This Team's Legacy: Antagonist in a Laker Trilogy

[LarBrd33]

It pains me to write what everyone else is afraid to admit.  A lot of you will continue clinching to every glimmer of hope (Dwight Howard, One last run in a shortened season, etc)  ... I see nothing wrong with that.  The Larry Bird Celtics were done by the close of the 80s, but some fans still thought they could win a title in the early 90s.   

For the most part, though... this team (as constructed) is done as a contender.  History will ignore this season from a Celtic/Laker perspective.  The storyline for the 2010-11 season will be the "Birth of the LeBron Dynasty".   

Our story stretches a 3 year period from 2008-2010. 

There were points where I thought the story was about the Boston Celtics.  I thought it started in 2007 when we landed Kevin Garnett and brought Celtic pride back to Boston.  In the early part of that season, the focus was all "Big 3".  Kobe Bryant was demanding a trade and the Lakers were seemingly irrelevant.  As a Celtic fan, it was frustrating when Andrew Bynum suddenly came alive and the Lakers started rattling off wins.  The media tried to present it as "The Lakers and the Celtics are both back!" (in the same way the Knicks tried to present Randolph/Curry/Marbury as "back" or Amare/Melo as "back").  I hated this.  THe Lakers were NOT back.  We were back.  They were overachieving.  Big difference.  We met them in late December 2007... and crushed them 110-91.  The Lakers were NOT back.  That settled it. 

THey landed Pau Gasol in February... and they were back.  We still managed to beat them in the Finals... and it would seem the story was about the Celtics. 

KG gets hurt.  Lakers win in 2009 by default.

From my perspective, I once again believed the story was about the Celtics in 2010.  KG was back.  We were healthy.  This was our chance to reclaim what was rightfully ours.  THe Trilogy would begin and end with Celtic victories.  "A New Hope" (08 the Celtics blow up the Laker death star) followed by "The Empire Strikes Back" (Laker victory in 09) concluding with "Return of the Jedi" (Celtics vanquish the Lakers in the 2010 finals... and Rondo carrys the torch into a new generation of Celtic Pride).  This story came close to happening... but we choked away game 7.

This season, I once again convinced myself the story was about the Celtics... I blame that on watching too much "The Association".  Turns out our story ended in 2010... and history will look at it all from the perspective of Kobe Bryant.

Perspective becomes reality... so welcome to reality.   The Celtics were a hated group of trash talking thugs lead by the ultimate bully (Kevin Garnett).  They were merely antagonists for hero Kobe Bryant and his Lakers.  In 08 the Lakers came "oh so close" to defeating the bully Celtics.  Unfortunately, they suffered a huge loss in Andrew Bynum's injury.  They went the distance against incredible odds ala Rocky, but didn't have enough to get it done.   Kobe watched as the evil Celtics celebrated in a sea of green and swore vengeance.  End of part 1.

Part 2 (2009):  With Bynum back, the Lakers achieve greatness... they cruise to a title... happiness is back in Laker Nation.  Kobe has done it!  Kobe has finally won a title without Shaq!  .... but something is missing...

Part 3 (2010):  The mighty hero Kobe and his band of Lakers once again reach the finals... but this time meet the return of the ultimate evil Celtics.  With Bynum back and vengeance in the eyes of Kobe the conqueror, the Lakers rally late in Game 7 to strike down the evil beast... The trilogy ends with Kobe riding off into the sunset and a defeated Celtic witch melting under a sea of purple and gold confetti.


Sad, but true. 

[Celtics18]

The story's not over.

[Cman]

TP for an incredibly well written (and dramatized!) post.
Sounds plausible to me, especially when I take off my green tinted glasses.  But I can't stand it when I take those glasses off, so.... glasses back on! #18 in '12!

[SamuelAdams]

Um, the Grat Celtics story started in 1946. The Celtics story is far greatet then Andrew Bynum's injuries.  A lttle perspective puuuhhpleeasse.

From 1957 to 1969, the Celtics dominated the league winning 11 championships in 13 years, and eight in a row (1959–1966), the longest consecutive championship streak of any North American pro sports team.

5 of the Fakers championships were in Minnesota.

If the Celtics owners move to Anaheim, would it still be the Celtics to you?

