It wasn't too long ago that I made my prediction about the Celtics. My editor Jim wondered in the comments if my tune had changed given the recent news that the Celtics traded for Kevin Garnett. The answer is yes, I don't think the Celtics will suck next year, but will they be good?
Given that the NBA's Eastern conference is about as pathetic as the NFC, the acquisition of Garnett virtually ensures that the Celtics will be a playoff team. That is, barring any injuries, which may not be a lock since the new big three (Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce) are all over 30 and two of them didn't play a whole season last year. I saw one "expert" on SportsCenter claiming that the Celtics could now contend with not only teams in the East, but also teams in the West. Okay, that's a bit of a stretch.
The Celtics have three good players and then...um...wait, there's no one left! They traded away most of the young talent that played well last year (Delonte West in the Allen deal, Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, and Gerald Green in the Garnett deal), so who else is going to play? The Celtics have no true point guard (2nd year player Rajon Rondo will have to start now) and no bench. You can't even begin to have a chance against the top-tier Western teams without someone coming off the bench to score in double figures. The Celtics have no answer to the Manu Ginobli, no one to cover Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki, or Amare Stoudamire, no one to keep up with Tony Parker or Steve Nash. So if the Celtics got to the Finals we'd most likely be looking at another embarassing sweep.
Danny Ainge basically traded away the future to try to win now. The Celtics have three all-stars over thirty years old and basically have one or two seasons to try to win it all. If (and when) that fails, they'll be left in worse shape than before the Ainge era began because they'll have no good young talent. They won't have ended up in the lottery because they'll have improved enough not to qualify. Rick Pitino banked his Celtics career on getting Tim Duncan; Ainge banked it on getting either Greg Oden or Kevin Durant, and when that didn't happen, he threw the rest away to try to win now.
This reminds me of when the Houston Rockets traded for Charles Barkley, who joined Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler. Three of the 50 greatest players in league history couldn't win the championship and the Rockets have been up and down ever since but never getting close to winning another championship. I fear this is exactly where the Celtics will end up. Time will tell, of course, and I bet season ticket sales are up. Will I be watching next year? Of course. Will I be surprised if they aren't challenging for the title? No way. But I'd really like a basketball team to cheer for again.
I grew up a Laker fan in the Magic/Kareem years, so I hated the whiny Ainge and the Garden with all it's dead spot. I respected Bird, obviously, but loathed the rest of the team.
But I'll root for them this year. KG and Paul deserve a shot.
-Eric
I think the bench situation is highly overexagerated. Not many teams have a necessarily "deep" bench. Many teams go to war with 8 or 9 players. After that rosters consist of mostly "fillers". NO team has 3 All-Stars of this caliber. I am not putting the Celtics in the finals just yet, but it will be extremely hard to deny them this year.
And on the Rondo/PG situation. Is it me or was the big knock on him last year about his shooting? Well insert Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and KG into the mix, and he WON'T NEED TO SHOOT! He will probably shoot better because when he does decide to shoot, they will more that likely be wide open shots. So let's stop trying to nit-pick the Celtics. They are in a way better position this year that in a long time. They will do damage in the Eastern Conference.
I see you've been shopping at the conventional wisdom shop, ordering up a bunch of bogus cliches. Let me make this easy for you son, think for yourself and stop ripping off lame sports writers lest you become one yourself. See you in June when I'm sipping champagne.
This is coming from a guy who's name is Perkisabeast? No offense Perk is a hard worker but a beast he is not.
I'm not ripping anybody off it's simply the my opinion. I don't care what team you pit these 3 guys up against, they will compete. Instead of criticizing other people's posts, why don't you offer insight into the discussion? Oh thats right you don't have any.
Go ahead and sip your champagne while I watch my C's dominate, with a Sam Adams at hand! Guy.
@Eric - Man, I just have to mention Danny Ainge to you, huh? ;-)
@Phil - You're right that most teams don't have a deep bench anymore. However, most of the really good teams do have a legit sixth man who can come off the bench and provide double-figure points to spark the offense. The Celtics have no second level at all.
@perkisbeat - Interesting comment that doesn't indicate your opinion and drips with metaphors. Thanks for participating.
First off, this is not a "temporary fix" if you call a run for the championship for the next 5 years... 5 YEARS a temporary fix then whats a permanant one 10? Sorry this is not the NBA of old where the same team can rule for 2 decades. Secondly, did anybody watch the initial press conference or are you just talking out of your ass. Because i do beleive that they are not done adding pieces to the puzzle, trust me, i dont think scalabrini is going to be our 6th man. so hold on tight boys because it is only august. Thirdly, who is going to play defense on the big men?? Are you kidding me? Garnett shut down Shaq, therefore i am not scared of Duncan and im willing to bet that neither is Garnett. Fourthly, Perkybitch, unless you have a ligit comment, dont waste our time, he ripped off other sports writers... provide some examples, then make an 'Original" statment of your own, unless all you do all day is sit on your computer chair, read your harry potter books, whack it a couple times, and look for people to insult, grow up.
Okay guys, let's keep the conversation civil. You all know I'm open to different opinions, but let's keep the attacks to a minimum.
@Jorge - I consider it a temporary fix because I don't think we'll see the three of them together for more than two years. I'd love to see the Celtics keep a good core together for five years, really I would. What other pieces can the Celtics acquire? The salary hit with KG is huge, so they can't really afford to bring in anyone else of note. Are Eddie House and Jackie Manuel really pieces to the championship puzzle?
Nicholas: It could be a LOT worse. You could be a Pacer's fan with no hope for this year, next, or any year ever after. I'm not feeling real sorry for your guys who only have 2 or 3 years to pull it off. :)
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