She was a worthy adversary to be sure. Prior to posting, we’d discuss potential debate topics and allow each other to choose a side. It was a great exercise in writing and we received enthusiastic support from the blogosphere.
When Danny Ainge pulled off a coup by landing both Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen in the 2007 off-season, Bluegrass and I debated whether that move guaranteed a Celtic title. While I was still (a little) skeptical, Bluegrass chose the side of the C’s. One has to figure that if you took the field against the Celtics pre-season, you’d have to like your chances. Then they tipped off.
The Celtics tore through the regular season, losing only 16 games. When the playoffs hit, they slowly picked up tempo, building up confidence, then absolutely destroyed the Lakers in a Finals that should not have made it to six games.
Looking back at my argument, I felt I had some valid points which the Celtics players, coaching staff and entire operations eventually put to rest to ensure their team hoisted the O’Brien Trophy by season's end.
Point Guard Play: After watching Rajon Rondo throughout his college career at Kentucky, I never questioned his talent. I just questioned whether he’d be able to lead a team to a title in his sophomore year in the league. Not only was Rondo impressive, but he outplayed every point guard that tried to cover him, including Mike Bibby, Delonte West, Chauncey Billups and Derek Fisher, ALL of whom have more playoff experience and years in the league. Rondo was consistently quicker than his defenders and made great decisions on BOTH sides of the ball. He came through with timely steals throughout the playoffs and his assist/turnover ratio was as good as can be expected (over 3:1). Heck, in Game Six, he even took Kobe Bryant off the dribble and drew a foul for a three point play. Of course it doesn’t hurt to have three of the most potent offensive players of this generation to play alongside. The addition of Sam Cassell was also key as Sam I Am came off the bench throughout the playoffs and provided offense, or at least shot attempts, to a sometimes sputtering Celtic offense.
Back Court Defense: While Rondo never had to face the likes of Deron Williams or Chris Paul, he still was effective against opposing point guards. His quickness and instincts forced turnovers, Celtic fast breaks and key swings in momentum. The rest of their backcourt also combined to take Kobe Bryant out of his element, holding him to 40% shooting for the Finals.
Cap Space: Credit Danny Ainge. The old Celtic earned his keep, and a GM of the Year award, by making key acquisitions in PJ Brown and Sam Cassell, veteran presences who provided quality minutes throughout the second season. In fact, the entire Boston bench outplayed the Lakers. The Celtics featured a near perfect blend of starters and subs. There were few players that didn’t make memorable contributions. Each player knew their role and accepted it for the common goal: an NBA Crown.
Age and Health: While the Celtics got more dinged up as the playoffs progressed, their communal will and determination helped them rise above. Doc played the Big Three a fair amount of minutes throughout the regular season. But it’s not like Garnett (32), Allen (32) and Pierce (30) are THAT old. They certainly didn’t play like it when it mattered. In fact, despite their injuries (and questionably staged re-entries) the Celtics’ Big Three looked as energetic and spry as their twenty-two year old point guard. In the end, they would not be denied. No bumps, bruises or nagging injuries would stand in their way.
Coaching: Okay…. here I owe a sincere apology. Remember, Doc Rivers used to coach my Orlando Magic. Before that, he was one of the finest and most articulate TNT announcers to work the mic. When Doc underachieved with the Magic, Orlando fans were bitter. But it was wrong to ever question his smarts, leadership or class. Sure, he had a roster full of talent, but he should be credited for discovering exactly what it took to lead this team to greatness. And he did it with flair. When Ray Allen struggled early, he always backed his man. Heck, most would argue he even out-coached Phil Jackson in the Finals. Case in point, early in Game Six, with the outcome of the game still in question, Doc received a technical for arguing that Kobe Bryant tossed aside Eddie House while moving through a pick. We’re talking about the ninth man off the bench against the biggest name in the league. There was no way House was going to get that call. In fact, it was a great move by Bryant to get around the pick. But for Doc to receive a tech with his season on the line and have the back of his ninth man says something about the man’s character. The Celtics have themselves a great coach and leader, and we can now add his name to a select few that have won a title. One gets the feeling this will not be his last.
Competition: The Celtics may have played down to their opponents on occasion, dropping three to both the Cavaliers and Hawks, but when it mattered most, they got the job done. It is pure speculation to wonder whether they could have made it through the West unscathed, but considering how they dismantled the Lakers, as well as having dominated against the West all-season, it’s safe to assume the Celtics are without question the best team in the league.
If you weren’t moved by watching Kevin Garnett in tears as the confetti fell in the Garden, then you're not a fan of the game and simply don’t have a heart. Anything is possible.
So congratulations to Celtics fans everywhere. I'm glad to stand corrected.
Lady Bluegrass knows her hoops. Heck, she’s from Kentucky. It’s her birthright.
Let this be a lesson to us all. Before you get into a debate with a woman, rest assured you’ll end up on the losing side of the argument.
Mr. Roarke uttered these memorable words weekly as he and his miniature sidekick, Tattoo, would welcome visitors off of their hydroplane and onto Fantasy Island. Similarly, Celtics fans nationwide are currently pinching themselves, awaiting their complimentary leis and shamrock beverages, as Boston ushers in a new and promising era. By landing both Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett this off-season, Danny Ainge may have already locked up G.M. of the Year.
