Game 1: Come Tomorrow, Wake Up Anew, See the Sun.

Brand Name

make hers mark
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Oct 6, 2010
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Moving the Line
When you see the heat, you see the light. But which light is that? Is it the radiance of tomorrow's sun and summer? Or is the clearness of the path that potentially awaits, through this arduous, unrelenting championship path? Both are correct if you ask me.

But we, Boston, you see, we're not the heat. Cold is better as we are, as many a Northeastern elongated, nipping, bone-chilling winter would tell you. Heat can and will kill you, while you can put on layers to keep warm. That's layers of clothes, that's layers of depth. You take our top jacket of Tatum and Brown off, and you've still got Time Lord, Al, and Marcus underneath as a sweater. Dig deeper yet and you'll find the basic undershirt that comprises itself of Derrick and Malcolm.

What good is a summer and heat's warmth without winter? Would it be nearly as sweet without the winter? Miami surely doesn't know that. But we do. After all, as winter passes and we recall our perseverance through as much. A summer's heat merely is exuberance, without the ability to reflect. Camus once penned in Return to Tipasa about the chilling eternal victory, that should remain as an internal, focal rally within us all: This is the cry of all the characters of ancient drama brought face to face with their fate. This last resort was ours, too, and I knew it now. In the middle of winter I at last discovered that there was in me an invincible summer.

Things are anew, as a parallel to the changing weather of late around New England. Series score, series itself. Last year is last year. The French have déjà vu, literally translating to already seen. I'd like to talk about its opposite or jamais vu. It's literally never seen, but the concept in actuality means that as much as we're seeing the same faces and places again, from Miami the city itself, to Erik Spoelstra, to Jimmy Butler. But each time seeing either and/or all of them is the first time on Wednesday. Everything, everyone is a stranger. Nothing ever remains permanent in familiarity. In this case, the cliché beats down on us in another meaning: You only get one chance at a good first impression. Go above and succeed at doing so.

I also tend to believe today's success will rely on a lot of luck, but not luck in the traditional sense of the word: The luck and effort that you make and create. The type of luck Tommy would be proud of from afar. After all, the more you work, the more you exert, the more luck comes your way. As is the path to the Finals, there are never shortcuts to any place worth going. After all, what's the difference between ordinary and extraordinary? It's my monk's riddle to you: That very answer lies within the question itself. It's simply that little extra that comes first and foremost! The work will be hard, but it will lead to success. Only in the dictionary can success precede work.

Sure, this team can do everything it can to believe themselves, be that as individuals or as a unit. But I believe further its enemies, no matter if it's Miami, Denver, or the Lakers...they're the ones who make the Celtics live up to it. Don't expect that to be easy, either. The harder thing to do and the right thing to do are usually the same thing. Nothing that has meaning is easy. It doesn't have any part of adult life. To me, the easy way and choices only exist in a non-existent path that leads to the edge of a cliff. And you've got no physical support there, so you're going to fall to your inevitable doom.

The choices at minimum we shall face and endure: Conquer with ferocity, dearly cherish, and practice with cleverness in all that we do, be it in practice or education. These trials and difficulties will test us. As fans, but especially players. Success hasn't any value without struggle. They will shape us. But let them NOT change who they are, and they will not. Only we, no matter our role, can determine that.

If we should see to, or god forbid, play to the opposite of assuming anything is for granted, Shakespeare once again has us covered, this time from Henry VI, Part 3: They shall have wars and pay for their presumption.

Remain inspired, and play with spirit. Nothing will matter if there is no inspiration. These inspirations, these struggles...when they pay off, they will be tomorrow's days we wish to reminisce about. Let us not be shoved by the mind's fears, but be led, as a fanbase, as a team, as an organization bigger than any one of us, by the heart's dreams. Today begins life. And yet, what of life? It is yet short but mastering its craft, from our loves of sports, family, our passions, and loves. When it comes to those loves, we tend to become better than we once were, no matter where or when. When we become better as individuals, everything and everyone around us tends to do so as well. Live beyond what is known to be capable of. Live today, win today.
 

Ale Xander

Hamilton
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Oct 31, 2013
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Maul Miami
In Brand Name we Trust

On a related matter, tickets for today are like 1/2 the price of game 7 previous round. Must be the 8:30weekday start and people saving for a possible Finals
 

RorschachsMask

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Aug 23, 2011
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Lynn
Like I said coming into the playoffs, nothing else comes even close to basketball for me anymore.

