The very first thing I did when I bought “100 Things Celtics Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die” was check the date on the inside cover. I wanted to see when it was written because that would tell me whether or not it included my saddest moment as a Celtics fan: game seven of the 2010 NBA Finals.
As you can see, I haven’t stopped thinking about that game even four years later. I try not to – it hurts too much – but I can’t help it. It’s intrinsically human; even after all the wonderful moments in our lives, we always think about what could have been and tend to dwell on missed opportunities.
For those who might not know what happened in 2010, here’s a brief summary: after Kevin Garnett missed the 2009 playoffs due to an injury on his right knee, the Celtics met their biggest rival, the Los Angeles Lakers, in rematch of the 2008 NBA Finals which the Celtics won in 6 games). They were up by as many as 13 points in the third quarter of the deciding seventh game, but were unable to close the deal and the Lakers won the championship on their home court.
The Celtics’ roster that season was extremely deep. Six of their players were current or former NBA All-Stars. Rajon Rondo emerged as a dominant force after having played a complementary role in the 2008 championship. Rasheed Wallace was a dependable veteran with championship experience. Nate Robinson, Glen Davis, and Tony Allen provided youth and energy off the bench. Despite a rocky regular season that ended with the team posting a 50-32 record (after winning 23 out of their first 28 games), they began the playoffs on the right track when they eliminated Dwyane Wade’s Miami Heat in five games.
After beating the Heat, the challenge that lay ahead was seen as an insurmountable one by many observers. Every single basketball analyst at ESPN predicted the Celtics would fall to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who boasted the league’s best record and its Most Valuable Player, LeBron James. Against all odds – and without the luxury of home court advantage – Boston beat Cleveland in six games and moved on to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they defeated the Orlando Magic to set up the rematch with the Lakers.
Basketball fans around the world rejoiced. We had been waiting for this for two years, and now that Garnett was back, it was on. The teams were evenly matched, and their historic rivalry only added to the drama. Would Kobe Bryant get his revenge, or would the Celtics embarrass him again? We couldn’t wait to find out.
To be continued…
A Journalist Who Bleeds Green 
