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.
Stats can be very misleading sometimes, so I'm just gonna hit you with some quicks thoughts from what I saw, not what I read in a box score, from the first big night of the 2006-07 NBA season
-Chris Paul wil be the best point guard in the League by season's end
-Dwight Howard is a younger, meaner David Robinson
-I hope Kobe's paying attention to what "the others" are doing
-It was good to see Grant Hill actually look healthy against the Bulls
-Sam Cassell looks comfortable coming off the bench for the first time in almost a decade
Before I get to the final ten teams in my preview and my award, division and playoff winners, here's some quick hits, things I'm looking forward to and questions about the upcoming NBA season.
-The Bulls will be perimeter oriented, similar to how Jersey was when they got to the finals, minus K-Mart. I wanna see how far they can get with no post presence. -The slide of the Pacers. Best record in 03-04, 46 wins in 04-05, .500 last season, Yes, I know key guys were injured last year, but this team needs to be blown up because their door closed the night of the brawl. Don't forget, they beat the Pistons by 15 that night, were 7-2 and Artest was averaging something like 24, 8, 6, and 2 steals -How tough and exciting the Pacific division will be this season -Can T-Mac and Yao stay healthy and can Bonzi be content coming off the bench -When will the Isiah suicide watch start? -When will Doc Rivers be fired? -How will Miami's seed in the playoffs be affected with Shaq playing 50-55 games during the regular season? -Will Rasheed stop shooting eight threes a game? -How much zone will the Pistons play since they don't have a help defender anymore? -Can Dallas rebound after losing a 2-0 lead in the finals?-Will D-Wade be satisfied with one ring
-Will we see Kobe from games 1-5 of the Phoenix series, or Kobe from games six and seven?
-If Miami goes back to back, does Shaq call it a career?
-How the shift from Shaq/Kobe will switch to Wade/Kobe
-How quickly Chris Paul will ascend to best point guard in the L status
We're about four months removed from Dwyane Wade hoisting the Larry O'Brien trophy -- and Mark Cuban cussing out David Stern.
So what's the new season goin to bring? It'll bring the return of some marquee players who battled injuries last season (Tracy McGrady, Amare Stoudemire) and some who have battled injury since the start of the new millenium (Grant Hill).
It'll bring out some big names in new places, most notably Ben Wallace, who will now boost the Chicago wig market.
A couple of things are for sure: Portland will miss the playoffs for the third straight year after a streak that saw the Blazers make the playoffs for 22 consecutive years. And it'll be a battle out west for the league's best record between Phoenix and Dallas.
From now until the start of the season, I'm going to rank the teams in order of worst to best chance to win the NBA title. On Halloween, I'll have my picks for MVP, Finals MVP, playoff pairings, all-leagues, etc.
I wonder if Nate McMillan cries every time he passes a Starbucks
30. Portland Trailblazers: Like all teams, Portland has the potential to be a solid squad. Forward Zach Randolph is entering his six year in the League. Big man Joel Przybilla showed he was a starter in the NBA last season. Beyond that, though, is a number of questions. Can Randolph stay out of the police blotter? How long before Darius Miles goes Sprewell on McMillan? With all the off-the-court problems, is Isiah Rider working for owner Paul Allen as an adviser to the players?
29. New York knicks: Isiah Thomas ruined the CBA. He couldn't get a loaded Pacers team to the finals. He hired Larry Brown. He's starting Stephon Marbury and Steve Francis IN THE SAME BACKCOURT. He'll be on suicide watch by Christmas.
28. Atlanta Hawks: Joe Johnson is one of the most versatile players in the League and playing in the World Championships this summer helped him a lot, I'm sure. Josh Smith is a freak of an athlete and Marvin Williams has played well so far this preseason. But it's the Hawks, though, so that'll only translate into MAYBE 22 wins.
27. Seattle Supersonics: On second thought, maybe McMillan gives the finger to every Starbucks he sees.
26. Boston Celtics: Paul Pierce is one of the best players in the league. Boston has a team of youngsters with loads of potential, too, in Gerald Green, Al Jefferson and rookie Rajon Rondo. But they also have one of the worst game coaches in Doc Rivers. He'll be wondering if he can get his job as a color commentator back by the All-Star break.
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.
