Why these Celtics can achieve what Cowens, Bird and Pierce couldn’t

Why these Celtics can achieve what Cowens, Bird and Pierce couldn’t originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

In the beginning, of course, there was Bill Russell.

He was so much the godfather of repeat NBA titles that it became repetitive. He went back to back to infinity in the early 1960s. The last time he did it, in 1969, he walked away from the sport after securing his 11th championship. Clearly, he’d made his point.

The NBA didn’t have a back-to-back champ in the 1970s. The early 1980s were known for a version of Trading Places with Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. It was Magic’s turn first. Then Larry’s. Then Magic’s again in 1982. There was a Fo’ Fo’ Fo’ intermission with Moses Malone and Dr. J in 1983. Then back to Larry. Then Magic. And Larry, at the height of his powers as an on-court genius, in 1986.

He was 29 then, and it was the last time he played a 82-game season. He was the league’s regular-season MVP, completing a run of three straight. He was the Finals MVP for Banner 16 as well.

Part of the reason he and the Celtics couldn’t go back-to-back? His back. And Kevin McHale’s right foot. And, once again, too much Magic.

It took another 20-plus years for the conversation to have local relevance again. The 2008 Celtics with Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen (and Brian Scalabrine and Eddie House, too), rolled the Lakers to clinch Banner 17. They looked even better, deeper, meaner the next season. They won eight of their first 10 games, and then went on a 19-game winning streak.

In the second game of that streak, in a home game against the Knicks, Scal got the start and Eddie came off the bench. They both played exactly 20 minutes and scored eight points (Eddie, though, was a plus-10 to Scal’s plus-9). The repeat mission was derailed, essentially, when KG hurt his knee in Utah. He missed the playoffs and the Celtics were eliminated in the conference semifinals.

Which brings us to Tuesday night.

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It’s another home game against the Knicks, but this one carries…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/why-celtics-achieve-cowens-bird-194318973.html

Author : NBC Sports Boston

Publish date : 2024-10-22 19:43:00

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