In a year where Boston teams have dominated sports, the Celtics proved to be the story of the year.
Why the Celtics?
Simply because both the Red Sox and Patriots have been dominating for a while now.
For the Boston Celtics this has been no ordinary year. Make that a double for the Celtic fans.
Surprising? You bet.
Lessons learned: Many.
Look at it this way—I loved the team and I only picked them for 50-52 wins. They are going to shatter that number. And you can’t blame me after the last two years. Both years I expected much more than the Celtics delivered. This time I didn’t want to seem like a wild eyed optimist.
The Reality of Youth
Jermaine O’Neal didn’t want to play with them. Neither did Kobe. Ditto Shawn Marion. Add to that list Rashard Lewis and Ray Allen, and I’m sure there are others. I’m talking about too many youthful players. Rashard and Ray looked at what was happening in Seattle and said, “No thanks.”
The biggest lesson I’ve learned from rooting for the Celtics the past few years is how incompetent a slew of talented and energetic, but youthful and inexperienced players can be, especially when there are zero lotto picks among them.
It is said that young players have their own agendas. They are trying to make a team, make a reputation. Winning? That would come in third at the very best. Even learning how to win was something lost on a team that was happy to get close, then lose. I know—I watched about 80 of the 82 games last year. Veteran teams smoked them whenever they needed to, almost every time.
De-fense? That is something that surrounds de yard.
So by its very absence, I’ve learned the value of veteran play. Just knowing where to go on the floor and how to guard a man without fouling were mysteries the young Celtics were largely unable or unwilling to solve.
But even that will only get you to some mushy middle ground in this league. The Ricky Davises, Antoine Walkers, and Mark Blounts of the league are support players at best. More traction than that is needed to make a team a true contender.
Critical Mass
This year I’ve seen what true stars can do for a team compared to those who are simply very good ball players.
It is all about critical mass. Forget all the stuff about each star being a loser. From the start that was nonsense.
When you put three separate stars together—all three who are top 20 players and have led their teams for a number of years—you are going to get something special out of it. How can you not?
They are each used to being double-teamed regularly. They are each used to taking big shots under pressure. They are each used to their teammates looking for them to lead when things got tough.
None of the three had anything like the other two for teammates before. Is it any wonder that Garnett changed his mind and personally called Danny (as Danny has said) after he traded for Ray Allen?
Danny Ainge—Basketball Executive of the Year?
The biggest surprise is that Ainge had enough left to trade for KG and then add three excellent, playoff experienced support players (Scot Pollard, Eddie House, and James Posey) around the core unit, while keeping Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins, the other two starters. He also drafted what could be the best second round pick of the draft in Glen Davis. And he has two open roster spots for tweaks going forward.
Wisely done, if not masterful.
Ainge also retained trusted, loyal caretaker Manager Doc Rivers, the man who had to manage the many iterations of teams that Ainge traded for and drafted over the past three years. It is another move that now looks quite sound. Garnett, in particular, has voiced strong admiration for Doc Rivers.
A Higher Goal
Another lesson that is proving to be irrefutable is that the rules of teamwork and submitting to a higher goal still trump whatever else is in second place—by a long shot.
Each of these three stars have gotten that. They are all committed to winning, not statistics.
Any Three Stars?
Even still, not any three stars would be able to do what this team has done so far. Kevin Garnett is the linchpin. His intensity has been squandered on middling teams for most of his career. He is the catalyst. The team’s defensive mindset begins with him. Garnett has made the first or second NBA All Defensive Team eight years running.
Both Allen and Pierce are crafty shot makers and can pass adeptly. But Ray Allen and Paul Pierce have opened eyes with their defensive efforts. Even offensive player Eddie House can be seen running up court to get to his man quickly. He knows he will watching from the bench if he doesn't. Kendrick Perkins, Rajon Rondo, Tony Allen, and James Posey are all very good defenders. As a unit they are more.
Add in the defensive genius of Tom Thibodeau and you get what you get. No team leads the league in points allowed, FG percent, and three-point percent without five men all playing serious defense for the whole game.
The Team is Making Reluctant Believers
Every team the Celtics play becomes a believer afterwards. Until the Celtic train runs them over, they can’t believe the Beantown ballers are that good. Once they see what kind of defense, energy, bench support, offense, and intense focus the team brings, they know this is a team to be reckoned with.
That this ready-made Celtic team is quieting the naysayers is both an understatement and an amusing thing to watch. They are leaving little room for doubt, especially after this undefeated (4-0) west coast road trip. They absorbed everything those teams could throw at them, and much of it wasn’t basketball.
