Ode to the Celtics.
Paul Pierce played with Antoine Walker, who played with Rick Fox, who played with Larry Bird, who played with Dave Cowens, who played with John Havlicek, who played with Bob Cousy.
Dan Shaughnessy
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Dan Shaughnessy
Ode to the Celtics.
Paul Pierce played with Antoine Walker, who played with Rick Fox, who played with Larry Bird, who played with Dave Cowens, who played with John Havlicek, who played with Bob Cousy.
Comments
I have been a Celtics fan for years through some tough years and some better ones. I'm not entirely rational about it. I love to watch basketball. I love the history of the team. There have been some tough years where I was scouring the screen for any glimmer of hope. This set of owners and players are just inspirational in how they go about their business of competing. The ownership's business savvy, Ainge's roster strategizing, Doc's management skills, KGs fierce competitiveness, gunslinger/boxer Pierce (who I have watched mature through the years), upstart phenom/punk Rondo who is now following that same process. This is real drama that I will gladly sign up for night and night again: no script, no guarantee of a hollywood ending: our guys vs the rest, and our guys are pretty good this year.
I have to disagree with the comment that Rondo's move was a "punk" one.
What was Dwyane Wade doing driving to the basket with 16.9 seconds left in a game they were winning by 13?
What should Celtics have done: stood aside and watched?
Doc Rivers often talks about wanting the team to "compete" and if they are not competing for the win -- which at that point they were not -- should they stop competing? No. Rondo stopped Wade from making a gratuitous layup in a game the Heat had already put away. Good for him, is my opinion. He didn't try to hurt Wade; he just stopped him from making a layup. I suspect Larry Bird would have approved, if he was on this team or even coaching this team.
Rondo made a good play. He made the point that he wasn't going to back down or stop competing. He made the point that he wasn't going to give up an uncontested layup, even with the game out of reach. And he did it being careful to stop the layup but not injure the player. Wade 's play was more the "punk" one, if you get right down to it, in my opinion.
I want to add: Other than the Rondo comment, this was a great piece. Thanks for reminding us of the blessings that we have to count with this team -- and have had for a long time. It is pretty remarkable.