I bet you nearly every Celtic fan has heard “the call”: that gravelly-voiced Johnny Most, bold-faced, all caps, exclamation, HAVLICEK STOLE THE BALL! HAVLICEK STOLE THE BALL!
That was back in1965. In 1969 Havlicek’s Celtics were down 0 – 2 to the Lakers who had a superstar trio of Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, and Jerry West. Sound at all familiar? The Celtics came back from that 0 – 2 deficit to win the NBA Title in seven games.
Reports of John Havlicek showing up at Celtics practice this week have rebounded around the TwitterWorld, Twitter-Rama, and the TweeterRealm even as the man himself, Hondo in the flesh, provided some inspiration to the 2011 edition of the Celtics, who just happen to find themselves down 0 -2 to the Miami Heat.
Hondo told them it wouldn’t be easy, of course, that it would take every last ounce of commitment, but that it could be done. Just getting back to even the series 2 – 2, Hondo told them, would take tremendous fight and effort.
Hondo stole the ball and a series. Now the big question is, Can the 2011 Celtics Steal a Series?
Reports out of Boston indicate that the Celtics believe they need to improve in some vital areas such as: playing fundamentally sound basketball (which I refer to as Celtic Basketball), like making layups, setting god picks, good defensive rotations and communicating on defense, as well as playing hard and with a real sense of urgency.
If this team does not have a real sense of urgency at this time then I think that, Houston, we really, really have a problem.
The Celts watched film this week and watching film should have helped them: I certainly could not bear to watch those two games again, but I believe it would and should do a world of good for the team to watch and see how badly they were outplayed.
Certainly, Shaq being back will be a big morale booster, unless he gets hurt right off the bat again and has to leave the game – that would be a bummer.
KG and Rondo: com’on!
Let’s hope we see more of Jermaine O’Neal and Nenad Kristic and let’s hope that Big Baby Davis gets some hops back and can regain his rebounding and finishing prowess.
Most of all let’s hope that Mr. Ray Allen gets more than seven looks at the basket. That is the most abominable stat that jumps out from Game 2. Get the man open, fer crying out loud, set good screens, and make Wade play some D.
The Celtics Can steal this series: now they have to find the Will.
Havlicek Stole the Ball!
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