Anything Is Possible: 16 Years To The Day, The Boston Celtics Once Again Have Their Chance To Make History

Brian Babineau. Getty Images.

I can't ever remember a time I was happy that it was actually Monday, but after two long days we're finally through the weekend and here we are. After the Celts suffered one of the largest ass whoopings in NBA Finals history on Friday night, the only thing I cared about was fast-forwarding through the weekend and getting to today's Game 5. 

To say tonight is massive doesn't even truly begin to describe it. Anyone who says they don't have nerves is full of shit. When you're this close to finally winning the NBA title and you're coming off an ass kicking like that in Game 4, of course there are going to be nerves. You're excited, you're nervous, you're confident, you're scared, it's a real motherfucker that you can only really understand if you've lived it. Game 5 doesn't start for hours and my chest is already tight. 

Adding even more pressure/nerves/excitement to the mix is of course today's date. There's no way around avoiding the symmetry

The delusional side of me (aka 95% of me) is ready to fully dive into this numerology angle. For the sake of this blog and today's events, we're going to ignore what happened on June 17th, 2010, and instead focus on June 17th, 2008. That's the one taking place at the Garden anyway, so that's clearly the one that deserves our attention and delusion. 

Which is why it's only fitting that on such an important day ahead of such an important game, we kick things off with one of the greatest postgame speeches in NBA Finals history. We need to drum up all the positive vibes and good energy as possible, and it doesn't get much better than this moment right here which took place 16 years ago today

This is the moment I crave for later tonight. All it takes is for the Celtics to do something they've done more of than any other team in the NBA this season. A stellar 45-6 at home this season which includes an 8-2 mark in the playoffs (won 5 straight), it's not like we're asking the Celts to do something we haven't seen before. 

We all know the Mavs will come ready to play. They have newfound confidence after the beating in Game 4, and I think everyone with a brain expects tonight to be the best Luka performance of the playoffs. For the Celts to win this title, they're going to have to take it. The idea that the Mavs are going to simply pack it in and start their vacation is insane, especially after how Friday went. But just like in 2008, if this Celts team locks in and plays to their ceiling, tonight should hopefully be the night.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go puke my guts out. There's nothing like NBA Finals nerves man, especially on a closeout day at the Garden. 

Let us pray.