Game-Winner by Grande

Everyone has that friend.

You know the one. The rain on the parade, glass half to two-thrids empty, Chicken Little Debbie Downer one, even in the midst of one of the greatest seasons in NBA history.

"I don't know," mine told me. "Sometimes it's seems like it's not really the Celtics...like it's a fantasy team or something." Point being that because this team hasn't been together, building for this season for years, it felt somehow less than.

And I thought about that for a second. Actually I didn't, I had to take another call, but later I did think about it.

And I suppose I could understand that sentiment. Although it's pretty hard after living through the last six months to not think of this team now as the Celtics.

To not think of sweeping the Texas Triangle, and the four-game-in-five-night Christmas trip out west. Winning the season series from the Pistons, sweeping the Lakers and Spurs. Going 25-5 against the west and mixing in some historic beatings of the Knicks and Heat and Nuggets and Raptors.

To not think about Ray Allen's game winners at Toronto and Charlotte in November. To not think about Eddie House and James Posey raining down fourth quarter threes. To not think about the nights Rajon Rondo outplayed Chris Paul, Kedrick Perkins destroyed Andrew Bynum, Leon Powe chewed up Eddy Curry. And it may have seemed like a fantasy, but after six months, how can you not think of Kevin Garnett as a Cetlic? When the truth is that he's always been one at his core.

But there was something to be extracted from the idea that it doesn't seem quite real yet. As I get ready to walk across the street to the Garden for Game 82 of what certainly has been one of the top ten 82-game team seasons in the six-decade existence of the NBA, as I think ahead to what's about to begin this weekend, it hit me.

It's not likely we're going to remember this 2007-2008 regular season they way it deserves to be remembered. Because for every piggyback ride and Sugar Ray game winner, the moments that will truly define it, the lasting images, the "Havlicelk stole the ball", "underneath to DJ, he lays it up and in", "greatest comeback in NBA Playoff history has been completed" moments haven't happened yet.

Maybe this team isn't really the Celtics yet, maybe there is a Seinfeldian element of "rooting for laundry" that's gone on there the last six months.

But they're about to be.

Hondo, Henderson and Larry had their steals. JoJo and DJ hit their shots. McHale fouled Rambis. Max found enough room on his back to offer carriage. Russell, Tommy and Cousy and on down the line, they had their moments. The ones that made them Celtics.

Will we be talking about the night Ray Allen went for 44 in the Eastern Conference Finals? About Eddie House's game winner at Celveland in the second round? About the charge James Posey took in the clinching game against Atlanta? Paul Pierce's 14-point overtime in the Finals?

Or maybe, just maybe, KG holding that trophy and crying, the way MJ did 17 years ago.

And while one year ago tonight, none of this was possible.

Now, all of it is.

I said here on Opening Night to buckle up and enjoy the ride.

The playoffs are set to begin, well...the captain is about to turn the "fasten seat belt" light back on for the duration of the flight.

Amazing what you can see from this high up.