FROM THE GREAT WHITE NORTH: I HATE BOSTON - CELTICS EDITION

by E. Spencer Kyte, Bugs and Cranks

On the heels of the mildly popular, somewhat satirical ramblings of a bitter Canadian who has been devoid of a championship of any kind for 12 years that was I Hate Boston comes the follow-up Celtics Only Edition.

What gets the Celts their own personal version? I'll give you three guesses, the first two don't count.

Saturday night, the Celtics went into the Palace of Auburn Hills and beat the Pistons 92-85, battling back from a 12 point deficit at one point on the strength of a career high 20 from Big Baby Davis. That I don't have a problem with.

The carrying-on as if they had done something special, that is what drives me insane.

I understand being excited about beating the team that has emerged as your rival this season, but it's not like there is a bitter rivalry between the two dating back years and years. Back in the days of Zeke and Larry Legend, sure, those teams hated each other and that was heat. The Celtics have been doormats for the last (doing the mental math in my head... carry the seven...) decade and change while the Pistons have made the Eastern Conference Finals each of the last four seasons. Oh yeah, they got a big ol' Championship ring during that span too. Whatcha got Boston? Zip...

During the final moments of the game, Celtics reserve James Posey mocked the crowd with calls of "look at the scoreboard" and mimicked Detroit's "Deeeeee-troit Basket-ball". Fair enough, you got a hard fought, good win against the only other team that stands a chance to win the East (Sorry Bron Bron), but you still have to play them a bunch more times this season and that's even before it really matters. You think Jason Maxiell isn't willing to swing a little harder on a block attempt after you're acting ridiculous over one win? Or 'Sheed? This is the man with the most technical fouls in the history of the NBA we're talking about. He has been known to knock a man down once or twice before. Did you somehow forget that?

It's not like the Pistons players didn't take note either, as the comments made by Mr. Bigshot Chauncey Billups after the game were similar to those echoed here - it was a nice win, but it's not like it means a whole lot. They celebrated like they had won Game Seven of the Eastern Finals when it isn't even the halfway point of the season.

Basically, these Celtics need to take what they have right now and enjoy it. Much like the Patriots did something special in the regular season, nothing really matters except the playoffs. They could win every game from here on out, including the remaining handful against Detroit and all the powerhouses out West. But if they don't hoist that trophy at the end of the year, none of it matters.

Carrying on and celebrating is for when you actually accomplish something worth celebrating. You got a win. You had won eight straight before that sans celebration. Nothing changed. Be happy, dole out the daps and hugs and high fives and get ready for the next one. That is what truly great teams do.

Right now you're the kids who just got everything they wanted for Christmas and are running around showing off. Eventually, that kid always gets punched in the mouth...