Celtics Lakers Game 4 will go down as the best game in NBA history. The Lakers came out playing like a team of ringers taking on middle-aged accountants at a local YMCA. After the first quarter the Celtics set an NBA Finals record for the largest deficit (21 points) and were losing by more points than they scored. In the second quarter the lead grew to 24 points, and was 20 in the third quarter. No matter how good your team is, you do not come back from that in the NBA Finals, it just isn’t possible. That fact was lost on the Celtics.

The group of bench players that were not good enough to lead the Celtics to an NBA Title stepped up and made history. Role players like James Posey, PJ Brown, Tony Allen, and Eddie House sapped the life out of the Staples Center and helped shrink the deficit to only two points by the start of the fourth quarter. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen showed that they had the heart to will the Celtics back into the game, and even take the lead. The Lakers’ fans headed to the parking lot early as the Celtics as the Lakers just couldn’t retake the lead.

A confident Lakers team in the first half were in stunned shock as they looked up at the scoreboard and saw that instead of a tied series they were one game away from golfing. When the Boston Red Sox were losing 3-0 to the Yankees in 2004 I told everyone that they would win the series. I had that same feeling that the Celtics would win Game 4. I have only had four Father’s Days, but on Sunday night I will be watching the Celtics receive the golden NBA Title. Actually I could deal with a loss on Sunday; I want title number seventeen to happen on the fabled Boston parquet.

As team sports go, basketball is the game that can most easily be won or lost by a spectacular performance by one player. A triple-double or 50-point game will certainly help you win, but other support players are needed. Would Larry Bird have been as good without Kevin McHale and Robert Parrish, or would Michael Jordan have won so many titles without Scottie Pippen? If you doubt the importance of a quality supporting cast than look no further than LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. One player can carry a team on his back on every level up through college, but the NBA is a different animal. The Lakers versus the Celtics in the NBA Finals is a perfect example of a star’s need for quality teammates.

There is no question that Kobe Bryant play is the reason the Lakers would win or lose a playoff series. When Bryant won his NBA Titles it was with Shaq as the alpha dog. Now Kobe finally has his own team, as well as competent complimentary players in Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol. Throw in the instant offense that Sasha Vujacic can offer and the Lakers can be a brilliant team. Paul Pierce has had a similar experience over the last decade. The Celtics had a few deep playoff runs, but those teams were lead by Antoine Walker (the only player in NBA history that thought he could play all five offensive positions by himself but never play defense). Pierce was better than Walker, but he was a better and less selfish teammate. Now Pierce has another veteran shooter in Ray Allen and a low post threat he has never had in Kevin Garnett. The combination of veteran leadership and hungry youngsters gives the Celtics a deeper rotation than most people expected in October. The one difference in the series is not bench scoring, points off of turnovers, or any other measurable statistic. It all comes down to ego.

During the first two games in Boston the Celtics came out ready to defend that home court at any cost. One of the biggest reasons the Celtics have had success all season is because the best players play as a team, not as a group of individuals. The Lakers’ players played the first two games (both losses) as if they are afraid of incurring the wrath of Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant. No matter how well you play you could have always played better, and Bryant seems to thrive on making sure his teammates know that. Kobe tried to get his teammates involved in the first two games before deciding to try to win by himself in Game 3. The only player that even had a chance to contribute in Game 3 was Vujacic, and he was arguing with Bryant for a chance to get his shots. Lamar Odom spent the game on the bench in foul trouble, and Pau Gasol played a timid game and looked uncomfortable out on the floor. While Paul Pierce was mired with foul issues, and Kevin Garnett couldn’t hit a jump shot, Ray Allen stepped up and kept the Celtics in the game.

