FINAL: Celtics 93, Blazers 78

So the Celtics took on the much heralded Portland Trailblazers last night and handled them like they were playing East Boston High (no disrespect to EBH, but the C's would roll). The final was Celtics 93, Blazers 78 but the game felt more like Celtics 200 Blazers 50. The Blazers had about 50 points going into the fourth, or some score ridiculously low like that.

There's just no stopping the C's this year. Oden got into early foul trouble and really wasn't a factor when he WAS on the court.

Can't we just get to the playoffs now? Why go through the 82 games? If the Celtics stay healthy, they will repeat. It'll be the Celtics and the Lakers again. The C's will get home court advantage and this time, win it in L.A. - officially kicking off another decade of heated Celtics/Lakers match-ups. We might even see a couple of beefs. Imagine Perk cloths-lining Kobe as he drove to the basket.

Sound familiar?



Ah, the old days. Love it. Bring 'em back (with the exception of the short shorts. Read more!

Celtics #17: TOP OF THE WORLD!!!

I sit at my desk this morning exhausted. I'm working on about 3.5 hours of sleep still jacked up from the Celtics CRUSHING the Lakers in game 6 to claim their 17th World Championship. What a performance by the entire team and coaching staff. What a season. Three other championship moments rank up there with this emotional win.

They are:

- Doug Flutie's hail mary in the orange bowl
- Patriots winning their first superbowl
- Red Sox coming back from 0-3 to beat the Yankees.

I was in good company last night, hanging out with friends and family. I couldn't have asked for a better ending. We were glue to the TV from start to finish. Since I recorded it via Tivo, I'll probably watch the game again just because it's one of those moments you never want to forget.

Some highlights that will stick with me:

- Pierce's determination all game long
- Rondo's sticky fingers
- Garnett's aggressiveness in driving to the hoop
- Ray Allen jacking up seven threes
- Posey SHUTTING DOWN Kobe
- Big Baby man-handling Gasol
- The look on Kobe's face as the clock ticked down
- Pierce holding the MVP trophey
- KG talking about what it felt like - "finally beating up a bully"
- Doc Rivers taking the "Big Three" out of the game at the same time at the end to a huge standing O
- Pierce dousing Doc with gatorade

I could go on and on, but the person who sums it up the best is Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe.

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Celtics grab game 1; Tampa the new Yankees?

Boston was witness to a great sport day yesterday. First there was a baseball game played between fisticuffs and secondly, we witnessed a Bird-like performance from Paul Pierce as the Celtics beat the Lakers in game 1 of the NBA Finals.

Getting home slightly after six from work, I had about three hours to kill before the game started at nine. I could barely contain myself. I was so jacked for the Celtics game that I didn't want to waste time online, didn't want to read anything, didn't want to blog, didn't want to twit. I didn't want to do anything. I just wanted the damn game to start. In the meantime, I watched the Red Sox Tampa game.

Glad I do. Hold drama.

Tempers were boiling before the start of yesterday's game as there was a heated exchange between Coco Crisp and the manager of the Rays over what was called a dirty play by Coco in the previous game. Basically, Crisp was blocked from sliding into second on a play and he jammed his finger. The next time Coco slide into second, he came in high, legs and arms flailing in order to take out the Tampa second baseman. I don't think it was a bush league play as some have called it. I've seen worse incidents at second.

Fast forward to last night and when Coco gets up for the first time, he gets drilled in the ribs. He starts to trot up to first, then drops the helmet and blasts to the pitchers mound. What I thought was interesting in this fight was that Coco was clearly outmatched. Sheilds, the Tampa pitcher, is a much bigger guy. As Coco arrives to greet Sheids, the pitcher unloads a haymaker similar to what Marvin Hagglar would have. However, Coco dipped out of the way, making Sheilds fan on the punch. Then Coco connects with a left jab to the side of Sheilds head/shoulder area (Coco was just too short to connect squarely to the face. Then the catcher jumps on Coco. After that, it was your typical baseball fight where both sides are clawing at each other, etc. The one difference was that three other players - yea, three - jumped in on the Coco scrum and started to take punches at Coco while he was at the bottom of the pile. Now that was REALLY bushleague stuff.

