Like many of you, I'm still basking in the afterglow of the Celtics' triumph. I also miss the drama and anticipation of being in the season. Did it really go by so fast? What stays in my memory from the long season, besides the final victory that dominates my thoughts? I offer this memory/feeling exercise about the season that was, without the time or luxury of re-watching everything from the start. What sticks with you?

1) Very early on, this team looks different. Porzingis brings a whole new dimension to the offense. Holiday is making us quickly forget about Marcus Smart (though not without a tinge of regret). The Jays are playing with more confidence than ever. Derrick White is the steady presence on the court.

2) Speaking of White, he is setting a new standard for a "blocking" guard. He never gives up on a play. And the term "Stock Exchange" is quickly coined to describe the backcourt of Holiday and White.

3) Sam Hauser has taken a big leap forward. His defense is always solid, and while he continues to have some cold spells, his shooting is coming around.

4) The long ball (trey) is going to define this team. They are pouring in threes at an amazing clip. There is virtually no one on the roster who can't hit the three. Horford is more accurate than ever. Holiday gets a reputation from the corner. Pritchard has no fear taking the long shot. White makes it look easy. Etc.

5) Pretty soon, the Celtics are blowing teams out with regularity. Their offense is on a record-setting pace. Everything is clicking. The defense is solid, or course, but when you're scoring 120+ points per game, who needs much defense?

6) Let us praise Payton Pritchard. He is to offensive rebounds what White is to blocks. Someone coins an acronym for small guard offensive rebound statistics, in Pritchard's honor. Not to mention he is shooting at high clip, driving past defenders, and taking "Nashing the dribble" to new heights.

7) Joe Mazzulla is trusting his bench to a far greater degree than last year, and it is paying dividends. That is something I've been saying since last year, and it's proving to be correct. Even guys deep in the rotation, like Oshae Brissett, are bringing energy and winning plays. Hauser gets better and better. Luke Kornet is almost always adding energy, offensive boards, and dunking the lobs.

8) Jaylen Brown is having an incredible season. He's improved his handle and is scoring at all levels, including draining threes. He works hard on defense. He's become the go-to first scorer in the first half, and he's delivering almost every night.

9) Honestly, Tatum's stroke seems to have gone missing by the second half of the season. But he's doing everything else with brilliance -- rebounding, facilitating, and playing defense. His handle has improved, too. Sometimes you wonder if he realizes he could basically beat anyone off the dribble. But teams are loading up on him, so he's finding the open shooter.

10) This team is different. Have they lost more than two games in a row? Never, or hardly ever. Even when they throw in the occasional stinker, which they still do, they come back next game and win. They don't hang their heads or get desperate. Again, kudos to White, who always seems to keep the ship steady and makes winning places at clutch moments. But everyone is sticking to the game plan. The defense is locking in more and more as the season goes on.

11) It's clear by now that Joe Mazzulla is a master coach, and everyone has bought in. The team rarely loses focus. OK, they still have a tendency to blow big leads, but they win most of those games in the end. It's almost like they get bored when they stretch a lead past 20. But Mazzulla's genius is preaching a kind of "it is what it is," dealing with the situation at hand without feeling bad about it. And in terms of Xs and Os? Mazzulla has the team running consistent sets and adjusting on defense when needed. He was robbed by not being named Coach of the Year.

12) How different are these Celtics? I've finally gotten over CTS (Celtic Trauma Syndrome), a holdover from previous years. Now when they fall behind in a game, my blood pressure stays steady, and I say out loud to the TV, "They've got this." And they do.

13) When the playoffs come, the doubters start squawking, but I've already decided Banner 18 is coming. Is it certain? No. But the team that finished with the best record, regularly blows out opponents, and can turn up the defense is built for a championship. Even when KP goes down, I'm not concerned. We weathered his injuries during the regular season. We've got this.

14) The playoffs are almost anticlimactic. No one has the depth and team cohesiveness that the Celtics are displaying, and Brown continues to take it to the rest of the league. He deservedly wins ECF MVP.

15) The Celtics are NBA Champs. I still wish I could recall more specific moments from the season -- the 20 times I probably jumped out of my seat in front of the TV. All of Pritchard's half-court heaves. Who won the Tommy Awards. But it's all right. The run for Banner 19 is not far off!!