The Truth, The Ticket, and Jesus
Posted by SK, June 18, 2008 - 9:11 am
Before this season, the Boston Celtics were an afterthought in the NBA. It had been 21 years since they last hoisted the Larry O’Brien trophy. In between, the Chicago Bulls won 6 titles, the LA Lakers won 5, and the San Antonio Spurs won 4. Lenny Bias and Reggie Lewis, hailed as potential saviors of the franchise, both died at young ages. It could even be argued that the Celtics were an afterthought in their own backyard - the recent successes of the Patriots and Red Sox pushing the Celtics and their misery to the back of most Bostonian minds.
The Celtics had always won titles with a “Big 3″. So last offseason, GM Danny Ainge assembled a new Big 3. The 2007-2008 incarnation blew through the regular season, winning 66 games. But the final goal was the same as Russell, Heinsohn and Cousy, or Bird, McHale, and Parrish. And Garnett, Pierce, and Allen did not disappoint.
Not since the 1996 Chicago Bulls has the old adage has come to fruition with such vengeance - offense wins games, but defense wins championships. Game 6 last night was the epitome of this. Boston won because of its quick, swarming, and committed defense played by all five players on the court. Not only did they out-rebound the Lakers 48-29, they forced 19 turnovers leading to 32 points. The real key to playing defense in the NBA is desire - being quick to rotate on double teams, contest shots, and stop drives to the basket. Tracy McGrady and Dywane Wade have both said that after facing the 2007-2008 incarnation of the Celtics, that it was the best defense they’ve ever played against.
Fitting that after a 21-year absence from basketball in June, that the matchup in The Finals would be against their old foil the Lakers, whom they’ve faced 11 times now. This series had everything - Willis Reed moments from Paul Pierce and Ray Allen; a 24-point comeback in Game 4, and a near 24-point comeback in Game 5; Kobe playing for his first title without Shaq; KG, Pierce, and Allen playing for their first titles period; Phil Jackson coaching to pass Red Auerbach. The clinching game was capped off by the first basketball court Gatorade bath I’ve ever seen, and KG screaming to the heavens before collapsing in tears.
So congrats to the Celtics. I guess this means more gushing from Bill Simmons. But that’s a small price to pay for the most entertaining NBA regular season, playoffs, and championship in recent memory. If David Stern was in fact the one pulling the strings behind this all, then mission accomplished.
PS: Sorry for the hiatus, faithful readers… but I’m back, fully rested and better than ever.
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