A long time coming, but well worth the wait!

I almost thought this day would never come. In the world of Boston professional sports, the Bruins and Celtics had become an afterthought, especially with the recent successful championship runs of the Patriots and Red Sox in the last eight years. In fact I had pretty much given up on ever seeing this sight again. Not since the glory days of the original 'big three' of Bird, McHale and Parish along with Danny and DJ have the Celtics been able to win the NBA champiponship. But here it was on opening night, two nights ago, banner #17 being raised to the rafters in the new Garden.

Now the NBA "experts" are talking repeat? Unbelievable.

So the next question is, when will the Bruins get off the schneid and win the Stanley Cup? A feat they last pulled off in 1970, I believe, and haven't even come close since the Finals wipeouts at the skates of Gretzky, Messier and the great Edmonton Oliers teams of 1988 and 1990.

21 years later...

The last time it happened I was graduating from high school. That was the last year that there were four different digits in the year (which won't happen again until 2013 but who's counting... if you don't believe me, figure it out for yourself!).

There have been 61 previous NBA Finals. The Celtics and Lakers have won thirty of them, 16 titles in 19 trips for Boston, 14 titles in 28 trips for Los Angeles. Amazingly, they have not met in the NBA Finals since 1987. In fact, the Celtics have not even sniffed the NBA Finals since that year (the Celtics had absolutely no chance of winning the Eastern Conference Championship when they played vs. New Jersey in 2002).

Remember the 80's were the days of Bird, Parish, McHale, DJ and Danny v. Magic, Kareem, Worthy, Scott and Rambis.

Honestly, basketball has been irrelevant in Boston since the original big three retired, especially with the championship success of the Red Sox and Patriots in the last eight years. But this match-up is special. These teams are basketball royalty.

Looks like I'm gonna be watching a little more hoops in the next three weeks.

The amazing thing is that last year the Celtics were horrible. Start with Paul Pierce. Then you add Ray Allen and a man called the "Big Ticket", who at first did not want to come play in Boston and you have the new "Big Three".

WHAT?!?!?! Someone who didn't want to play for the Celtics?

Quite frankly with the recent history of that franchise, I wouldn't want to play for them either. Twenty years ago that would have been unthinkable. Unthinkable.

Forget that this will be the 11^th time these two teams have met in the Finals, (where the Celtics are 8-2 v. LA). None of that matters now. These players for both teams, were kids in 1987. Celtics forward Paul Pierce says he grew up watching Celtics v. Lakers and it was this match up that got him interested in basketball.

Even though NBA basketball has been an afterthought for me since the 1980's, I've always been a homer and have wanted the Boston teams to do well, including during the horrible ML Carr and Rick Pitino years. And lest we forget the tragedy that was Len Bias. Now all we need in this area is for the Bruins to get off the schneid. (HA!)

So here's the schedule:

NBA FINALS - BEST OF SEVEN (2-3-2 format). Boston wins 4-2.

Date, Time, Match-up, Network (Results updated after each game.)
Thursday, June 5 @ Boston Celtics 98, L.A. Lakers 88

Sunday, June 8 @ Boston Celtics 108, L.A. Lakers 102

Tuesday, June 10 at L.A. Lakers 87, Boston Celtics 81

Thursday, June 12 Boston Celtics 97, at L.A. Lakers 91

Sunday, June 15 at L.A. Lakers 103, Boston Celtics 98

Tuesday, June 17 (9 p.m. ET) at Boston Celtics 131, Los Angeles Lakers 92