It takes a man to admit when he’s wrong.

Well, I wasn’t really wrong.  I just chose the wrong side of the debate.

Many of the Fox faithful may remember a little ditty called He Said She Said in which BlueGrassLady and I debated the hottest topic in sports for your amusement.  We debated whether Pete Rose should be in the Hall, whether there should an NFL rookie salary cap, whether we would let our son play for Bobby Knight, whether the AL should get rid of the designated hitter rule, whether baseball’s All-Star Game should determine home field advantage in the World Series and whether we should dedicate so much of our life and love to professional sports.

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.

After one of the most memorable (or forgettable) collapses in recent sports history, the Los Angeles Lakers now stare at a nearly insurmountable 3-1 deficit against the far superior and eventual champion Boston Celtics.  In Thursday’s Game Four, the uninspired and now downtrodden Lakers led by as many as twenty points midway through the third quarter, yet they somehow managed to grab defeat from the jaws of victory.  To be sure, it was the largest comeback in Finals history in the shot clock era.  It was the 2007 Mets, 2004 Yankees and 1978 Red Sox all rolled into one.  And all Kobe Bryant had to say in his post-game press conference is how he wanted to go out and get drunk on… wine, beer and twenty shots, to be exact.  Is this a champion’s reaction?  Can we once and for all end the comparisons between Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan?  Michael never lost in the Finals.  Kobe’s about to lose his second.

Honestly, is there anybody inside or outside that locker room that thinks the Lakers still have a chance at a title?  How is this the same Lakers team that beat the defending champion San Antonio Spurs?  The team that suited up last night didn’t look like they could beat an NBDL team.  They scored 33 points in the second half.  That's two less than they scored in the first quarter.  So much for consistency.

What’s even more amazing is that the Lakers led the first quarter by the largest margin in Finals history, outscoring the Celtics 35-14.  Then they got lazy.  They abandoned the triangle and failed to keep their foot on the neck of their opponents by settling for jump shots.  How did the Zen Master let this happen?

I can’t lay all this on the Lakers.  The Celtics played a great game.  In fact, they probably should have won Game Three.  Technically this series should be over by now.  Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always been a proponent of more basketball, but not this brand.  I’m not even a Lakers fan and I feel deflated after watching that massacre.  I can only imagine what they’re going through.  It got so bad last night, Lakers fans were cheering on the Celtics.  Who does that??

At the beginning of this series, Kobe Bryant said his Finals experience has shown him that a team can want it as bad as anyone, but it all boils down to execution.  Well the Celtics are doing both… wanting and winning.

I give tremendous credit and praise to Doc Rivers and his coaching staff.  They were able to tap into and inspire a team of men in Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce that wanted to be remembered as champions.  If you’re an NBA fan, you have to be happy for these guys.

Meanwhile, somewhere, Kobe sits in a bar drowning his sorrows.  Hope he’s a good tipper.

• Third degree sunburn
•  Dane Cook’s comedy
• Liver and Onions 
• “Die Hard With A Vengeance”
• Our current economic state
• Getting a speeding ticket 
• The Seattle Mariners
• The last two Quentin Tarantino movies
• The prospect of Roger Clemens having sexual relations with a 15-year old country music star

But that’s about all I could think of.  This Lakers supporting cast is THAT bad.

Going into this series, many boasted that the Lakers bench would have a clear advantage over Boston’s.  Au contraire.  In Games One and Two, the Lakers bench has been outplayed, out shot, out-hustled, outclassed and outmanned.  Their only somewhat useful players are Ronny Turiaf because of the energy he provides and Sasha Vujacic when he can hit a jump shot.  Luke Walton has been absolutely awful, dare I say hooooorrrrrible.  Luke, Bill is NOT your father.  The apple fell VERY far from that tree.  And the only thing about Jordan Farmar that belongs in this NBA Finals is his first name. 

The Lakers were outscored by 14 in the second quarter of Sunday’s Game Two, partially because Vladimir Radmanovic failed to cover Paul Pierce, but primarily because the Lakers bench simply cannot function as an independent unit.

Here’s a summary of the first two minutes of the second quarter….

