Boston Celtics: 10 Reasons They Have The Best Starting Lineup in The NBA
Boasting a 34-10 record this season, the Celtics breathe a sigh of relief as they hold the best record in the East in spite of injury problems.
Despite not having Kendrick Perkins in the lineup since he tore his ACL in Game 6 of last year's NBA Finals, the four core players of the starting five have held the team together.
Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo have been healthy, for the most part, and have helped the Cs keep the top spot in the East despite countless injuries the team has suffered this season.
Last night Perkins made his first appearance this season, logging 17 minutes in a Celtics victory over Cleveland.
In December and January, the team had to go without Garnett and Rondo at different points as well, with Glen Davis and Nate Robinson, respectively, stepping up strong in each of their absences.
This season, without Perk, the lineup has featured Shaquille O'Neal as the starting center. O'Neal has played effective and positive minutes, playing solid basketball despite being one of the older players in the league.
These are 10 reasons why the Celtics feature the best starting five in the league.
No. 10: The Best Team in the Eastern Conference
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From the season's opening tip-off at TD Garden against the Heat, the Celtics have set the standard for Eastern Conference.
Since edging the Heat 88-80 in the season opener, the Celtics are yet to look back.
The Celtics, now 34-10, hold a three-game lead in the Eastern Conference and an 11-game lead in the division over the second-place Knicks, who are currently 23-21. They are winners of seven of their last 10 and won a season-high 14 consecutive games in December.
Given the countless injuries the team has suffered this season, head coach Doc Rivers and company can be content to say the least.
No. 9: The Perfect Complements on Offense
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Offensively, there are few teams like the Celtics in this regard. Balancing the amount of talent a team like Boston has can be a difficult task, but the Cs have done it as well as anyone.
It's slightly ironic that Rondo is the Celtic pictured, considering he would be the fourth option of the five players on offense.
As the point guard Rondo plays the most significant role, yet he's not necessarily going to expend energy scoring the ball. When needed he can make things happen at the rim, but he's not what teams would consider a scoring threat.
His ability to get the ball to the open man in transition and in a half-court set is arguably better than any point guard in the league, boasting a league-leading 13 assists a game.
Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce are all known for their scoring ability, but they all do it in different ways.
Pierce, leading the team this season with 19 points per contest, does it with his shot and ability to put the ball on the floor. When it comes down to crunch time, he's usually the first to get the nod from Rivers.
Garnett, despite not having the explosiveness he once did, opens up the Cs offense. He is one of the few power forwards in the league that can open defenders up with an outside shot, while also having the ability to finish at the rim.
Unlike the other two, Allen is one of the game's best players away from the basketball, finding his spot and getting open looks as well as anyone. His three-ball is a force to be reckoned with, as he inches closer to owning the three-point record.
Perkins and Shaquille get the job done down low. Perkins finishes down low and is there for cleaning up the glass for the big three. Shaq, a top five scorer all-time, is now reduced to a similar role with age, crashing the offensive boards on missed shots.
No. 8: Guess Who's Back?
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After missing just over half the season recovering from a torn ACL, Celtics starting center Kendrick Perkins is back and playing again.
Last night he made his season debut, playing 17 minutes while chipping in seven points, six rebounds and three assists. He was efficient in his minutes and should only continue to improve as the season progresses.
Perkins made an early return after the Celtics had previously anticipated a February debut. If he can keep healthy for the Cs through the next couple of weeks, expect him to soon find himself in the starting role once again.
No. 7: Rondo Putting Up Career Numbers
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It must be tough playing alongside three of the game's better talents the league has seen in the last 15 years.
Finally, Rajon Rondo can breathe a sigh of relief, arguably making a name for himself more than ever this season.
His play has been recognized in Boston and around the league, leading the league with 13 assists a game through 44 games, a mark that would stand as ninth all-time if kept up. He has also put up career-high numbers in field goal percentage and steals, shooting 51 percent and averaging 2.4 steals a game (second in the NBA).
Twice Rondo has had games with over 20 assists, posting 24 and 23 in two different games.
No. 6: Regular Season Success
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That smile from starting guard Ray Allen says it all. When it comes to the regular season, the Celtics are all smiles.
Since team executive director of basketball operations and GM Danny Ainge assembled the group in 2007, they have gelled.
Over the last three seasons, the Celtics have won 66, 62 and 50 games, with a .724 winning percentage in the regular season.
Considering the 66 wins came in their first season as a unit, it's fair to say there was not much adjustment period necessary for the big three.
No. 5: The Truth Finding His Touch
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The big three inevitably are suffering what most players in their mid-thirties go through: the gradual aging. Although it may turn some heads, despite his 33 years of age, it's as if Paul Pierce has only gotten better.
This season Pierce is averaging 19 points a game, leading the team and upping his points per game by nearly a point from last season.
Pierce has also shot the ball fairly well this season. His 51.4 percent shooting from the floor is not only his best since the the arrival of Allen and Garnett but would also stand as a career high for Pierce. He also has career highs in three-point percentage and free-throw percentage, shooting 42.7 percent from distance and 85.3 percent from the foul line.
