Win or Lose, the Boston Celtics Are Already Winners

I never thought I would say this, but my parents were right when they said:

"It's not if you win or lose, it's how you play the game."

For my entire 27 years on Earth, I thought that was the biggest crock I have ever heard.

What do you mean it doesn't matter if you win or lose? Who told you that? Why would you even believe that mess? Of course it matters! Hell, that's the only thing that matters in professional sports.

WRONG!

The 2008-2009 Boston Celtics are proving that it's how you play the game that matters, with each passing game.

Will I be mad if the Celtics lose in Game 7 tonight and end their season?

Of course.

However, I will be proud of this team regardless.

I mean, how can't you be proud of this team?

How many teams could afford to lose a true superstar and defensive player of the year and still compete and win in the playoffs? Not many.

The Boston Celtics have hurdled more obstacles this season than any one team should ever have to.  Whether it was the loss of their emotional leader in Kevin Garnett. The loss of their interior presence off the bench, Leon Powe. Or the great white hope, Brian Scalabrine.

They recovered and withstood all the adversity in their way.

Remember, before Game 1 of the first round vs Chicago, Kevin Garnett was fully expected to be ready. Everyone around the team was told he would be playing with no minute restrictions.

The Celtics were ready to defend their title with the Big 3 intact, healthy, for the first time since mid February in Utah.

Not so fast.

Two days prior to the start of the first round, coach Doc Rivers dropped a bombshell on the entire Celtic nation. Kevin Garnett will not ready before Game 1.

That wasn't it.

Kevin Garnett will not be ready for the ENTIRE playoffs.

Can you say "wind out of the sail?"

Did they curl up in a ball and just mail it in? Of course not. Champions don't run, they seek and destroy.

How could they ever talk about "Celtic Pride" again if they just rolled over and died in the playoffs? They would never be respected again.

Sure they struggled in the first round vs Chicago. So what. By the end of the series, not only was KG gone, most likely for the playoffs, but Leon Powe was lost to a playoff ending, ACL injury.

The Celtics were down to three healthy big men.

By Game 3, Brian Scalabrine was back in uniform and ready to play after suffering multiple concussions.

So now we have four healthy big men, right? Nope.

Mikki Moore was completely out of the rotation by this time and they were back to three big men again. Actually, more like two and a half, because Scal is more of a Small Forward.

Regardless of all that adversity, they stuck together through it all and found a way to eliminate the feisty Bulls in seven games.

They were off to the Eastern Conference Semis to face Dwight Howard's Orlando Magic.

Game 1 was a tale of two games.

The Magic came out firing on all cylinders and opened up a 28-point lead over the Celtics.

Did the Celtics say, "beating the Bulls was good enough, but we can't beat this team without Kevin."? Absolutely not. They fought back tooth and nail from 28 points down, to get within a wide open Ray Allen three-pointer to tie the game.

Unfortunately, the shot rimmed out. However, a message was sent:

"If you want to beat us, you are going to have to beat us. We will not beat ourselves or quit!"

Time and time again vs. Orlando, the Celtics seemed like they were done. One way or another though, they always seemed to find a way to sneak out the win. And sneak they did.

Whether is the Big Baby hitting a 21 foot jump shot at the buzzer or the Celtics battling back from 14 points down in the fourth quarter, they did it.

They displayed what true heart was and what you can do with it. They showed that the opposing team could have more talent, but if you have heart and the will to win, that is more than enough to over take talent.

This Celtics team is showing the world exactly what "Celtic Pride" is.

We should all be proud!