By: Dan Massar, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer

Believe in Green.  The most successful franchise in NBA history is back in the NBA Finals.  Was there ever any doubt? In fact there was and you can put all the blame on the Bruins.  The B’s choke job against the Flyers caused the media to start a déjà vu narrative for Boston sports fans.  They should have known better.  The Celtics are not the Bruins.  They deliver the goods.  The Celtics are a championship team with gritty, gutsy players that thrive under playoff pressure.  So while the sports world was talking about the possibility of the Celtics coughing up a 3-0 series to the Magic, the Celtics remained calm and handled their business.

This postseason run has been utterly remarkable.  The Celtics were a .500 team the final 54 games of the season.  They were terribly inconsistent.  Boston won 50 games, which gave them the 4^th seed in the East.  They would only be assured home court advantage in the first round.  Well guess what? None of that mattered.

Here’s what does matter and why the Celtics are just four wins away from Banner 18.  The Celtics have never lost a playoff series with a healthy Kevin Garnett.  The backbone of their suffocating defense and the emotional leader has looked strong this postseason and not washed up like he did at times during the regular season.

Rajon Rondo has emerged as an absolute force during this run.  In 2008 he was a liability at times during the title push.  Now he is the key.  Rondo single handedly turned around the series against the Cavs with his epic triple double performance in Game 4.  Whether the Lakers or Suns come out of the West, neither Derek Fisher or Steve Nash can contain Rondo.  He will again have the chance to shift a series in the Celtics direction.

Doc Rivers has been masterful.  The coach has taken his fair share of criticism over the years, but he has truly proven himself during these playoffs.  He has pushed all the right buttons with this team.

The bench has been a tremendous lift.  Tony Allen, Big Baby Davis, Rasheed Wallace and in game 6, Nate Robinson, have all had shining moments of their own during this run.  Robinson’s explosion in the 2^nd Quarter of game 6 was certainly surprising, but he knows how to score points in bunches.  Recall back in February when he was still a Knick, Robinson poured in 41 points off the bench, after not playing for 14 games!

The main ingredient though that put the Celtics back in the NBA Finals is their defense. One of the best assistant coaches in the NBA, Tom Thibodeau, has the Celtics playing the kind of defense that won them Banner 17.  They have been the best defensive team in the playoffs and are a better defensive team then either the Lakers or Suns.  Defense will continue to be the key for the Celtics going forward.

Soak it in Celtics fans.  Your team is in the middle of writing a remarkable playoff story.  Believe in Green.

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