My Minds Eye

I was all set to write a cold shower piece to temper the rising expectations of this team, especially when I saw that they got off to a big lead in the game. However, I had a change of heart. You see, I was at a sports bar, watching the Red Sox – Yankees game. I happened to notice a small TV in the corner with the Celtics game on and I asked the waitress to put the game on a closer TV for me. So as I’m sitting there, eyes darting back and forth between the two screens, trying to make some kind of social small talk, all while attempting to drown out two particularly loud New York fans sitting directly behind me. I couldn’t help but think that I was a living microcosm of what many of you were going through last night. So I will spare you the cold shower and attempt to warm your heart.

I won’t provide any sort of game breakdown or in-depth analysis, because I was far too distracted to get a great feel for the game. However, I did pick up several snippets that I’d like to share with you. They may not have been the most important plays or highlights, but they made an impression on me.

I knew it was Celtics basketball when I saw Paul grab a pass, find one inch of space, pull up with a hand in his face, head tilted back as if he were looking down his nose at the basket, and nothing but net. Welcome back boys.

Furthermore, I knew a new era of Celtics basketball (or perhaps a return to the old) was upon us when I saw the team actually running the ball. I couldn’t hear the broadcast, but I’m sure that Tommy was happily yelling "here they go again" instead of "run run run!" Last year, I remember watching Marcus dart up the floor with the ball, only to find nobody with him except Walter sprinting to the corner behind the 3-point line. This time, it was Tony Allen running with him, passing back and forth till it ended with a two hand alley-oop slam. Gorgeous.

How about seeing Gary Payton playing in a Celtics uniform. Something about it just fits. Maybe it’s the green reminding me of his Seattle days, but he even reminded me a little of the Gary of old on that one highlight of the game play. For those that didn’t see it, Gary reached around the back of Hinrich (playground style) to strip the ball, leaving him flailing on the floor. Gary takes off up the court and leaves the ball up in the air with an underhand-scoop-toss to a streaking Ricky Davis who comes out of nowhere and flushes the ball. For a split second I thought he was a Shawn Kemp from back in the day.

There was Kendrick making one of those shove-it-down-your-throat blocks on some poor shmo. There was Delonte bringing the ball up under pressure with ease. There was Tony Allen fighting for rebounds amongst guys twice his height. There was Al Jefferson totally lost, but still grabbing rebounds. There was even a Yogi sighting! (he was still invisible) And there was a lot more, but that’s what I was able to catch.

Today is not a day to think logically about a young team’s chances to compete this year. This is a day to enjoy the unbridled enthusiasm and hyped up expectations that come with a growing, exciting basketball team that shows many signs of a bright future.