Stop us if you’ve heard this one before: The Celtics are washed up, tired and just don’t have enough left in them collectively to win in the playoffs.
Sounds familiar, right? How about last season?
It’s pretty obvious that the 2009-10 C’s and the 2010-11 C’s weren’t built for the regular season. Heck, half these guys are starting to plan their 40th birthday parties.
Shaquille O’Neal, bless his soul, has participated in more charitable events than basketball games this season.
But now, it matters. They flipped the switch last year. Why can’t they do it again?
“I think this is what our guys have been playing for all year,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said after Wednesday night’s final regular-season game. “You know, when you lose a Game 7 it sticks with you, and that’s very difficult to get back through the regular season because the whole season you’re thinking about, ‘Gosh, we’ve got to go through 82 of these just to have a chance go get back to where we were at last year.’ And now all that part is gone.
“And now we can start trying to get back to, and finish the job.”
Jeff Green wasn’t part of last year’s team that turned it around in the playoffs, but he knows all about it. He’s also getting a taste of it now.
“I mean, that’s what these guys have been doing the last few years,” Green said.
“When the playoffs come and the lights are on they find a way to win; and that’s what we’re going to do.
“I think a lot of people have been kind of putting us on the back burner and saying we don’t have what it takes anymore. But I think we’re going to show a lot of people that we do.”
