I've forgotten how truly beautiful it was to see 3 such deserving players literally reach the top...clinched their dreams. It's very rare to get the opportunity to see consummate professionals who are also unbelievable personalities in their MOMENT, when they ARRIVE...you see the true colors and the real measure of their personalities. When the Big 3 won it all in 2008, I saw an intensity of passion I hadn't seen in sports (or anywhere else for that matter) in years. Combine the personal aspects of it with the storied history of this franchise, this sport, and this city...and (here comes the blubbering)..."sniffle", "sniffle"...
tears fall.
It's funny because that moment after game 6 of the finals, with each of the Big 3 celebrating in their own various styles seems so long ago.
It wasn't so long ago though. This same team NOW shows flashes of that brilliance from 2008...usually against the best teams, but just not 100% of the time.
I see no reason that this team can't play like this for 4 out of 7 games of any given series. We've got to remember, it only takes 4 games to win, and the Celtics HAVE proven to do one thing VERY well this season...play on the road. If there is ANY one thing that championship contenders in the past have done well with, it is having played well on the road. I would even argue that this is more important than the ability to consistently beat the best teams (due to the various problems with injury and lineup shifts). Road warriors win in this league.
It continues to blow my mind that the Celtics have one of the best road records in the NBA. If that doesn't tell you that their problems are mainly focus/mental, then I don't know what does. If a team can win on the road, they can clearly win at home, and I think the playoff crowd and atmosphere will finally kick them up a notch at home. They WILL finally focus and concentrate on the moment at hand and not assume they have the game in the bag. In 2008 and 2009 they certainly didn't.
I expect to see the intensity of the 08' playoff run, but without the uncertainty and doubt that lingered throughout. Don't we all remember how nerve-wracking those first two 7 games series were? Phew.
I expect to see the heart of the 09' run, but without the lingering sense of inevitable doom that was present throughout in not having KG around. Don't we all remember how improbable we thought getting past Chicago was at one point...and then Orlando? Surely we didn't think they could beat Cleveland, but we imagined in our heads the epic battle that would play itself out in the 3rd round....sadly though, it wasn't to be.
Finally, I expect to see the flashes of brilliance amongst this team's newest leaders, Perk and Rondo. I think they will really shine, and they'll show us things in the playoffs that we had only previewed in select games during the regular season. In other words, watch out for the perfect storm of veteran focus and youthful statement....a strong knowledge of how to win against the best, combined with the desire to prove your game and establish your presence on the ultimate stage. Just look at KG paired with Rondo. Those two epitomize these respective traits, and not surprisingly it is when they play well TOGETHER that this team clicks on all cylinders. All of a sudden, Ray Ray and the Truth play their roles to perfection, and the rest of the team falls into place. Perk, Sheed and Baby work together to stop the league's best bigs, while Nate and TA provide the youthful ying to Finley's experienced veteran yang.
In case you haven't noticed, I'm excited about all of this!
It all starts in less than a week baby!!!
Let's get down to business.
As KG always says on TV
"The Deeefense is our baackbown"
