February 23, 2007 - R.I.P. DJ

I was saddened yesterday to hear the news that one of my favorite basketball players - Dennis Johnson - had passed away.

DJ played for the Celtics in the 80's during the last dynasty years and played on two of their championship teams.

He was a terrific defensive player, usually assigned to cover the strongest guard on the opposing team.

DJ came to the Celtics in one of the most lopsided trades in NBA history - Rick Robey to Phoenix for Dennis Johnson.

He was a critical part of one of the most exciting plays in Celtics (and NBA) history.  From Wikipedia:

In Game 5 of the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals against the Detroit Pistons, with five seconds remaining in the fourth quarter and Boston trailing the Pistons 107-106, Bird stole an inbound pass from Isiah Thomas that was intended for Bill Laimbeer. With the clock ticking down and with his momentum carrying him out of bounds, Bird turned and fired the ball to teammate Dennis Johnson, who converted a layup with 1 second left to win the game for Boston. The dramatic play saved the series for the Celtics, who, had they lost Game 5, would have had to win Game 6 in Detroit (where they were winless in the series) to force a decisive seventh game. Instead, after losing in Detroit, Boston won Game 7 and advanced to the Finals.

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RL8FiecBp_g)

DJ died of a heart attack at just 52 (my age). I think I feel old.