Remember: The Dream is still Alive

 "Dream on, dream until your dream comes true"
Aerosmith 

Do you remember our back up center in 2006/07? Who wore #5 on his back before KG? Which was the shooting alternative alongside Paul Pierce in the starting lineup before the summer of 2007? Can anybody remember the names of the players who wore #20 and #11 before Davis and Allen arrived to Boston and that were candidates for starting point guard before Rajon Rondo became an All Star?

Dear Celtics fans, Michael Olowokandi is not walking through that door and neither is Gerald Green, Dan Dickau or Marcus Banks. And not, Wally Szczerbiak is not our starting 2 any more. These are the times of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo. This is the team that won banner #17. And certainly this is the team that will bring #18 home.

Tonight, a new season starts. Expect huge games from Rajon Rondo again, great shooting nights from Ray Allen, heroic plays by Paul Pierce once more and high energy and tough displays by the great Kevin Garnett. We still have a certain Glen Davis who can give us this and also this.

Remember, the four players just mentioned have given us many moments of glory and basketball pride, including the achievement and glory of the title obtained in 2008. We also had an amazing series against the Chicago Bulls in 2009 (without KG), we buried the Lebron in Cleveland era last year and we probably nailed the first one in the coffin of the Dwight Howard in Orlando era last year. This team, with that core has made us dream and has made us proud of being Celtics fans again.

And yes, tonight we won't have Kendrick Perkins, Tony Allen, James Posey, Leon Powe, Eddie House, Rasheed Wallace or PJ Brown. We remember that. But let's not forget that now we have Shaquille O'Neal, Delonte West, Jermaine O'Neal and Jeff Green among others. Let's remember that our end of the bench guys were recently starting or being very valuable players in other teams, like Nenad Krstic, Troy Murphy, Carlos Arroyo or Sasha Pavlovic. This bench is as good as the ones we have had since we got the title.

We have the players, we have the talent and from tonight we have the will and determination to reach the Finals again.

Finally, let's remember this and this. We are facing the New York Knicks, one of the most hated teams for Celtics fans. Remember about Spike Lee and about the Melo-drama. Remember about the hype of New York and how they always fail.

Don't forget about how much the Knicks underachieve no matter how high (or low) their expectations are

Remember, there are few nicer things in life than beating the Knicks. We have done it four times this year and we will do it again in the next four games.

Celtics beat the Knicks, doesn't it sound wonderful?

Let's do it again. A fresh new season starts tonight. A new road to glory.

It's all about #18. Dream and it will come true.