May 1, 2009 8:20 am US/Eastern
Celts Fans: Time to Stand Up
Reporting
Dan Roche
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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Be in your seats, ready to yell, scream, and shout for 48 minutes. Or, 53, 58, 63...or however long it takes.
Elsa/Getty Images
The one thing that I have loved through the past several years is the passion and enthusiasm of you Boston Celtics fans.
You have been there time and time again. In both good times and in bad. I remember last year in the first round series between the Celtics and Hawks when Atlanta point guard Mike Bibby tried to rip Celts fans by basically saying, "where were they last year when the Celts were last overall?"
Celtics captain Paul Pierce quickly shot that barb down saying that the building was indeed full, and rocking, even when the Celts were awful in the 2006-2007 season. And he was right.
Time and time again in the sports office we would marvel at how good the crowd was at the garden that season. Full of enthusiasm and hope as the Big Green looked to win either Kevin Durant or Greg Oden in the lottery.
And, of course, the Garden was electric during last year's Big Three and company run to its first NBA crown since 1986.
This season? Very good again as C's fans enjoyed the afterglow of a title.
This play-off series? Solid.
To be honest, a little quiet and empty at the very beginning of Games 1, 2, and 5, but terrific late in the games. I'm sure the Kevin Garnett injury has taken some air out of the "repeat" bubble.
However, the Boston Celtics need you now more than ever.
I'm talking about Game 7 of this "once-in-a-lifetime" series against the Chicago Bulls. A series that has featured two overtime games, one double-overtime game, and one triple-overtime game!
Five games that have been decided by three points or less. Hard fouls, passion, emotion...you name it, it's happened in this series.
And, oh, by the way, how about the rumor that KG, Mr. Kevin Garnett, may suit up and give it a go in Game 7 Saturday night at Garden.
So, it's pretty simple Celtics fans. No excuses. An 8 p.m. (not 7 p.m.) start. Be in your seats, ready to yell, scream, and shout for 48 minutes. Or, 53, 58, 63...or however long it takes. Your team is depleted, older than the Bulls, and is a team that has to be exhausted. But, oh how entertaining they have been.
In my eyes, no matter what happens Saturday night, this Boston Celtics team has defended its crown with as much passion, heart, and courage as any defending champ I have ever seen, in any sport in this town.
And now it's time for you Celtics fans to defend "your" turf.
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