It amazes me how Paul Pierce was insanely fast there. He looked nimble, swift, quick. Knowing we could take them on the road, we took them in game 6.

Right after that win, in the changing room, the chant started.

Beat L.A.

The rivalry was reborn, and we, were there. For the first time in these playoffs, we were not the favorites.

There's a whole horde of fans screaming "Beat LA!". This was history in the making. Doc speaks of how some of our guys were agitated with the way LA was being painted as the favorite to take this. We won 62 games and we were still not the favorites? I remember very muchly how it felt. It felt seriously wrong to not be the favorites, because we all knew what was going to happen. We knew, we just knew, we could take them.

Doc said it right:
All I keep hearing is "congratulations, congratulations". For *what*? For what? We're exactly where we thought we *would* be, but we're not where we want to *get to*.

Paul Pierce sais it in the huddle: "We've been the best team all year long, *all year long*! Let's go out there and show them! Let's go!"
And there it was, again, Paul's pregame chant:
CELTICS!?
HUH-RAH!
CELTICS!?
HUH-RAH!
CELTICS!?
HUH-RAH!
One two three - UBUNTU!"

And off we went into game one. That was when we started out carving our own corner in the history of the Boston Celtics. The Lakers, with Gasol and Kobe, Odom, Fisher. They didn't easily lay down; we were behind 5 time at the half. Doc talks about closing out quarters, and Pierce heard him. He came out on fire. That's when Pierce went down.

I remember that moment. I was gutted. He looked like he suffered a huge injury, and he looked like he knew that. You could tell by his reaction he was downright afraid. When he came back out, and heck, now that I'm seeing it again, we all felt it. The hair in your neck standing up, especially when Pierce came out hot, hitting threes like they were freebies. Rondo racking up assists on back to back threepointers by him and we were more than alive. That's momentum. Kevin hustlin' to get a loose ball diving after it, and moments later dunkning a Posey miss.

We took it. Game one was -over-. And -ours-.

Doc said it: "we're a better team than that, but we got it!"

Game two was Powe-time. One of our two very, very important bench men (along with Pose) he provided the spark off the bench. The Lakers fought back, and Doc tells our guys to not give them ANY hope. Put them away. For good. Paul did. Again, the captain came through with a huge block at the end of game 2 and we won it.

Game 3, Paul goes home. He's not exactly on friendly terms with the Lakers fans, as you can tell by the image of three Laker fans, dancing on a Paul Pierce jersey.

Kobe started torching us, and we looked off. Luckily for us, Rayray got hot and thanks to him, we came close to knocking them down. He kept firing them up and kept us in the game... but Vujacic won them the game with some clutch 3 point shots. 2 and 1.

Game 4, the Lakers came out gunning and we were behind quick. Doc talks about how Ubuntu could save us, and this was the adversity it should be able to overcome. Once again we see a great shot block by Pierce, Posey laying it in, Sam screaming from the bench. 11 point game, 10 point game, 6 point game... 2 point game... So close! "Never stop believing baby", Kevin's words. 1 point game, we hadn't led yet... until Eddie took it to 83 - 84 on a jumper...

Remember that game where Ray told everyone to back off so he could go 1 on 1 with Vijacic? Well, that's this baby here, we beat them on Ray's play, he faked and totally blew by him, for the easiest layup he had all game. Doc mentions afterward that it's great that we took the third win, but it's not three wins that we're after. We need 4.

3 and 1 in the series.

We came behind again, big time. and even though Paul kept us in the game, it was hard for him. KG in foul trouble, and the pressure on him got bigger and bigger. We were getting back in again though, and the Lakers felt it.

We see Pierce diving for loose balls, Posey with a trey, Pierce driving... and Kobe stealing the ball and dunking it for the winning play. We're going back, back to Boston. 3 and 2.

17

Game 6, in our home town, playing beneath the banners of old, all 16 of them.

