Celtic pride

Nobody gave the Boston Celtics a Chinaman’s chance to make it to the NBA playoffs, much more the Finals. Even the road to the championship was bumpy and tough.  Imagine, tangling with tested veterans in the first round, the Brooklyn Nets with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Next in line was the defending champion Milwaukee with two time MVP Gianis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday and finally, fighting for the Conference title against Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat. The Celtics came back from a 2-3 deficit to cool the Heat. So the stage was set, Celtics versus the three-time champion, Golden State Warriors led by the best three-pointers in NBA history, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, now reinforced by Andrew Wiggins not to mention two more members of those champion teams, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala.  Critic said the Celtics team is inexperienced. Just imagine, not a single player in the current rooster has played in an NBA Finals while the Warriors have suited in 123 Finals appearance. But as I told the “prophets of doom”, the Celtics need no experience as they waylaid the Nets, Bucks and Heat, all championship games veterans.  Their size and defensive skills will bail them out.  True enough, the Celtics stunned the Warriors 120-108 in Game 1 which saw the Celtics come back from a huge deficit despite a bad night for Jason Tatum, who could only muster 12 points. But it was the aging Al Horford who took over, scoring 26 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter. Jalen Brown accounted for 24 points while Marcus Smart added 18.  Derrick White, who is the surprise weapon of the Celtics of the Playoffs, tallied 21 points. Steph Curry who fired 21points in the first quarter could not do it alone, although Wiggins scored 20 and Klay Thompson, 15. The Warriors looked lost in the fourth quartermaking only seven of 17 from the field. When this column comes out (I wrote this piece on Sunday) Game 2 would have been over. Golden Satefans believe, the Warriors will come back strong. But remember Tatum didn’t score much and is expected to bounce back. Celtics Pride.

Former Dallas Cowboy found dead

Former Dallas Cowboys running back. Marion Barber 38, was found dead inside a Frisco home on June 1. He was unresponsive when police arrived who said there were no obvious signs of foul play. Barber was drafted by the Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft out of Minnesota. Barber suited for Dallas for six seasons, making the Pro Bowl in his third season.  He joined Chicago bears in 2011 but retired form the NFL in 2012 at age 28.  He was the older brother of Houston Texans Dominique Barber while his father was New York Jets running back ,Marion Barber Jr.