Two things about this dunk: One, Paul Pierce played one hell of a game. Yeah, he unsuccessfully tried to be the hero late, but Pierce looks quicker and more explosive than he has all season. He got to the rim at will, drew contact, and generally played like a man possessed.

The other thing? The Celtics never died. I kept expecting the Magic to run away with the win, but they never did. This dunk came when the C’s were down seven and I’d just about lost hope. But, as they did all night, the C’s battled back. They didn’t play well, not at all, but they fought. And that resolve was what made me fall in love with this crew back in ’08.