Needless to say, I'll be paying closer attention to the Sox Tampa games this year. It'll be interesting next time they face them or if they face them in the playoffs imagine that, Tampa in the playoffs).

So finally, finally, the Celtics Lakers game starts and the introductions get me so amped I'm ready to suit up and do battle with Kobe. I'll give him six hard fouls. That would be my job. Defensive bull. Foul giver. Hack-a-Kobe. Just put me in coach.

Well, my dream didn't happen. I watched it on the plasma and man, I wasn't dissapointed.

The collective Celtics world was in shock as we saw Pierce being helped off the court and then in a wheel chair with an apparent knee injury. But in pure Bird fashion, Pierce emerges from the lockeroom, gets back into the game and proceeds to nail two back to back three pointers that absolutely ignite the crowd. We didn't look back from there. The Celtics, with some clutch free-throws and fantastic team defense, held off Mr. MVP and Co.

Game two Sunday. I'm already started to feel the blood pressure rise and my jacked-up-o-meter started to move.

Maybe a few Sox Tampa games will keep me at bay until then. Read more!

Thoughts on Celtics playoff tickets

We are about 59 hours away from the start of the NBA finals. Tickets went on "sale" yesterday. The reason why I put sale in quotations is because guys like me can't get our hands on tickets. Yea, sure, I could have gone to the Garden and waited in line for a lottery - a lottery, i.e. a CHANCE to buy tickets. Is it worth the $200 and my time? Probably not.

This is what pisses me off about professional sports. I've been a Celtic fan since I can remember. Yea, I grew up during the late 70s and 80s. Good times. Lots of winning teams. Then came the 90s and we all know what happened during those days.

That's cool though. We suffered through it and now look where we are. We are still in the hunt for #17. Getting tickets was no problem back in the days, especially when they were losing. Now, you have to have corporate connections or blackmail on someone to get the privilege to go see the Green do battle.

I understand that you need the high ticket prices to keep talent on the team. However, why hold so many tickets for VIPs, advertisers and the like when the REAL fans are sleeping on sidewalks to get in line just for a CHANCE to BUT tickets. The Celtics had about 1,200 that they offered to the general public. That's not nearly enough.

I guess most of the real fans (not including the die hards who have had season tickets and are going to game because I applaud those folks) will be watching it from home.

That's also ok with me. Good company, a few brews and my 42 inch plasma and I'm good to go. Add surround sound and it's like I'm at the game. In my case though, there are no long lines for the bathroom AND the beers and snacks are much, much cheaper.

Beat LA!

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KG's thoughts on NBA finals vs LA

KG, what do you think about going to the NBA finals for the first time in your career?

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Beat LA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For the 11th time, the Celtics and the Lakers will face off in the NBA finals!

Are you kidding me? Am I dreaming? Someone, please, please pinch me. This cannot be real. I must be NEO and stuck in the matrix. There's no way that this can be true.

I put on ESPN this morning and they've already started the flash back stories. Bird. Magic. Cooper. McHale. Kareem. Parish. Rambus. Ainge.

Oh man...I don't know if I can wait until Thursday.



Before I swallowed the red pill and entered into the Matrix, I was still on the planet, watching the Celtics face the Pistons.

The C's were down eight points and rallied back to hold off the flustering Pistons. What a game. I think my blood pressure is still through the roof. I can't imagine what it's going to be like on Thursday.

I will tell you what Thursday will bring however. It'll flash me back to my childhood. I grew up watching the 80s Celtics and all the great battles they had with the Lakers. I mean, this really is a dream (thank god we are 8-2 in the finals against the Lakers so hopefully it won't be a nightmare).

I think it was the good old days of the 80s that made the 90s and more recent years tough. I experienced how great the franchise over a 10 year period but quickly was given a dose of sports reality when we were the bottom feeders of the league. Then came Reggie Lewis and the Len Bias story lines. And oh yea, don't forget about the Tim Duncan draft that should have been. Where would we be if Duncan was drafted by the Celtics? Would we be here now, facing the Lakers, yet again?

Probably not.

Regardless, the job is not finished yet. The Celtics need to be the Lakers. This town is thirsty for a Celtics championship. I for one, would cherish it because I know they are far and few between.

C's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



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