As I sat down to watch this game I imagined being there, in the moment, with all the fans, lights, and hype surrounding the arena and how it must have felt for the players.  On one hand, there were the C's, who (as myself and most Celtics fan would agree) should have been collecting ring #18 tonight and still carry the bitter sting of defeat on their shoulders.  While on the other hand, there were the Heat, full of expectations higher that the sky with egos to match.  

With the opening tip; however, the lights, fans, media and all the hoopla started to fade away and it came down to just two teams going head to head at the ballpark.  The Celtics were the home team who, through countless battles and victories at their home "playground" had earned their swag.  And The Heat strolled in with their trio of Wade, Bosh, and Lebron and co. and yelled, "We got next!" With a confidence and belief that the game would be over before it even got started.

But...with the opening tip....

...that confidence faded, as so often is the case when you get a cocky group of talented kids stepping onto a mans playground thinking they're going to just walk in and own the place.  

Let the sports writers begin with their excuses already: "It's just the first game," "They need time to gel," "Things will change as the season progresses," "The Celtics old legs will fade" blah blah blah blah...

But the fact remains, as Rondo pointed out earlier this summer, WE ARE the defending Eastern conference champs and this summer as a TEAM, T-E-A-M, TEAM, we got even better!!  So let the naysayers talk all they want and the doubters doubt...but in the end we will have the last say.

Here's to banner 18.

E.G. Young--new to the blog, but Celtics fan for life!