In the rafters above the parquet floor at the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, 16 green and white banners commemorate the Boston Celtics' championship seasons.Since the last title in 1986, Beantown has watched its boys stumble repeatedly. The Celtics have made the postseason in just 11 of the last 20 years, and escaped the first round only five times.
With that sort of track record, it's hard to call Boston a basketball town these days.
The 2006-07 campaign was especially disappointing. With Paul Pierce sidelined in the middle of the winter, the Celtics suffered 18 straight defeats. Attendance at the Garden fell to 20th in the NBA.
The Celtics ultimately finished with the second-worst record in the league, giving them a 19.9 percent chance at the No. 1 pick in the Draft Lottery, and an 18.8 percent chance at No. 2.
As it played out, they had the hard luck to fall all the way to five.
And that's when things started to turn for the better.
Shortly after drafting Georgetown's Jeff Green, Danny Ainge engineered a trade that sent Green, Delonte West, and Wally Szczerbiak to the Seattle Supersonics for Ray Allen and LSU's Glen “Big Baby” Davis.
Boston fans suddenly had a bit of energy—even as some critics wondered why the Celtics would mortgage their future for the 32-year-old Allen.
Ainge shrugged off those concerns, though, and immediately set to work on a second blockbuster deal.
On July 31, Boston acquired Kevin Garnett from the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first seven-for-one trade in league history. The Celtics dissembled virtually their entire roster to obtain the Big Ticket—and to create the most feared Big Three in the NBA.
The combination of Pierce, Allen, and Garnett has Vegas bookies giving 5-to-1 odds on a Boston championship. On November 2nd, the new-look Celtics open the season at home against Washington.
And, as it stands, the Celtics are the team to beat in the East. That’s right—the team to beat.
Forget what KG told the Boston Globe’s Gary Dzen—“I wouldn’t go that far and say we’re the team to beat. We have things to prove. We have to work on chemistry.”
That’s nonsense.
Ainge didn’t structure his new-look franchise to come in second, and anything less than Boston's first title since the Larry Bird Era should be considered a failure. This team isn’t built for the future—they're built for today.
The people of Boston have waited long enough for an inept front office to return the Celtics to glory. Ainge looks to have finally done just that.
There's still room in the rafters at the Garden for a few more title banners. Boston’s moment is now. The players know it, the media knows it, and the fans know it.
Ainge better know it as well—or his blockbuster deals will be remembered as nothing more than busts.
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about 1 year ago
So my firends and I were debating last week whether the Celtics could make a claim to be the most dominant team in their sport, moreso than the Yankees.
I for one measure a team's greatness in Dynasty Count. How many distinct dynasties did the Celtics have, histoircally speaking? I have them pegged at 3.
I'm sort of doubtful that they can achieve the same stature, even with Garnett.
about 1 year ago
Can this team really play at a the level of say, the Spurs? Without a good point guard leading the way, the answer is no way.
Rondo is the key. I'm just not convinced he's going to be ready for this (maybe with a better coach).
Winning the East is doable, but something weird (like a Tony Parker injury or Rondo maturing beyond his years in one season) would have to happen for another banner to rise into the rafters at the Garden.
about 1 year ago
I hate the celtics but Im not gonna lie to myself... they would be an elite team out west, they will roll through the east. Look what KG and the wolves did in 04 with spree and cassell, and that was when the west had the Lakers, Spurs and Kings dominating... right hten the Mavs couldnt even crack the top half WITH NASH. So yeah, Kg had spree and Cassell who arent nearly as good as Pierce and Ray (who have both took teams to conference finals appearances as well and been top 10 for mvp), and in a much stronger west with two powerhouse dynasties and he got em two wins from the finals and probably woulda won it if cassell didnt get hurt.
So youre notj gonna tell me in todays EAST with a BETTER supporting cast and a much better big 3 to be a part of that theyre not dominating it. I personally think theyre gonna win the whole thing, not just the east. Those 3 are a perfect fit on the court and in every other way... and Danny freakin Ainge pulled off landing them 2 without losing Pierce.... wow. And their rotation around the 3 superstars is set now too....... they would be right up with phoenix and them and possibly win the west. Theyre gonna dominate the East. Only Detroit and Miami could have a shot and thats if they actually once again care and turn back the clock a bit with serious motivation (and only miami if they land ron artest)..... unless the nets, wizards or bulls land jermaine oneal or the cavs land bibby theyre all dead in the water.
Boston sucks, but the Celtics are gonna dominate. Theyre gonna be a special team for the next 4 or 5 years.
about 1 year ago
Before we get too far into the Celtic's lovefest, just remember they are still coached by Doc Rivers, so absolutely anything is possible.
about 1 year ago
kevin garnett wearing #5 ? how about his shoes, it is mark as 21? and mine too.... damn you boston. give garnett his number...muhahahah
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