Ok, the Game 1 Celebration is over. Now for Game 2.

[Snoopy the Celtics Beagle <snoopy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

You know what really bugged me about game one against the Pacers?  The 
reactions.  The Celtics "stole one".  They "snuck out with a win".  The 
Pacers "let it get away".

Yes, I know full well that part of the win was caused by Isiah Thomas being 
an idiot for a coach.

But it's not like the C's sat back and said, "OK, give us the game".  They 
had to go out and earn the win, by taking advantage of the Pacers miscues, 
and playing better basketball.

Everyone on the air is talking like this was a miracle, instead of a 
talented team fighting hard and winning.  All week, I hear people say, 
"Sure, the 8 seed can beat the 1 seed."  So what's so hard to take that #6 
beat #3?  If the Celtics had played more successfully in March, we might be 
rooting for the 1st or 2nd team in the Eastern Conference.

This afternoon, analysts were making it sound like 5 minutes in front of a 
blackboard with the Pacers would guarantee they beat Boston forevermore.

No so, people.

This is my team, and I don't let anyone sell it short.   The Celtics came 
out in game one and played good defense, ran the court better than they had 
in a month, and utilized players like Eric Williams and Tony Battie (prior 
to Ron Artest getting a lucky sympathy vote from the refs).  They spread 
the offense, and didn't take a lot of threes.  Walker passed the ball and 
played smart at both ends.

In short, they did pretty nearly everything that fans, analysts, and the 
stupid cat next door have begged them to do.  Pierce was playing 
sick--which explained his first couple of field goal attempts--and adjusted 
by going inside and going to the line.  I've been hollering about free 
throws for ages, and Pierce was shooting them perfectly on Saturday.

So why are they being dumped on?  I think it comes under the heading of 
"taking revenge".  There's a number of people in the NBA who, as former 
players, coaches, or commentators, have felt the sting of a Celtics victory 
in some form or another.  They're acting like little kids (i.e.,Isiah 
Thomas) and doing what they can to take shots--verbal or otherwise (hello, 
Ron Artest)--at the C's.

I meant it when I said, "Go out there and win." before game one started.

Here is is, just under 24 hours before game two.  I'm speaking to the 
entire Celtics organization, from ownership to the techies who set the 
sound and lights in the "Centah"--

Hey, Boston Celtics:  Go out there and Win.

We've got your backs.

Snoopy the Celtics Beagle
Please visit the <http://www.celticsbeagle.net/>Celtics Beagle Website