Never Underestimate the Heart of a Champion: Boston Celtics Still Alive

Those words, infamously said by former Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich, have received much discourse for Boston over the course of these playoffs.

During Boston's first 11 playoffs games, I have had roughly 15 heart attacks, a number I didn't come remotely close to last year. But like Chris Farley's character in Bill Swarski's "Superfans" I keep going and going, living and dying with each possession.

It is somewhat bittersweet seeing these Celtics. They perservere, perservere and do it every game, showing what it takes to be a champion. I only say it's bittersweet because Cleveland is going to blow the eff out of whoever wins this series in five games or less.

But for right now, I'm enjoying all of these little moments that make sports so special. When Glen "Big Baby" Davis knocked down that 21-foot jumper at the buzzer, I ran around my apartment just like he did on the court (minus running into the kid).

Every single shot in these playoffs have meant so much. Ray Allen's three-pointer to send the game into overtime, seemlessly running as Brad Miller chased him—I'll almost remember that play more than when he lit up Sasha Vujacic on the lay-up last year.

But I try to keep all of this in perspective, forget about Cleveland and enjoy these moments that make sports so awesome. Boston has been a dead-man walking ever since Game One of the Bulls series but keep finding ways to win.

When they trotted out Tony Allen, Brian Scalabrine, Rondo, Davis, and Eddie House in double overtime in the most important game of the season, that's usually where they bust out a big, massive FAIL sign. But they keep plugging away.

The C's are overmatched..Pierce and Allen can't do it by themselves. But they've gotten help from all over the place. Rondo was unbelievable against Chicago. Even before Sunday night's game-winner, Davis had been growing up right before our eyes. Same with Perk. Sixteen points, 19 rebounds. Who knew he had it in him?

Sure, Perk and Davis aren't near KG's level, and weren't even valuable starters until this year. But it's safe to say that Perk, Big Baby and Rondo learned a lot from the Big Three that couldn't possibly be learned anywhere else.

And that's the heart of a champion. And that's why the Celtics are very much alive in these playoffs. Cherish these moments, C's fans.