This is hard for me to say, but the better team won this series. That the series went to seven games is remarkable, and that the Celtics played so hard throughout despite being ravaged by injuries makes their intense and gritty playoff run all the more impressive. News broke today that Kendrick Perkins, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce were all playing hurt, and I am not surprised one bit. As if the season ending injuries to Kevin Garnett and Leon Powe weren't enough, apparently the universe saw fit to afflict three more of Boston's starters with debilitating injuries as well. In case you weren't counting, that's three out of three of the Celtics New Big Three injured. And this team took Orlando to seven games. The accolades will likely never materialize for this feat, but in my mind, the Celtics deserve an equal amount of respect and admiration for playing through tough times and refusing to roll over in the face of superior competition.
Lesser teams would have crumbled months ago, but the Celtics stayed strong and proud and competed with the class of the NBA despite being short one gigantic and vital piece of the puzzle. Though it has been beaten to death, the significance of Kevin Garnett's injury this season cannot be understated. He brought so much more than emotion, intensity and leadership to the table for the Celtics (though these attributes are vital, no doubt), and his presence was missed on both ends of the court. We must all pray that he is capable of healing and isn't at the beginning of the end of his playing career.
The silver lining is that the Celtics will avoid the inevitable shaming by Cleveland and has another month to rest that they didn't get last year. With any luck, the Celtics can reload and come back next year healthy and revitalized. The will to win was there all along, and now they can be motivated by the chase to catch whomever is declared King of the Mountain this year. The core will still be the same, and although some minor pieces may not return (Baby Davis is a free agent) the Celtics may find themselves in a position to get better next year rather than have to attempt to do the same job with less tools like they had to this season.
So although the Celtics have failed to repeat as champions, and although they lost before the Conference Finals on their home floor, I will remember these Celtics well (even Stephon Marbury). I will remember them for their 27-2 start to the season, Paul Pierce's early season daggers, Rajon Rondo's near triple double average in the postseason and Ray Allen's 51 against the Bulls and I will smile as I raise a glass for them. It was one hell of a ride this year and I cherished every occasion that I was fortunate enough to watch my hometown team take the floor. Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to go drink myself stupid and watch my DVD of game six of last year's Finals over and over and over again.
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