During one my daily stops on ESPN.com's NBA page, I stumbled across a link labeled The Association: Boston Celtics. I had no idea what it was. To my surprise, I was ecstatic with my discovery:A year long documentary of the Celtics 2010-2011 season, reminiscent of HBO's Hard Knocks and the 24:7 series.
So far there have been two 30 minute episodes, beginning with preseason story-lines and anticipation, through the quarter pole of the this year's campaign. In typical sports documentary fashion, the episodes present an abundant amount of behind the scenes footage including in-depth interviews, practice sessions, intimate game coverage, and player profiles.
One scene in particular stuck out for me as both intriguing and extremely enjoyable. It focuses on an injured Shaq watching his Celtics play Philadelphia from the trainers' room. Shaq's reaction, not surprisingly, is revolutionary. So is the celebration of the Boston team exiting the court immediately after the dramatic victory. Larry Frank's boyish smile as he giggles through the hallway and sneaks in a quick slap on the Diesel's chest is inspirational.
Of course, as a serious Celtics fan, I relish the opportunity to watch my favorite team from such a close perspective, but I promise that this fandom does not blind my ability to analyze the quality of the work. No matter how you feel about the Celtics, it's undeniable that their current roster is full of personalities, characters, and multiple hall-of-famers. Simply put, they are perfect for The Association: Boston Celtics.