• 11:42 Luke Walton bad pass (P J Brown steals)
• 11:30 Trevor Ariza defensive rebound
• 11:29 Trevor Ariza lost ball (Sam Cassell steals)
• 11:27 Trevor Ariza personal foul
• 11:21 Sasha Vujacic misses 22-foot jumper
• 10:36 Luke Walton bad pass (James Posey steals)
• 10:30 Ronny Turiaf shooting foul
• 10:21 Sasha Vujacic traveling
• 10:07 Luke Walton shooting foul
• 9:55 Jordan Farmar misses layup

If you’re not counting at home, that’s four turnovers, three fouls, two missed shots and one rebound in less than two minutes.  Even our economy’s not that unproductive.  That may very well have been the worst five players on the floor at the same time in ANY Finals EVER.  My jump shot got worse just watching them.

With PJ Brown, Sam Cassell, Leon Powe, James Posey and even House and Davis, the Celtics bench is giving Doc Rivers exactly what he needs.  The Lakers bench is giving Phil Jackson indigestion.

Look, bench play is not the only reason the Lakers are taking it on the chin in this series.  Boston wants it more and they’re playing like it.  Kevin Garnett’s desire is contagious, Paul Pierce cannot be stopped and Ray Allen is coming back to form.  The only thing L.A.’s bench is contributing is to a larger Lakers deficit.

The supporting cast on Phil Jackson’s championship teams have always made key contributions, but Phil doesn’t have any confidence in this bunch, with good reason.  While Cassell, Powe and Brown can, and have, give the Celtics double digits and quality minutes, on any given night, the Lakers bench don’t have that.  Rick FOX could outplay these guys. 

With the Lakers starting cast all having a sub-par series to date, the Lakers are struggling to find any spark whatsoever.  It’s definitely not coming from the pine.  This does not bode well for the Lakers and their fans.

Yes, the series now shifts back to Los Angeles for three straight games and the tide can potentially turn to L.A.’s favor.  But if the Lakers continue to get no production out of their supporting cast, this series may not make it back to Beantown.

Let’s be critical for a minute, shall we?

I’m no school teacher, but I’d like to offer up some post-season grades to each NBA team that made the playoffs.  Let is serve as a prequel to Nique’s exit interview questions, that is if we ever get a chance to see them.

Eastern Conference:

Atlanta Hawks: B

Let’s be real.  Nobody has expected the Hawks to fare well ever since Dominique Wilkins retired.  They’ve consistently been the cellar dwellers of the league.  Yet it finally looks like Atlanta finally has a product they can be proud of.  After taking the Boston Celtics to a seventh game, Atlanta fans should expect nothing less than playoff appearances for the next several years.  They have a respectable young nucleus of players in Josh Smith, Joe Johnson and Al Horford.  It will be interesting to see if they keep Mike Bibby and for how long.  The next step for Atlanta will be actually winning a playoff series, but it appears they’re on the right track.

Washington Wizards: C-

The Wizards are still a team without an identity.  Yes, they made the post-season, but is that enough?  They’ve also done so the past few years and it seems they’re now regressing.  The Wiz feature one of the league’s more dynamic players in Gilbert Arenas, but next year could be a critical one for both him and the franchise.  Can he stay healthy?  And if so, can he coexist with his teammates?  I have a gut feeling things are going to get worse for Arenas before they get better.  In this day and age, with the emergence of Deron Williams and Chris Paul, an NBA point guard cannot think shoot first and pass second and that’s not Arenas’ modus operandi.  Caron Butler had a great season when on the floor, but I’m not convinced the tandem of Brendan Haywood and Antawn Jamison are the bigs that can carry a team to the next level.  I predict Arenas will eventually play his way off this team and ultimately end up on a real contender.  The question is who and will they want to take a gamble on The Hibachi.

Philadelphia 76ers: B-

There are contenders and there are pretenders.  Nobody outside of the Philadelphia locker room gave this team much of a chance to win anything, yet this confident group of individuals gave the Detroit Pistons a run for their money.  Similar to Atlanta, this team has a young nucleus of talent to build around.  But they still have question marks.  I’m not sure what it will take this team to get to the next level, but I think they’re still several pieces away.  Andre Iguodala is a fine young player, but can he consistently be the go to guy for this franchise.

Toronto Raptors: D

In my opinion, the Raptors are at a crossroads.  They have talent to build around in Chris Bosh, but the top teams in the East have set the bar high.  The Celtics Big Three will be around for a few more years at least, LeBron isn’t going anywhere any time soon, the Magic have Dwight Howard and the Heat could eventually become a force with Dwyane Wade, Shawn Marion and either Derrick Rose or Michael Beasley.  This means, in order to keep up with the joneses, Toronto will have to add some pieces.  And it’s unlikely they’re going to be major players in the free agent market.  This team looked flat against an Orlando team they should have competed with.  Toronto has been surprisingly good over the past two seasons, but do their fans and ownership care enough to become a serious contender.  I’m not so sure.  Unfortunately, Sam Mitchell will ultimately take the fall for a team that nobody would be able to win with.

