Now that David Stern’s master plan has culminated in the epic Celtics-Lakers NBA Finals, it’s time to take a massive dip into the nostalgia pool. (Somehow we think the Commish has had those old Celtics and Lakers clips ready to go since last summer. The NBA: Where massive ratings happen.) So, with an eye toward the obvious, the NBA set up a media conference call with Magic Johnson and Larry Bird this afternoon.

We’d be lying if we said we didn’t get goosebumps about the whole thing. Admittedly, we happened to have the exhilarating NBA on NBC theme running through our heads when we got said goosebumps, but still—Larry and Magic! Together again!

Alas, the two legends said pretty much the same things they’ve been saying for the last 20 years. “The cities disliked each other, the teams disliked each other, but we respected each other,” said Magic. Bird added in some obvious analysis on the upcoming series: “I think it’s going to come down to who plays the best.”

That’s the kind of expert analysis you can only get from Hall of Famers. Or, failing that, from me or one of my equally useless (and occasionally unemployed) roommates.

Still, it was fun to hear Larry and Magic wax nostalgic, even if we weren’t brought into the fold. Buried at the end of a long question queue, we didn’t get the opportunity to ask our question, which was tentatively going to be: ‘What’s the most money Charles Barkley has ever owed either of you at one time?’ In case we chickened out, the backup plan was mumbling something about homecourt advantage.

And yet, despite all that, the exchange wasn’t a total loss. (more…)

When we last heard from Celtics rookie Glen “Big Baby” Davis, he was busy running away from hordes of fans at the Natick Collection. When he’s not manicuring his hands, playing basketball, or looking for coats, it seems he has another hobby.

Pizza designer.

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There are so many great story lines for the NBA Finals, but one that is about to explode is the odd little beef between Ray Allen and Kobe Bryant. In the old days this would be one of those insider deals, the details only remembered by those with long institutional memories. But we have the internet now to do our remembering for us.

Let’s start at the end. (more…)

As we prepare for the NBA Finals, much of the focus has been on the Big Three. But we’d be remiss in forgetting about our boy, Glen “Big Baby” Davis. He of the flawless hands tells the Globe that he’s having a tough time hitting the mall lately.

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Mere moments after the Celtics overcame a 10-point deficit and some, shall we say, creative calls from the officials to grab a place in the NBA Finals, ESPN caught up to Kevin Garnett for the obligatory How does it feel question. “Neutral,” KG said. Whether it was another instance of Garnett playing coy, or whether he really was that blasé, one thing was clear at the Palace Friday night: The moment wasn’t about Garnett. It was about Paul Pierce.

We’ve said this before, but it bears repeating: Pierce is one of the greatest players the Celtics have ever had. He hasn’t won the championships, and he doesn’t have the reflective post-season glory of the others, but his performances in Game 7 against the Cavs and Game 6 against the Pistons are right there with Havlicek stealing the ball and Bird vs. Wilkins.

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In the immediate aftermath of the Celtics’ game 5 win over Detroit last night, visiting reporters made plans for a return engagement to our fair city. Let’s face it: No one expects the C’s to win in Detroit tomorrow, but that’s a discussion for later. Today, we have the resurrection of Ray Allen, the Dave Cowens-esque performance by Kendrick Perkins, and the gritty 13-assist, one turnover effort turned in by Rajon Rondo.

Oh, and Kevin Garnett had a game for the ages, Rasheed Wallace went all Sheed on the officials, and then there’s the injury to Rip Hamilton. Game 7’s are treated as sacred things, but Game 5’s seem to bring out the mania in a long series, and last night’s 3-hour-plus marathon was certainly manic. (more…)

Like a lot of people who have been following the Celtics playoff run closely, I was unsure what to make of their weekend in Detroit. The breakthrough win on the road and the absolute dud in Game 4 put me somewhere between Bob Ryan’s “just not acceptable” and Tony Massarotti’s “try not to sweat this game so much” lines of thinking.

Ultimately, I’m left feeling like I still don’t get this team — which may be the most frightening thought of all.

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Remember those wonderful days before the Super Bowl, when the Patriots were 18-0? Everybody was talking about jinxes. The Herald accused the Globe of jinxing the team by writing a book about the perfect season, then it accused Mayor Tom Menino of cursing the team to failure because he started planning a victory parade.

Now it’s time for the Celtics to deal with the superstitious fans out there.

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It seems completely ridiculous to make the following statement about a team that has already won two Game 7’s, but: Now we’ll find out what the Celtics are really made of. They have to win one of the next two games in Detroit, simple as that. Maybe it’s better for the C’s this way. Maybe they need to be backed up against the wall. Maybe it’s all a bunch of cliche-spewing drivel. We’ll find out this weekend.

The Pistons provided the how-to-win-a-game-on-the-road primer last night. They played the game at their pace, and whenever the Celtics made a run, they answered it. Three times Boston cut it to two points in the fourth, but the Pistons pushed it back to four each and every time. When the C’s made a big push to open the second half, Detroit his 3’s on three straight possessions (the basketball equivalent of back-to-back-to-back home runs).

Hope the Celtics were taking notes.

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Throughout the playoffs, Doc Rivers has played the role of stern parent with Rajon Rondo—never praising too much, and usually finding fault with something. But before Game 1, Doc came out strongly for his second-year point guard after yet another question about Chauncey Billups and how Rondo can’t defend him. “Rondo’s heard all year what he can’t do,” Doc said. “We’re here because of Rondo. Somebody’s going to have to guard him.”

That somebody isn’t Billups. At least, not right now. At some point, the rest of the national press is going to realize that Rondo is a hell of a player. Might as well be now. (more…)