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

[Brendan]

I'm still bitter that we picked Gabe Pruitt over Marc Gasol. A move that cost us at least one championship and got the Lakers two.

[GreenFaith1819]

I guess that if you were to focus on just "that" (the bad stuff that happened after 2008) it would definitely leave a bad taste in your mouth, so I understand that.

For me there are way too many GREAT memories, even after 2008:

The C's courageous effort, even after KG and Powe went down, in the 08-09 playoffs...Perk averaging 12 pts, 11 rebs, 3 blocks...Rondo starting to show flashes of greatness even then.

In the same playoffs (08-09) Glen Davis hitting that buzzer beater and almost knocking down the young Magic fan:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BggdtvqKHyI

Loved it. Yeah we went on to lose that series, but still - the GOOD memories.

09-10 we signed Sheed...personally, I loved seeing him in Green. He played his butt off in the playoffs.

I'd say that this is where Rondo arrived...that CLE series. Rondo was AWESOME. It was BOS that sent LeBron to MIA.

Ray Allen with those 32 points in LA, game 2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RciLe9SUqVM

Glen Davis and Nate Rob in game 5:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kR8PztpCKb0

Yeah..we lost the series to LA due to Perk getting injured and some questionable officiating, but STILL....too many good memories.

10-11? We got Shaq. We dominated the first half of the season with Shaq in the middle, and with JO subbing in at times. JO played well for us, IMO, and was our leading shot blocker.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMNLmS5bVBs

History will say that we had one the top 10 players of ALL TIME (IMO) in Shaquille O'Neal suiting up for BOS. I remember dreaming of BOS somehow meeting LA in the Finals that year and Shaq giving LA and Kobe problems...it never happened though.

Oh well. Still too many good memories of Shaq and 2010-11.

11-12 will, for me, turn out to be our Swan Song season...but Pierce and KG sent us out in style. We played admirably in the playoffs that year, and KG turned back the clock with this performance vs ATL:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x24elCLzlBw

37 year-old KG doing it in the post, LOL - vs Josh Smith and Big Al.

Rondo had those 44 pts, in a losing effort vs MIA, true - but still Celtic-like in his performance. We ended up taking MIA to 7 games, and losing - yes...but:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GRFYDWsI9U

Again - just too many good memories, even with the misfortune that happened.

Most NBA teams would LOVE to experience was BOSTON has  experienced over the last few years.

At the end of our 5 year run our future is looking bright, and we have a good core here, a good coach and THIS guy:



Absolutely no regrets, here...none. Loved the whole journey.

[Celtics18]

Quite the opposite of bitter.

Obviously, 2008 was special.  But, for me, 2010 and 2012 were special seasons as well.  Even that 2009 team, and to a lesser extent the the 2011 and 2013 teams gave me some good memories.

I guess I've never been in the championship or bust camp.  I enjoy the ride, even if it doesn't always result in the desired outcome. 

Anyway, it's been a great run as far as I'm concerned. 

[Rondohara]

Seeing the Lakers get 2 /thread

Jeff Greens' heart.
Knowing we could have won but lost.
Then Ray Allen the traitor... Judas... the Devil (no, he is worse than that  ).
 
That's the very definition of a bitter taste for me.

[TitleMaster]

1.) During the 2008-09 season, I feel like Danny took his eye of the ball. REMEMBER, going into the season we lost James Posey and PJ Brown (and to a smaller extent, Sam Cassell) who played a pretty big role in the 08 title run.

Danny really didn't acquire anyone to replace them, thus we had a weaker bench. In fact, if I remember, the only players Ainge acquired for the 2008-09 season were Patrick O'Bryant and Stephon Marbury.

O'Bryant had bust written all over him (and was then subsequently traded) and Marbury was clearly done as well.

Even with KG's injury, DA should've gone out and acquired another body or two for a repeat run and he didn't.

I think that without a revamped bench, even a healthy KG & Powe, would not have repeated.

I wrote a thread on the mythological '09 title, where many Cs fans had completely forgotten that the Lakers had shifted away from Kobe Ball to an all out team effort and this time, Odom & Ariza played up to their potentials, along with Pau Gasol, finally dropping his *soft* label as a big man. That was a 65-17 team, clearly out to prove something to the world.

The '09 Lakers would have kept up with the Cs very well.

2.) The 2009-10 season. Remember, this was the year where the Celts were 23-5 by Christmas and then 27-27 the rest of the way. Quite frankly, the Celts got lazy in the 2nd half of the season. They were good enough where they were able to get away with it and crush Miami, Cleveland and Orlando in the playoffs.

But against the Lakers in the finals, the basketball gods were not kind and the Celts complaceny from the regular season caught up with them in the finals.

The Lakers had home court advantage that year and they earned it because they were a higher seed.

Had the Celts played harder during the regular season, they could've locked up HC and probably beaten the Lakers as HC played a big role in that series.

Well, the Lakers weren't exactly coasting that season either. It's not certain that the Celts could have gotten HCA.