Cleveland Cavaliers: C

 The clock ticks loudly in Cleveland.  This poor city cannot sleep for rumors that King James will eventually leave this franchise for greener pastures.  Until then, they’ll have to keep him happy by surrounding him with talent.  While anything less than an NBA title would have been a disappointment for the Cavs, those goals were unrealistic.  They were the third or fourth best team in the East, and will probably be so again next season.  Both Detroit and Boston are clearly better than the Cavs.  Despite LBJ’s performance in Game 7, this team was not getting by Boston.  In the fire sale that was this NBA season, the Cavs added Ben Wallace (useless), Joe Smith (functioning), Delonte West (decent, but not a starter) and Wally Szczerbiak (white).  The experiment of starting two centers, Z and Wallace, failed miserably.  And at times, it looked like Mike Brown didn’t know who to play.  Should he put in Joe Smith for offense or Anderson Varejao for rebounding?  What Ben Wallace gives you defensively (which isn’t all that much these days), he takes away in offensive presence.  I mean the guy was four feet away from the basket and still didn’t shoot it.  I give credit to the franchise for making an effort, but those players were not what this team needed.  Next time, use some logic when making acquisitions.  Whatever they do in the off-season, they better do it quickly and wisely for that ticking clock is only going to get louder.  Every season the Cavs come up short will make playing in Madison Square Garden all that more palatable for King James.

Orlando Magic: C+

 And yet we have another Eastern Conference team at a crossroads.  Perhaps Orlando should play Cleveland in a seven-game series for the Eastern Conference’s bronze medal, because neither of these two teams was going to get any closer than that.  The Magic will ultimately have to find themselves a point guard to play alongside Dwight Howard.  Carlos Boozer has Deron Williams.  Tyson Chandler has Chris Paul.  Even Bosh has TJ Ford.  The jury is still out (or is it) on whether Jameer Nelson is their point guard of the future.  Additionally, Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu are offensive minded, non-rebounding machines.  Howard needs help on the blocks and he’s not getting it.  While this team has gotten better in recent years, in order to compete with the Clevelands, Detroits, and Bostons of the world, the Magic still have to add pieces to their puzzle.

Detroit Pistons: C (if they lose to Boston); A (if they beat Boston) 

Another season… another Eastern Conference Finals appearance for Detroit.  That wasn’t good enough for Atlanta Braves fan (fourteen division titles, one World Series championship) and it’s likely not good enough for Pistons fans either.  It’s unclear whether Flip Saunders is capable of winning a title with this team and unfortunately for him, he’ll always be living in the shadow of Larry Brown, who may have only won his title by running into a dysfunctional Lakers team at the time.  However, this Pistons team did not lose BECAUSE of Saunders.  You can’t point to any specific coaching blunders that justify him losing his job.  If anything, they’ll lose (again) in the Eastern Conference Finals because of an unhealthy Chauncey Billups, but it’s more likely that Boston is just the better team.  Joe Dumars will have some questions to answer in the off-season.  Does he keep this team intact and what’s needed to get this team back to where they need to be?

Boston Celtics:  A- (if they beat Detroit); D (if they lose to Detroit)

Danny Ainge’s bold off-season moves paid off in more than just a GM of the Year award.  Along with Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen have the Celtics one win away from the NBA Finals.  The pieces of this franchise fit nicely together.  Ainge didn’t just look at whoever was out there and land players that didn’t match, a la Cleveland.  Boston’s bench is capable and complementary to their core unit.  And Rondo has proven he’s more than capable of leading this team.  The only question that remains is whether they’ll be able to beat the purple and gold.  While anything less than a title will be disappointment for those in the Boston locker room, a Finals appearance should still be considered a successful season.

“Smiles, everyone!  Smiles!”

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.

This way to SHE SAID

HE SAID: On Professional Sports

SHE SAID: On Professional Sports

HE SAID: On Pete Rose

SHE SAID: On Pete Rose

HE SAID: On The All-Star Game

SHE SAID: On The All-Star Game

HE SAID: On Grant Hill

SHE SAID: On Grant Hill

And don't forget to tune into Frank's and Foxsports.com's Sportsbloggers show tonight at 10pm!!!