Has what happened after 2008 left a bitter taste in your mouth about that era?

[JSD]

If in 2008, if you had imagined the WORST case scenario playing out after that title it pretty much did and went like this:

- KG suffers major injury during 2009 season and will NEVER be the same. Misses most of the season and playoffs

- Lakers go on to win back to back titles. One over your Boston Celtics in 2010 that went to a game 7.

- Lebron leaves Cleveland and forms a super team in Miami for 2011, 2012 and 2013 putting an end to the era.

Was 2008 incredible? Of course. But could it have played out any worse for us afterwards? WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN is what I always find myself going back to. It has taken away from that joy I felt back in 2008 when KG screamed, "Anything's Possible!"
 

[Chris]

No, it hasn't.  I can understand how it would for people, but for me, the personal experiences with the 2008 championship run override everything.  It will always be special, and that feeling will never change.  Everything after that would have just been a bonus. 

[Donoghus]

Obviously what went down in '09 & '10 is frustrating and ton of "what-ifs" but 2008 was such a fun ride and that team was so impressive to watch.  Really a special team & season. 

We got one title which is better than none.  Could've been more if a few things went the Celtics way but we still got one.

[slamtheking]

a bitter taste is a bit of a stretch.  I'm disappointed about the injuries to KG, Powe and Perk in the 2 years after the title.  we could/should have had a 3-peat

[scaryjerry]

No, that title run was amazing. Even if the next season was equally disappointing, there were no shortages of really great memorable moments and games/series throughout the era. Even if they didn't cap it off with another title I was more often then not proud to be a fan of those Celtics

[CoachBo]

Not at all.

The putrid teams we put on the floor in the years immediately previous - and the putrid team we're putting on the floor now - come a LOT closer to leaving a bitter taste in my mouth.

This game is about winning. It is not about obsessing over an individual player's development.

The bitter taste comes from inept Celtic teams.

[Boris Badenov]

I'm with Chris. We won a ring. The other things are pretty trivial for me.

I'm actually glad the Lakers were great too. Flip it around...if we are going to win one ring, what team would you most want to beat?

[More Banners]

During the Finals, I called my credit card company for an increase on my credit limit just in case it went to game 7.  I was expecting at least $2K per ticket, and I would have paid it.

THANK GOD WE WON IN 6!  I'd still be paying it off.

I'll remember that year like I remember 1986, which was possibly the best Celtic team ever.

Since then?

KG's arrival made us favorites, and his injury made us underdogs every year afterward.

Danny kept bringing in old guys, rather than looking to upgrade.  Sheed was, IMO, a mistake.  IF he would've been in shape during the season, 2010 game 7 would've been in Boston, and perhaps his back spasms in game 7 don't bother him.  And perhaps then we win #18, who knows.

Danny got conservative really quick after the KG trade, no longer the gambler.

LA had the guts to trade Shaq shortly after a 3-peat, when he was still the most dominant big man in the game.  Danny wouldn't have the guts.

But yes, everything went wrong after 2008, just as everything went right that year.

[Birdman]

Yeah the 2010 finals hurt

[Birdman]

Also thought we was getting David West but didn't..ugh

[D.o.s.]

I'm with Chris. We won a ring. The other things are pretty trivial for me.

I'm actually glad the Lakers were great too. Flip it around...if we are going to win one ring, what team would you most want to beat?

Agreed. I'm a sucker for classic rivalries in addition to being a Celtics fan, and it doesn't get much better than Celtics-Lakers '08-'10. Especially for those of us who were too young to really appreciate Magic & Bird (or weren't born yet).

[Atzar]

LA had the guts to trade Shaq shortly after a 3-peat, when he was still the most dominant big man in the game.  Danny wouldn't have the guts.

I'd argue that trading Pierce required more guts than trading Shaq that year.  Many people thought - and some still think - that Pierce should have been allowed to play out his career in green, even though he was deteriorating as a player.  Shaq was a mercenary and trading him required no such questions of loyalty.  I'd agree that Ainge got conservative in the offseason following the title, but aside from that period I absolutely do think he has the guts to make major moves.


In regards to the original question, I admittedly hoped for more from that era but I wouldn't say I'm bitter about it, and I certainly wouldn't say it soured the title for me.  Getting to attend that Game 6 is a highlight of my life and something I'll never forget.

[hpantazo]

During the Finals, I called my credit card company for an increase on my credit limit just in case it went to game 7.  I was expecting at least $2K per ticket, and I would have paid it.

THANK GOD WE WON IN 6!  I'd still be paying it off.

I'll remember that year like I remember 1986, which was possibly the best Celtic team ever.

Since then?

KG's arrival made us favorites, and his injury made us underdogs every year afterward.

Danny kept bringing in old guys, rather than looking to upgrade.  Sheed was, IMO, a mistake.  IF he would've been in shape during the season, 2010 game 7 would've been in Boston, and perhaps his back spasms in game 7 don't bother him.  And perhaps then we win #18, who knows.

Danny got conservative really quick after the KG trade, no longer the gambler.

LA had the guts to trade Shaq shortly after a 3-peat, when he was still the most dominant big man in the game.  Danny wouldn't have the guts.

But yes, everything went wrong after 2008, just as everything went right that year.

It wasn't a question of the lakers "having the guts to trade Shaq". Shaq left on his own. They just worked it out to get something in return once he decided to leave, but Shaq was out the door on his own initiative. Whether that was because of his rift with Kobe or salary dispute with ownership is another question, but Shaq decided to leave LA.

[Roy H.]

Not at all. It was an excellent era. It could have been better , but it was still awesome .

[GreenWarrior]

i'm not bitter or upset about anything. I would have liked more titles and I honestly believe the season following the championship we would have won back to back if we had a healthy big to finish out against Orlando. they really weren't that good, we just ran out of bigs.