The news didn’t hit me hard as expected. The unraveling
started last year when offered with more money Ray still opted to play with the
Heat. That did not feel right. KG, Paul and Rajon were still there but without
Ray it just did not feel right. I expected some important players to join the
team over the summer but that did not happen. Jason certainly is a good player
but one, he is past his prime and second, well, he ain’t Ray! I didn’t know
much about Courtney then and don’t know much about him now. He went into hiding
the moment he joined the team. Apart from these two additions there wasn’t much
worth mentioning. Danny screwed up quite a bit here.
The session started alright. Typical Celt style, always
catching up! I kept my horses tied and waited for the ‘shit just real’ moment
that would typically announce start of Celtics session in last Jan or Feb. That
moment never showed up. Instead, Rajon’s ACL quit on him. And she took whatever
left of the session. Yes, everyone knew that Cetls will play in the playoffs
but everyone also knew that they won’t beat anyone there. Their ranking (8th)
for majority of the session was, unfortunately, absolutely spot-on.. They still
beat the Heat once and came awfully close to beating them again (and breaking
Heat’s record win streak) but that has more to do with indomitable spirit of KG
and Paul than anything else. Them old dogs knew where’s the bone! The whole
affair felt like last rites, placidly going in the ground. No last hurrah, no
heroic wins, no more comebacks. Once proud bunch slowly fading into past.
I couldn’t watch their games anymore. Irrespective of their
brief rejuvenation in Game 4, the series against Knicks was painful. It was
time to draw curtains.
The Celtics era of 2008-2013 was so intertwined with my stay
in Boston their demise feels personal. I moved to Boston a month after KG and
Ray showed up on the banks of Charles. I was entering into a relatively stable
stage in my life and had more time and enthusiasm for basketball again.
Watching Celtics 2007-08 was magical. They played the game in truest fashion. Their
defense was a clinic presented every game and their offense, though always in
need of spark, worked utterly efficient. Rajon was still learning his trade but
he was still the master. KG was a year away from parting with his ACL, Paul was
still couple of years removed from old age. And Ray, well, was Ray. Their
championship run was well deserved. They were the best, hands down.
As I engrained myself into Celtics culture, the team
continued to provide wholesome entertainment. They never won championship,
coming awfully close twice; it was a treat watching them. And even though I
moved to west coast I continued to bleed green.
Last year’s loss to Heat in game 7 was excruciatingly
painful to stomach. I guess in hindsight that was indeed the last hurrah. This
year was one year too much. There was no way the group would have continued. I
expected changes but still, I didn’t expect all of my folks to leave in haste. They
didn’t even say Bye. They were just gone taking an era with them.
So long my friends, you were the best! Thanks for the
memories, I will always appreciate them.