Any doubts about the team being a contender are falling by the side of road with every challenge met. Winning it all? It is no longer out of the question and a very real possibility going forward.
They could end up becoming the biggest won/loss turnaround story in the history of the NBA.
I don’t know how this story will end, but oh what a beginning!
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9 months ago
I was a fan of the Celtics since I was a kid watching Hondo Havlicek ... MN had no NBA team since they lost the Lakers and, besides, I was born in Boston and grew up on the Iron Range alongside Kevin McHale. Then came the Timberwolves and Kevin Garnett. When he went to Boston my allegiance went with him. I'm a Celtics fan again.
9 months ago
Welcome back and don't be anon!
It's a return to the glory years for sure.
Hondo was a tremendous ball player. He would love playing on this team!
Thanks for your thoughts and memories.
Tom
9 months ago
The best pass that McHale ever made to Ainge was Garnett to Boston..Thanks Kevin!!
9 months ago
Ha! Ha! Good one.
Just to give Kevin somewhat of a break....
Al Jefferson is looking pretty good for a very young and inexperienced team of role players.
Some think that three years from now, Minn might have the upper hand. We will have to see on that one, won't we?
Tom
9 months ago
The NBA needs the Celtics or Knicks to be competitive in order to be relevant.
The Celts made some bold strokes this past off season and its paid off.
The Knicks are clueless and are under the spell of el destructo himself - Isiah Thomas.
9 months ago
They're nasty
9 months ago
I live in MN and was sad to see Garnett go. I'm happy for him though and I hope he does well (and it looks like he is) with Boston. He's a great player and a real asset to the game. Some people in the MN media have faulted Garnett for his inability (they say) to take over games and so on. While that may be true to a degree (Garnett doesn't have the offensive talent that Kobe or LeBron have), he's a compete player and his competitive drive is unmatched. Jim Souhan of the Mpls Trib has ripped Garnett some lately. He's been saying that Garnett pouted here the last two seasons of his contract, and didn't try too hard. Those of us who watched all those games and saw Garnett's work know that that is a lie. KG may need some help on the court (who doesn't), but to question his competitive drive I think is unfair. But when you have the likes of Jim Souhan around, that's the kind of stuff you expect to hear in MN. It's too bad that guy can't see that the level of intensity that KG brought will be hard to replace.... not to mention that you never read about any bad behavior from KG. He's a first-class All Star by any calculation, and I wish da Kid the title that he deserves.
9 months ago
I hate the Celtics, but Ainge made some great moves trading a mass of garbage to for two elite players that compliment each other. I give credit where credit is due. Where were you Isiah? Asleep?
9 months ago
John - Amazing contrast between NY and Boston right now - unbelievable mess there that just won't get cleaned up. I thought you had to be smart to get the kind of money that Dolan has.
Trey - Yeeeessss, they are.
Anon - thanks for those insights.
You actually hit on something that has been on my mind for a while....
I've been wondering myself if maybe Garnett is playing harder this year. He looks just unbelievable and sooo focused. If he was like that all the time, I really didn't see him enough to appreciate it.
Everything else you said, I totally see. A first class guy in a league of pampered (fill-in-the blank)s. Even his new team mates are amazed at his constant, and intense focus.
Andrew - Don't say 'hate'. It's such a strong word. Say 'platonically uninvolved' or 'neutralized positive feelings'. You'll feel better. Really.
Isaiah was a great player and equally as bad as a manager of businesses since. You are looking at his last supervisory gig in this sport.
Keep the thoughts coming guys. I appreciate it.
Tom
9 months ago
John - Amazing contrast between NY and Boston right now - unbelievable mess there that just won't get cleaned up. I thought you had to be smart to get the kind of money that Dolan has.
Trey - Yeeeessss, they are.
Anon - thanks for those insights.
You actually hit on something that has been on my mind for a while....
I've been wondering myself if maybe Garnett is playing harder this year. He looks just unbelievable and sooo focused. If he was like that all the time, I really didn't see him enough to appreciate it.
Everything else you said, I totally see. A first class guy in a league of pampered (fill-in-the blank)s. Even his new team mates are amazed at his constant, and intense focus.
Andrew - Don't say 'hate'. It's such a strong word. Say 'platonically uninvolved' or 'neutralized positive feelings'. You'll feel better. Really.
Isaiah was a great player and equally as bad as a manager of businesses since. You are looking at his last supervisory gig in this sport.
Keep the thoughts coming guys. I appreciate it.
Tom
9 months ago
Hey mods, Can you delete the repeat? Sorry. Argh!
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