The Lakers got to an early lead, with Kobe going at us. He wasn't going to let us knock them off in the 6th game. Doc talks of picking up our D and indeed, Rondo with a steal, the break and a pass back outside for the Ray Allen three. Every time they took a lead or made a run, Rondo and the C's came up steals and defensive stops. Even Phil Jackson mentions Rajon "he must have 5 or 6 steals!" But we heated up and there we went, threes, Garnett with his shot-and-one, 23 lead at half time and it felt good; and Paul lets us know in the break that they're going to come out even harder in the second half, not letting their foot off the gas.

And indeed they didn't. "No let-up, keep attacking" Doc said; we went berserk on them. Our D was -INSANE-. Our offense was -SICK- and the game was soon done - Ray Allen's threes were not just daggers anymore, they were becoming mocking blows. We didn't beat them, we ripped them to shreds.

Gino, Doc gatoraded, anything possible, even before BBD flung the ball up before the game was even over, we were celebrating. This game was ours from the moment it we set foot on the court in the second quarter. Everyone, the bench, the starters, the big three. Jumping, screaming, raising their hands to the crowd. It was like countdown to new year.

We had overcome a tough playoff run. KG down in the centre of the court, kissing the Celtic emblem on the floor, afterward hugging Bill Russel. Pierce holding up the Finals MVP Trophy, the speech, "Somehow, somewhere, Red is lighting up a cigar". Celtic Pride. Championships, "Nothing but championships", according to Pierce.

The crew in the locker rooms, everyone covered in, showering in champagne. KG: "You know what? I'm a champion."

Pierce started his chant again, and I'll let you guys finnish it by answering:

CELTICS!?

[Kiorrik]

Done a slight bit of editing. Do hope someone reads it, even though it's more of a blog post than a discussion topic I guess :]

[dang], I miss writing. I miss the blog, the forums. I miss you guys :p Need to be here more often.

[PosImpos]

Good post.  Always nice to have a reminder of what made getting the Big 3 such a great trade / risk.  The Celtics winning the Championship is definitely something I'll never forget; I wish I had paid more attention and been more into it when it was happening.  But that's the way of all things.

I wish I could feel like this team can have a similar sort of run, but I don't see it.  That '08 season was just magical.  We were the best team in the league that year, and we knew it, every game, even the losses.  This team doesn't have that dominating talent or that swagger anymore.  Not to mention the hunger.

Hopefully they get it back before it's too late!  If not, at least we can always look back on '08.

[Redz]

I actually stumbled upon those videos on YouTube today while looking for something else.  I watched Return to the Rafters last week thinking it was the one you're talking about.  I've never seen the extended highlight video you speak of, but I'm ready too.  I'm already getting super sentimental about `08 watching how much older the C's look now.

I've lived through many C's championships, but the `08 one was unique.  Not necessarily better or worse, but unique because there was no sense of entitlement by the Celtics after 22 years without a title.

Also, the nightly intensity and building of hopes and expectation that started weeks before opening night and continued until the crushing of the Lakers in Game 6, was one of the more exhilarating and draining experiences I've ever gone through as a fan.  Every game seemed special.

When we feel frustration now, it's simply because the bar was set so high, so fast, and all of our hopes were fulfilled so recently. 


2008 was indeed special.

[Kiorrik]

Thanks PosImpos.

And yeh Redz, that's what I think too; we are a bunch of over-analyzing spoiled brats every now and than, excuse the language

[mmbaby]

Amazing post, Kiorrik!! It was such a great year. I live in N.O. and got to go to one game and sit 3 seats up from the court and it was like a dream to see all those big, confident men on the court. They were smiling and so smooth before the game. I'll never forget being so close to them.
Your point is so good, Redz. I really hadn't thought of it that way till now, but it's so true. I guess, really, it's just life. It's the journey that really counts, not the destination. Because ya know, we all die sooner or later. Once you've made it to the top, what motivation is there after?
I know, for me, I just enjoy watching the team every game, win or lose, I love watching them. The game of basketball, itself, is so full or surprises and allows us to see real-life dramas and real people in the spotlight in the prime of their lives. It's so different with football where you can't see their faces or even their bodies really.
I get tired of the blaming and hating after every single game. It's fun to debate and speculate, but the hitting low down is getting old for me. I can just imagine the venom that will spew forth if we lose tomorrow. It's really sad. NBA players deserve their salaries, IMO, because of all the bullsh.. they have thrown at them by perfect strangers. Every single player who made it to the NBA is excellent or they would not have made it this far. They are the greatest basketball players in the country and deserve our respect.

