How this week changed the way I look at basketball...

[quidinqui33]

It's about 2am in Texas and I can't sleep because this has been one crazy week in my basketball world.  I was born in Boston and grew up in San Antonio so everything that went on in the NBA this week, hit home for me.

If these finals have shown me anything, it is to appreciate the last 6 years we have had with the Celtics and not dwell on where we came up short or try and point fingers.  Sure there were tough game 7 losses, tough injuries, a play here or there that can change everything, blown leads, a better coaching decision, our players stepping up more, etc.  If a coach like Pop, players like Lebron and Timmy, and teams like the Heat and the Spurs can go through all of those same ups and downs, I can look at the Celts now and really appreciate what we did, rather than think "if only this had happened we could have won more."  It's the NBA, winning it all is not easy, and we won one, and sure came close to a few others.  It's weird that a finals without the Celts, made me appreciate our team even more.

The next big lesson is, the NBA is a business.  I always knew this, but this week put it all into perspective.  Players either make decisions on winning or money, turns out coaches do to, we all know teams do it for money and winning, and fans are essentially the same as well (minus the money).  Seeing Doc, a coach that I love, want to leave Boston because times are tough, seeing Danny almost trade KG and our team's identity for Deandre Jordan, seeing fans that killed Ray for leaving hoping that Paul Pierce (a Celtic Legend) gets bought out or traded just put it all in perspective.  All parties involved are going to do what they think is best for them. Me as a fan, I can't take it personally. I just need to enjoy the ride.  (Quick aside, I think Pierce would stay a Celtic even if the ship is sinking because I think he truly feels that retiring a Celtic is best for him, and I agree and love that dude for feeling that way).

So when Ray hit that big shot tonight, I was actually happy for him.  He did what was best for him last year, and a man that helped us win 17 and who I loved while he was with us had the biggest shot of his career tonight.  I did not think I would feel happy about it, but this week changed my whole perspective.

The Decision made me hate Lebron.  I still hate the way the whole thing went down, but this week changed the way I look at him now.  The guy is a beast and an awesome basketball player.  Not so upset with him joining forces with his buddies anymore.  It was what he thought was best.

With that said, I was still born in Boston so I will always bleed green and am excited for what this off season brings with my new perspective, and I grew up in San Antonio so Go Spurs Go and Beat the Heat in Game 7!

[LarBrd33]

TP.  Great stuff.

[Bahku]

TP for the honest post.

The way I view the NBA and the Celtics has definitely been altered this season, in so many ways, and it will never be the same.

It's lost some of the shine, some of the integrity, and some of the fun, all in keeping with what I once thought were priorities that matched mine.

I mean, KG "bleeds green, but ... "

Doc "bleeds green,. but ... "

Paul "bleeds green, but ... "

I/they/we get all hyped up about what it means to be a Celtic and that that's the most important thing, (and to us as fans, it usually is), but team loyalty is a thing of the past, and when it comes right down to it, everyone's out for the money ... period.

I know it's a game, I know it's a business, and I know the realities of making the wheels turn, but I'm tired of the faux hype and guys I thought represented those things to their core just putting on a show, and yet have no problem bailing out if they can get a job closer to home, or that provides a ten-mil residence over their current five-mil shack.

I get the lowdown and the bottom line, just please stop all the Celtic Pride, bleed green, Celtic forever, green to-the-core, pointing to the rafters, knows-what-it-means-to-wear-the-green crap, when flushing it is all just a better deal and a phone call away.

I'm speaking for myself and no one else, and it's all just a bit discouraging and sad. The professional basketball world I knew and loved is just a little less genuine and a little less exciting, and a bit of character, class and intensity is gone forever.

[LGC88]

Great post.
Indeed everything you said it's true and this week made it even more realistic.
However as a celtics fan and also at a lesser degree a spurs fan since 1998, I would like to point something specific.
I believe what makes celtics different from other teams are exactly what the fans praise for, which is loyalty, real team effort (devotion,  sacrifice), fighting spirit and the love for the jersey. To me it's what makes the celtics better and I'm very sad to feel the boston franchise is loosing this little by little each year.
In the mean time it's nice to see a team like GS starting to develop that sort of things.
I just hope I will remain a celtics fan, they will have to show what they got this season (whatever win/loss record won't matter to me). They can win it all and I would still turn my heart to another team. I fell for certain values and principles that I also appreciate in life, not because they were contender.
I'll look for the spurs to see how they handle their franchise after Duncan retires. Pop might not be there too, so that would be nice to compare.
To finish, I would like to say that I believe DA is a heck of a GM. Just one little thing I don't like is its brutality.  He should find a way to pacify himself and think long term. Great deals in the past might hurt the franchise identity today.

I know PP is not reading any of this but I have a little message for him.
My wife and I love you man. You are the pride of this sport. After everything you went through here (stabbings in the night club and the mental stabbing from the fans at the beginning) you always stay a celtics in your heart.. You are the greatest... and THE example for the celtics rookies. Your ring is more valuable than any amount of Lebron will get.