Ruminating on Ryan

In this post-championship afterglow they have only taken off one night thus far, that being the Indiana game, a 95-79 loss Nov. 1. This is, of course, is one more night than they took off all last season, when they became the first of the 38 Celtic teams I'd covered to put the pedal to the metal when the ball was tossed up in Game 1 against the Wizards and not take it off until the buzzer sounded in the 131-92 destruction of the Lakers in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. I can promise you that no other Celtic team can make that statement. If the 1985-86 guys had done the same, they, and not the Bulls, would undoubtedly have become the first NBA team to win 70. But they mailed in four or five along the way.

--Bob Ryan

I have a particular affinity for Bob Ryan. There is no other writer who seamlessly intertwines Celtics past with Celtics present (though that Dan guy from the Globe occasionally gives him a run for his money). Winston Churchill once said English history was his faith. The same can be said for Bob Ryan about Celtics history.

Not unlike Churchill, however, Grampa Celtic is also prone to the over statement.

The 2007-08 Boston Celtics never took a night off?

Come on.

Back-to-back losses to Washington after starting the season 29-3. You think they came out smokin' for those games? And what about the three straight losses after the All-Star break?

Yes, Bob, last year's team had a few stinkers that resulted from low energy and lack of motivation. Not as many as the 1985-86 team. I grant you that. But a few nonetheless.