Whoa, calm down a little about this Celtic game

I got up this morning and felt bombarded with hype about tonight’s Trail Blazer game against the Boston Celtics. Yes, it should be a fun game. Yes, Portland has a better chance to beat the Celts than it did last season, when it got punked not once, but twice.

But a little perspective, please.

It’s one game. ONE GAME. If you beat Boston tonight, Blazer fans, it doesn’t mean you’re better than the Celtics. It doesn’t even mean you can “play with them” on a regular basis. If you lose, it doesn’t mean you’re worse, either. And nothing that happens this time of year is indicative of what may happen later on in the playoffs. Again, it’s just one game out of 82.

Boston was blown out by Indiana earlier this season. That doesn’t mean the Pacers are favorites to win the East. Hey — I know, I know — you’re going to say this is some kind of gauge of where Portland is right now. Maybe. Maybe not. I guess if you win, you would want to say that. And maybe to a lot of fans, that’s what this game is — a can’t-lose opportunity.

If you win, you say you’re up there with the elite teams. If you lose, oh well — nobody expected you to win, anyway, and you just move on. That’s a little too pragmatic for me.

After so many years of covering the league, the thing I learned is that you never need to get too carried away about anything that happens before the calendar turns to a new year. And you don’t worry too much about one game.

Enjoy the game, though. It’s fun to watch two good teams play. But don’t go in figuring that there’s a whole lot at stake. You can’t prove much in a December game.

It’s still a very long season and your best friend is always perspective.

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Tags: Boston Celtics, Dwight Jaynes, Kevin Garnett, Portland Trail Blazers