Game 3 was won by the Lakers, but it will be remember as the game where the Celtics found the formula to beat the Lakers. Rajon Rondo is a player very similar to Jason Kidd when he entered the NBA. Both are great passers, defenders, and rebounders, but neither were a threat to score unless they drove to the basket. With Rondo in the game the Celtics offense lacked the ability to stretch the defense. The Lakers could collapse off of Rondo since he isn’t a threat to shoot. When Rondo went down with an injury, Sam Cassell and Eddie House stepped up and the game changed drastically. Both House and Cassell look for their shot first, and will take any shot at any time. This forced the Lakers to cover the point guard more diligently, which left them unable to double-team as easily as they did in the first two games. This allowed Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins/P.J. Brown to work in the paint against smaller defenders. The Lakers are stellar perimeter defenders, but they struggle on the blocks. If the Celtics continue to play three outside shooters and two big men then they should be able to score at will against Los Angeles. The key to this success is Rajon Rondo. Rondo missed part of Game 3 with an ankle injury, and his availability is in question for Game 4. The Celtics would be in trouble with House and Cassell running the offense for a full 48 minutes, as House lacks the ball handling ability, and Cassell doesn’t pass enough to keep the Big 3 involved. Rondo’s game is based on speed, so an ankle injury would leave him far less effective. The ideal situation would be a healthy Rondo but playing only about half the game as a precaution. His speed would still cause the Lakers’ guards fits, but when he was on the bench the Celtics would be able to stretch the floor and get the Lakers’ frontcourt in foul trouble. Doc Rivers has taken a lot of heat for not being a great coach, but even a fan can see the opportunity presenting itself. If he doesn’t try to have the Celtics exploit this than Rivers doesn’t deserve to be a coach.

When the Boston Celtics’ draft luck continued to be worse than a pair of deuces in seven card draw, General Manager Danny Ainge decided to go all in and acquire two aces. The C’s decided they needed to win, and win now, and that meant throwing away the seemingly constant rebuilding process and youth movement to get the best trio in the NBA. While teaming three of the best (and most unselfish) players in basketball in Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett, the Celtics literally put everything into this trio. The Celtics feel this team can get them deep into the playoffs, however this is now anything but a deep team. While the Celtics might have amazing building blocks they lack the bodies to be a competitive team. As of now they lack the bodies to even play a pickup game.

Once it became obvious that Greg Oden or Kevin Durant were not walking through that door, Ainge decided that most of the current Celtics stalwarts would be walking out the door. In trading for Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen the Celtics gave up three first-round draft picks, a second round pick, and half of their roster from last year. Gone are starters Delonte West, Al Jefferson, and Wally Szczerbiak, as well as top reserves Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, and Sebastian Telfair, as well as Theo Ratliff and his expiring $11 million dollar contract. The Celtic’s traded five of their seven double-digit scorers from last year, leaving just captain Paul Pierce and Tony Allen (who is recovering from knee surgery) and some bench fodder. With these moves the C’s are now young, inexperienced, and have no money left to fill the gaping holes in their roster. The worst thing is that even many role players have already signed contracts, leaving the free agent market more barren than Death Valley.

So how do the Celtics fill out their roster? With rookies and veterans looking to take a small contract in return for playing time. The Celtics’ roster right now is as thin as can be, and the options left are downright scary. The Celtics have a second year starting point guard in Rajon Rondo, with rookie backup Gabe Pruitt, and neither is more than average at best once they develop. Tony Allen and Ray Allen will be the shooting guards, but both are coming off-season ending surgeries. Tony Allen was a twenty point per game scorer before he blew out his knee, and his return date is still uncertain.  The frontcourt is deeper, or at least has more people filling up roster spots. Pierce and Garnett will start at forward with Kendrick Perkins (an average backup center) starting at center. Glen “Big Baby” Davis will need to step up right away and could easily displace Perkins in the starting lineup, with Garnett moving to center. Brian Scalabrine is instant offense off of the bench at both forward positions, and youngsters Leon Powe and Brandon Williams will see some time due to necessity more than skill. In a mildly surprising move the Celtics released shooting guard Allan Ray who had a decent year last year for a rookie free agent. If the front office hopes of finding any veteran help that can actually benefit the Celtics, the pickings are slimmer than Yi. Earl Boykins would be a high energy good fit, but might want more money than the Celtics have to offer. Jeff McInnis would provide veteran point guard play, and former Celtic David Wesley is still a fan favorite that can play both guard positions. Once the trade for Garnett goes through expect to find Doc Rivers and Danny Ainge scouring local YMCAs for talent. Job applications can be sent the TD Bank North Garden, attention Danny Ainge.

This trade will be what helps bring back a sense of the Celtics’ glory days, but the price is very steep. Very few teams in basketball can match up with Pierce, Garnett, and Allen, but the lack of complimentary players is a recipe for disaster. An extended injury to any of the big three makes the Celtics a lottery team again, except without draft picks. The best chance the Celtics have is if a veteran wants to take pennies on the dollar to play in Boston. If the Celtics were smart (try not to roll your eyes completely out of their sockets) they would have tried to sign a few players before the market was picked clean. The C’s now have to win now because the future stars of the franchise are now playing in Seattle and Minnesota. Hitch up the wagons now because in Boston it is NBA Championship or bust.