Basketball: Post-NBA playoffs

So, it’s been quite a while since that momentuous NBA Finals series this year. I couldn’t really bring myself to write anything about it, but it seems to be a good a time as any other to start now.

This 2009/2010 season has been a hell of a journey with the Boston Celtics. From that excellent start to the injury-plagued road downhill, all the way to the playoffs where they hit that switch and turned into a monster with gritty defense that absolutely shut down three of the big teams in the East, and propelled them back into the finals once again. Oh, and conveniently upsetting so many of the analysts who were so damn sure that the Celtics would get KO-ed by the Cavs, or the Magic.

And that critical 7 game series with the LA Lakers yet again, two years later. Perk getting injured in Game 6, which seemed to spell doom, and yet the C’s picking it up in Game 7 and leading by 13 at a point, only to lose steam and finally crumble, with Sheed fouling out and getting back spasms all together. Kobe had an awful shooting night, but Artest/Fisher/Gasol pulled their act together and overwhelmed the Celtics. Ray was still out cold, Rondo did not perform his usual magic and there you go, banner number 18 for Boston flies away – so close, yet so far.

It would’ve been a great ending to the season had the Celtics won the championship, but the Lakers played better and that’s all it was.

I remembered watching Michael Jordan on TV during the second three peat with the Bulls, and it was a different feeling altogether. I didn’t know much about the rules, but Jordan seemed to be that one figure who overshadowed the rest of the team and could pull miracles out of his hat, no matter how dire the circumstances. I was blinded to the rest of the Chicago roster, and only knew His Airness.

When I began rooting for the Celtics in 2008, I learnt to watch the game in more detail, and not be blinded by the star players. Everyone has a role in the game. You have to believe in the team, for everyone to step up their game and play together. Just like how a normal basketball game is like – getting the ball to the open man for the easy shot, defending together when it’s needed. Team play. Spectacular solo plays are fine, but team plays make both offense and defense easier, much easier.

Time to look forward to the next season, and see how the Celtics reload!

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Tags: Basketball, Boston Celtics, Michael Jordan, NBA

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