Tonight's The Night

As I write this we're just a few hours away from the 2008-09 NBA season tipping off and the Celtics are entering the year as defending champions. The Celtics ran through the NBA last year finishing off 66-16 in the regular season and then off course winning championship #17.

The team enters this year aware of the fact that winning the championship this year greatly enhances their legacy. If Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce can win this championship their all-time ranking would go much higher. There's a lot at stake for this team and they know it. No one wants to be known as one year wonders, and I don't think this Celtics team will become known as one year wonders. No Celtics team has repeated since the 1969 Celtics and this Celtics team is the team to do it.

The first obstacle in the way is the team that I think will be their toughest challengers, Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavs. The Cavs have been to the Finals before and they were the team that gave the Celtics their greatest test in the '08 playoffs. Prediction: Celtics 102 Cavs 99