For a team that was so dominant in the regular season, you could say what happened to Boston. Game 7 against Atlanta? Game 7 against Cleveland?
However, they still have been able to pull off the victories. But, why must it come to a game seven against any of these teams, they should have swept the Hawks and at most game 6 against the Cavs. The answer lies within Ray Allen. The man has become invisible, not invincible. Averaging a measley 12.7 PPG, 2.7 APG, and 3.4 RPG. Not something that should be coming from a member of "The Big Three" or "The Boston Three Party"
But, could this be a good thing for Celtic fans, is the sucess of the Celtics without Ray Allen a sign that once he shows up they'll start winning in 5 or 6 games, or does it mean that they are still not play off ready, and Ray Allen may never show up to this years play offs.
I think it's a bad thing, when your going up against a Detroit Pistons team, that doesn't actually start playing untill the East Finals, you need to bring all you have, and with Ray Ray unable to catch a breather from this play off series blunder (scoring 0, 16, 10, 15, 11, 9, and 4 in the seven games against Cleveland) I think the Celtics are in deep trouble. The Pistons are going to steal at least game 1 or 2 from Boston and if Ray still doesn't show and the Celts fail on the road, this series will most likely end in 6.
The 1984 NBA Draft Class - Famous for Hakeem, Barkley, Stockton, and Bowie over Jordan
The 1996 NBA Draft Class - Famous for Allen Iverson, Nash, 12 guys going before Kobe Bryant, and no one drafting Ben Wallace
The 2003 NBA Draft Class - Famous for Lebron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, and Darko going second
All three draft classes have future HOF or guys already there. All three draft classes have something that they aren't proud of, Bowie, Kobe going late, and Darko. But which draft class is better?
This argument usually turns into people divided by age. '84 being old guys, '03 being teenagers, and '96 the people in between.
Before people start saying, "2003 for sure!" or "1984 had Jordan!" I'll give the most likely rosters, also remember it's the players in their prime, (Bowie, Marbury, Walker)
1984: PG - #12 - John Stockton (picked 16th) SG - # 23 - Michael Jordan (picked 3rd) SF - # 21 - Alvin Robertson (picked 7th) PF - # 34 - Charles Barkley (picked 5th) C - # 34 - Hakeem Olajuwon (picked 1st) 6th Man - # 14 - Sam Perkins (picked 4th) Bench - Kevin Willis, Michael Cage, Otis Thorpe, Sam Bowie
1996: PG - # 13 - Steve Nash (picked 15th) SG - # 3 - Allen Iverson (picked 1st) SF - # 8/24 - Kobe Bryant (picked 13th) PF - # 3 - Ben Wallace (undrafted) C - #23 - Marcus Camby (picked 2nd) 6th Man - #34/20 Ray Allen (picked 5th) Bench - Stephon Marbury, Antoine Walker, Erick Dampier, Jermaine O'Neal, Derek Fisher, Peja Stojakovic, Zydrunas Ilgauskas
2003: PG - # 12 - Kirk Hinrich (picked 7th) SG - # 3 - Dwyane Wade (picked 5th) SF - # 23 - LeBron James (picked 1st) PF - # 15 - Carmelo Anthony (picked 3rd) C - # 4 - Chris Bosh (picked 4th) 6th Man - # 5 - Josh Howard (picked 29th) Bench - Chris Kaman, T.J. Ford, David West, Kyle Korver, Luke Walton, Leandro Barbosa, Boris Diaw, Jason Kapono
Looking at these rosters, 1984's depth isn't very good compared to the other two classes, but the Celtics are showing us with a good starting line-up winning comes easy.
Before breaking it down this far, I would've thought either the '84 or the '03 squad would have stolen the show, but the '96 backcourt is scary with Nash, Kobe, and The Answer. Not to mention the two best defending big men in the league.