His 1.81 turnovers per game are also a career low.
With injuries piling up this season for the Cs, Pierce has managed to stay healthy and keep the Celtics atop the East, putting up career-best numbers in the process.
No. 4: Garnett Is Finally Healthy
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For the first time in a season and a half, starting forward Kevin Garnett has been completely healthy for the Boston Celtics.
Despite missing 10 games due to an injured calf muscle, Garnett has been vital in keeping the Celtics ahead of the Heat and Magic this season, winning three of four against the East's two bigger threats.
This season he is averaging 15 points and nine rebounds a game and is shooting 53.7 percent from the field. The nine rebounds per game leads the team, as his field-goal percentage ranks third. His points and shooting percentage are his best since his first season with the team in 2007-2008.
Outside of the statistics, his presence is felt on each possession. On defense, he is the vocal leader. On offense, he's there for pick and rolls with Pierce or on the finishing end of one of slick Rondo's alley-oop dimes.
He's the glue for the Celtics on both ends of the floor. For the first time since his knee surgery, he's been healthy and playing like it, as his numbers have shown.
No. 3: Two Is Better Than One
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Immediately after the final whistle of the NBA Finals, the Celtics began their search for frontcourt help. Losing Perkins in Game 6 to a torn ACL in his right knee left a big hole in the Cs depth chart for this season.
In early August, the team signed Shaquille O’Neal, which turned its share of heads. Last season, O'Neal was part of a LeBron James playoff run in Cleveland, falling to the Cs. This season with the team, Shaq has stepped up to the plate in place of Perk, making his minutes count.
In 21.3 minutes per game, the big fella has put up 4.9 rebounds, 9.9 points and 1.1 blocks. Despite missing his last two games due to a minor hip injury, in his last start Shaq had 12 points, 12 boards, two blocks and three steals.
One thing the Celtics have that most teams don’t is the luxury of having two big men that can match up defensively with the biggest, strongest players in the league down low.
With the Celtics likely to take on the likes of the Orlando Magic this postseason, having both Perk and Shaq to guard Dwight Howard will undoubtedly work in the Celtics’ favor.
With Perkins now back in the mix, the Celtics will feature arguably the most size any team has to offer at the center position. Perkins will surely get his starting job back with time, but look for Shaq to get his share of minutes with his success so far this season.
No. 2: The Green Monster in TD Garden
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The Boston Red Sox's Fenway Park is making way for a new "green monster," as the big, green wall has made its way into TD Garden.
When it comes to defense, the Ubuntu chants are being heard louder than ever, making it difficult for opponents to score against arguably the league's No. 1 defensive unit.
The Celtics, allowing a second-best 91.8 points a contest, are neck and neck with the Miami Heat for the top defense statistically in the NBA. Since the the starting five was assembled, the Celtics have had a top five-ranked defense, but never No. 1.
This season, the defensive intensity has stepped up a notch. The difference: a healthy Kevin Garnett and better depth on the bench.
If there's one thing the Celtics have had troubles with all season, it's keeping players healthy. Yet despite the countless injuries, the team has kept one another playing arguably the best defense in the entire league. Players like Glen Davis, Semih Erden and Shaquille O'Neal have played valuable minutes, helping by making hustle plays on the defensive end night in and night out.
Even more important has been the addition of a healthy KG. His presence has been felt this season, leading the team in rebounds (9.0 rpg) and making hustle plays down the stretch. As Rivers constantly preaches, Garnett is the glue of this defensive unit and is the vocal leader whether on the court or the bench.
The Celtics average 8.4 steals a game, fourth best in the league. They also force 15.8 turnovers a game, a mark that stands at fifth in the league.
No. 1: Been There, Done That—A Plethora of Veteran Experience
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Let’s face it: This team has done it before.
All five starters have won an NBA championship. What makes it even more significant?
They’ve all won the title together, assuming Perkins is added back to the starting lineup in the next couple of weeks.
With Shaq as the starting center, as he has been most of this season, there is even more championship experience brought to the table. The big man boasts four rings, three with the Lakers and Kobe Bryant and one with Miami and Dwyane Wade.
The core of the starting lineup, the "big three" (Pierce, Allen and Garnett), combine to have 44 years of experience in the league under their belts. The three also boast a whopping 298 combined playoff games both played in and started in.
Simply put, these three know a thing or two about winning in this league.
At the moment the Celtics feature four players in the 20,000-point club: Shaquille O’Neal (28,582), Kevin Garnett (22,784), Ray Allen (21,708) and Paul Pierce (20,714). No team in the league has the luxury of having two players in the club.
Other active players who have reached the 20,000-point mark are San Antonio’s Tim Duncan, the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant and Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki.
Although most wouldn’t consider Rondo and Perkins veterans, they have the playoff experience too, with Rondo playing in 64 games and Perkins in 68.
Not to mention playing alongside the big three has undoubtedly helped the two mature faster as players as well.
