Winners in my book

The Boston Celtics may have may have been beaten by the New Jersey Nets in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals, but the Celtics had one great season, surprised many people, and brought "Celtic Pride" back to the city of Boston. They may have lost, but they are winners in my book.

When the 2001-2002 season began, the Celtics were entering their first full season under the coaching of Jim O'Brien. Expectations weren't terribly high. The team hadn't posted an above-.500 record since the mid-90s. Dreams of playoff basketball in Boston were a distant memory, the "glory days" of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish.

Then they started winning.

Paul Pierce emerged as a superstar, the best scorer the Celtics had seen since Bird. Pierce, always a talented young star during the Rick Pitino days, did not start to fully come out of his shell until after Pitino resigned as coach. When O'Brien took over, Pierce immediately responded, voicing his praise for O'Brien. This past season Pierce blossomed into an often-unstoppable force against NBA defenses. His play was enough to be named to his first NBA All-Star team.

Antoine Walker finally grew up into a (mostly) mature player, molding his all-around game so well that he has finally won the cheers of Boston fans, and the votes of NBA fans -- earning a starting position on the Eastern Conference All-Star team. During the Pitino era, Walker was constantly shelled by the coach, which turned the fans against Walker. The Celtics co-captain was the subject of boo's after many games. Pitino desperately tried to trade the star, but nothing ever amounted. Thank heavens for that. When O'Brien took over, right away he told Walker that he'd be a focal part of the team's success. Walker had always liked O'Brien, and under O'Brien's tutelage, Walker quickly became a much better player.

Kenny Anderson began playing his best ball in many years, looking rejuvenated on the court as he dished out assists, pulled down long rebounds, and drained his 15-foot jump shot. Anderson's reemergence can be attributed to a meeting with O'Brien before the preseason camps. O'Brien said that Anderson would be an important part of the team, only if Anderson worked out before the season, and came into the season in the best shape of his life. For the first time since the beginning of his career, Anderson did just that.

Eric Williams, a player who was held down deep on the Celtics bench under Pitino, was one of O'Brien's first problems to tackle when he took over as head coach. O'Brien, in a meeting Williams, told the former Providence star that Williams was one of the few subjects that he and Pitino disagreed upon. O'Brien told Williams that he'd be starting for the Celtics, and had confidence in him. Williams responded with a more than stellar season, a nice complement to the tandem of Pierce and Walker. Williams' great defense was the key to many key wins during the season.

The key to the Celtics' 49-33 record this past season was defense. Defense is O'Brien's specialty. He once said that he stresses defense, and then let the team run pretty wide open on the offensive side of the ball. He often allows either Pierce or Walker to call a play. The Celtics' defensive intensity, for the most part even tougher at home, has nicknamed the FleetCenter "The Jungle," because in a jungle, you're constantly cutting through weeds and branches to walk through. Relating to basketball, the Celtics say opponents have a tough time getting past the defense, and often can't find the rim.

The Celtics are back in the thick of the Eastern Conference. The NBA's most storied franchise is back in the primetime. They won 16 NBA Championships in 30 years. The ol'lucky leprechaun is back in Beantown.

Gone is the 15-67 season. Gone are the days of Todd Day. Goodbye Dino Radja. See you later Pervis Ellison. Good-riddance Marty Conlon! Get all of the stiffs out of here, because a Celtics' team that can hold their own are back in Boston, and it's about time!

They may have lost, but they are not losers. They are winners.

Somewhere in Kentucky, Pitino is sulking in his Lazy-Boy, knowing full well that he, not his players, was holding the Celtics down from success. Pitino once said, "Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish aren't walking through those doors, fans," when addressing the fans' disappointment with the team.

Rick, you're right. But, Pierce, Walker, and 10 other guys with hearts the size of grapefruits are walking through those doors, and that's just fine by me.

L.A. ... Just wait until next year.

Oh yeah, and the Yankees suck!

Boston sports' fans haven't seen this much winning since 1986.