With all this trade talk, I'm still thinking about game 7

[Mizzy21390]

Sometimes I go to bed and still am shocked at how close we were. Four points. And how it had to be because of the Lakers. Am I okay for still thinking about the Finals even when its been done and over with?

I have no idea when I will one day say, "Ok, its over with now, time to move on to the next season"... But this trade talk is not as fun, (though kind of interesting)knowing how things went down game 7.

But I'm glad PP will retire a C. And I am hoping we can keep Ray. And give it one last shot, with Doc coming back. I am just a little nervous because there are going to be some really tough teams to beat next season.

[Green Hell]

I'm with you and it's especially hard considering what this off season is shaping up to be. Everyone knew we had a 3 year window to get it done and game 7 was the end of that window. We can expect next season is going to see the emergence of a new Big 3, whether it be Chicago or Miami or New York and that is only going to make the road that much tougher.

After how this team struggled in the regular season, I can't see them repeating that act and making another miracle run through the playoffs. Hell, even if they did, the Lakers are going to be waiting there once again for them and I don't really see the result being any different, especially not with a team of aging stars who are only shadows of their 2008 selves.

Add on another year of aging, injuries and essentially having to develop team chemistry all over again with a new roster and a bunch of hurt egos and I don't really know where to look for inspiration. No matter how you slice it, this season just is not going to be fun.

[ACF]

I'm with you and it's especially hard considering what this off season is shaping up to be. Everyone knew we had a 3 year window to get it done and game 7 was the end of that window. We can expect next season is going to see the emergence of a new Big 3, whether it be Chicago or Miami or New York and that is only going to make the road that much tougher.

After how this team struggled in the regular season, I can't see them repeating that act and making another miracle run through the playoffs. Hell, even if they did, the Lakers are going to be waiting there once again for them and I don't really see the result being any different, especially not with a team of aging stars who are only shadows of their 2008 selves.

Add on another year of aging, injuries and essentially having to develop team chemistry all over again with a new roster and a bunch of hurt egos and I don't really know where to look for inspiration. No matter how you slice it, this season just is not going to be fun.

This is the second time I'm wondering why it says "Never stop believing, baby" in your sig. Seriously.

[GreenFaith1819]

I'm with you and it's especially hard considering what this off season is shaping up to be. Everyone knew we had a 3 year window to get it done and game 7 was the end of that window. We can expect next season is going to see the emergence of a new Big 3, whether it be Chicago or Miami or New York and that is only going to make the road that much tougher.

After how this team struggled in the regular season, I can't see them repeating that act and making another miracle run through the playoffs. Hell, even if they did, the Lakers are going to be waiting there once again for them and I don't really see the result being any different, especially not with a team of aging stars who are only shadows of their 2008 selves.

Add on another year of aging, injuries and essentially having to develop team chemistry all over again with a new roster and a bunch of hurt egos and I don't really know where to look for inspiration. No matter how you slice it, this season just is not going to be fun.

GH - Would a Tommy Point inspire you to believe?

No matter how many changes are made around us, The Boston Celtics already have a "Team" established. Danny will make the necessary changes, and we will be back in June 2011.

The window is, in Fact, Open for one more year. The Boston Celtics are still in the Championship Business.

Just like Mizzy stated - I still marvel at how close we were, as well. The Lakers are an Itch to me right now, and it won't be scratched until June 2011.

As I marvel at how good KG looked during the playoff run, I take solace in the fact that we will have The 2009-10 Playoff KG - for the regular season, too.

Rondo will be a year matured, as well.

Pierce will play even better - knowing that he has stability for the rest of his career.

Danny will wrap up (Hopefully) Ray Allen soon.

We'll be Fine. No need to count us out now. Of course, everyone else is talking about the Free Agents and LA, but Boston will be standing in June 2011, and I seriously hope LA will be our opponent again.

Doc Rivers came back fully knowing that this Team has a legitimate shot at getting back there again, and they will.

[Mizzy21390]

If only we could skip the regular season & start from the playoffs.. That way, everyone is not run out & gassed up & tired, & we can automatically have our intense, ready-for-winning playoff mentality come game 1...

I can't go through another sub par reg season, and worry about what's the team doing with their bad play, & if they're playoff potential, then have them turn it on in the playoffs.

Maybe that's what they'll do again, seeing how it worked pretty well to perfection besides losing game 7.

I have a feeling that being so close to winning another championship will cause these players to play with intensity and with more heart than ever...

[Junkyard Dawg]

After how this team struggled in the regular season, I can't see them repeating that act and making another miracle run through the playoffs. Hell, even if they did, the Lakers are going to be waiting there once again for them and I don't really see the result being any different, especially not with a team of aging stars who are only shadows of their 2008 selves.

Really?  Funny cause, well, they did it this year and they did it pretty well.. I don't recall anyone saying they looked like a bunch on the waiting list for a nursing home when they were sending the supposed heavyweights of the nba home in utter embarrassment in rounds 2 and 3.  And with Kobe having the postseason of his career, with LA being gifted over twice as many free throws in several of those games, and without our starting center we still were only 4 points away.

I see no reason to think it won't happen again next year.

[Tgro]

It's been really hard to get over game 7 just because we were so close and the way they played throughout the playoffs made you feel like they were going to make it happen. So dealing with the loss in game 7 after leading for 3+ quarters and for the most part outplaying the Lakers except in the final minutes, is especially difficult. Being someone who loves sports, I've had my share of heartbreakers and this ranks right up there as one of the most painful ever.

However, I console myself with the fact that going into the playoffs, no one gave us a chance to get past the Cavaliers and Lebron much less there were rumblings that Miami was going to oust us. The way we beat Miami, Cleveland and Orlando when everyone expected us to fall flat on our faces was truly rewarding.

And I don't know what it is but Doc has a special bunch with these Celtics and I gotta feel like it's burning really bad with all those guys that we lost. Something in me keeps saying they come back next year defying age and playing even better, with more knowledge, maturity at key spots and desire to not falter this time. Something just tells me we're still the team to beat in the East and there is still just enough to do it one more time except next time, we actually take it.