Boston Celtics: The Cream Is Rising To the Top
Whether it’s food, physics, or sports, the cream always rises to the top.
And in the sporting world, the NBA’s Eastern Conference No. 4 seeded Boston Celtics are the cream making its way to the surface.
In the first round of the playoffs, the Celts dismantled the Miami Heat in five games. Miami featured one of the three best players in the league in Dwyane Wade.
And while that series win was expected by most analysts, Boston was not favored to make it past its next opponent, the mighty Cleveland Cavaliers.
After all, the Cavs won 61 games in the regular season, while the Celtics barely hit 50.
Cleveland boasts the best basketball player on Earth in LeBron James. Boston’s three best players never held that title, even in their primes. And now, the “Big Three” of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen are 32, 34 and 34 years old respectively. Not exactly spring chickens anymore.
But Boston throttled the Cavs. In six games, Cleveland's hopes for an NBA title were swiftly dashed.
The entire organization was thrown into turmoil. Mike Brown, the NBA’s Coach of the Year just a season ago, was fired.
Websites were launched begging James to come back to the Cavs next season. And all because this band of old (under)dogs defeated Cleveland four times in six games.
But the Celtics have not slowed down.
They have yet to be challenged by the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals. Kendrick Perkins, Glen Davis, and Garnett have made Superman, Dwight Howard, a non-factor in the series.
The Magic’s Vince Carter and Rashard Lewis have also been quiet, and have not shown the resolve of true champions. Yet, Pierce and Rajon Rondo have been a wrecking crew in the back court.
Boston will look to sweep the Magic Monday night.
Assuming they do, the experienced Celtics, just one year removed from their last NBA title, will face the Phoenix Suns or Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals.
And while many expect the Lakers to defend their title, and defeat the Celtics, I don't expect the boys from Beantown to falter in the finals.
It’s simple physics. Cream doesn’t stop just short of the top.
It always goes all the way.
