From There to Here

I’ve never been to a Game 7 in my entire life. I’ve been to pivotal playoff games, but never EVER a Game 7. The biggest playoff game I was at was either Game 3 of the 2003 ALDS, where Trot Nixon hit a pinch-hit home run to save the Red Sox season. They were down 2-0 to the Oakland A’s, who needed to win one more game to clinch it. The A’s blew multiple chances (Tejada STOPPED RUNNING midway down the third base line and was tagged out; Tek blocked the plate and one of the A’s didn’t touch it and was subsequently tagged out), and Nixon came up big.

But today, I stepped into the TD Banknorth Garden to watch my first ever Game 7. I couldn’t have asked for more.

The Celtics took over from the start, and the game was over from the tip-off. The Hawks have proved one thing in the playoffs: these new-look Celtics can’t take over on the road as they did in the regular season, but the Celtics and their sixth man — the fans — aren’t giving away anything easy at home. The Celtics won the home games by an average of 20 points. It’s been incredible to watch this team play at home, and having been at the first four playoff games was pretty awesome.

The atmosphere was absolutely ridiculous, and it was fun as hell. I can only hope I go to more ridiculous playoff games like this in the future.