I'm Just Sayin...: "More Than a Feeling..."

"I looked out this morning and the sun was gone

Turned on some music to start my day
I lost myself in a familiar song
I closed my eyes and I slipped away

Its more than a feeling, when I hear that old song they used to play (more than a feeling)
I begin dreaming (more than a feeling)..." (Boston 1976)

I just wanted to take a moment to congratulate the Boston Celtics on an amazing game six last night over the L.A. Lakers to clench the NBA Champions Title. This NBA Finals series is one that has it's roots back in history. The Celtics-Lakers match up is one of the leagues greatest rivalries. They've met up in the NBA Finals 11 times with Boston holding a 9-2 record. Combined the Celtics and Lakers hold 31 NBA titles in the 62 NBA seasons. It has been 21 years however since the Garden has been able to hang another championship banner from the rafters. Last night brought back sweet memories to long time Celtics fans, a young, unselfish, classy player final took home a ring that he has deserved, and it caps the best team turn around in NBA history. Last season the Celtics won only 24 games and didn't make it to the playoffs; this year they were the best team in the NBA with a 66 win record, played 26 games in the post-season (most played by any NBA team), and annihilated the Lakers by 39 points to seal the title.

Everything went well for Boston last night. Every Celtic that touched the ball played in rhythm and contributed to the best defensive showing in this post season. No one played selfishly, not one. On offense there was great ball movement lead by the young point guard Rajon Rondo. Not only did Rondo execute Boston's offense flawlessly he also played amazing defense having six steals in the game. Going into the half the Lakers had only made 7 field goals but had 9 turnovers (all of them steals).
Kevin Garnett came out and played to a level that represents his nickname, the Big Ticket. He has struggled this series against the Lakers but last night he came out and played his best game ever scoring 26 points, pulling down 14 boards, 3 steals, 4 assists, and 1 blocked shot.
Ray Allen came out on fire. He was aggressive yet calm, confident but unselfish, and went 7-9 from behind the arc. On an aggressive base-line drive for a layup he was "incidentally" gouged in the eye and had to leave for a while but came back and continued to play amazing ball.
Paul Pierce didn't have the game last night that he's had in this series, but that didn't matter. He wasn't selfish with the ball, he trusted his teammates, and made the right plays. Of the big three he had the least amount of points, but lead them to victory with 10 assists and 2 steals. He's played all of his 10 years with Boston and it has paid off for him. At the end of the game he was named as the MVP of the Finals.
I was happy to see Glen "Big Baby" Davis step onto the floor for the first time this series. He's a rookie out of LSU and has played great with Boston during the regular season. Last night he stepped up and showed his potential. He's not tall by any means and Gasol scored on him a couple of times but only because of his height advantage. If Davis were as tall as Gasol he would have shut him down. However, Davis stepped up, put a body on Gasol and never backed down. He kept Gasol from getting an easy layup and made him settle for jump hooks. Look to see Davis getting more playing time next season.
Now what to say about Kobe? Kobe came out and started off hitting 3 3-pointers in the first quarter, but from there it was all down hill for him. James Posey played Kobe better than anyone I have seen play him before. He bodied him up, wasn't taken by Kobe's fakes, and made Kobe settle for fade aways that he couldn't hit. Kobe rarely drove in to the paint last night, and that hurt his team. When Kobe doesn't show up there's not much hope for the rest of the Lakers.

Better than watching Boston win was seeing the Lakers lose, no, squashed! I have never been a fan of the Lakers smug coach Phil Jackson (even when he was with the Bulls I haven't like him) and the smugness of the players. The Lakers of old were a respectable, classy team but the Lakers of the new millennium are not even close to the caliber of the past. That and the fact that they beat the Jazz in the second round made me want Boston to win even more.

With five minutes left in the game everyone knew that this series was over. The entire crowed started singing in unison "Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey hey, good bye!" Utah has been named by the NBA players as the loudest arena to play in but last night the Garden rivaled if not topped the fan level seen at Utah. They knew the title was coming back to their town and have been waiting for it for 21 years. The post game celebration was the most emotional celebration I have seen in any championship game. To these players it wasn't just another title, it was The Title. It was holding true to that tradition that the Garden holds. It was showing a league what a team can happen when some of the best players in the game sacrifice personal glory for the better of the team. It was questioned whether Paul Pierce could play well with Garnett and Allen and vice versa. All three would have to take cut in minutes, touches, and much more to make it happen. It did happen and Boston came together to prove that they are the best team in this league and that defense is the key to victory. The celebration was full of tears shed for joy, embraces between coach and players, and the coach's Gatorade shower. Watching it you could feel how much this run meant to these players. Congratulations Boston!

The Title returns to the Garden