The Boston Celtics were left for dead much of this year. As the Cavaliers, Magic, and even Hawks garnered more front page stories by the mainstream, the veteran group in Boston quietly were preparing themselves to sneak up on everyone in May. Through an impressive first two rounds of the NBA Playoffs, and a statement Game 1 win Sunday, Boston has the entire league on notice now.
While key role players from the 2008 NBA championship team are gone, others have filled the void and then some. The Big 3 are really now The Big 4, as Rajon Rondo has emerged as arguably the post season MVP to date. Kevin Garnett is playing as good as he was before his injury last year, and Glen Davis is no longer a Big Baby. Key pickups like Rasheed Wallace, Michael Finley, and Marquis Daniels have been able to fit right into Doc Rivers postseason rotation easily, and the team defense is better than anyone left playing. The Magic and Lakers locker rooms would not openly admit it, but both would have rather seen the flawed Cavs in the final four than this bunch of winners.
Boston’s ability to steal game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals not only gives them homecourt, but also now the confidence that they can beat Orlando in this series, and potentially set up a rematch of the 2008 Finals, should the Lakers defeat the Suns. Orlando will have some time between now and Tuesday night to make adjustments, after their 92-88 Game 1 Loss, but the intensity that the Celtics had in critical moments Sunday was unmatched, and the crowd at times looked to be edge, just as nervous as the team looked.
The past 2 winners of the Eastern Conference should produce a dogfight of a series, but when it is all said and done, Boston’s intangibles will be too much for Orlando to overcome.
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