Twenty One years. That's how long it's been since the greatest and most beloved franchise in basketball and possibly all of sports (sorry Yankees), has been to the pinnacle of it's sport, The NBA Finals. I'm talking of course about the Boston Celtics. The team that all others will forever be measured against. 16 time world champions.
We last saw the Green Team in The Finals in 1987. For those of you old enough to remember 1987, gasoline was $0.95/gallon, Fatal Attraction was a top movie, and "Baby Jessica" McClure was rescued after falling into an 8" wide hole. She's 22 and married now in case you're wondering.
The Celtics are 8 - 2 against the Lakers in The NBA Finals but have lost the last two meetings in '85 and '87. I can live with the fact that the Lakers were a better team than the Celtics in 1985, but only injuries kept the 1987 Celtics from winning their 17th banner. Think about it. Larry Bird had elbow problems, Robert Parish's ankle was a huge problem as evidenced in the Eastern Conference Finals where he was suspended for a game for pummeling sissy-boy, McFilthy Bill Laimbeer. The suspension gave Parish an extra couple of days to get his ankle treated. Worst of all was Kevin McHale who limps today on a foot that was broken and treated in a M*A*S*H-like surgery where screws were inserted during the playoffs.
Not to mention Bill Walton who played a few minutes of meaningless ball after missing almost the entire season on his own cranky feet.
So here we are again and enough about the past. Well, one more thing: Phil "I made a career out of coaching great teams" Jackson. The hippie lettuce smoking zen master has a chance to pass Celtic patriarch and by far the greatest coach and GM the game will ever see. What a shame if that ever happens.
Get ready for banner # 17 to be hung in the new Garden. Celtics win this one in 7 games. Listen closely and you'll hear the gravelly voice of Johnny Most singing, "It's all over, it's all over..."
We last saw the Green Team in The Finals in 1987. For those of you old enough to remember 1987, gasoline was $0.95/gallon, Fatal Attraction was a top movie, and "Baby Jessica" McClure was rescued after falling into an 8" wide hole. She's 22 and married now in case you're wondering.
The Celtics are 8 - 2 against the Lakers in The NBA Finals but have lost the last two meetings in '85 and '87. I can live with the fact that the Lakers were a better team than the Celtics in 1985, but only injuries kept the 1987 Celtics from winning their 17th banner. Think about it. Larry Bird had elbow problems, Robert Parish's ankle was a huge problem as evidenced in the Eastern Conference Finals where he was suspended for a game for pummeling sissy-boy, McFilthy Bill Laimbeer. The suspension gave Parish an extra couple of days to get his ankle treated. Worst of all was Kevin McHale who limps today on a foot that was broken and treated in a M*A*S*H-like surgery where screws were inserted during the playoffs.
Not to mention Bill Walton who played a few minutes of meaningless ball after missing almost the entire season on his own cranky feet.
So here we are again and enough about the past. Well, one more thing: Phil "I made a career out of coaching great teams" Jackson. The hippie lettuce smoking zen master has a chance to pass Celtic patriarch and by far the greatest coach and GM the game will ever see. What a shame if that ever happens.
Get ready for banner # 17 to be hung in the new Garden. Celtics win this one in 7 games. Listen closely and you'll hear the gravelly voice of Johnny Most singing, "It's all over, it's all over..."
