The Celtics won a title in ‘08. The Miami Heat won a title in ‘06. What do these two championships have in common? One team, single title, never anything more.
That’s what’s on the line for the Celtics in this Cavs series. Now everyone in Boston wants you to believe the Celtic title in ‘08 meant a return to glory. Doesn’t seem that way outside New England. The team seems old, sure to break down. Conversely, the Lakers lost in the Finals in ‘08, won the championship in ‘09, and are the 1 seed in ‘10 (and of course won ‘00, ‘01 and ‘02).
Now Boston was the best team in ‘08, and won the title with an almost historically good defense. That team deserves to be honored and remembered. But if the C’s lose to Cleveland in a week, that 2008 Celtic team goes from a Dominant Defensive Squad to a team that bought it’s singular title. There’s nothing wrong with buying one title. The Heat did it (with the help of some suspect referees and a Maverick collapse). The Arizona Diamondbacks bought the World Series one season. No shame.
But, if you want to go into history alongside the Spurs, Lakers, and Bulls as one of the great teams of the past 20 years, you beat this Cavs team. If not, maybe you’re remembered more like the ‘04 Pistons or, worse yet, the ‘06 Heat.
You beat Lebron here, you put a stamp on this late 2000’s Celtics run. Celtics in 7 because those vets know this is it.
(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
