Hey guys. Always checked these boards, first time posting.
(inb4 tl, dr)
I truly do believe that the Celtics and LeBron(Cavs/Heat) are going to be sadly remembered as the Pistons vs. Bulls of this era. Im not saying LeBron is as good as Jordan...because he's not. I am sad however, that the Celtics havent at least won 2 championships. No KG knee injury and I firmly believe the Celtics would have won 3 in a row (in 09..KG was out for the playoffs, in 2010 he was clearly not the player he use to be because of that injury...still went 7 games, despite questionable 4th Qrt calls from a championship).
Still...The Celtics have influenced the game like no other. The Celtics were the bully's on the block. LeBron knew it, Wade knew it. The rest of the league knew it. Which is why the ECF was so heated. I saw this posted BEFORE game 1 of the ECF on another board.
Old Guns vs. Young Guns. A legend in Garnett, the heart of Boston in Pierce, the aging Sniper in Allen, vs. the Phenom in LeBron, the Superstar in Wade, and maybe the talented Bosh.
It was meant to be this way. A The Good, Bad, The Ugly style face/off. LeBron was denied 2 times in legitimate years he could have gone to the finals (maybe won) because of the Celtics. Celtics ended his time in Cleveland. Wade, a former champion was once again bounced out of the 1st round. Bosh was looking for a bigger stage to be noticed. All three guys had so much respect for the Celtics, but had enough knowledge that they couldnt get past the Celtics. They joined up to form their own Big Three. They were validated in beating the Celtics last year, but unlike the Celtics their first year, they came up short in the finals. The Captain Paul Pierce, the Monster Garnett, the Nobleman Allen, are on their last legs as a trio.
The Heat's trio will face severe consequences if they dont at least make the finals again this year. LeBron's legacy is in hanging in the balance because of today's social media. He has to overcome Boston yet again. Garnett might be in his last year. He understands the fact the Celtics could have won 2 more championships if he never severely injured his knee. He understand that the Spurs and Duncan (his era rival) may be in the finals and win another ring. LeBron understand Durant (his era rival) may be in position to get his first ring. Both understand the significance of this series.
The Big 3 vs. The New 3. It was meant to be.
And it certainly lived up to the hype. However, we must trace back the steps that led to the Miami Heat forming...
LeBron had just come off an epic ECF vs. the Pistons....but got swept in the Finals. It was looking as if the Celtics were going to be in the developmental Oden or Durant sweepstakes. That didnt happen....Great trades by Ainge and it landed the Celtics KG and Allen. Thus shifting the power of the east to Boston. The EAST...was supposed to belong to LeBron....Those moves changed things forever. Because Boston was the team LeBron just couldnt get over. LeBron dropped 45 in game 7.....still lost...and was sent to the locker room where he was reduced to tears (literally). LeBron felt the Celtics were a team he was going to have problems with the next few years. Which is why I feel the Celtics beat the Cavs in 09 (despite LeBron playing at an unreal level) if KG never got hurt. The Celtics then beat down LeBron in 2010 so bad, it had people questioning if LeBron "quit". The thing is...They also beat Wade that year...
It had become clear and they have stated numerous times....They formed together to get past Boston. Wade needed another star to get out of the 1st round. LeBron needed star players to actually win a championship. The Cavs organization failed him. So he took KG's words of wisdom...Get out of Cleveland...However, Im sure KG never knew LeBron would join TWO STAR PLAYERS.
LeBron and the Heat beat a Celtics team in 2011 with an injured Rajon Rondo. The Celtics had LeBron and the Heat on life support after game 5. Then it all changed.....Bill Simmons..talks about it here...
The other twist of fate: Derrick Rose wrecked his knee in Round 1, propelling the Celtics into the Conference Finals … you know, LeBron's nemesis, the bullies who beat him in 2008 and 2010, the grizzled veterans who were convinced that LeBron would always cave when it mattered most. Garnett and Pierce loved pushing his buttons more than anyone. During their final regular-season road trip to Miami, which turned out to be a surprisingly easy win for the Celtics, they spent the last two minutes busting Wade's balls about LeBron. You picked the wrong guy. You'll never win with that guy. LeBron could hear everything. They didn't care. In Game 5 of their playoff series, Garnett and Pierce pushed things a little further, believing that LeBron was ready to cave again. Down the stretch, Garnett muttered derisive obscenities under his breath anytime LeBron was in earshot, then stuffed him at the rim on a pivotal drive. A little bit later, Pierce nailed a back-breaking 3 right in LeBron's mug, then yelled, "I have the balls to take that!" as he trotted back down the floor.
In retrospect, they pushed him too far. The Celtics regarded LeBron with a surprising amount of disdain — that's why Rondo angrily yelped, "Let's go!" before defending LeBron's final drive of regulation in Game 2. LeBron ended up settling for a 21-footer against someone seven inches shorter than him, followed by Rondo strutting back to the huddle and probably telling his teammates, "I knew he didn't have the balls to come at me." They spent that whole series challenging his manhood; by the end of Game 5, they thought they had broken him. Was that what turned him into a serial killer in Game 6? Not entirely … but it definitely helped. I just don't think LeBron makes LeLeap without the bullies from Boston.1
It might be more of an omen, a warning, a little like the Game of Thrones characters seeing a red comet streak across the sky and saying, Uh-oh, dragons are coming. I mention this only because, like every other non-Miami fan who attended the last two home games, I left that arena muttering to myself, "Sh*t … he finally figured it out."
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8085525/lebron-makes-leapNow maybe LeBron doesnt have that competitive edge to go for championship after championship. We'll find out in the future. However, his past and present were forever shaped by the Boston Celtics. The Celtics were the team that interrupted his plans in Cleveland..It made him become a VILLAIN...People around the world loved LeBron....However, he gave up his love and loyalty JUST TO BEAT BOSTON...It made him leave....The Celtics were almost the team that blew up the Miami Heat...until he had that unbelievable performance.
Whether you think he's a jerk, tool, etc. etc. He always respected Boston and recognized the threat that they are. He knows Pierce always gave him problems...but always brought out the best in him. He knows KG's history...and that brought out the move to Miami.
Maybe LeBron will fail, the Celtics will rebuild and begin to bully LeBron again. But it took the Celtics to help make LeBron a champion today.
When it comes to Eastern Conference Basketball. It will always begin (as the media portrays it) Act 1: LeBron is unbelievable against Detroit, gets bad team to the finals but loses to the Spurs. However, still on pace to own the East the next 10 years. Act 2: The new Big 3 Celtics are formed. They beat LeBron and the Cavs in an epic game 7 in 08 in route to a championship. They make him quit in 2010 on their way to another finals appearance. Act 3: LeBron forms his own Big 3 in Miami and beats the Celtics in 2011, and saves their season in game 6 and 7 against the Celtics in 2012..in route to a championship.
However, their is an Act 4 in my opinion. Will LeBron continue to dominate the East? Or will Ainge provide another formula to knock LeBron and the Heat back down a notch or two. We'll certainly find out..
Topic: The Celtics and LeBron...Forever tied together.. (Read 4245 times)