Who’s laughing now?

I  distinctly remember being laughed at, and I distinctly remember not being in on the joke. There I was, on ESPN 890 with Mike Felger and Kevin Winter, when all I said was: “Just because the Celtics haven’t won a road playoff game doesn’t mean they’re not capable of winning a playoff game on the road.”

The laughter was immediate, and it was loud, and it went on for a rather long time. It actually hurt my feelings a little bit. And I truly didn’t understand what I had said that was so funny. They looked at me like I was an idiot, and I looked at them like I couldn’t understand why they had stopped understanding English, and then we all talked at the same time for a while — you know — talk radio.

Their argument went a little something like this: ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!

And I countered with: Just because something hasn’t been done doesn’t mean it can’t be done, and it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t believe it can be done. (More laughter) What the heck are dreams all about? Just because I haven’t written a book

doesn’t mean I can’t. (Oh, wait. I have written a book. It’s called “Irish Thunder,” and it’s available wherever quality books are sold.)

Certainly, I realize the principle of believing in the “never done” doesn’t work for everything. Just because I’ve never dunked a basketball doesn’t mean I can’t.

Well, actually, yes it does. I can’t dunk a basketball. (That’s why I never have. If I could dunk a basketball, I’d be doing it all the time, because that would be amazingly cool.)

But this entire Celtics season has been about proving themselves every step of the way. Too many fans waited to see it before they were willing to believe it. After 66 wins in the regular season, the Celtics still had to prove they could get it done in the playoffs. After struggling to beat Atlanta in the first round, the Celtics still had to prove they could advance past a quality opponent. After going the distance against Cleveland, they still had to prove they could win on the road in the playoffs. (Remember the laughter?) After dismissing the Pistons in six games, the Celtics still had to prove they could beat the best of the West. It wasn’t until they came from 24 points down to take a 3-1 lead against the Lakers that people were willing to believe the Celtics could do something they hadn’t done. The Celtics still have to win one more game, but there’s nothing left to prove. After Game 4, fans finally believed the Celtics could do something they hadn’t done.

The proof was in the putting … it on the line.

Bob Halloran is a sports anchor and reporter. He’s also the author of “Irish Thunder: The Hard Life and Times of Micky Ward,” published by The Lyons Press.