My excitement level is crazy high.
 

Ale Xander

Hamilton
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Oct 31, 2013
72,429
I got to figure out how to be gifted a courtside playoff seat sometime in my life.
 

Jed Zeppelin

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Aug 23, 2008
51,289
Thinking about starting a campaign for Jess to start every GT the rest of the way but also thinking it may just be a moot point anyway if you know what I mean.

LFG.
 

Boston Brawler

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Jan 17, 2011
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These games start at 2:30 AM for me. My wife and I will wake up to watch and be worthless at work post game. Make it worth it. Hammer the Heat.
 

PedroKsBambino

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Apr 17, 2003
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Start with focus - no silly turnovers, no lazy defense, no overextending ourselves on offense. Straight-up, this version of the Heat simply can't match this version of the Celtics if both play well. But we are inconsistent, and that's the risk---manage the mistakes and we can defend home court tonight.
 

timelysarcasm

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Jul 23, 2010
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Los Angeles by way of Roxbury
Perk is one of the geniuses who wanted to break up Jayson and Jaylen, I usually pay almost no attention to his analysis. He seems to be trying to be the anti-homer lately, he almost always picks against/shits on the Celtics.

Anyway. Extinguish these fucks.

And I know I will get tomatoes for this, but very thankful for the 5:30pm pacific start so I can finish work and have time to zen myself.
 
Last edited:

lars10

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Jul 31, 2007
11,612
Shooting to Miami? Really?
They do have the coaching edge, should have included that.

Doris Burke is doing the game on ESPN Radio if you need that.
Yeah.. you can maybe give them D, but you can't then also give them 'shooting'... not sure which stats those two are though.. Celts had the best +/- in the league.. a full 6 points higher than Miami. Miami allowed 109.8 pts/game.. Celtics allowed 111.4. Celts have been better in the playoffs.

C's scored the 4th most amount of ppg during the regular season.. Miami was dead last.
 

Caspir

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Jul 16, 2005
6,886
I think they make a statement tonight and come out really fast and loose. I’m going Celtics by double digits because fuck everything about Miami. The city, the franchise, and especially Pat Riley’s punk ass.
 

Auger34

used to be tbb
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Apr 23, 2010
9,271
Perk is one of the geniuses who wanted to break up Jayson and Jaylen, I usually pay almost no attention to his analysis. He seems to be trying to be the anti-homer lately, he almost always picks against/shits on the Celtics.

Anyway. Extinguish these fucks.

And I know I will get tomatoes for this, but very thankful for the 5:30pm pacific start so I can finish work and have time to zen myself.
he’s astonishingly dumb. Absolutely shouldn’t pay attention fo anything he says.

Mash Miami
 

Auger34

used to be tbb
SoSH Member
Apr 23, 2010
9,271
Yeah.. you can maybe give them D, but you can't then also give them 'shooting'... not sure which stats those two are though.. Celts had the best +/- in the league.. a full 6 points higher than Miami. Miami allowed 109.8 pts/game.. Celtics allowed 111.4. Celts have been better in the playoffs.

C's scored the 4th most amount of ppg during the regular season.. Miami was dead last.
Shooting isn’t even close…it’s embarrassing that any “analyst” would give that to Miami.
 

osori

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Oct 8, 2009
2,302
I can never understand how Perk is still surviving in the media.

He offers 0 insight (he had 0 bbiq/awareness as a player), his takes are miserable, not remotely funny and his diction is horrible.
 

Red Averages

owes you $50
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Apr 20, 2003
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Tip-off for Game 1 was 8:47 last night if anyone is wondering when we’ll actually play some basketball tonight.
 

Reverend

for king and country
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Jan 20, 2007
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Accidentally dozed off. Internal clock wakes me at almost precisely 7:30 EDT. Yes! Leap into action. Open app on phone assuming game hasn’t started yet but just in case, what’s the score??

goddammit.
 

stp130

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Jul 16, 2005
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I have a very strange, Zen-like calm about this series. Which I never have, about anything.

Sweep the Heat.
 

Auger34

used to be tbb
SoSH Member
Apr 23, 2010
9,271
I can never understand how Perk is still surviving in the media.

He offers 0 insight (he had 0 bbiq/awareness as a player), his takes are miserable, not remotely funny and his diction is horrible.
His Jokic MVP, “look at the voters!!!” Take was as embarrassing as it gets.
He said something, got called out for it, then tried to pretend he didnt say it. Awful