One old coach's perspective:
I am not going to dwell on this one possession-by-possession, missed shot by missed shot, player by player. Because when a coach gets everything his club had to give him, he can live with the result.
This game was a defensive work of art until we ran out of gas in the fourth quarter, and the heart of this team was on display in the last 90 seconds when we kept making plays to stay in the game.
Tonight, we saw everything the Boston Celtics had to give. It was all left out there on the Staples Center floor. It was a possession or two short. There isn't always a reason why the brass ring gets away. It takes luck to win a title.
I'd caution people not to dwell on titles. They're wonderful, but you cannot judge the entirety of a season solely on titles.
We had a woeful regular season, pockmarked by injuries and uneven play that rarely, if ever, hinted at the playoffs to come.
I was uncertain going into the playoffs if we had enough to win a series against the Heat, and I harbored no delusions whatsoever about the Cavs. I was wrong, as much as I was premature with the declaration in January that the run was over.
Why? You cannot measure heart, and you cannot predict when it will rear its head in a team. What you saw in the playoffs was a warrior that would not die.
You can be disappointed. I am disappointed. But throughout my career, I've held a fond spot in my heart for the clubs that overcame obstacles, that refused to go quietly - even more so than the title clubs.
Appreciate what this club gave us. I stand and applaud this group for the effort, for the thrills and for upholding the great tradition of this franchise.
Topic: From my seat on the bench (Read 1793 times)