On the other hand, when the pressure's on, I do expect HoFers to respond. Considering that Ray Allen, the world's greatest jump shooter, went 0 from the arc during 4 games and finally, in an elimination game 7 of the finals, 21FG% (& 28% from the arc), that non-so-clutch performance reminded me more of a streaky John Starks than a Reggie Miller.

[ScoobyDoo]

Not for me.

I do think with half decent injury luck - and really nto so much with KG, Ray and Pierce - but moreso with all the players around them, this team might have won three, possibly four titles in 6 years.

2009: If KG doesn't go down - that team was just wrecking people, even being thin off the bench

Very possibly Title #2

2010: If Perkins doesn't go down...
Very possibly Title #3

2011 or 2012?: If Shaq doesn't go down...
Very possibly title #4.

This team was nearly unbeatable with Shaq giving us a solid 15-20 minutes a night. They played some of the best ball, defensively and offensively - of the whole era.

So while it's a shame, I have not one bitter feeling about it. They brought Celtics basketball back!

They made Celtics basketball relevant again.

If KG, Pierce and Ray had gotten together at the ages Bird, McHale and Parish did - I don't think 6-8 titles would have been unreasonable.

It's amazing to think that those three guys (with Rondo and Perk of course) put us in serious contention for four titles at their ages.

Love 'em.   

[ScoobyDoo]

Quote from: gpap on Today at 01:20:23 PM

    1.) During the 2008-09 season, I feel like Danny took his eye of the ball. REMEMBER, going into the season we lost James Posey and PJ Brown (and to a smaller extent, Sam Cassell) who played a pretty big role in the 08 title run.

    Danny really didn't acquire anyone to replace them, thus we had a weaker bench. In fact, if I remember, the only players Ainge acquired for the 2008-09 season were Patrick O'Bryant and Stephon Marbury.

    O'Bryant had bust written all over him (and was then subsequently traded) and Marbury was clearly done as well.

    Even with KG's injury, DA should've gone out and acquired another body or two for a repeat run and he didn't.

This is a really good point > TP

I really wanted us to after some replacements for Posey and PJ and I agree that Danny sold the team short this year. Perhaps his hands were tied by ownership, I don't know.

I think Matt Barnes was available and would have been a perfect replacement for Posey. There were several other big men who were also available to replace Posey.

That being said, if KG hadn't gone down and the starting five stayed healthy, I still really liked our chances for title #2 that year.

I don't think you could've put that team away - KG, Pierce and Ray were still young enough and hungry enough to carry it without much help.   

[gpap]

Quote from: gpap on Today at 01:20:23 PM

    1.) During the 2008-09 season, I feel like Danny took his eye of the ball. REMEMBER, going into the season we lost James Posey and PJ Brown (and to a smaller extent, Sam Cassell) who played a pretty big role in the 08 title run.

    Danny really didn't acquire anyone to replace them, thus we had a weaker bench. In fact, if I remember, the only players Ainge acquired for the 2008-09 season were Patrick O'Bryant and Stephon Marbury.

    O'Bryant had bust written all over him (and was then subsequently traded) and Marbury was clearly done as well.

    Even with KG's injury, DA should've gone out and acquired another body or two for a repeat run and he didn't.

This is a really good point > TP

I really wanted us to after some replacements for Posey and PJ and I agree that Danny sold the team short this year. Perhaps his hands were tied by ownership, I don't know.

I think Matt Barnes was available and would have been a perfect replacement for Posey. There were several other big men who were also available to replace Posey.

That being said, if KG hadn't gone down and the starting five stayed healthy, I still really liked our chances for title #2 that year.

I don't think you could've put that team away - KG, Pierce and Ray were still young enough and hungry enough to carry it without much help.   

It's possible WITH KG, the Celts repeat in 09. The only hurdle there is the Lakers were a heck of alot stronger in 2009 and 2010, then they were in 2008.

In 09 and 10, they improved their overall roster (hate to say but Metta World Peace and Matt Barnes were good pick ups for them.) Also, Bynum was healthier those seasons and Gasol was alot more effective after his first season in LA, being dealt mid-season in 08.

If I remember correctly, the Lakers also dumped alot of their scrubs from the 08 team like Radmanovic, Vujevic and Jordan Farmar, which really seemed to help them out.

But yeah, I also do wonder if KG never got hurt in 2009 and if the Celts and Lakers did meet in the finals instead of the Lakers playing Orlando, who would've won.

That would've been quite a series and certainly more even than the 08 finals when the Celts basically bit*hslapped the Lakers in 6 games

[SCeltic34]

A lot of mixed feelings, but none of bitterness.

2008 was incredible.  Winning the title was among the happiest, if not the happiest, moment as a sports fan.  I have Games 1, 2, 4, and 6 against the Lakers, and Game 7 against Cleveland on my hard drive.  I watch 'em every now and then to re-live the awesomeness.

2010, however, I just can't get over that game 7 loss.  Worst moment of my sports life by far.  I had difficulty sleeping for almost a month after we lost that game.  It still bothers me to this day.  We were the better team and we deserved banner 18.

