Recap Poetry: Celtics 103, Cavaliers 86 (7-11)

After each Celtics game, MercerJersey.com captures what transpired via the art of rhythmical literary composition in "Recap Poetry."

Today's poetry recap is... an acrostic.

#FlashbackFriday: For Red, every day was Black Friday

At the end of each week, MercerJersey.com observes the venerable tradition of #FlashbackFriday.  With Black Friday "steals" being offered at retailers around the country, today's edition looks back at the biggest "steal" in Celtics history: the 1980 trade that brought Kevin McHale and Robert Parish to Boston...

Recap Poetry: Grizzlies 100, Celtics 93 (6-11)

After each Celtics game, MercerJersey.com captures what transpired via the art of rhythmical literary composition in "Recap Poetry."

Today's poetry recap is... seasonal fare.

Recap Poetry: Celtics 96, Bobcats 86 (6-10)

After each Celtics game, MercerJersey.com captures what transpired via the art of rhythmical literary composition in "Recap Poetry."

Today's poetry recap is... an unsubtle homage.

Recap Poetry: Celtics 94, Hawks 87 (5-10)

After each Celtics game, MercerJersey.com captures what transpired via the art of rhythmical literary composition in "Recap Poetry."

Today's poetry recap is... a haiku.

Recap Poetry: Pacers 97, Celtics 82 (4-10)

After each Celtics game, MercerJersey.com captures what transpired via the art of rhythmical literary composition in "Recap Poetry."

Today's poetry recap is... a haiku.

#FlashbackFriday: Mr. Auerbach Goes to Washington

At the end of each week, MercerJersey.com observes the venerable tradition of #FlashbackFriday.  Today's edition comes via the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, on the 50th anniversary of President Kennedy's assassination: vintage photographs of the 1963 Celtics visiting with JFK at the White House.  Notably, Bill Russell is absent (a political statement? my cursory research was inconclusive) and a young Tom Heinsohn appears as affable as ever...

Recap Poetry: Spurs 104, Celtics 93 (4-9)

After each Celtics game, MercerJersey.com captures what transpired via the art of rhythmical literary composition in "Recap Poetry."

Today's poetry recap is... a haiku.

Recap Poetry: Rockets 109, Celtics 85 (4-8)

After each Celtics game, MercerJersey.com captures what transpired via the art of rhythmical literary composition in "Recap Poetry."

Today's poetry recap is... plagiarism.

Recap Poetry: Timberwolves 106, Celtics 88 (4-7)

After each Celtics game, MercerJersey.com captures what transpired via the art of rhythmical literary composition in "Recap Poetry."

Today's poetry recap is... an allusion.

Recap Poetry: Trail Blazers 109, Celtics 96 (4-6)

After each Celtics game, MercerJersey.com captures what transpired via the art of rhythmical literary composition in "Recap Poetry."

Today's poetry recap is... an unsubtle homage.

#FlashbackFriday: Five Great Minutes with Bill Walton

At the end of each week, MercerJersey.com observes the venerable tradition of #FlashbackFriday.  With the Celts set to take on the Blazers tonight at the Garden, today's edition looks back at the career of the man who stands as the (very tall) link between Boston and Rip City hoops, Mr. William Theodore Walton III – a 40-year journey condensed into a five-minute appreciation-via-YouTube.

Recap Poetry: Bobcats 89, Celtics 83 (4-5)

After each Celtics game, MercerJersey.com captures what transpired via the art of rhythmical literary composition in "Recap Poetry."

Today's poetry recap is... a monorhyme.

Recap Poetry: Celtics 120, Magic 105 (4-4)

After each Celtics game, MercerJersey.com captures what transpired via the art of rhythmical literary composition in "Recap Poetry."

Today's poetry recap is... a limerick.

Celtics Top Ten: Ways the Celtics can Legitimately Contend This Season

BUY DAVE'S HAT!  $23.95 on Amazon (5 available).

A three-game win streak culminating in a thrilling victory over the Heat has Celtics fans buzzing.  Chatter about "tanking" for Andrew Wiggins or Julius Randle has quickly given way to playoff talk.

But why stop at the playoffs???  Last I checked, we're the Boston Celtics and IT'S ALL ABOUT 18.

