The Celtics Are Different!

Since 1950, I have been a keen observer of the Boston Celtics. When it comes to hope for the home team, I consider myself second to none. But I’ve also been an observer whose perspectives have been honed by more doses of reality (especially between the Bird and Garnett eras) than is the case with many fans. And one reality I’ve come respect is the impact of change over time. Yes, era-to-era comparisons tend to be spurious. Yes, the rules have changed and physiology has evolved. Yes, there have been many changes of the guard—as true among fans as among players.

In the face of such rampant change, perhaps it’s the contrarian in me that attemps to identify common threads that persist in a basketball world rife with change. And one thread seems to rise above all others:

THE BOSTON CELTICS ARE DIFFERENT.

I’m not referring to the fact that they’ve won more championships than any other team, including the Minneangeles Lakers. I’m not even alluding to their uniquely steadfast, egalitarian approach to playing the game. The factor that most differentiates this franchise, in my opinion, is that, once they get a legitimate whiff of the roses, something appears to click in their heads. The “whatever it takes” philosophy to which I’ve made previous references seems to take over. Individual strategies and tactics, while important, appear to be only stepping stones to a Zen level in which the whole does, indeed, exceed the sum of the parts.

This is why I’ve learned that the Celtics cannot be evaluated based on typical criteria. A perfect example is the fact that December-January of this year was the worst possible time to make projections for the ultimate outcome of this Celtics season. They were then operating from a position of weakness mainly due (I feel) to discontinuity. As the season has progressed, greater continuity has set in; and they have morphed into a position of strength, culminating in the familiar sniff of a championship and the predictably higher levels of determination and execution.

I’m sure fans of any historically good team would claim equivalent phenomena in their team’s histories. But it wouldn’t be true. Not to the extent of winning it all in 85% of the cases when they’re reached the finals. The pure and simple fact is, the Celtics are different! “Experts” like Charles Barkley, who labored long and well as a player but may never have experienced a Celtic-like level of the “whatever it takes” phenomenon, keep evaluating the Celtics based on the conventional criteria. Year after year, they sit down with their shopworn crystal balls and count out the Celtics. Because they’ll never, never understand the extra dimension with which Celtics teams are somehow infused. And, so often, they’re left tongue-tied, as Charles was last night when he could only utter one word: “Wow!”

None of this makes the Celtics infallible. They have lost 15% of their championship series. There’s still the possibility they could lose the Cavs series. But, as a Celtics fan, it’s always been comforting to know that the extra Zen ingredient is working to make the Celtics different. And it has always presented me with the challenge of mirroring the team by rising to another level as a fan. Don’t get too high when good things happen or too low when bad things happen. And, for God’s sake, don’t make predictions. But, above all, never, never, never compromise your hope.

Go Celtics!

Sam

Go Celtics!

It is interesting being a fan in general...

We can not affect the outcome of anything really but for some reason "our" team is special.

Would be interesting to see some kind of study made of how "values" vary between fans of different teams.

Phew, am I to entrenched in academics at the moment or what. End of semester please come soon.

Sam, I for one have to own up to using standard criteria in what I posted during the aforementioned time period. I was overcome by the despair of the moment and probably saw the situation as it existed as far worse than it was based on your assessment. While I still feel the club needs to infuse some younger talent for the future with Rondo, I admit the present has turned much rosier (or Rosalier) since the playoffs began several weeks ago. I still think the C's have major work to do to try and close out this series and move on. It is do-able with application of the same effort the C's have expended in the past 2 games. I still feel we shouldn't take Lebron lightly!-MD

What would the league be like if a team did not have to do major work to close out a conference semi-finals though

A team winning easily is usually more a sign of lack of competition than one owns strength.

To a Celtic fan like me, you're darn tootin their different. They've handed me so many exciting moments in many, many years of fandom, win or lose, they are simply so much fun to follow. As for hope-Hope Springs Eternal...

To LACELT: Let's let the Celts make this an eternal Spring of basketball for the Green & White!-MD

This is what a Celtic is. I watched this game & still get goose bumps when I watch this video.

MD,

There's no question that changes will be made this summer. I was concerned when people seemed to feel that the December-January period represented a good foundation for matching future need with current resources. As just two examples of how things can change over time, I bet the perceived worth of Tony and Davis might possibly be a tad different (both to the Celtics on a long-term basis and to potential trade partners) than they appear at present. I think the potential for Rondo's long-term impact on the style of the team has been altered somewhat since mid-season. The pros and cons of keeping the Three Amigos together for the duration of their contracts and, in particular, for re-signing Ray are probably different now than they were back then.

The playoffs give us an idea of how our human resources respond to pressure (perhaps one of the most appropriate measures of a player's true worth). I hope they keep producing in a similar manner over the next few weeks.

Sam

Would not surprise me if Ray stays a Celtic for the rest of his career at a "cheap".

He has made his money and I think he would just like to find his "peace" (without sounding to dooming).