I've never been a fan of the Boston Celtics. Lets get that out of the way right now.
But I am a fan and avid studier of basketball history, so I understand how important this storied franchise is to the game I love.
That's why I can't stand to see the organization with the most championships in league history-16-mired in the sorry state it's currently in.
Yes, I realize Boston won a division title in a (bad) Atlantic Division in 2004-05. But before that, the Celtics hadn't won a division crown for 13 years. Boston hasn't been to the Finals in a score. And they haven't won a title in 21 years.
It could be a little early to be saying this, but Red Auerbach has to be spinning in his grave. A week into the season, and a little more than week after his fatal heart attack, Red's Celtics are 0-3 and allowing 105.3 ppg-good for 25th in a 30-team league. Swingmen Paul Pierce and Wally Szsklsdklfhsiak average a combined 50 points a night, while the other 10 guys who suit up score 47.3 ppg. Pierce, a small forward, is currently second in the League with 13 boards a night, while the C's two big men-Kedrick Perkins and Michael "I can't BE-LIEVE I was the first overall pick" Olowokandi-combine for 7.2 rpg to go along with their robust 3 ppg.
I like the youth movement Boston has implemented with guards Sebastian Telfair, Rajon Rondo and Tony Allen and forwards Perkins, Gerald Green and Al Jefferson. But how is this fair to Pierce-a top-five guard-who goes out and goes hard each and every night?
Yes, it's early, but when you combine that youth movement with one of the worst in-game coaches in the League and a seemingly clueless GM, Doc Rivers and Danny Ainges, respectively, you get the ugly situation the Celtics have had since Reggie Lewis passed away.
Who knows what would have happened had those ping-pong balls fallen in Boston's favor in '97. Tim Duncan could be donning a green and white 21 jersey instead of his silver and black. Boston had two lottery picks that year and used them on Chauncey Billups and Ron Mercer. Billups lasted in Beantown for half a season, while Mercer played two under his coach at Kentucky-Rick Pitino. That draft is admittedly one of the thinnest in history, but, if they had it to do over again, I'm guessing Boston brass would have selected Tracy McGrady and, I don't know, Brevin Knight?
Almost 10 years later, all the Celtics have to show is a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2002.
I don't claim to know everything about basketball, but Ainge needs to do one of two things: trade Pierce and Sczerbiak for more young guys or picks and go full on with the youth push, or trade some of those young horses for gritty vets-a la Pat Riley in Miami-and get his team back to the playoffs.
No, Ainge wouldn't be able to bring a huge name on board since his young guys are still on their rookie deals. The money wouldn't match up. But I'm guessing Donald Sterling would at least listen to a Pierce to the L.A. Clippers for Shaun Livingston and Corey Maggette deal. Or to Denver for J.R. Smith and Eduardo Najera.
I'm hoping something gets done before the Atlantic Division becomes home to two of the worst-run franchises in the League.
And New Jersey, Toronto or Philly isn't the other one.
Good analysis! But if being a GM is so easy, then you and I can do the job. There are 30 teams in the NBA, for every winner, there got to be a loser. It is just inevitable that somebody has to suck.
It is unfortunate that it has to be the Celtics, home of 16 championships. And it is even sadder that they have to suck, right out of the gate, a week after Red's death. But to me, there is nothing Ainge can do about this.
Let's face it, Boston is no longer THE NBA team. That label now belongs to the Lakers, home of 14 championships (including the ones from the Minneapolis days). Just take a look at this Blog site, people (fans and haters) can't stop talking about the Lakers, after their 3-1 start.
The point I am trying to make is that it is hard for any team to rebuild, and Boston is no different. Unlike the Lakers or Knicks, the Celtics are not in a big market. Unlike Phoneix, Boston has bad weather and no place to play golf year round. Unlike Miami, there is no South Beach with hot Latinas. And Bostonians need to pay state income tax.
Basically, for the Celtics to rebuild, they cannot do it through free agency. They have to do it through trades and the draft. Unfortunately for them, Ainge doesn't really know superstar talents. They keep drafting okay players, not great players. And trading Pierce won't really help. The Clippers are not stupid enough to trade 2 quality players (Livingston has the potential to be great) for Pierce.
Finally, I think the best solution for the Celtics is to ride this tough year out. Get a high draft pick, perhaps #1 for Greg Oden. Then please fire Danny Ainge. (It just shows the biase of the media, giving Ainge a free ride, but criticizing Isiah over everything). Keep Doc Rivers, because he is a good coach.
But the bottomline is this: there is no quick & easy fix for bad NBA teams. It takes time, lots of expertise, and lots of luck.
Hey Jay, I think that the Celtics have been in a tailspin for a while. Pierce gave them a fantastic player to build around, but they have failed to do that. This team was better when they had the 1-2 punch of Pierce and Antoine Walker. They need a premiere forward to compliment Pierce.
The Celtics & Knicks are 2 franchises severely lacking in direction.
Incredible commentary, jay. Very well written. I like Doc personally but the guy aint getting it done as a coach. Why he and Ainge remain joined at the hip is beyond me.
By the way, I was reading your bio...and it's almost impossible to do so without hearing it in Tyrone's voice. I know that it wasn't supposed to be funny, but it gave me a laugh anyway. All that's needed at the end is,
"Here's something else you may not have known about me. I smoke rocks."
Interesting thoughts. One big difference in today's Celtics is the lack of role players. The starting five is weak, but then you get down to 6-8 and it just gets worse. I can't really see what direction the team is trying to take, but down is one that suggests itself.
jay - As a Celtics fan (sort of), I enjoyed reading this. It's sad to look at this franchise and see how far they have fallen. On the other hand, how amazing is it that they STILL have the most championships in league history, even after the last two decades?
I think Ainge has the team heading in the right direction. If Telfair, Jefferson, West, Rondo and Perkins can continue to develop, the Celtics will be a strong team within two or three years (when Pierce will still only be 31 or 32 - not a spring chicken anymore, but if one of those other guys can step up and be The Man while Pierce plays the role of Shaq on the 2006 Miami Heat, they could be in business).
Lots of "ifs" and "could-bes" in that paragraph, aren't there?
Dud-I wouldn't say the starting five is weak, I think guys like Al Jefferson just don't play as well as they could.
Miracle-Yea, Ainge is still making the moves in Boston. I think Celts' fans should put him and Doc Rivers in the same trunk and dump it in a harbor somewhere.
Bmoy-The young pieces are there, but I have no faith in Boston braintrust. Remember, when the Bulls were awful for that long stretch, and Krause traded away a SICK frontline-Brand, Artest, Miller-the Celtics were going to the conference finals. I think it'll take longer for Boston to get back in the mix than it did the Bulls.
My name is Jason Carmel Davis, and I am a graduate of the Michigan State University School of Journalism. Yes, we do go to class in East Lansing, not just to bars and the liquor store.
I'm almost positive I had an SI with me in the womb, checking out Ralph Wiley. He's the main reason I ever decided to pursue a career in sportswriting .
I even remember the first highlight I ever saw on SportsCenter. I don't remember who was reading it, but it was Michael Jordan's 63-point game against the Celtics in the Garden in the 86 Playoffs. I've been hooked ever since.
