Celtics begin 08/09 season with victory over Cavs

So yesterday the NBA season began officially with the game between the Celtics and the Cavaliers, on which the current champions received their respective NBA title 92-diamond rings as “we are the champions” blared through the whole TD Banknorth Garden which was packed with 18,624 fans.

Sure, Kevin Garnett was the most emotional player when the Celtics won the title against the Lakers, but yesterday that seat was reserved for Paul Pierce, the oldest of the “big three” who has been a part of the team since they were just another NBA team, not a clear contender as they are now since the arrival of Garnett and Ray Allen.

The Celtics raised their banner number 17 for their first championship since 1986.

Boston inaugurated the 08/09 season with a 90-85 come-from-behind victory over Cleveland as the Cavs were leading by 50-43 at half time.

When the game was over, James Posey was not missed. Even though he was an essential piece for the Celtics in the past season, Boston looked very complete without him.

Apart from trading Posey, the Celtics also lost veteran P.J. Brown (retired), and did not add any significant players instead of them, but with a power trio like the one they have, I see no reason why they had to bring extra talent.

Oh sorry, yes, they add Tony Allen as a replacement for Posey, but he still needs to prove himself, so… more on Allen later.

Of course Paul Pierce is still the man. He leaded the Celtics with 27 points, while Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen finished with a combined 19 points. Rajon Rondo helped with 14 and Leon Powe ended with 13 points.

The Celtics have very good chances to make it to the finals one more time, and surely Pierce, Garnett and Allen will try to prove that they didn’t came to Boston just for a single championship.