[Kiorrik]

I envy you for being able to watch the games :]

Maybe one day I will be able to catch a game too, but I fear it's not going to be in this big three era.

Well, at least I got something to work for ehy I'll see Boston before I die darnit!

[MattG12]

Post of the year.

[Kiorrik]

Post of the year.

Print it out, frame it and hang it above your bed.

Next to all my other posts.

Yes.

I'm *that* good.

(rofl)


.edit: seriously though, I really had to take a break and check out that video to come to terms with the way we play right now. To put things into perspective, and to appreciate what we *had*. To me, this was sort of a revelation. In a way.

Sense; does that it make?

[/yoda]

[MattG12]

Post of the year.

Print it out, frame it and hang it above your bed.

Next to all my other posts.

Yes.

I'm *that* good.

(rofl)

lol... The timing is perfect though. People need to give this a read and get their faith back. This is at the very least, the post of the month. Now it has to survive 11 months to be post of the year.

[GreenFaith1819]

Nice Post, Kiorrik.

Brings back memories of when The Trade first happened. For me, I was in the middle of deployment, in July 2007. Spurs had just won the championship that year. I woke up one morning, ate breakfast (just like my normal routine), and went up to my workspace.

One of the biggest Spurs fans on the boat walked up to me, smiling from ear to ear, and just when I thought he was going to brag more about the Spurs, he gives me a brotherly pat on the chest and tells me:

"Hey Man, your boys got Ray Allen and KG." Shortly afterwards, we signed Posey and Eddie.

That Trade in the Summer of 2007 made my deployment just a little shorter.

I cannot speak for anyone else, but what I have stated so far remains: Until The Boston Celtics are defeated in the Playoffs this year, I won't count them out.

Again, Great Post Kiorrik and thanks for the Memories.

We have more to come.

[Kiorrik]

I cannot speak for anyone else, but what I have stated so far remains: Until The Boston Celtics are defeated in the Playoffs this year, I won't count them out.

Thanks, and I fully agree on the statement; I won't count them out until we're out of the playoffs, or until we don't even reach them (hey, anything is possible :p)

I don't feel like either will happen though. I'm betting a finals exit.

Either with an L or a W.

[mmbaby]

Hey Greenfaith!
THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE!!!!
WITHOUT YOU WE MIGHT NOT EVEN BE WATCHING CELTICS.
Thank you
Thank you
Thank you

[GreenFaith1819]

Thanks, mmbaby.

[albas89]

Great post Kiorrik... I don't know if it's just a coincidence, but I also saw this same exact DVD today and I was about to write something about it... cuz I felt exactly the same things to what you described... Celtic Pride man... I wish Kevin, Paul and Ray would also watch this DVD and remember how pumped up they were back then before every single game... especially Paul man, oh man, watching the DVD... he was something else!! Many people blamed him for stating he was the best player in the world that summer, but man, he was playing like the best player in the world during the playoffs, he was... and when you play like this against the best, then you deserve to be called the best(at that moment...)!!

I don't know about you man, but for me... this DVD reminded me of what I support and why I love the C's so much...
I can't say we can reach the finals this year, it's extremely difficult... but whatever happens, even a first round exit with a sweep, I'll be here to applaud this team, these 3 great players, this coach, this technical team, the board, everybody... just for the memories they gave me the chance to have! I'm honestly grateful... and yes, I'm proud to be a Celtics fan

So, whatever the outcome of this season is gonna be, by the end of it, when we will be done with the playoffs, when the clock will be running down closing to our beloved Celtics' exit, I might be here at home, thousands of miles away, but I'll do what I owe to do for what they gave me...
2 words... STANDING OVATION!!


P.S.: I'm not saying there are no chances for us to win it all (even though it'll be extremely difficult), but simply, if we do, standing ovation is not the best word to describe what my reactions will be then...