2012 NBA Playoffs: Boston Celtics Look for Seventh Heaven in Game 7
In the final minutes of Game 6 in the Eastern Conference Finals, the TD Garden fans sent their Celtics off with a rousing standoff to Game Seven. The fans' chants of "Let’s go Celtics" with the game already decided was the salvo the lads in green needed.
As fans and bloggers, we can make a case for either team. In the case of Miami, it is obvious that the rising giant in the East for years to come will be a LeBron James-led Heat team. Let's face it, they have youth and a revolutionary player that at times lacks focus. Yet they prevail most of the time, because he is that much better than anybody else. The Heat does have the luxury of youth and not experience on their side.
The book on the Boston Celtics was already closed before the season started. In fact, their demise was grossly exaggerated three years ago.
As usual, KG and company preferred to take the road less travelled. Throughout this playoff march, they have been extended to six games by the Hawks, seven by the Sixers and now seven by the Heat. This will be the seventh time that four of the Celtics' starters (not including Brandon Bass) have been in a game seven together.
This Celtic roster looks eerily similar to the Russell-led 1968-69 championship season.
That season, Russell was in his 12th year, Bailey Howell in his ninth, Sam Jones 11th, Sanders eighth and Havlicek and Nelson in their sixth seasons. Yes, they had a number of Hall-of Famers, but they were not considered elite at that time. They went into L.A. where the fat lady was seen sitting smugly in the Forum, warming up her pipes.
Somehow, against insurmountable odds, they won it all. This team that was greater than the sum of its parts.
Doc Rivers' bunch reflects that same spirit, but can it be done? We won't know until the game is played. One thing that I do know is that Boston fans gave this team their own Braveheart moment during the waning moments of game six. It’s up to them to heed the "Cry of the Valkyrie" in the rallying cry of their fans and prolong this journey toward banner 18.
Can they, like Russell in his last ride to championship glory, rise to the occasion? Tonight will tell if the old men in green can rise above it all like champions or succumb like the San Antonio Spurs did to father time.
