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Fire & Ice: Are they lacking in the current Celtics team?

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 FIRE AND ICE! I'm tralking about Celtics players that had both the fierce fire to keep competing - and the ice in their veins to accomplish the goal.


It starts with Bill Russell. How many hearts of skilled opponents has he ripped out. And he had two fistfulls of Championship rings to prove it.

Dave Cowens? Yup, he has to be there. Was there any Celtic that was more intense. He would take on the little guys on the perimeter and the giants under the hoop - and give an inch - never give any quarter. If this current Celtics crew regains the killer instinct they had early in the season, the El Deguello-no quarter-throat-slitting bugle call should be played in Crunch Time.

John Havlicek joins this elite group. Seemingly mild-mannered, "Jarrin' John" would figuratively slit the throat of many opponents. He never stopped running at both ends, and at times seemed not quite human. 

Time for Larry Bird. Larry truly despised losing. He would do anything - no matter how seemingly trivial - to gain victory. He was a superstar - a complete player - and perhaps the most-competitive Celtic to ever suit up.

I am lumping Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett together. What an intense pair! And they gelled so well in the front court. 

Now to Jayson Tatum. Is he in that category? The kid is still only 24 years old - one year older (roughly) than Bird when Larry was a rookie. Tatum's skills are unquestioned. But does he have that "I-need-to-win-at-any-cost" mindset? He has become the Franchise Player for the Boston Celtics. Admittedly, I am fond of the El Deguello bugle call. Hopefully, it will become a musical favorite of one of the most-skilled players to ever pace the parquet. 

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