by Robert Steadman

Created on: March 02, 2009   Last Updated: March 04, 2009

When you think of the Celtics, you think of the winning tradition that they have. They have 22 numbers retired from the team. Thats more numbers retired by any team in the N.B.A. The Celtics started in 1946 in the B.A.A. Then the Celtics went to the N.B.A. in 1949. In their first ten years they were a losing team. Then from 1958/59 season through 1965/66 season the Celtics have won eight straight N.B.A. championships. No team in the N.B.A has done that. Since that time they would string up 17 N.B.A championships in 20 years since their appearance.

The Celtics had players like K.C. Jones, Kevin Mchale, Larry Bird, Bill Russell, Oscar Robinson, Robert Parish, Dennis Johnson, Danny Ainge, Greg Kite, and many others. In the Sixties, the Celtics would would win 9 N.B.A Finals. Thats more than any team has won in a decade. The Celtics were very dominate in the 60's,70's, and somewhat in the 80's. You can almost count on the Celtics win the N.B.A. Finales in each decade. From 1988 through out the 1990's they would miss the N.B.A Finals.

In the 1986 draft, the Celtics would draft a kid from Maryland named Len Bias. The Celtics had high hopes for this young talented player. Two days after the draft, Len Bias died from a drug overdose. Then to make matters worse for the Celtics, after the 1992/93 season the Celtics had another rising star by the name of Reggie Lewis that died of a heart attack after a pick game in the summer. Then for the first time in Celtic history they would miss the play-offs three straight years.

The Celtics were not used to losing like they did. Then the Celtics brought in a new coach Doc Rivers. He would sign Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. They would get some quality players from the draft. From 2002 and on they would be back in the N.B.A play-offs. The Celtics would be in the N.B.A. Finals for the first time in 21 years against the L.A. Lakers. The Celtics would beat L.A. in 6 games. This would be their first championship in 22 years, thats when the Celtics beat Houston Rockets in 6 games of the 1986 N.B.A Finals. This Celtics team cannot be compared to the past Celtics. Yet You can count on these Celtics be as dominate as they were in the past. I am sure the fans of Boston will be spoiled again by the Celtics with their winning success. I would love to see the Laker/Celtic Rivalry be reborn and be just dramatic the way it used to be.

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