Boston Celtics: Their Road Back to Championship Contention

We all thought they were done. This year was supposed to be a farewell tour and nothing more. The window for championship contention had slammed shut and after a first-round playoff exit, the rebuilding process would begin.

Kevin Garnett was an over-the-hill big man who had lost his physical skills. Paul Pierce aged overnight. Ray Allen was a three-point specialist and nothing else, and Rajon Rondo no longer felt needed after being mentioned in trade rumors for the past few months.

To make matters worse, the team’s bench was quickly disappearing due to injury. Chris Wilcox, a big man who provided size and the ability to run the floor, became the team’s second player to be sidelined for the season with a heart ailment. Mickael Pietrus suffered a concussion and a return seemed unrealistic. Finally, Ray Allen was forced to miss multiple games with an ankle injury.

Fans came to the realization that the Celtics tank had emptied. The local media treated them as second class citizens and even after a victory, brushed it off as nothing of significance.

Just when it was time for their toughest stretch of the season, things changed.

KG regained that hop to his step that made him a Hall of Famer. He was tired of the media constantly calling him old and past his prime, and he started playing angry again. Garnett started putting up 20 and 10 nights like he use to during his days in Minnesota.

2010 first-round draft pick Avery Bradley came out of nowhere and became one of the league’s best defenders. On national television he held his own against Dwyane Wade, even recording an acrobatic highlight reel block on the star guard in a crucial Celtics victory.

Greg Stiemsma splashed onto the scene and has added much needed depth to the team’s front court. His defense and blocking ability has been pivotal for a team that desperately needed help off the bench.

The team’s defense began to play as good as they had in years. With Bradley now in the starting lineup, they had an elite perimeter defender matched with the defensive smarts of veterans Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. Brandon Bass even began to step up his game on the defensive end as KG’s intensity had seemed to rub off on him.

They had their confidence back. The Celtics have defeated Miami twice in the past month, showing the league that they fear no team. During a stretch that was supposed to end their season, Boston has played their best basketball.

It may seem impossible to believe, but the Celtics have morphed into a feared team in the Eastern Conference. Their defense and efficient shooting makes them a threat to any opponent.

The now big four of the Celtics has been together for five years now. They know each other so well and have taught the players around them how to play Celtics basketball. With the confidence Boston has in their ability and their experience as a team, they have the intangibles needed to go deep into the playoffs.

The way the Celtics are playing basketball right now makes them a team no one wants to face. If the team continues their resurgence, they have an opportunity to make a deep playoff run.