1984: Pros - Michael Jordan, the best point guard in John Stockton, Hakeem Olajuwon was one of the most dominant big men, Charles Barkley was one of the most dominant everything man, and Sam Bowie, Sam Perkins, and Michael Cage were all solid big men. This team will score a lot, grab a lot of the boards, and play solid defense. Cons - Bench is short, they would need someone to play the PG/SG when Stockton and Jordan sit, which isn't much averaging over 31 minutes and 38 minutes a game respectiveley.
1996: Pros - Kobe Bryant, one of the best backcourts in Nash, AI, and Kobe. Dominant big men in Jermaine, Big Ben, Marcus, Dampier, and Big Z. Two fantastic back up guards in Starbury and Fisher. And two assassins from deep in Peja and Walker. This team will be fun to watch, with electrifying offense, and hard nosed defense. Cons - Bigs scoring ability is terrible with Ben Wallace and Marcus Camby averaging under 10 points a game. Bench talent could be a little bit better.
2003: Pros - LeBron James, solid scorers in Wade, Melo, Howard, and Bosh. Great depth at the guard spot with Wade, LeBron, Hinrich, Ford, Barbosa, and Diaw. Good big men in Bosh, Kaman, and West. Snipers in Korver, Kapono, and Walton. Cons - Not a lot of assists happening here, a lot of "me ball" and stat guys. Everyone is capable of scoring 40, but who'd be the one passing? Not enough bigs, with only 2 real PFs and only 1 C. Either Melo or Lebron would need to sit to make room, or they would have to surrender the PF spot to a scorer.
The Game:
1984 v 1996 - Having Kobe and Jordan going at it would be the most amazing thing the NBA has ever seen. Along with Nash mimicing Stockton pass for pass. The '96 squad will light up the score with AI, Kobe, and Nash. However, Stockton, Barkley, and Jordan would match it. The play from the bigs like Bowie, Perkins, and Cage will be stopped by the bigs from '96, but the 7'0" 255lb monster in Hakeem Olajuwon will be barely slowed down from the undersized bigs in 6'9" Wallace and 235 lb Marcus Camby. 1984 Wins.
2003 v 1996 - Kobe and LeBron have gone at it numerous times, usually with LeBron coming out on top. But Wallace and Camby will do as they please against the big man deprived 2003 team. Nash will run the court, due to the fact that the '03 squad doesn't have a solid PG. And LeBron, Wade, and Melo will try to score as much as they can. The lack of PGs and Bigs will lead to the downfall of the 03 squad in this game. 1996 Wins.
1984 v 2003 - LeBron and Jordan going at it! How about that. However, again the lack of solid guards in the '03 squad get hurt badly by Stockton, and because the '03 squad has no solid Bigs, Hakeem and Charles start having some fun. In the short time that Hakeem, Stockton, and Jordan take a breather the '03 squad starts to come back. But once the '84 squad puts in their starters, the '03 squad can't stop them. 1984 Wins.
Standings: 1984 2-0 1996 1-1 2003 0-2
This meaning that the 1984 NBA Draft class is still the best draft the NBA has ever seen. And suprisingly the 2003 squad isn't better than the 1996 squad.
Say what you want about 'Bron 'Bron, but Kevin Garnett will win the MVP this year.
Why? Because the Celtics will climb the ranks, make the play-offs and he'll finally win a play-off series. Kevin Garnett has played amazing in Minnesota, and his excuse of, "the rest of my team is terrible" is reasonable. However, here in Boston he's got good players like The Truth and Ray Ray
Big Ticket will improve the weaker/un-proven players also, Rondo, Perkins, Big Baby and Posey when they come off the bench.
He will also improve the stats of Ray Ray and Pierce because of his playing style.
He backs down and makes defenders double him, then he kicks out to 3 point shooters, something the Celtics have in Pierce, Ray, and Posey
All are amazing 3 point shooters
His presence down low will also free up the other "big" men like Big Baby and Perkins. If Kevin Garnett gets it down low, you better double cover him. However, KG throws it like Nash and he will find the open man.
Kevin Garnett will average a triple double for points, bounds, and assists. His blocking will also be pretty darn good.
After the end of the season there will be no one near him in contention for the MVP, not even Bron or Kobe
