Chances are you never saw Antoine Walker smile after the Nets eliminated the Celtics from the playoffs Friday night. But he did. Honest. As he prepared for his final press conference of the postseason, there was a moment when Walker shook his head and grinned. It was a look of bemusement more than anything.
What Walker could not completely process at that moment was all the Celtics had accomplished since October. It seemed that 98 games passed in a whirlwind of ups and downs, surprises and milestones.
The wild, unexpected ride to the Eastern Conference finals for a team that had not made the playoffs since 1995. The biggest fourth-quarter comeback in playoff history in Game 3 against New Jersey. The elimination of the always troublesome 76ers in Round 1 with an offensive performance in Game 5 that set a standard never again equaled by the Celtics. The dismissal of Detroit in Game 5 of the conference semifinals on the road, with Paul Pierce and Walker forced to the bench for much of the fourth quarter with foul trouble.
The commitment that made Boston the third-ranked defensive team in the NBA during the regular season. The game-winning, bank-shot 3-pointer by Walker that defeated the Lakers at Staples Center in February. The buzzer-beating layup by Pierce that beat Miami and snapped an early-season four-game losing streak. The win at Philadelphia March 4 that ended the Celtics' only other four-game skid. The 22-19 record on the road, the first time the team was above .500 away from Boston in more than a decade.
The emergence of Pierce as one of the league's top scorers and go-to guys. The awe-inspiring 48-point performance by Pierce Dec. 1 against the Nets, when he scored all but 2 points in the second half and overtime. The continuing maturation of Walker, who with one stirring postseason speech showed what type of leader he is. The steady-handed, egoless guidance of Jim O'Brien, who did one of the best (probably the best) coaching jobs in the NBA this season, regardless of what a group of voters thought.
But the 2001-02 season was just the beginning, a little more than a hint at what's to come. Or so the Celtics believe.
"We have nothing to hang our heads for," said Pierce. "We had a great year. This is nothing that is going to linger, not with me.
"I think this is just the beginning of a young team just taking steps for something that is going to be special for us down the line.
"We've got a lot, me and Antoine are going to be here for the next four to five years, so the foundation is there for us. This is something special we have to build on. We really got the experience with getting to the Eastern Conference championship. Nobody really expected us to get here. With time we are going to get better. We have the potential to be a championship team one day."
Not only did O'Brien realize his vision of a team built on strong halfcourt defense and bring out the best in All-Stars Walker and Pierce, he also understood the psyche of the team he inherited. He helped foster a special chemistry by recognizing how members of the supporting cast could make meaningful contributions, convincing anyone who wasn't a star how important his role was.
Kenny Anderson made passing a priority and accepted his place as a third offensive option. Eric Williams prided himself on defense, earning the unwavering loyalty of O'Brien and respect of his teammates. On many occasions, a healthy Tony Battie quieted the criticism that Boston does not have a true center, using his long arms and athleticism to block shots. He also proved a dependable midrange jump shooter.
Then, there were the bench players. Former Sixth Man of the Year Rodney Rogers became a valuable addition after being acquired from Phoenix in February. Rogers played some center and gave O'Brien the option of fielding five 3-point shooters at one time. Tony Delk - acquired with Rogers from the Suns - never became the consistent third scorer many expected and the Celtics needed, though he filled in at both backcourt positions and gave O'Brien an extra body to place on tough-to-guard Allen Iverson and Jason Kidd.
Erick Strickland, a master at taking charges and an unexpected offensive spark in the conference finals, and Walter McCarty, a dangerous 3-point shooter and effective, lanky defender, became fan favorites. Centers Vitaly Potapenko and Mark Blount had their moments, too. Rookie Kedrick Brown, well, we will just have to wait and see.
Over the course of the regular season, this collection of players became a tightly knit group, gathering momentum and confidence as the playoffs approached. They developed an identity as a team that never gave up, making the phrase "fight like wolves" a rallying cry. The Celtics thrilled with late-game heroics and 20 fourth-quarter comebacks. Quarter to quarter, game to game, Boston continually showed its resiliency.
"It was a great season, but we're not satisfied with what we ended with this year," said Battie. "We've got a lot more work to do now that we have a taste of what's going on. We've got a real season behind us and under our belts and something to look forward to next year."
Still, during March, April, and May, the Celtics checked off one milestone after another, accomplishing some feats for the first time since the early 1990s. By winning the final game of the regular season, they posted a 49-33 rec ord, their best since 1992. By defeating Memphis with a thrilling comeback win, Boston claimed a seven-game winning streak, its longest since 1994. The Celtics swept the Lakers for the first time in a decade, the Knicks for the first time in 11 years. Two Celtics (Pierce and Walker) played in the All-Star Game for the first time since 1991. That was after the cocaptains were named Eastern Conference co-Players of the Month for December.
But perhaps the most impressive aspect of the Celtics' season was the way they earned the respect of a city starved for a team that would resurrect the Green Glory Days. They turned a franchise that only a year and a half ago seemed fatally flawed into something special, winning over fans in the process. They played with a pride, toughness, and heart that brought back the best kind of memories.
"We've just got to try again next year," said Walker. "We've got some pieces of the puzzle to fill. We got a great start to, hopefully, having (title) No. 17.
"It's nothing to hang our heads about. Obviously, we are upset, we expect the best for each other and our team. But you've got to take the good and the bad. And this was a good run."
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