I grew up watching the Larry Bird Celtics. I watched Larry, the Kevin and then the Chief decline and fade away. I then watched roughly 22 years of Celtics basketball that rotated between complete failure and nauseating mediocrity.
Then we traded for Ray and KG in 2008 and things changed in Boston. First the culture and then the winning. Not only did things change in Boston but the trio of KG, Ray and Pierce along with the toughness that Perkins brought and with Rondo's efforts, things also changed the NBA. Teams now tried to build "their" teams to beat the Celtics. The the Cavs needed more poise and experience to beat us, the Lakers had to get tougher before they could beat us...and teams looked at trying to get three stars, like Boston. Teams preached "defense", trying to replicate what was being done in Bean town.
But they didn't realise it had to be the "right" three stars. I have serious doubts that Miami will ever reach it's "expected" potential and the Knicks...seem a long ways away.
Had you put KG, Ray and Pierce together when they were the ages of Bosh, Wade and LeBron, I think you'd be very seriously looking at 3-5 rings for this team.
Think about it, even coming together when they were all 30 or older -
2008: Absolutely dominant
2009: Still dominant until KG got injured
2010: Still dominant - hard to lose your starting Center in game six of the NBA finals while on the road...
2011: Still very dominant with Shaq being able to give us at least 10-15 solid minutes a night - If that was possible I say we'd have most likely raised another ring last year with a healthy Rondo and Shaq. That team was crushing everyone before injuries starting piling up.
Injuries - and mostly "not to them" have derailed us from probably having 2-3 rings by now.
The combo of KG, Ray and Pierce have made us relevant again, they brought us a title, they changed our culture and they've given us the best 5 years of Celtics basketball we've enjoyed in the last 30 years. It has been a true pleasure to watch these guys.
The jury is out on this season - I am actually still very optimistic about where I think this current team can go. I think them winning a ring is a long shot but I think if they stay healthy there is a chance we'll have a unique Celtics squad that could become very dangerous by playoff time.
If things are a complete disaster by the trade deadline I wouldn't just ship KG and Ray off. If our chances look bleak, I might approach them and ask them if they'd like to be traded to a real contender to make a run at a ring because everyone knows we're not gonna do it here... But if they'd prefer to stay and ride it out, I'd honor it, honor them.
They've given us too much. They've rebuilt what Celtics basketball always had been and hopefully will now continue to be, moving forward, even after they are gone.
So just a little thanks and appreciation for KG, Ray and Pierce for what they've given one fan over the last five years.
Oh, and by the way, here is one fan that will be more than happy to go down swinging with you come playoff time this year, even if we end up with the sixth seed and an early exit.
It's the least I can do as a fan to support icons of the game who have laced them up like true warriors for the green and white the last five seasons.
Thanks guys, I appreciate it and I got your back this year "no matter what happens".
Topic: A little "Thanks and Appreciation"... (Read 1467 times)