Tonight's Game 7 between the Celtics and Lakers is the second-biggest Game 7 of my life and if you're in your 20s, I'm sure you feel the same way. Game 7 of the 2004 Red Sox-Yankees ALCS was a defining moment but beyond that, I don't remember this much drama revolving around the other Game 7's we've witnessed of late. Here were my thoughts going into each of these recent Game 7s.
-Game 7 of the 2007 ALCS between the Sox and Indians. That fraud Indians team was dead in the water at that point and no one really thought the Sox would lose Game 7 at Fenway.
-Game 7 of the Hawks-Celtics series in 2008. Same story but even worse for the Hawks as they quit after the opening tip.
-Game 7 of the Cavs-Celtics in 2008. This was graduation night at URI for me and instead of hanging out with my family at the party they threw for me, I watched what ended up being a great game. There was a lot on the line in this game but it was nothing close to tonight.
-Game 7 of the Sox-Rays in 2008. Coming off two titles in 4 years, the Sox' best pitcher (Beckett) and power hitter (Ortiz) hurting combined with a young core that will be back in 2009, I know my heart wasn't pumping at 9 a.m. that morning like it did today.
-Game 7 of the Bulls-Celtics in 2009. We knew the Celtics weren't in position to make a deep playoff run without Kevin Garnett but we also hated Joakim Noah so it wasn't meaningless, either.
-Game 7 of the Magic-Celtics . The Celtics had a 3-2 lead but a series win was gravy with Garnett hurt. Eff you, Hedo Turkoglu.
This isn't the first time we're preparing for a do-or-die game but the circumstances surrounding it and the effects of the outcome weigh heavier than anything since '04. The Celtics players are certainly aware of the fact that the Pistons of the 1980s are held in much higher regard than the Washington Bullets in 1978 or the 1983 76ers. Being able to win multiple titles with the same group is special and that's what Boston has on the line tonight: being compared to the Pistons from 2004 or the Celtics from the mid-1970s.
It's hard to believe this will be the last run for the Celtics team that Danny Ainge constructed during the summer of 2007 but that was the deal with the devil that he brokered. There was only a 3-year window. Times up. The Celtics will make one last stand and win this game. I can assure you of that.
Nostalgia aside, this game will come down to how well the Celtics pass the ball and improve their shooting. I don't feel as though the Lakers were play a great brand of defense that was limiting the Celtics. Game 6 was lost due to Celtics missed shots that created fast-break points for the Lakers. Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett will all be immense tonight. Pierce drops 30 points and will be MVP.
No comments:
Post a Comment