[LarBrd33]

Um, the Grat Celtics story started in 1946. The Celtics story is far greatet then Andrew Bynum's injuries.  A lttle perspective puuuhhpleeasse.

From 1957 to 1969, the Celtics dominated the league winning 11 championships in 13 years, and eight in a row (1959–1966), the longest consecutive championship streak of any North American pro sports team.

5 of the Fakers championships were in Minnesota.

If the Celtics owners move to Anaheim, would it still be the Celtics to you?

I understand what you're saying.  But I think of the NBA in eras.  Celtic Dynasty.  Magic vs Larry.  Jordan era.  Shaq/Kobe 3-peat, etc.  With King James taking over... seems the last 3 years were a mini trilogy starring Kobe Bryant.

[17wasEZ]

It pains me to write what everyone else is afraid to admit.  A lot of you will continue clinching to every glimmer of hope (Dwight Howard, One last run in a shortened season, etc)  ... I see nothing wrong with that.  The Larry Bird Celtics were done by the close of the 80s, but some fans still thought they could win a title in the early 90s.   

For the most part, though... this team (as constructed) is done as a contender.  History will ignore this season from a Celtic/Laker perspective.  The storyline for the 2010-11 season will be the "Birth of the LeBron Dynasty".   

Our story stretches a 3 year period from 2008-2010. 

There were points where I thought the story was about the Boston Celtics.  I thought it started in 2007 when we landed Kevin Garnett and brought Celtic pride back to Boston.  In the early part of that season, the focus was all "Big 3".  Kobe Bryant was demanding a trade and the Lakers were seemingly irrelevant.  As a Celtic fan, it was frustrating when Andrew Bynum suddenly came alive and the Lakers started rattling off wins.  The media tried to present it as "The Lakers and the Celtics are both back!" (in the same way the Knicks tried to present Randolph/Curry/Marbury as "back" or Amare/Melo as "back").  I hated this.  THe Lakers were NOT back.  We were back.  They were overachieving.  Big difference.  We met them in late December 2007... and crushed them 110-91.  The Lakers were NOT back.  That settled it. 

THey landed Pau Gasol in February... and they were back.  We still managed to beat them in the Finals... and it would seem the story was about the Celtics. 

KG gets hurt.  Lakers win in 2009 by default.

From my perspective, I once again believed the story was about the Celtics in 2010.  KG was back.  We were healthy.  This was our chance to reclaim what was rightfully ours.  THe Trilogy would begin and end with Celtic victories.  "A New Hope" (08 the Celtics blow up the Laker death star) followed by "The Empire Strikes Back" (Laker victory in 09) concluding with "Return of the Jedi" (Celtics vanquish the Lakers in the 2010 finals... and Rondo carrys the torch into a new generation of Celtic Pride).  This story came close to happening... but we choked away game 7.

This season, I once again convinced myself the story was about the Celtics... I blame that on watching too much "The Association".  Turns out our story ended in 2010... and history will look at it all from the perspective of Kobe Bryant.

Perspective becomes reality... so welcome to reality.   The Celtics were a hated group of trash talking thugs lead by the ultimate bully (Kevin Garnett).  They were merely antagonists for hero Kobe Bryant and his Lakers.  In 08 the Lakers came "oh so close" to defeating the bully Celtics.  Unfortunately, they suffered a huge loss in Andrew Bynum's injury.  They went the distance against incredible odds ala Rocky, but didn't have enough to get it done.   Kobe watched as the evil Celtics celebrated in a sea of green and swore vengeance.  End of part 1.

Part 2 (2009):  With Bynum back, the Lakers achieve greatness... they cruise to a title... happiness is back in Laker Nation.  Kobe has done it!  Kobe has finally won a title without Shaq!  .... but something is missing...

Part 3 (2010):  The mighty hero Kobe and his band of Lakers once again reach the finals... but this time meet the return of the ultimate evil Celtics.  With Bynum back and vengeance in the eyes of Kobe the conqueror, the Lakers rally late in Game 7 to strike down the evil beast... The trilogy ends with Kobe riding off into the sunset and a defeated Celtic witch melting under a sea of purple and gold confetti.


Sad, but true. 

