2007 Boston Celtics

By: Steve Cunha
Posted In: Sports

Unlike most New England sports fan, I spent last Wednesday night laying back in a LA-Z boy recliner watching a Boston Celtics game. As I watched the Celtics coast to an easy 109-88 victory over the Atlanta Hawks, I could not help but wonder if anyone else even was watching the game, or if anyone else cared about it. But, then again, who could blame them.

The Celtics have the second worst record in the NBA and not a single player in the top five of any statistical category. So, clearly they will not be getting too many games played on national television.

Like most diehard New England sports fan refuse to give up on the C’s. Despite their bad record and sometimes-uninspired play, there are still several reasons why their games are still worth watching.

A poll given by nba.com showed that the C’s are the fourth youngest team in the league, with an average of 25 years-old, giving Celtics fans the opportunity to watch future talent develop and shine. Through the teams poor overall output this season several individual players have elevated their games to the next level.

Al Jefferson, whom the Celtics drafted in 2004 straight out of high school, has seen a dramatic increase in both his offensive and defensive production. This season “Big Al” has doubled his scoring average from his first two years from 7.3 to 15.4. He has also been developing more moves in the low post. Big Al has been one bright spot for this C’s this year as he has also produced more than 30 double-doubles. A week ago, I watched Big Al single handedly take over a game against the Seattle Supersonics. In 36 minutes he scored 32 points while grabbing 18 rebounds, and having his way in the low post. Tommy Point! (The catch phrase for longtime Celtic player and color analyst Tommy Heinsohn)

Another young Celtic who has received a lot of playing time and publicity this season is Gerald Green, another player the Celtics drafted straight out of high school in 2005. Many people know Gerald Green for his gravity defying heroics in this year’s annual Dunk Contest. Tommy point! Green was the first Celtic to win the award since Dee Brown in 1991. He was the lone highlight many Boston fans had at All-Star weekend. He also created some national news for the C’s and himself due to his four jaw-dropping dunks. Green even has his own highlight reel from the night on youtube (http://youtube.com/watch?v=PrIVB5PgtGI).

Another thing causing Celtics to fans to smile this season is the newest addition the organization, Dancers. Tommy point! This is the first year the C’s have a dance team. They were the last team in the NBA to do so. A large reason why is former Celtics hall-of-fame coach and front office executive Red Auerbach. As many Celtics fans know while Red was alive and in charge, he refused to let the team have dancers. Red would only allow the dancers over his dead body. So, it is fitting that the first full season after he passed away the team got their dancers. The dance team itself has 21 members. On the Celtics official website they have a couple of interesting features including, dancer bios, galleries, downloadable wallpaper for your desktop, and Emily’s dancer diary, which gives a first hand account of one local girl’s season as a Celtic dancer.

Amidst the development of young players and the addition of the dance team, one constant has been in a rare form for the C’s this season. Tommy Heinsohn. Heinsohn played for the Celtics from 1957-65 and was a key part to eight championship teams.

Since retiring Heinsohn has great success as a color commentator for the Celtics. Every Celtics fan loves Heinsohn for his two-word trademark moniker “Tommy point.” Every time a member of the Celtics shows a little extra hustle or makes a big play Heinsohn yells out his phrase in his thunderous tone. Many Celtics fans also love Heinsohn because no matter how bad the Celtics are he still makes almost absurd claims such as, “Gerald had a rough night, but I still think he is the next Tracy McGrady,” just so everyone is clear he said this after a 3-17 shooting night for Gerald Green. This sort of home cooking makes Heinsohn so beloved by Celtic fans. Heinsohn is so popular in fact that he created his own myspace account. The site has a fitting green background and numerous video and audio clips. Heinsohn checks the site daily and he has over 1,800 friends.

Even though they have had the longest streak in franchise history this year, 18 games, and are currently the second worst team in the NBA the Celtics are still worth your time.

Whether you want to see the future of the organization, Gerald Green throw one down, Big Al finally develop a low post game, some scantily clad dancers, or hear Tommy Heinsohn scream his heart out when Delonte West hits a big three the 2006-07 Celtics have a lot to offer.

And if none of that catches your fancy than you can watch Greg Oden and Kevin Durant, two of the best in college basketballs best in the NCAA tournament, because at this pace there is a good chance the C’s will have the first or second pick in the draft.