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2007 - The Year in Review

For Celtics fans, 2007 was clearly a year of two halves. In the first six months, we suffered through losing streaks (capped by a franchise record 18 gamer), injuries (Paul Pierce, Tony Allen), stupidity (Sebastian Telfair's arrest), frustration (Gerald Green's regression) and heartbreak (the draft lottery). But the negative karma came to a screeching halt in mid-June thanks to blockbuster deals for Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. There's a new Big 3 and renewed dreams of a championship. Here's a look back at the year that was.

 

Last season was truly the epitome of cruelty. Even the most ardent Celtics fans knew the team's dim playoff hopes rested with Paul Pierce and his band of extremely young men. Those hopes faded as the Truth sat on the bench in January with a bum foot. In the midst of a franchise record 18 game losing streak, there was a reason to smile. Tony Allen was emerging as a legitimate star. We could at least take solace in his development. Unfortunately, Allen decided to attempt a dunk after the whistle had blown in a home game against the Pacers. He landed awkwardly and promptly shredded ligaments in his knee. Talk of Greg Oden and the lottery soon swarmed the region. Pierce returned to his old self, and Al Jefferson finally decided to play like a man. They became our dynamic duo. Add Oden or Kevin Durant to the mix and we could be a playoff threat.

The season mercifully ended in April after just 24 wins. But Celtics Nation was hoping (praying) for the ping-pong balls to fall the right way. We deserved this. Our luck had to turn. Not so fast. Our season sunk to it's nadir on May 22 when the Celtics were "rewarded" with the 5^th pick. Rumors swirled. Trade the pick. Trade Paul Pierce. Anything and everything was on the table. We just didn't want to suffer in mediocrity anymore.

It was mid-June when the Kevin Garnett trade rumors began to surface. But Boston seemed like a long-shot especially when KG's agent said the Big Ticket didn't like the Hub. Oh well. Screw you, many of us thought. You're overrated anyways. Jermaine O'Neal and Shawn Marion were other names bandied about. Then came draft night. In a trade most of us didn't see coming, Danny Ainge pulled the trigger on a deal with the Sonics for Ray Allen. Sugar Ray was going to be the accomplice Pierce was also looking for. With Big Al Jefferson emerging as a star, we had three quality players who could lead this team into playoff battle. Maybe we weren't title contenders but beggars can't be chosers.

As the Red Sox consumed our emotions in July, the Celtics dropped a bombshell on the sports scene. They shipped away our new love Al Jefferson in a block-buster deal for Kevin Garnett, a fantastic two-way player and future Hall of Famer. But there was one knock on Garnett. Was he good enough to carry a team to the promise land? Nevermind the absurd contract and mileage on the tires. This was it though. Celtics brass put all their eggs into a Big 3 basket which was over 30 years-old.

So the Celtics were finally relevant again and back in the national spotlight. But with that came the  negativity. They're too old. The bench is weak. They'll need a year to meld. And even if everything comes together, they're still not good enough to be champions. Then came Rome. Doc and the bunch headed to Italy for some training camp bonding. The team quickly grew close, on and off the court. Anyone with an ounce of basketball IQ could see that this team had potential. Championship potential.

 The season started fast and the wins piled up. 8-0. 19-2. 25-3. Records Celtics fans hadn't experienced in decades. The Garden is a hot-spot again. Celebrities are showing up to games. Tickets are hard to come by.  The team is playing defense. Real, championship-caliber defense. There are still some doubters but most of us loyalists are expecting at the very least, a trip to the finals, and possibly banner 17. Here's  to health, happiness and championship basketball in 2008.

Rondo Out

We've just learned that Rajon Rondo will not play tonight against the Lakers. Comcast is reporting that Rondo has a strained right hamstring. Stay with Redsarmy.com for updates.

Road Warriors

Anyone who watched wrestling during the 80s knows the Road Warriors were the best tag-team ever. They were bad asses who demolished opponents. I like to think the Celtics are taking on their personality. After last night's 104-98 win over Utah, the Green are 3-0 on this West coast swing. Next up are the surprisingly good LA Lakers. Let's beat LA (which is always a good thing), sweep this road trip, and then give the big middle finger salute to all nay-sayers who kept whining, "But the Celtics haven't gone out West yet." Can you tell I have a chip on my massive shoulders?

If KG and company needed extra motivation for tonight's game, they can thank Jerry West.

"Garnett is very good, but if he had the pressure on him to score like Kobe does every night, there's a difference," said West. "Kevin is going to be a great, great player every night in all facets of the game.

"But the other one has a little bit different kind of cachet to him. You're going to pay to see Kevin Garnett play, but you're just going to see a tremendously good basketball player.

"The degree of excitement with Kobe Bryant is like going to an action movie instead of seeing a great film. Kevin Garnett would be in a great film and Kobe Bryant would be the action-hero figure. He's going to supply the jumps off the tops of bridges, dunks, going through 10 people, driving to make a layup."

