Green with Envy - Boston 90, Cleveland 85

Wondering where LeBron James was during the ring ceremony and banner-hoisting last night? In the visiting locker room of the TD Banknorth Garden. He, along with his Cavalier teammates, chose not to stand on the floor to watch the 2008 NBA Champion Celtics receive their hardware. Take a short trip with me back to April of 2005. The scene was Fenway Park, and our beloved Red Sox were receiving their first championship rings in 86 years. Who was standing at the top step of the visiting dugout? The team they had defeated in the 2004 League Championship Series, the New York Yankees. That's right LeBron, I'm saying that the Yankees have more class than you do. They had respect and humility enough to honor the team that defeated them. As a Red Sox fan, it's hard to say this, but LeBron should learn something from those gentlemen.

But enough with last night's microscopic downside. The rest of the evening was unbelievably fulfilling. It started with the annual monologue from Commissioner David Stern, congratulating the franchise, the city, blah blah blah. I've already heard the same speech four times in San Antonio alone. What followed, though, was one of those "Oh yeah, I remember it well" sequence of events. In what seemed like an endless line of basketball majesty, Celtics heroes from generations past ushered the Larry O'Brien trophy out to center court, where captain Paul Pierce was waiting to greet it one more time. In that very instant, it seemed Pierce was inducted into the "Hall of Celtic Greats," so to speak. Tom Heinsohn, Bob Cousy, Cedric Maxwell and others embraced the captain as if he was now one of their own. Pierce teared up, and proudly displayed the championship trophy above his head.

Next came the presentation of the rings, and you guessed it, more tears were shed. Looking back on it, it was intended to be a celebration of the Celtics' championship season, but it ended up being a coronation and appreciation night for The Truth. Pierce was the last one to receive his new piece of jewelry -- which featured white gold and about 90 diamonds, by the way -- and delicately displayed it to the crowd as if presenting the baby Simba to the pride. It was emotional, touching, and well-deserved. I'm not sure that I've ever been happier for an athlete. As the team gathered together to raise the new banner to the Garden rafters, something dawned on me: there was still a game to be played. I'd totally forgotten about the Cavs.

The Celtics didn't suffer from the same memory loss. After quickly falling behind in the first quarter, the Champs snapped back to their old selves, with the help of some new role-players. With James Posey flying the coop for New Orleans in the off-season, the door was opened for Tony Allen and Leon Powe to show what they can do. Judging from their performances last night, the C's will be just fine. Allen showed quickness that's been missing from his game for years, and Powe proved to be a legitimate scoring and rebound threat inside. Apparently his monster display in Game 2 of last year's NBA Finals was no fluke. Allen and Powe, combined with Pierce, led the Celtics to a 90-85 victory over Cleveland, a game that always seemed securely in the Celtics' hands in the second half. Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen had off shooting nights, and their team still beat one of their most formidable Eastern Conference foes. You have to feel good about that.

Now that the banner is raised, the rings have been handed out, and tears have been shed, it's time to go full-force into the 2008-09 campaign, and I can't wait. I'm anxious to see the evolution of players like Glen "Big Baby" Davis, Bill Walker and Gabe Pruitt. I can already tell that the hunger is still there, too, if you were wondering. There was no lack of emotion from the Big Three last night, and I get the feeling that motivation won't be an issue all year. I picked the Celtics to repeat as champions last week, and Game 1 of the 2008-09 season made me feel very good about that choice. If the Celtics do end up hoisting banner eighteen to the rafters next October, LeBron will hopefully have the humility to stand there and watch.

Final Score: Boston Celtics 90, Cleveland Cavaliers 85
Player of the Game: Paul Pierce, BOS (27 Pts, 4 Ast, 3 Reb)
Tommy Talk Moment: None, Game Aired on TNT

-- Dan Zappulla, Joyfully Weeping.