The Celtics Need One Player Now More Than Ever

The last time I wrote about the Boston Celtics, I said they had lost their identity and were falling fast. That was back on March 10, 2010. Since then, a lot has changed, mostly in a positive manner. The Celtics somehow flipped the switch on for the playoffs and have been on a role ever since. They decimated the Miami Heat in five games, won a tough seven game series with the Cleveland LeBrons and ran through the first three games of this series with the Orlando Magic. However, there definitely has to be a bit of panic right now in Celtic Nation.

After winning the first three games of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Magic, the Celtics have done their best impression of the Boston Bruins by losing the next two games. Granted, this isn't hockey where upsets happen all the time but it would have been more relieving for the team to close it out either last night or in Game 4.

It isn't just the fact that they haven't closed the series out but that they are possibly facing losing half of their frontcourt rotation to technical fouls and an elbow to the face (heh, elbows have been a cute theme for the playoffs, haven't they?). Kendrick Perkins was called for two questionable technical fouls and Glen "Big Baby" Davis took a Dwight Howard elbow to the face, concussing him.

Kendrick Perkins was T'd up for the seventh time this playoff season and per league rules that is an automatic suspension. A league representative said they would be reviewing the technical fouls though and a ruling should come soon. Big Baby told teammates he would be playing in Game 6 but he still needs to be medically cleared by doctors. With a concussion in play, that is extremely unlikely. That's two of the most important players the Celtics have, possibly out in Game 6.

The Celtics are going to need the entire team to step up if both are unable to play in Game 6. There is one player that will need to channel his former self though and that is Kevin Garnett. KG since Day 1 has been the single most important player on the Celtics. Rajon Rondo has somewhat evolved into that role, but he's ailing at the moment (still had 19 points last night) and it would be foolish to try and depend on him in the frontcourt anyways.

Garnett won't be able to guard Dwight Howard but he still can play help defense and block shots, alter shots, make steals and start fastbreaks from his defensive position. Oh, he can score the ball too. I'm not sure if anybody gave him the memo but we depend on his offense a lot. With just 10.4 points per game in the series, we need more out of Garnett. When he's hitting those mid-range jump shots, it is difficult for anybody to stop the Celtics offense.

With our frontcourt possibly being limited to Rasheed Wallace, Brian Scalabrine, Shelden Williams and Kevin Garnett, we are going to need the big fella KG to step up  in a big way. Dwight Howard is going to get his but if KG can keep Rashard Lewis in check, help on Dwight, come up big on the boards and knock down shots, the Celtics have a great chance to advance to the NBA Finals.