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