I don't buy it.  Especially because there were a few missed/made shots, missed/made calls and a couple of loose balls in 1 game (1 quarter to be exact) that could have easily turned the tide and given the C's 2 titles in 3 years if any of them had gone the other way.

Not saying the Lakers weren't deserving of the title, but that doesn't make it a Laker Trilogy.

[Junkyard Dawg]

Compelling argument, but these Celtics legacy is going to be greater than you're giving them credit for.  The Celtics made the 80's-style, trash-talking, bullying, big-man defense relevant again, and re-defined what it means to play defense.  Teams re-organized their philosophies based on what the C's did in '07-08.  Listen to LeBron and Wade before/after that series with us, all they talk about is how much respect they have for the C's and how beating us was a crowning achievement in its own right.

Kobe had some great teams, but they were never about anything other than Kobe.  When it was going well, it was on Kobe, when it was going bad, it was on his teammates.  They might have stolen that second championship but 20 years from now fans and players are going to remember the 07-08 C's were actually ABOUT something.

[mostofusrsad]

The story's not over.

i'm afraid the story is over regarding the celts winning a title with this bunch.  we did not acheive as much as we should have...

[Steve Weinman]

If the Celtics owners move to Anaheim, would it still be the Celtics to you?

Yes, absolutely.

-sw

[PosImpos]

I think you're right -- this is the narrative that will be developed around this era.

Now we're entering the LeBron-Wade dynasty era, where the two best players in the league are on the same team and every other team hopes and prays that one of the duo gets injured so they have a chance to win.

[soap07]

What's the difference between us and the 2004 Pistons? Except that the Pistons overall were more successful I suppose, making something like 6 ECF's in a row.

[Mr October]

Um, the Grat Celtics story started in 1946. The Celtics story is far greatet then Andrew Bynum's injuries.  A lttle perspective puuuhhpleeasse.

From 1957 to 1969, the Celtics dominated the league winning 11 championships in 13 years, and eight in a row (1959–1966), the longest consecutive championship streak of any North American pro sports team.

5 of the Fakers championships were in Minnesota.

If the Celtics owners move to Anaheim, would it still be the Celtics to you?

I understand what you're saying.  But I think of the NBA in eras.  Celtic Dynasty.  Magic vs Larry.  Jordan era.  Shaq/Kobe 3-peat, etc.  With King James taking over... seems the last 3 years were a mini trilogy starring Kobe Bryant.

I see the 07-10 era as a truncated rebirth of the 80's Celtics Lakers rivalry.

And like in the 80's, The Lakers won more titles. The Celtics title run was cut short due to injuries.

[Kane3387]

Um, the Grat Celtics story started in 1946. The Celtics story is far greatet then Andrew Bynum's injuries.  A lttle perspective puuuhhpleeasse.

From 1957 to 1969, the Celtics dominated the league winning 11 championships in 13 years, and eight in a row (1959–1966), the longest consecutive championship streak of any North American pro sports team.

5 of the Fakers championships were in Minnesota

If the Celtics owners move to Anaheim, would it still be the Celtics to you?

I understand what you're saying.  But I think of the NBA in eras.  Celtic Dynasty.  Magic vs Larry.  Jordan era.  Shaq/Kobe 3-peat, etc.  With King James taking over... seems the last 3 years were a mini trilogy starring Kobe Bryant.

I think the Shaq/Kobe 3-peat era is really the Shaq Vs Duncan era because from 1999 to 2007 one of these guys played in the finals... then there was the Celtic Laker rebirth followed by what I now call the MBA - The Miami Basketball Association

[CelticsPrideKG]

What's the difference between us and the 2004 Pistons? Except that the Pistons overall were more successful I suppose, making something like 6 ECF's in a row.

This quote is pretty ridiculous.

The problem that occurred is that the expectations of the team were rewritten after they won it all in 2008.

After the KG trade the expectations were that the team would hopefully use the first half of the 07-08 season to get used to playing with each other and be able to compete for the Eastern Conference title by the end of the season.  Most people hoped that they would be able to win a title by the 2nd or 3rd season and would have been happy with one championship.

However, they dominated the league right out of the gate and won the title in year 1.  That resulted in everyone changing their expectations.

The only sad part of the whole thing is that they probably were an injury or two away from 3 years of dominance and a 3-peat mini dynasty.