It is almost humerous how Boston Bruins fans are quick to point to their own weaknesses and draw parellels to this year's Celtics team. The talk around most media outlets leading up to tonight's Celtics-Magic game 6 at the Garden has been about "choking" and I'm not talking about on your dinner. Yes, that's right. Choking the series away the same way the B's did just a few weeks ago: up 3-0 in the series, cruising forward, already looking ahead. The only problem: someone forget to tell everybody else that these Celtics aren't the Bruins.
Not even close.
Try to correlate the two teams all you want, but it doesn't fit. Go on, try it. All fans need to know are a few facts.
Fact one: the sports are completely different and so are the circumstances. David Krejci and Marco Sturm were both hurt, but the Celtics are just banged up. Big Baby Davis IS playing with his concussion, and I expect Rasheed Wallace to as well. It may sound overly simple and obvious, but hockey is played with a puck, basketball with a leather ball. They aren't related, and just because the Bruins choked, doesn't mean the Celtics will. There is no possible connection, no matter how hard you try. Who would have thought?
Fact two: these Celtics are veterans. A lot of Bruins players are less experienced when it comes to the playoffs. Sure, they have plenty of vets on the team (Chara, Recchi), but not the same kind as the Celtics. Zdeno Chara spent his locker room time calling the team nervous once the gag job was complete. Do you think the intense Kevin Garnett is turning to the guys next to him saying, "We're nervous. Please don't choke."
Didn't think so.
Fact three: Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, and Kendrick Perkins (throw in Rasheed Wallace if you'd like) have all won championships. Oh, so did Glen Davis and Tony Allen, since they'll see significant minutes. It's unecessary to list the Bruins players who have won because the list is too short.
Fact four: these Celtics are hundreds (yes, hundreds) of times more mentally tough than the Bruins. Fans hear over and over again about how hockey players are so tough and physical. Their bodies may be stronger, but the inside of their heads? They lack the killer instinct that the C's have proven (yes, proven. Please see: June 2008). The Celtics proved their toughness by facing adversity all through 2008, almost losing the Hawks in the first round, beating LeBron and James Crew in seven, and then winning on the road in Detroit to get to the finals. If you didn't hear what happened against the Lakers, listen to the "Beat L.A." chants you'll hear on TV tonight. Not sold? This year, the Celtics were written off by everybody, with exception of Sean Grande. What did they do? Beat one of the game's best players (Wade) in a quick thrashing, beat the game's best (maybe ever) player in James, and won the first two games against Orlando on the road.
Guys, they don't even belong here.
But they sure do fit now that they are. These aren't the Bruins. The Celtics have every ability to win tonight. Maybe they are really banged up, but this is a home game and a group playing for what might be their last shot at a title. And if they were to lose tonight? So what? There's always another day and another chance. Scary or not to most Celtics fans, there's hope, no matter what happens tonight. That's something the Bruins didn't have and didn't give.
Beat L.A.
Beat L.A.
Beat L.A.
JMO
JMO, great post. Yea, it's tough to compare the teams, but the situations CAN be compared. It seems, given their play last game, that the Celts looked a little too far ahead. The momentum is clearly with the Magic now. And while the Celts are much more playoff-ready than the B's, the series has its comparables.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, your spot on with Chara vs. Garnett. KG is much more of a vocal leader and is extremely confident. Chara is a "silent" leader who wants to lead on the ice rather than in the locker-room (a bad captain if you ask me, but a great player).
And thirdly, which is where you're wrong (and I'm biased, but I'm also right), but basketball players aren't necessarily more mentally tough than hockey players. The Celtics are more mentally tough than the Bruins, but that's a microcosm of the whole. But, by and large, hockey players are great mentally (again, you just don't see it because the Bruins lack it). Just look at guys like Nik Lidstrom, Chris Pronger, Jonathan Toews, and Crosby. All of those guys have ice-water in their veins and are phased by nothing.
Great post, though