Shamrocks are everywhere you look. Max is bigger than Jerry Remy, and Wally the Green Monster is worshiping at the feet of Lucky the Leprechaun. You know the Celtics are hot when Clint Eastwood accepts his Oscar and tells the world that Mo Cuishle was his secret tribute to the championship-driven Boston Celtics.
OK, so nothing in the previous two paragraphs is actually true. But here's something just as outrageous regarding the sudden surge in Celtic interest: Wyc thinks his Celtics have an outside shot to win the NBA championship. This year.
"I think we're one of the top eight teams in the league," the owner said after practice yesterday (a practice that drew more minicams than any previous Celtic workout this season). "I saw the Patriots win their first Super Bowl and they lost some games at the start of that season. The Red Sox went .500 for a period of time last year. Our hope is that we can put something together this year. We'd like to be the third team in town to win a championship. Hey, if you don't set a big goal, you don't get anywhere."
Forgive the owner's innocent exuberance. His media skills are rusty. It's been a while since anyone bothered to talk with him. The Celtics have been stealth bombers for a couple of years, seldom appearing on the local sports radar screen. But now they have a chance to win the woebegone Atlantic Division, they open a six-game homestand tonight with the Lakers, and they've gotten our attention with the reacquisition of Antoine Walker.
The Celtics won two fairly exciting games out West after trading for Walker last week, and tonight the new Toine returns to the New Garden, wearing No. 88 and a wide smile.
Doc Rivers calls it "the evolution of Antoine." The coach said Walker is in better shape than he was last time he toiled for the Celtics. Rivers also claimed that Walker will "attack the basket, attack the rim, get to the free throw line, and move the ball" before hoisting his favorite 3-point shots.
