Celtics back in Finals!! Yipee!!

So now the rematch is on. How sweet it is. Last year the Celtics had the worst record in the Eastern Conference and now they are in the NBA Finals. The idea that they "bought" an Eastern Conference Championship is wrong because their was no guarantee that bringing 2 top dogs in to a group of players would turn out the way this has. Guys like Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett come from teams where they were the #1 scorer and then they have to mesh with Paul Pierce who is the #1 man in Boston. And they all put their ego aside and made it happen. What a story that all of us can learn from.

Interesting facts:

• The Celtics have won 16 NBA Titles and 8 have come at the cost of the Lakers.

• Famed ex-coach of the Celtics, Red Auerbach won 9 titles as the head coach in the late 50's and 60's. Those 9 titles ties him with the CURRENT Lakers' coach Phil Jackson who won 6 with Michael Jordan and the Bulls and 3 with the Lakers. So the Celtics may have a little more motivation to deny Jackson the chance to topple their legend, Auerbach.
  
• Auerbach died in October of '06 and has his signature replicated on the Celtics home court.
  

Celtics win another game 7

How sweet it is to see my favorite NBA team, the Celtics back in the Eastern Conference Finals. Wow, it brings back so many memories of the Larry Bird years but one thing still is missing. I can't explain it and I didn't notice it as much until today watching game 7 vs. the Cavs. I think what I was noticing were the fans in the crowd. Not as intense, lots of sitting down. Kind of like I envision the LA Dodgers fans. It's more for being seen at the game and to tell their friends. It use to be so rowdy that you would be scared to bring your kids to the game. They were famous for wearing shirts that had an expletive before the words LA, a reference to their hated rivals the Lakers. Now, it's kind of trendy to go because of the recent sports success in Boston.
I think the newness of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen plays a small role. People don't have any history with these two and weren't around for all those years like McHale, Parrish, Ainge, etc.
Can the Celtics win it all for the 1st time since '85-'86? Possibly. But the whole fan base issue still kind of bugs me. Maybe I am just being silly. Yea, I probably am.

Basketball and Mr. "Fill-in the blank"

I love basketball. Especially play-offs. Not so much NBA, because too often that isn't real basketball to me. It gets so routine at times. Same two-man game on the right hand side of the court for 6 straight possessions just gets to be a bore. As a lifelong Celtic fan, I am not sure I am allowed to say I like the full-court game over the methodical half-court brand but I have to say I am leaning that way. The Suns would likely be my favorite team if I was a youth watching basketball on TV today. That Nash guy is legit and I am glad to see his hair isn't so long anymore. (Man, am I getting old...)

Here at Christ's Church, we have our own play-offs going on. And these are way better because I know the players. And I know their kids and their ups and downs over the past seasons. I know the teams that failed to win a game one season but are in the title game 2 seasons later. And more importantly, I know who some of the players are who are hurting. Not sore knees or arms, but hurting hearts. Not to say there aren’t tons of body aches but those will heal much quicker than the heart pains. After nine weeks of watching games, I can see those that are hurting before they even tell me. And I pray for them. And I want to help. I am no longer blind to the fact those hurting players also have hurting wives at home. And hurting kids. And for some even broken families.

You see, THAT is why I am supposed to be at the games. Not to keep stats. Not to make sure Mr. Smith doesn’t cuss out the refs. But to make relationships. To talk. To listen. To find out who needs a friend. And for those who don't know Christ, I am to reflect His image. I am to let that person see Christ in me. Man, I have a hard enough time keeping the games on track some weeks but I am suppose to be Christ's reflection too? Yup. And you know what? This task I have isn’t a one-man show. If you are a Christian in our league, you should be looking for those hurt people too. And talking to them. And praying for them. And bringing them here because they are lost, not because they have a sweet jumper.

I can only speak for myself when I tell you; I can’t see myself talking someone into a decision of faith. But you know what, I do believe, if we all tried to just do our part, it would happen. If “Mr. Hurting” feels God’s love from one of us in week 1 and from another in week 3 and again week after week, how can any true believer not think this person won’t want to know more? Now that I can see being a part of. That I WANT to be a part of. Will you help me?