All Together Now

BY IAN TASSO

EDITORIAL - PHOTOS BY AP NEWS

"We not me. Trust each other - make the extra pass. Mbutu."

These are the phrases you hear echo throughout the Garden during any given Celtics game on any given night.

But they’re more than just words – they’re the foundation this team has been built on.

Because while we might sit here, watching the Finals and say “I can’t believe the Celtics made it here…” the thought is only our own.


Because those same Celtics are standing on the NBA Finals logo on the Parquet floor, the national anthem echoing off the countless rafters and even more numerous championship banners saying, “I knew we’d make it here.”


But they’re far from done.

The goal wasn’t just to make it here.

One night it’s Ray Allen breaking a record. The next it’s Kevin Garnett dominating the paint like its 2008. Then it’s Big Baby and Nate. Then the captain.

You tell me - who’s next?

Therein lies the beauty of the Celtics. You just don’t know.

You can’t know. There are thirteen guys on the roster, and every one of them – and yes, that includes Scal, especially in light of Perkins' injury - could dictate the outcome of the game at any moment.

Maybe it’s Tony Allen with a mind-numbing block from behind on Pau Gasol. Maybe it’s Rajon Rondo with the lightning-quick lay-in under a leaping Lamar Odom. Maybe it’s little Nate getting big. Or maybe it’s big Glen Davis getting even bigger.

You just don’t know. But I can tell you one thing – the Celtics just don’t care.

Whether it’s number 9, number 4, number 34, 20, 5 or 30 – yes, even 30 – any given Celtic can make a difference at any given time. And they’re fine with that. Garnett, Pierce and Allen are more than fine with that, believe me.

They were fine with it when each of their career points-per-game took an unselfishly huge hit their first year together.

And then they hoisted Banner 17 in the air.

It’s the way the team is formed – it’s the way they were created. Three All-Stars, coming together in an improbable season, questions coming from everywhere about their ability to share the one basketball, their colliding egos, they’re aging bodies – only to be answered in one simple word.

One simple number:

Seventeen.

It’s heart. That’s all it is. And now those same Celtics are back – because of the same mantra, living the same phrase that’s etched on the locker room bulletin board:


“Players win games. Teams win championships.”

Sure they’re a bit older. But tell that to the Cavs.

Sure they’ve lost a step or two. But tell that to the Magic.

The bottom line is, they’re not surprised at all.

And for as much as Phil Jackson would like to say the Lakers are “exactly where they want to be” with two games to win and two games at home, the truth is, it’s the Celtics – the NBA’s second best road team all season long  - who are exactly where they want to be.

One win away. Just one.

Let’s look at the facts.

Fact: Nobody on the Lakers has given the Celtics anything to lose sleep over, except for the one they call Kobe. And that includes last night. Sure, a few guys pumped some shots - but it was more a factor of the Celtics missing layups - and dunks - that it turned into a beat-down.

Fact: The Lakers have shown they do not have the ability to guard the Celtics, period. Too many weapons. And believe me, they'll show up for game seven. They have to.

Fact: Andrew Bynum’s knees aren’t getting any better.

But there’s also the fact that the Lakers are the Western conference’s number one seed for a reason. They have home-court advantage for a reason. And they have Kobe. And they’re at home, in the Staples Center now. 

But anybody who thinks this series is right where the Lakers want it to be – look me in the eye, and tell me that.

It’s just not true.


In a game seven, where it all comes down to a team effort, I'll take our team over their team any day of the week.

“Well yeah, but what about when Lamar Odom heats up? Or what about when Ron Artest starts making his shots?”


What about when Ray Allen starts making his shots? IE: game two.

And give me one reason to expect those two guys to show up in game seven. Because call me crazy, but I’ve got none.

The bottom line is this: the Celtics are playing the best basketball they have all series right now, and the Lakers simply don’t look like the Lakers. They look like a Laker. And his name is Kobe.

You can’t question that man’s skill. You can’t question his heart. You can’t question his desire.

You can’t.

One thing you can do however, is be damn sure he won’t let his ship sink without a fight.

But what about anybody else?

Am I saying none of them can step up tonight? That none of them can step up Thursday night, if it comes to that?

Hell no. I know enough not to say that. Just ask the Bruins.

I’m just saying right now – at this moment – I’m not scared. I have no reason to be.

Why?

Because there are no more grueling practices. No more wind-sprints. No more post-game film sessions. No more play-designing. No more of any of that.

Right now, it’s just about players making plays. And teams making a stand.

And call me crazy, but I’m right behind mine. How can I not be?

You tell me how many times you’ve seen an entire starting five on their feet, inches from the Parquet floor, fist pumping and screaming like the thousands of fans behind them as one bench player hoists another towards the rafters.

Ask Rajon Rondo why he stood right up in Ron Artest’s face after he pummeled Kevin Garnett.

Ask KG why he threw an elbow at Quentin Richardson after he went after Paul Pierce.

I guarantee they’d both respond, “why wouldn’t I?”

And then you ask those Lakers why they let Kobe do everything himself, and refuse to lend a helping hand.

It was the same song in 2008. And it looks like it’s on repeat in 2010.

I’m not saying this thing’s over – not by a long shot. I’d be crazy – no, I’d be dumb – if I did.

All I’m saying is this: if you’re a Celtic fan, you have every reason in the world right now to feel confident – to feel safe.

These are your Celtics. They’re your team. And for as much as everyone says, “these Lakers aren’t going down without a fight,” these Celtics aren’t going down without one either.

And if the Lakers think they’re taking game seven, just because it’s game seven, just because it’s at home, think again.

The purple and gold aren’t done by a long stretch - far from it, in fact.

You can bet they’re going to come out strong in game seven. You can bet they’re going to come out hard. Will I be shocked if they jumped out to a double-digit lead early on? Absolutely not. Will I be surprised if it starts to look like game six all over again? Absolutely not.

Will I be worried?

Absolutely not.

Because in game seven, these Celtics won't bow down.


They never have before, and they won't start now.


Their track record speaks for itself. They’ve ousted Flash. They’ve taken down the King. They’ve bested Dwight. Give me one reason why they can’t add the Mamba to that resume.

It might take six games. It might take seven. It’s impossible to know.

One thing we do know though, is that Kobe isn’t about to quit.

But you show me any other Laker who’ll make that stand with him – who has the heart, the desire to send these Celtics home packing.

Because after five games of NBA Finals, I’m hard pressed to find one – and that’s the honest truth.

And now, these battle-worn Celtics, written off before the postseason began by NBA experts and enthusiasts alike, stand one win away from the most improbably title in Celtic history.

Why?

Because you can’t teach heart. You can’t coach hustle. All you can do is sit back and watch it unfold.

So Celtic fans – please. Just sit back, and enjoy the ride.

Because title or no, Boston has accomplished the unthinkable this season. And something tells me they aren’t done yet.

As Paul Pierce said after a resounding game five performance, “we’ve come too close to our goal not to get one. We’ve come to far.”

Doesn’t sound like they’re finished, does it?

Didn’t think so.