You are right Jerry. Kobe is the action star. The guy behind all those $100 million movies. But KG is the celebrity who is putting his ego aside, starring in the low-budget indy flick so he can win an Oscar. I am so tired of all this Kobe praise. He's divisive and selfish. Period. And when things went south, he pointed fingers at everyone but himself. He wanted out of an organization that stood by him during his rape trial. Talk about ungrateful. Not to mention he hasn't won jack since Diesel drove out of LA.

Today's Links: Globe - C's Muffle Jazz | Ray Allen Follows Middle East Politics? | Herald - Pierce Plays Tune | Beat LA for Red | Salt Lake Tribune: Jazz Find Out Celts Are Good | LA Times: Celtics Relevant Again | NBA TV Goes Green & Purple | Smush Parker to Boston?

One More

The Celtics may have picked up their most impressive win of the season tonight yet I barely watched 3 minutes of this game. Can you blame me? The Giants decided to show up and play the Patriots tough for 3 quarters. But in the end, you just knew Tom Brady would thrive and Eli Manning would throw-up in his mouth. Enough about that, the C's just beat the Jazz 104-98 in Utah.  Paul Pierce dropped 24 in the second half after being held scoreless in the first. So that makes us 3-0 on this gut-check road trip. To all the doubters....we told you so. The Celtics are legit. Imagine how good we'll feel tomorrow when the C's smoke the Lakers to complete a perfect West coast swing.

Box Score | Recap | Highlites

Perfection 16-0*

*=caught cheating

(edit by John Karalis):

Get over it.  It's open season on Chuck and his Steelers in the comments section.

Everyone Sucks But Us

We know it...

The fans of other teams that come here to flame us know it...

So why not show it?

Our new T-Shirt says it all... Everyone Sucks But Us.

You can click on the picture to check out that particular shirt... or visit our full store to check out all the other styles... and other available products.

This CANNOT Happen

Chuck asked a question in the Seattle wrap up comments... would you rather beat Utah or LA (assuming we can only pick one).  People made valid arguments for both... now we can throw them out the window.  We MUST beat the Lakers:

As fate would have it, Jackson will get a chance to pass Auerbach (for the most regular season wins) when the Lakers host the Celtics on Sunday night in the 177th regular-season meeting of the NBA's greatest rivalry. They've faced each other 10 times in the finals, with Boston winning the first eight and the Lakers prevailing in 1985 and 1987.

There is no f'ing way that Boston can allow anyone to pass Red for any sort of milestone.  I know it's going to happen, but it can't happen against us.  I've always said Phil Jackson is a clown... and he must agree because he's starting to dress like one.  He's padded his stats by walking into ready-made winning situations... which makes him look better than he really is. 

LA Times:  Lakers looking to next challenge  |  Herald: C's paying the price  |  This episode of '24' hard to follow  |  Globe: Large man, big impression  |  Camerato:  Up Close with Leon Powe  |  SI:  Not so fast, Celtics  |  NY Daily News:  Boston's Barnicle pisses off New Yorkers  |  Roy Jones practices with Knicks  |  Blazers with 12th straight  |  Ben Gordon looking to free agency  |  Smush Parker on the trading block  |  Andre Miller too? (scroll down) 

Now On Barstool

I forgot how much I loved Delonte West... until seeing him last nght:

I still love Delonte West. How can you not? He's the kind of guy that gets kicked in the balls and asks "Is that all you got?" He's the guy in the movies that's too stupid to die... even when he's been shot a dozen times. (Read the rest)

Admit it... you all still love Delonte too.  I wonder if we can get him back somehow.  Here's a link that might make you  throw up in your mouth a litte:  Have Boston and New York switched places? 

Has This Ever Happened?

Just curious about something before I post the links...

Has an NBA team ever matched its previous season's win total in the same calendar year?  Last season, they won game 24 on April 16, 2007.  This season, they won game 24 on December 27, 2007 (well, technically... it's the 28th... but whatever). 

Since I'm way too lazy... and still a little drunk... to do the research, I'm just going to sit here smugly and enjoy the fact that I think I asked a good question... but leave that question unanswered. 

Herald: A happy new year for C's  |  Magic returns for Celtics  |  West:  No hard feelings  |  5 key Celtics moments in 2007  |  Doc rewrites prescription for Garnett's passion play  |  Globe:  Presti: Sonics Boom  |  West left with no hard feelings  |  Celtics win one for Allen  |  ESPN:  KG leads All-Star voting  |  Vote for Pierce and Ray!!!  |  Rondo's Blog: West Coast  (Rondo's a bit chilly out there)  |  T&G:  Fans can't really complain  |  Seattle Times:  Jeff Green doesn't know who Ray Allen is  |  Allen has it all wrong, Seattle made the right deal  |  Win just out of reach for Sonics  |  Daily Dime:  Ray of Hope is Boston's now  |  SI:  Ray honored before game  |  Trade Rumors:  Juan Dixon and Joey Graham in Toronto?  |  Damon Jones in Cleveland?