What a difference a year makes.
In fact, for the Boston Celtics, what a difference a couple of months makes. Go back to May 3 before Game 7 of the Atlanta series, and everybody in Beantown was about one Garnett-missed jumper away from jumping ship and giving up on the C's for about another 22 years.
Back then, Doc Rivers was getting eaten alive for his poor lineup decisions and for his inability to coach the team to road wins. The Big Three was getting crucified for its inability to capture the big moment, or at the very least, keep up with a 37-win team.
Yeah, those were the days.
And now after a Jesus Shuttlesworth resurrection, a Paul Pierce Finals MVP trophy, and a KG performance in the clutch, the Celtics are revered just as the original Big Three of Bird-McHale-Parrish were and Doc Rivers is considered the inspirational catalyst of it all.
Ah, the power of a championship.
It's funny because almost everyone seemed to argue that the star players on this team needed a championship, as if it would somehow validate their already tremendous accomplishments.
Everyone spoke as if Paul Pierce was not an all-time Celtic great, Kevin Garnett was not a Hall-of-Fame power forward, and Ray Allen was not one of the best sharpshooters of all time.
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The idea that somehow these three great players still needed something to justify their accomplishments is simply preposterous because frankly, there is just as much luck involved in winning a championship as there is skill, chemistry, and commitment.
Had the Celtics won the draft lottery, we'd probably be staring at a starting five of Rondo, Gerald Green, Paul Pierce, Big Al, and Perk.
Where would the number one draft pick be? Well, that person would have been Greg Oden and he would have been sitting on the Celtic bench rubbing his surgically-repaired knee while watching another losing season as "Title Town" would have been no more than "Cursed Town."
It's not even too far of a stretch to say that Paul Pierce might not have even been a Celtic, for he would be the first to tell you that he wanted O-U-T, and KG and Ray Allen would be in the same boat watching their tremendous careers fade into a series of "Yeah, but..."
Stop the nonsense. These three are some of the best ever to play the game and what they accomplished this summer doesn't prove that; it merely adds to an already tremendous legacy.
KG's 10 All-Star appearances were not a fluke, Paul Pierce's 17,000 points were not a result of lucky rolls, and Ray Allen's 2,100 three-pointers didn't drop by themselves.
If there is anything this season should prove, it's that it takes an incredible set of fortunate circumstances to create a championship team.
First off, you need team talent, not merely a dominant individual (ask Kobe), and that includes a strong bench (James Posey, Leon Powe, and Eddie House) and valuable veteran experience (P.J. Brown and even *sigh* Sam "Shoot Shoot Shoot" Cassell" ).
Without these pieces, no team has a chance, no matter how good the "franchise player" is. Hell, if Jordan couldn't do it for the first half of his career, how can you expect anyone else to do it?
It wasn't until he had the pieces around him that he was able to truly contend, but had he not won those championships, would he not have been a transcendent player? Would he have not been Michael Jordan?
In that same way, KG, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce were champions before they ever put themselves in this position to earn their first rings.
Each of them has been a model of consistency for 10-plus years, and this new championship is just the icing on the cake. This ring does not define their careers; their careers define their careers.
Without the consistent body of work, the bling means nothing.
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2 months ago
I enjoyed reading the article, but I think you've based it on the erroneous assumption that "almost everyone seemed to argue that the star players on this team needed a championship, as if it would somehow validate their already tremendous accomplishments." I, for one, have not held such views.
As a Celtics fan since the mid-1970s, I can assure you that many of us have stuck with this team in both the good years and bad. Sure, you see your bandwagon fans, but can you nominate any team in any professional sport that has had a breakthrough (championship-caliber) season where bandwagon fans haven't jumped aboard?
As far as placing such a high value on winning the championship, you should read some of the public comments made by Ray Allen, KG and Paul Pierce both before and after winning it all. To them, at least, it meant much more than their individual achievements (if their own statements can be believed), so perhaps "almost everyone" is simply taking their cue from them.
from 2 months ago
I don't question the true fan's appreciation of these players, for just as you probably appreciated Pierce for everything he he had done for the franchise, the same probably goes for the die-hards in Milkwakee/Seattle and Minnesota that appreciated Ray Allen and KG. What i was trying to say is that the public perception outside of their respective cities was that somehow these players accomplishments were tainted or just underappreciated because they lacked the ring...when really the only reason why they didnt have rings was because their teams weren't that good. I just think that basing someones career soley on his ability to earn a world championship is extremely unfair, especially considering how many things have to happen that are outside of the players control. Thanks for the feedback!
2 months ago
nice article... although I disagree with the notion that MJ needed "talent around him". Pippen was the only guy that really could be considered anything better than mediocre. The fact of the matter is, Jordan made all the Longleys, the Rodmans, the Kerrs, the Kukocs, etc.
in any case, I'm glad these three guys got their rings. Pierce truly established himself as a great player in this league and a great in Boston history with his incredible performance in the finals.
Garnett was great all year and after what went down in Minnesota, it's nice to know he's finally a winner.
And Ray Allen, the greatest pure shooter I have and, quite possibly, will ever see has a ring on his finger after draining seven threes in game six.
2 months ago
Very nice article!!
2 months ago
good points!
2 months ago
Fantastic article!
2 months ago
excellent article.
but i have to disagree with one point ...
in reference to michael jordan ...
"... had he not won those championships, would he not have been a transcendent player?"
mj won those championships because he was the most dominant and clutchest player of his era. the championships were a byproduct of his dominance and clutchness. he's the primary reason why outstanding players such as charles barkley, patrick ewing, karl malone and john stockton are without a ring. they had the misfortune of playing during jordan's prime. heck, if mj wasn't retired for two years, hakeem olajuwon might have been shut out too.
so the championships certainly are part of the transcendent package. with the championships, he and bill russell stand alone at the top of the nba totem pole. without the championships, he's still one of the all-time greats, but he's mixing company one notch below with the likes of elgin baylor and wilt chamberlain.
and that brings me to kobe bryant, who doesn't belong yet in jordan's elite fraternity. yes, kobe has three rings, but he was shaq's sidekick during that run. kobe had the opportunity to be "THE MAN" in this year's nba finals, but he came up short. he wasn't transcendent.
2 months ago
Good article and i understand what your saying, that this championship doens't validate their careers it just add to it. Im kinda on the fence here becuase yes you can be a great player and never win a championship. However, neither won of those three guys could win a championship when they were they main and only guy. And they've all been on some pretty good teams with some pretty good players. All three have made it to the conference finals before.
If KG, Allen, and Pierce never won a championship then they would still be great hall of fame players but people wouldn't look at them the same way as they do know.
When you think of Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone, and John Stockton what do you think of? All time great players who never won a ring.
You implied that MJ couldn't win a championship until he got guys around him. However, that is part of MJ legacy, winning while only being the one great player on the team. That's why ever thinks that if Kobe can win a few championships without Shaq or another major star then he will begin to crawl into MJ teritory.
You asked if MJ would be the great player he is without the championships. Well, no he wouldn't be. IF MJ only won 1 or 2 championships he wouldn't be considered the best player ever.
Your last sentence say "Without the consistent body of work, the ring means nothing." I'd have to disagree with you on that. Look at Robert Horry, who has career averages of 7.0 ppg and 5 rpg. I've watched sports shows where they have seriously discussed whether he should be in the hall of fame. That's because he's made a living hitting clutch shots and has 7 rings. He's a winner. Without the rings a guy like Horry is a nobody. Whether it's fair or not the ring will define your career, at least to a certain point.
2 months ago
Great article. Is it true you can touch rim?
2 months ago
True that
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