And so, today's edition of Celtics Top Ten is: "The Top 10 Ways the Celtics can Legitimately Contend This Season."

Recap Poetry: Celtics 111, Heat 110 (3-4)

After each Celtics game, MercerJersey.com captures what transpired via the art of rhythmical literary composition in "Recap Poetry."

Today's poetry recap is... an unsubtle homage.

Recap Poetry: Celtics 91, Magic 89 (2-4)

After each Celtics game, MercerJersey.com captures what transpired via the art of rhythmical literary composition in "Recap Poetry."

Today's poetry recap is... a haiku.

#FlashbackFriday: Rajon Rondo, Clutch Free Throw Specialist

At the end of each week, MercerJersey.com observes the venerable tradition of #FlashbackFriday.  Today we look back to 2006-2007, a.k.a. the last season during which the Celtics were unquestionably "reloading" rebuilding.  On March 26, then-rookie Rajon Rondo helped guide us to a win over the T.J. Ford-led Raptors at the Garden, making the C's the last team in the league to clinch a 10th home-court victory that year (ESPN recap/box score).

Recap Poetry: Celtics 97, Jazz 87 (1-4)

After each Celtics game, MercerJersey.com captures what transpired via the art of rhythmical literary composition in "Recap Poetry."

Today's poetry recap is... free verse.

An open letter to Danny Ainge.

Dear Danny,

One week ago tonight, the Red Sox clinched the 2013 World Series.  Almost immediately, this "ANOTHER BANNER YEAR" graphic took Boston social media by storm.

Notice how the middle section is almost all green?  It's a nice little reminder of why the pro sports franchises most synonymous with excellence (on this continent, anyways) were, for years: the Montreal Canadiens (blech), the New York Yankees (double blech), and our Boston Celtics.

For three solid decades, we were the bee's knees.

The last two decades, however, have been slightly less impressive.

When Celts fans lambasted Doc Rivers back in September for calling the Lakers "the best franchise in sports history," they largely neglected to note that our West Coast rivals, while still one title behind the C's in an all-time tally, have collected seven rings to our one since 1987.  Like it or not, our reign as the unquestioned Best in Basketball has gradually come to a close.

Now – if it hasn't happened already – our long reign as Best in Boston could, as well.

Recap Poetry: Grizzlies 95, Celtics 88 (0-4)

After each Celtics game, MercerJersey.com captures what transpired via the art of rhythmical literary composition in "Recap Poetry."

Today's poetry recap is... an acrostic.

Recap Poetry: Pistons 87, Celtics 77 (0-3)

After each Celtics game, MercerJersey.com captures what transpired via the art of rhythmical literary composition in "Recap Poetry."

Today's poetry recap is... an unsubtle homage.

Celtics Top Ten: Things the Celtics Did with their Extra Hour

BUY DAVE'S HAT!  $23.95 on Amazon (16 available).

Last night, thanks to Daylight Saving Time, we all gained an extra hour.  Today's edition of Celtics Top Ten is: "Things the Celtics Did with their Extra Hour."

Recap Poetry: Bucks 105, Celtics 98 (0-2)

After each Celtics game, MercerJersey.com captures what transpired via the art of rhythmical literary composition in "Recap Poetry."

Today's poetry recap is... a diamante.

The Coolest Bill Russell Quote You've Never Heard

William Felton Russell finally has his statue and there's a lot to say about the man (as there probably is about most people we see fit to immortalize in bronze).

An NBA.com feature story posted today offers some great insight into Russell's superlative character and spirit – into the great variety of words and deeds that have made him so special, both on and off the basketball court.  It's well worth a read.  As Celtics fans know, however, his most enduring legacy on the court is as a Winner, with a capital "W."

You know his résumé.  You know about the back-to-back NCAA titles at the University of San Francisco; the gold medal at the '56 Olympics in Melbourne, Australia; and, of course, that stunning run of 11 NBA championships over 13 seasons between '57 and '69.  You know, too, the well-tread story that Russell was so competitive and so emotional that he nearly always vomited before games, and that Red Auerbach became more unsettled when he didn't vomit than when he did.

Bill Russell made Kevin Garnett seem low-key.

What you may not know is that Bill Russell also had a gentler side – the soul of a poet.  Which brings us to the Coolest Bill Russell Quote You've Never Heard.