Many Boston Celtic Fans Are in Denial About Team's Biggest Obstacle in 2011
As a lifelong sports fan in Boston, I've grown accustomed to many fans exaggerating the strengths of Boston teams or athletes in comparison to their opponents. For example, I've heard many argue, without merit, that New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is clearly better than Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning. Fans and some sportswriters can be a tad "parochial" in their outlook.
Lately, however, I've noticed some pure denial on the part of many fans and some sportswriters when it comes to assessing the chances of the Boston Celtics to win an 18th NBA championship.
Why do I say this now? Because, lately, Boston fans and sports media have been obsessively discussing whether the Celtics' recent trade of popular center Kendrick Perkins and guard Nate Robinson will result in the Celtics failing to win it all.
While fans have harped on Perkins' loss and whether new players Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic can help the team, they've overlooked the team's biggest obstacle: Age and mileage. The age and court mileage of the team's "Big Three" of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen.
The Celtics are damned good, but if they win it all this year, it will be an against-the-odds story that is more about their stars overcoming the effects of age than anything else. It will be about their finding ways to tap their new, younger players, their will to win and their teamwork. The odds are strongly against them. It's harder for older players to find the same intensity and energy all the way to the end of the Finals.
Speaking of the Finals, many Boston fans have forgotten what happened in the 2010 Finals vs. the Lakers. The Lakers won because they had more energy in Game 7. They got 23 offensive rebounds to the Celtics' eight offensive rebounds. The Celtics badly "ran out of gas,"especially in the fourth quarter. In the fourth quarter, the Celtics gave up 30 points to the Lakers after they'd given up only 53 points to the Lakers in the first three quarters.
It wasn't subtle either. I remember fearing, earlier in the Lakers' series, the Celtics would be done in by fatigue. To the Celts' credit, they found ways to compete until that last quarter.
But they didn't lose because Perkins left that game due to an injury in the first quarter. Many Boston fans have chosen to frame it that way. I recall Pierce, Allen and Garnett all looked tired in that Game 7. Pierce missed 10 of 15 shots, Allen missed 11 of 14 shots and Garnett got only three rebounds.
I recall that before Game 7 even happened, I had wished that the Celtics had had just one more day off between those last couple of games. That's how obvious it was that the team needed more rest.
As I recall, Allen had worn down by the last part of the Lakers series and Pierce didn't look that fresh, either. He was up and down. Garnett did okay, but, was not himself last year, and at times seemed to run out of energy. I recall the younger Glen "Big Baby" Davis showed more energy and rescued the team quite often.
When the 2010 season ended, I thought it was the end of an era. I felt sure that the "Big Three" would be broken up somehow. I have to admit the 2011 Celtics have surprised me, but do fans expect the Celtics to suddenly find more energy throughout the playoffs despite the age factor?
The Celtics have played well for many reasons this year. It helps to have the young, explosive Rajon Rondo, an "assist machine," at point guard. Garnett has led the way on defense and is back to playing at the high level he did before his injuries. Allen has shot unbelievably well. Shaq has contributed nicely, when healthy.
On the other hand, it's not a coincidence that this team has performed so poorly in games falling on consecutive days. In fact, the Celtics, with a 46-15 record today, have lost six of those 15 games when the games were the second of a "back-to-back"sequence.
Celtics fans have vigorously debated whether Green and Krstic will help the team or whether the loss of Perkins has sealed their fate. The latest obsession is whether Shaquille O'Neal will return soon and stay healthy through the playoffs to make up for the loss of Perk. Again, the odds are probably against Shaq staying completely healthy until the end, but again, I doubt that'd be the only factor at play.
People are overlooking the age of this team. They're overlooking what their eyes should tell them when, frequently, the team struggles to get rebounds and fatigue begins to hurt them in the second half, particularly the fourth quarter, of games. Again, to their credit, the Celtics often find ways to win despite being a bit slower.
Fans should be happy to have the 6'9" Green, who, at forward, brings athleticism and speed lacking in the older core. Krstic, a 7-foot center, has already shown he can score with ease under the basket and he's getting offensive rebounds.
So, the Celtics should compete quite well in the playoffs, but whether they win it all is much more iffy. They are one of a handful of excellent teams. Chicago may be too young and fast for them. Yet, by the time the playoffs roll around, do Celtic fans expect Pierce, Allen and Garnett to all perform outstandingly in every series?
The best hope for the Celtics, ironically, may be if their newer players thrive and can contribute enough to allow their Big Three to rest a bit. It's difficult, in any sport, to overcome the effects of age.