However, let us all not drink the green Kool-Aid just yet. While the Fleet Center‘s future is certainly more promising than in seasons past, the Celtics are still far away from locking up the Eastern Conference, never mind an NBA title. Championships are not won on paper; several factors still stand in the way of the Celtics raising the O’Brien Trophy. The lack of a quality point guard both offensively and defensively, limited cap space, lack of a quality defensive presence on the interior, a strengthened Eastern conference and very possibly their head coach could all deter the Celtics from hoisting their 17th championship banner.
Who’s Bringing up the Ball?: Recent rumors have pointed toward the signing of veteran point guard, Brevin Knight. But can Ainge get him to sign for peanuts, knowing he’ll still have to land another big man? And are Knight and Rajon Rondo, a second year point guard who averaged four assists and two turnovers last year, enough to be the Celtics floor generals and dictate the tempo of the ballgame? And if not Knight, who? They won’t need much scoring out of this position, but they will need quality decision-making, limited turnovers and solid defense.
Who’s Defending the Point?: The last five NBA champions have all had one thing in common: a quality ball-handler in the clutch. Tony Parker won last year’s Finals MVP Award and has run the point for San Antonio’s last three titles. Dwayne Wade handled most of the crunch time point guard duties during Miami’s championship run. And Chauncey Billups won the Finals MVP for the Pistons in 2004. Whoever runs the floor for Boston will have to contend with tough point guard play. In a recent article, Bill Simmons compared the signing of these three superstars to the Rockets’ Barkley-Drexler-Olajuwon experiment. He appropriately pointed out that their point guard, Matt Maloney, was routinely broken down in the playoffs by John Stockton, leading to the Rockets being ousted prior to the Finals. The modern NBA has seen the emergence of Deron Williams, Chris Paul and T.J. Ford. In the Atlantic Division, the Celtics will regularly have to defend Ford, Jason Kidd, and Garnett’s former teammate, Stephon Marbury. If Boston is fortunate enough to get to the Finals, they’ll likely have to defend against Parker or two-time MVP, Steve Nash, both of whom are perfectly capable of breaking down a quality defender, never mind a mediocre one. If Danny Ainge fails to land a somewhat competent point guard who can mesh with this team and play on both ends of the floor, this experiment may all be for naught.
Cap Space: With Garnett, Allen and Pierce, the Celtics have all but expended their available salary. Management will have to be very creative under the cap. Anyone they acquire, and there are still key roster spots to fill, will have to put their egos aside and sign for close to the league minimum. I foresee Ray, Paul and KG picking up many dinner tabs in their immediate futures.
Age and Health: Adrenaline, drive and determination are essential to winning an NBA title. Unfortunately, so are minutes from the big guns. Both Ray Allen and Paul Pierce missed major playing time last year due to injury. Pierce played in 47 games and Allen suited up for 55. Tony Allen, who may also split time at 1- and 2-guard position, only played 33 games last season. The Big Three will all have to stay healthy for the Celtics to achieve their dream of a title. The coaching staff must effectively manage their minutes to ensure they’re all 100% come playoff time.
Coaching: Doc Rivers currently holds a 102-144 coaching record with the Celtics. While he has been saddled with mediocre teams in both Boston and Orlando, he is still under .500 for his career. The last 17 NBA championships have been commandeered by the coaching elite. During this period, only five men have led their teams to titles: Gregg Popovich, Pat Riley, Larry Brown, Phil Jackson and Rudy Tomjanovich. Can you really see Doc Rivers' name in this category? Ainge did the right thing by signing Rivers to a long-term extension to avoid any questions about his future with the team. However, expectations are extremely high. And if Doc cannot get the job done with these players, Celtic ownership can and will find someone who can. By that time, though, will it be too late?
The Diesel: While the center position in the league is not what it once was, the Miami Heat still boast a certain big man named Shaquille O’Neal. While Shaq is on the waning end of his career and will most likely not play a full season, he is still an undeniable presence. In a four-game series, who will cover an inspired Shaquille O’Neal looking for one last shot at a title? Kendrick Perkins? Glenn Davis? The tallest guy on the Celtics roster is free agent Michael Olowokandi. Need I say more? The Celtics must add a body, like PJ Brown or Kevin Willis, someone to absorb some fouls when they have to… and they’ll have to.
Eastern Rebirth: Compared to the Western Conference, the East, commonly referred to as the ‘junior varsity,’ has been the laughing stock of the league in recent years. That will not be the case this year. Chicago’s roster is stout. Detroit will be looking to make another run. Toronto will ensure they’re not a one-hit wonder. The Nets return their big three. Orlando has re-tooled. The Knicks may contend. And Cleveland still has a player named LeBron James who’s already tasted the NBA Finals and assuredly wants a return trip. To paraphrase Dikembe Mutombo, the Celtics will not have “a walk in the cake.”
The Celtics were the second worst team in the league last year. They have clearly made dramatic improvements and generated enough of a buzz to remove Tim Donaghy from the NBA headlines. The acquisition of both Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen undoubtedly makes Boston instant contenders. But those three by themselves do not a championship make. Unless Danny Ainge and Celtics ownership face the remaining issues at hand, Boston may just fall short of its goal.
Turn-ons: Gator national championships ; Sushi; NBA Playoffs; A Tribe Called Quest; Women; Jack Daniels; Women who drink Jack Daniels; Women who drink Jack Daniels while eating sushi; Women who dream of more Gator national championships while eating sushi and drinking Jack Daniels during basketball season, The Red Zone Report
Turn-offs: Waking up early; The inevitable media coverage Bobby Bowden will get when he finally retires; Drama; Prejudice; Chicken liver; Work of any sort
