Role reversal in the cards?
It was the 7th game of the season for the Toronto Raptors while the reigning NBA champs were playing their 8th. A Tuesday night game. The playoffs are miles away.
Yet nobody could have predicted this level of intensity, passion, and moxy. One only needed to look at Kevin Garnetts (rather annoying) attempt at intimidation by trying to coax Calderon out of his rhythm to realize that this was more than an early season game. There was some real feeling behind it and it was felt not only by the players and the coaches, but everyone in the arena as well as everyone watching from home. For the record, I'm lovin' it! Sure beats the snoozer of a win over the lowly Bobcats on Sunday afternoon.
And don't get too excited, but I am stating for the record that tonight could be a (very) early sign of a possible...dare I say the "R" word? That's right folks. Rivalry.
I'm sure that not many of the Celtics players or fans have forgotten Calderon's amazing game-ending three point play last season (scroll down to check it out). Could this have been part of the reason for the jawing between him and Garnett? My prediction would also be supported by the fact that Bosh is currently making that jump to superstar status while Garnett is sort of being ushered out of it. A chance for Bosh to match up with one of the best power forwards in the game. And a chance for Garnett to show the young kid that he's still got it. This just adds another layer to the story.
I'm not saying it's going to happen. But don't be surprised to see some serious sparks if these two teams meet in the playoffs. The new beasts of the East? We'll just have to wait and see if the Raps are up to the challenge.
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