The Celtics were always known for the “Big 3.” But without #3, Dennis Johnson, who knows how big those other guys would have been.  Losing DJ is a sad time for Celtics fans.  We only hope we can give back a little of the love you gave us when you played.  We’ll miss you DJ.

There are a lot of Celtics fans out there who never had the privilege of seeing the 80’s Celtics.  And while we always have a tendency to romanticize the past, don’t ever doubt that it was a privilege to watch them.  They were a machine.  There was seldom any doubt that they were the best team on the floor.  We all hear the stories of Bird, McHale and Parish… but we rarely hear about what DJ meant to this team.  Without DJ, the steal against Detroit never would have been “The Steal.”  We all hear Johnny Most’s voice with the prolonged “aaaaaaand…. THERE’S A STEAL BY BIRD.”   But the second half of that makes the play… “underneath to DJ and he lays it in!”  There was DJ.  Always where he was supposed to be.  Always making sure his teammates had an option.  Always there to do the little thing that really made the other players so great.  Bird, Parish and McHale are among the best of the best.  But someone had to get them the ball, right?   Someone had to guard Magic Johnson and Isaiah Thomas, right? 

Think of the Ancient Romans and their chariot races.  You have a team full of horses that is almost too powerful for its own good.  But someone had to sit behind all those horses and make it all work together.  DJ might never get the credit he deserves for that… but he will here.  DJ was a true Celtic.  It takes a great man to lead great men… and that’s what DJ did every night.

- John Karalis

Photos Courtesy NBAE/Getty Images

Goodbye DJ… and thank you