That Old Green Magic

To steal an Orwellian phrase, all pro sports franchises are equal.

Just some are more equal than others.

There are the Yankees, of course, and the Montreal Canadiens, teams that specialize in drawing upon their unique and magical histories, sometimes even when it appears those histories have faded away and become irrelevant. These are teams that don't just sell their past, but listen to it.

You'd also have to put the Boston Celtics in that category once more, particularly after their memorable performance in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Thursday night in Los Angeles. The Celtics, who have already engineered arguably the greatest single season turnaround in NBA history, spotted the Lakers a 24-point, first-half lead before charging back in the second half to win the game and move to within one victory of securing the team's 17th NBA title and first since 1986.

For most of the past decade, of course, the Celts have seemed as distant from their wonderful history of Russell and Auerbach as the Maple Leafs are from theirs. Remember, last year this Boston club won a pathetic 24 games, finishing 23 games behind the first place Toronto Raptors in the NBA's Atlantic Division.

But then came Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, and then a spectacular 66-win season organized by GM Danny Ainge, the old Blue Jay third baseman, in which Garnett, Allen and Paul Pierce proved three superstars could work together in the modern era of pro sport without egos and contracts getting in the way.

On Thursday, it was as though the spiritual circle was officially closed for the Celtics. They weren't the Celtics of Larry Bird and Robert Parish, but more like those terrific teams of the 1970s.

Garnett was Dave Cowens. Allen was Jo-Jo White. Eddie House came off the bench to evoke for one night the memory of perhaps the greatest sixth man ever, John Havlicek.

Doc Rivers seemed a little like fiery Tommy Heinsohn. James Posey was opportunistic Don Nelson, making things happen while the Lakers were paying attention to the Boston stars, and Leon Powe and Kendrick Perkins combined to produce some Paul Silas moments.

And Pierce? He was a defensive stopper against Kobe Bryant just like long-armed Don Chaney was so often for Heinsohn's clubs, but with much more offensive firepower than Chaney ever had.

The Celtics won Game 4 with guts, defence, strong fundamental basketball and team play, qualities once associated with every Boston team, but ones that had seemed lost for so long.

The Celtics still have work to do, still have one more game to win. But they are indeed the Celtics again, one of those special teams of history and destiny, one of those teams for whom the ghosts of past greatness seem to be real and meaningful, insistently beckoning the modern heroes to return to the basics that produced past glories.

Comments

[Rick Grace]

Basketball? Lets talk Argos. Does anybody even watch basketball anymore?

[Neil H]

So you're telling us the leafs have a chance!

[Bryan A]

Pretty ignorant comment seeing as how the CFL would kill to have Basketball numbers.

Moving on.....this sieries is turing out fantastic. After Game 1 I thought Boston was fortunate but now I see they really control their destiny. Good comparisons made Damien of the past Celtic teams.

[Jim S.]

I'm just upset I tured off the tv when the lakers were up by 24 thinking they won, waking up in the morning and to my surprise they lost. I missed one of the best final games in recent history.

[Joel]

The first dude was redoing Tiger's comment on hockey. Pretty funny actually. I hate basketball for giving us Bettman. Some say conspiracy by Stern to quell the rising NHL numbers back when they were rising.

[Rick Grace]

Neil H.
Obviously you haven't been reading the papers recently.
And the cFL would kill to have basketball's numbers?
You can't be serious, can you?

[Devil's Advocate]

Actually Bryan, in Canada the NBA would kill to get CFL numbers on TV.

[Mark]

Somebody tell Bryan that Rick's comment is making fun of Tiger Wood's now infamous comment about hockey.

[chris]

Why should any of this matter? The whole Tim Donaghy affair has placed a dark cloud over the entire finals and the league. Who can believe anything, especially the questionable officiating in game 2.

David Stern has allowed this kind of stuff to go on for a long time now and I'm afraid the chickens might be coming home to roost for the tiny perfect comissioner and the NBA.

[Steve]

If this series goes 7 games, will it end before training camp starts?

Great job, Stern, Disney, et al. Other leagues (rightly) get slaughtered for late start times, too much time between series & games. Granted, they wouldn't be near the top of my list of unappealing things about your league, but this year it feels as though you've really outdone yourselves.