When the big 3 came together, all we wanted was a title.  And we got it.  For that I'm extremely grateful.  But you can't help to think what could have been if we weren't decimated by injuries every year after 2008.  We had such a strong team that we easily could have won more than 1, and that's what disappoints me the most.  I'm not sure about a 3-peat given how good the Lakers were, but I think we definitely could have taken 2 out of 3.

[D.o.s.]

I guess that if you were to focus on just "that" (the bad stuff that happened after 2008) it would definitely leave a bad taste in your mouth, so I understand that.

For me there are way too many GREAT memories, even after 2008:

The C's courageous effort, even after KG and Powe went down, in the 08-09 playoffs...Perk averaging 12 pts, 11 rebs, 3 blocks...Rondo starting to show flashes of greatness even then.

In the same playoffs (08-09) Glen Davis hitting that buzzer beater and almost knocking down the young Magic fan:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BggdtvqKHyI

Loved it. Yeah we went on to lose that series, but still - the GOOD memories.

09-10 we signed Sheed...personally, I loved seeing him in Green. He played his butt off in the playoffs.

I'd say that this is where Rondo arrived...that CLE series. Rondo was AWESOME. It was BOS that sent LeBron to MIA.

Ray Allen with those 32 points in LA, game 2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RciLe9SUqVM

Glen Davis and Nate Rob in game 5:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kR8PztpCKb0

Yeah..we lost the series to LA due to Perk getting injured and some questionable officiating, but STILL....too many good memories.

10-11? We got Shaq. We dominated the first half of the season with Shaq in the middle, and with JO subbing in at times. JO played well for us, IMO, and was our leading shot blocker.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMNLmS5bVBs

History will say that we had one the top 10 players of ALL TIME (IMO) in Shaquille O'Neal suiting up for BOS. I remember dreaming of BOS somehow meeting LA in the Finals that year and Shaq giving LA and Kobe problems...it never happened though.

Oh well. Still too many good memories of Shaq and 2010-11.

11-12 will, for me, turn out to be our Swan Song season...but Pierce and KG sent us out in style. We played admirably in the playoffs that year, and KG turned back the clock with this performance vs ATL:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x24elCLzlBw

37 year-old KG doing it in the post, LOL - vs Josh Smith and Big Al.

Rondo had those 44 pts, in a losing effort vs MIA, true - but still Celtic-like in his performance. We ended up taking MIA to 7 games, and losing - yes...but:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GRFYDWsI9U

Again - just too many good memories, even with the misfortune that happened.

Most NBA teams would LOVE to experience was BOSTON has  experienced over the last few years.

At the end of our 5 year run our future is looking bright, and we have a good core here, a good coach and THIS guy:



Absolutely no regrets, here...none. Loved the whole journey.

awesome post.

[celtic -_- pride]

the only thing i can truly say i'm bitter about is losing to the lakers in game 7 of the nba finals. that was such a tragic night for me. i was watching it with my girlfriend at the time and watching our team dominate and then lose the game in the final what was it ? 5 minutes? just drained me emotionally. we ended up getting in a fight later and broke up. the fight had nothing to do with the game but my mood from the loss definitely didn't help anything.
celtics should of won that game

[freshinthehouse]

I think that without a revamped bench, even a healthy KG & Powe, would not have repeated.

I wrote a thread on the mythological '09 title, where many Cs fans had completely forgotten that the Lakers had shifted away from Kobe Ball to an all out team effort and this time, Odom & Ariza played up to their potentials, along with Pau Gasol, finally dropping his *soft* label as a big man. That was a 65-17 team, clearly out to prove something to the world.

Also, wasn't Bynum healthy that post-season.  A lot C's fans forget that Bynum was out for the year when we ran into the Lakers in 2008.

[mmmmm]

I guess that if you were to focus on just "that" (the bad stuff that happened after 2008) it would definitely leave a bad taste in your mouth, so I understand that.

For me there are way too many GREAT memories, even after 2008:

...

Absolutely no regrets, here...none. Loved the whole journey.

TP, GreenFaith1819.  TP

[Rondohara]

You guys think that with Green and Shaq we win it in 12?

[TitleMaster]

I think that without a revamped bench, even a healthy KG & Powe, would not have repeated.

I wrote a thread on the mythological '09 title, where many Cs fans had completely forgotten that the Lakers had shifted away from Kobe Ball to an all out team effort and this time, Odom & Ariza played up to their potentials, along with Pau Gasol, finally dropping his *soft* label as a big man. That was a 65-17 team, clearly out to prove something to the world.

Also, wasn't Bynum healthy that post-season.  A lot C's fans forget that Bynum was out for the year when we ran into the Lakers in 2008.

Yes, Bynum was healthy but he really wasn't all that special during the playoffs, unlike the regular season. I think in a one-on-one matchup with Perkins, he's basically an ordinary player.

The difference that year for the Lakers was the enhanced ball movement, defense, and the ascent of Odom, Ariza, & Gasol, over the prior year, where Kobe was both the alpha & the omega of every key possession. The '09 Lakers was a true team and had some fire, given the prior year's debacle in the finals.