NBA Playoffs 2012: Win or Lose, Game 7 Already a Victory for the Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics weren't supposed to still be there in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals—and they certainly weren't supposed to be there against the Miami Heat.

We all know the labels thrown on this team at the beginning of the year: they were too old, their roster was too fragile and their big-name players simply weren't going to step up this season.

In January, there was discussion that the team needed to go through the rebuilding process, and that they should break up the Big Three of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen because this season wasn't going to produce any results.

The Celtics kept playing basketball.

In February, when the All-Star Weekend came around and Rajon Rondo was sensationally snubbed, the critics swarmed with their opinions and reasons as to why the point guard wasn't his usual dominant self in the 2011-12 season.

The Celtics kept playing basketball.

In March, Chicago, Philadelphia and Miami were all firing whilst Boston dropped games at home to Detroit and lost to Sacramento by 25 points. Once again, the critics circled, stating that they were too inconsistent and lacked the talent and depth to be competitive this season.

The Celtics kept playing basketball.

In April, after surprising some to even make the playoffs, Boston was hammered in Game 1 of the opening round by the Atlanta Hawks—trailing by 13 points at the end of the the first quarter and 14 points at halftime. 

The Celtics kept playing basketball.

In May, Boston came from behind to clinch the series 4-2 over Atlanta to take on the younger, faster, more energetic and excitable Philadelphia 76ers, who forced the Celtics into a Game 7. Their legs were supposed to be tired, their bodies were supposed to be aging and the Sixers were supposed to end their playoff dream.

The Celtics kept playing basketball.

And now, in June, the Boston Celtics are still alive in the NBA playoffs. They weren't supposed to make it this far,—heck, they weren't even expected to come close—but with Game 7 looming, the Celtics are still in the hunt for another Championship ring.

The fact that they even pushed the Miami Heat all the way has shocked many.

After being dispatched by 14 points in Game 1, it was widely accepted that Boston would simply bow out to the hands of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. This was, after all, the Miami Heat they were up against, who had only lost once at home in the postseason and five times all year.

With the Chicago Bulls eliminated and only the Celtics in the way, Miami was the the hot favorite for the Eastern Conference title, with some going as far as to question if the Celtics would even win a single game.

But once again, the Celtics kept playing basketball, and the unthinkable began to happen—they began to beat the Heat. From two games down in the series, the Celtics began to fight back.

The same aging, sore, hapless, inconsistent, temperamental, ineffective Celtics took on Miami and blew away all preconceived and established ideas that people had about this series to level it at two games apiece heading back to South Beach for Game 5.

Where, in Miami, the Celtics took the lead in the series.

They defeated the team that many had already crowned champions on their home court, and they did it with the same hard work, perseverance and heart that we've witnessed all season.

The Celtics kept playing basketball.

There's no secret to their postseason success—no magic formula or reason why they suddenly started to string it all together to defy the odds.

In reality, they're just the same odds they've been defying all season long.

The Celtics have already proven everyone wrong this season, and as a result, regardless of what happens in Game 7, they are already winners. Whether they win or whether they lose, Game 7 is already a victory for the Boston Celtics.

Don't get me wrong—I'd love Boston to beat the Heat once more on their home court and lift high the Eastern Conference trophy, but the reality is that it may very well not happen.

The reality is that Miami may still win despite all of what the Celtics have achieved.

What I'm saying is that, whatever does happen, Boston has already won.

They've defied the criticism all season long, and they've caused havoc in the postseason.

They've beaten the Heat, and they've done it on Miami's home court.

They've stretched one of the greatest teams in recent years to a full series, and they've done it with the same roster that everyone dismissed at the start of the year.

They have done the unexpected and the unthinkable.

They have won even when they weren't supposed to win.

And for that—regardless of what happens in Game 7—the Boston Celtics have already achieved victory. It won't feel like it at the time, and it won't make losing feel any better, but they are already winners despite what it says on the scoreboard.

The Celtics have already won.

Coach Gary Gaines, in the movie Friday Night Lights, says the following words about a team being perfect:

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"Being perfect is not about that scoreboard out there—it's not about winning. It's about you and your relationship with yourself, your family and your friends.

"Being perfect is about being able to look your friends in the eye and know that you didn't let them down because you told them the truth. And that truth is that you did everything you could—there wasn't one more thing you could have done.

"If you can do that gentleman, you're perfect..."

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Whatever happens on the court in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals happens; no writing or predictions is going to change that.

Regardless of whether they triumph as victors or emerge defeated, the Boston Celtics are already winners. They have defied every comment, every criticism, every gut feeling that said otherwise.

They are already champions, and they are already perfect for the 2011-12 NBA season.

Everything else is just a bonus.

Will the Celtics take Game 7? Comment below, or hit up Dan Talintyre on Twitter.