The year was 1994. I was not even 8 yet at the time. The Boston Garden was still a proud home of athletes, and the city still drove through expressways that were not built underground or underwater. But a memory from then still reigns supreme for me.
It was my first time seeing the Celtics live.
The contradictions of the scene were apparent to me from the moment I arrived, all the way until the final horn. Ever since I began watching sports, I had been a Celtics fan, but my childhood as one was far different than the ones other generations of fans had. Larry Bird was on his way out right around the time I began tuning in. Kevin McHale also was in the process of ending his career, and Robert Parish, nothing in comparison to the "Big 3" version of him, was just a vet who was sticking around in my young mind.
The Celtics, instead of the banner-raising team my family grew up watching, was a collection of role players and borderline starters, like Dee Brown, Dino Radja, and Sherman Douglas. That 1993-94 season, the Celtics struggled to a 32-50 record, and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1978-79.
One could say that it was all downhill right from birth in 1986. The Celtics, riding high off a 16th world championship, also had the privilege of drafting second in the 1986 draft, and seemed ready to add yet another key cog into a team destined for yet another title run. Infamously, the Celtics picked Len Bias, who died of a cocaine overdose just hours after his name was read on draft night.
1986-87 came, without Len Bias in the mix, and helped set the stage for the upcoming two decades of disappointment for the Celtics. Despite having won eight of nine Finals series versus what many in Boston viewed as the cultural antithesis of their own city, Magic Johnson was able to burn the image of his series-winning skyhook into the minds of all Celtics fans. The slide continued, with the Celtics being eliminated in the next two seasons by the "Bad Boys" in Detroit.
Around this time, though, a promising young player, my first "Favorite Player", Reggie Lewis, started to make a name for himself. His local ties as a Northeastern University Husky also fostered this appreciation, and he helped keep the Celtics competitive despite an aging roster; eventually he would take over the team captaincy from Larry Bird.
Then came the 1993 1st round series versus the Charlotte Hornets. Reggie had averaged nearly 21 points a game in the regular season, and with home court, I was anxious to see if the Celtics would make a run. Then he collapsed in the first game, and the Hornets went on to win in four. Little did I know at the time how severe the cause was, and 3 months later, I found out just how bad it was when Lewis died of Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy during an off season practice.
With a second death in less than a decade of a young Celtics player, this time of their team captain, the Celtics struggled for the next four seasons, ending with a dismal, last place 15-67 record in the team's 1996-97 campaign.
comments (2) write a comment »
write a new comment
about 1 month ago
I am also glad the Celtics won this past year, but skeptical what the future brings in 3-4 years when the New 3 are retired and Al Jefferson is thriving. Not much starting talent left on the team besides Rondo.
Thought Ray Allen, Pierce and Jefferson would have been very competitive last year.
Plus, to have kept the Wolves #1 could have been very talented for the future.
Ainge made the trades to save his job and make the Celtics immediately relevant. Unfortunately, he caused the problem in the first place for blowing up a competitive team by trading Walker (pending free agent) for Ray LeFrentz and his 7 year $70 million contract rather than just having the cap space.
Ainge's championship credit though will be like crediting George Bush for the housing boom, but not faulting him for the economy's bust caused from the same reasons. Doc & Ainge will leave when the New 3 retire and save the mess to the likes of ML Carr to coach another 60 loss season.
We must cherish these days of Celtic glory since the window will be shutting soon with a cold winter pending.
about 1 month ago
Awesome article!
The "Big 3" have another 3-4 years with Ray-Ray being the first to go. That gives Doc and Danny enough time to build a team for the future. Rondo will be the future superstar in the NBA with some of the quickest moves I have ever seen. Leon Powe will continue to develop into a legit power forward and will eventually take over KG's starting spot.
That's about it though. I wouldn't be worried about the future yet, we still have some great years to come in Boston.
write a new comment