Celtics MVP

[Toine43]

This is almost an impossible question to answer, because the Celtics truly are a team, as we all know, and they'd be much worse off without any of these guys. Nevertheless, I thought that it would be interesting to discuss who you think has been the Boston's most valuable player this season. For me, it's tough not to choose Kevin Garnett, because without him the team wouldn't be where it is now, and so on and so on, but I'm not talking about last season's MVP. If you're talking strictly about the 2008-2009 season, and who has been the most important player to this team this year, the answer has to be Ray Allen. While most of the other guys have been up and down, Ray has been consistent all season long besides a very, very short slump, and his being on pace for 40, 50, 90 shows just how consistent he has been. While Allen scored quietly last year, he has often been a catalyst for the Celtics this year, scoring early and often. Also, Ray Ray has been a huge part of many of the Celtics' third quarter surges; he always seems to be the one who puts the game out of hand early, so that he and his fellow starter can take the 4th quarter off. Allen is currently shooting a higher percentage from the field and from the free throw stripe than he ever has before, and his 3P% is his highest since the 01-02 season. Defensively, I also believe that Allen is putting forth a consistently solid effort, just as he did last year.

You could make a case for any one these four players, but the bottom line is that Allen has been the most consistent. For me, he is unquestionably the player that the Celtics can least afford to have injure himself.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Ray Allen gets my vote. He's been really good this year.

[Roy Hobbs]

Agreed, Allen has been the best consistent and all-around player so far this year.

[Donoghus]

I'm gonna mix it up and go with Rondo.

As he goes, the team goes. 

[Toine43]

I'm gonna mix it up and go with Rondo.

As he goes, the team goes. 

I agree that as Rondo goes, the team goes, and that made me tempted to choose Rondo (the only player who I didn't consider choosing was Pierce). The thing is, without Ray Allen, the team would be on a completely different level than it is now. In other words, the team's level of performance for a given game is definitely most dependent on Rondo's performance, but that's more a product of Rondo's inconsistency than a sign that he deserves the be the team's MVP. If the Celtics were without Ray but still had Rondo, they'd just be a team that went as Rondo went, but a lot worse overall.

[Donoghus]

I'm gonna mix it up and go with Rondo.

As he goes, the team goes. 

I agree that as Rondo goes, the team goes, and that made me tempted to choose Rondo (the only player who I didn't consider choosing was Pierce). The thing is, without Ray Allen, the team would be on a completely different level than it is now. In other words, the team's level of performance for a given game is definitely most dependent on Rondo's performance, but that's more a product of Rondo's inconsistency than a sign that he deserves the be the team's MVP. If the Celtics were without Ray but still had Rondo, they'd just be a team that went as Rondo went, but a lot worse overall.

That line there pretty much sums up my feelings.  However, I do look at it as a sign of Rondo's valuability to this team.  To me, he's the linchpin. 

Also, MVP is such a subjective term since people can go all sorts of angles when coming up with what makes an MVP.

[xmuscularghandix]

KG's got no votes? and he's the starting PF for the all-star team. oh boy.

[Toine43]

bump.

[Jaycelt]

  I don't know that you can pick one guy.  I mean, can we win without any one of those players?  Sure, we have already proven that by winning without each.  Could we sustain a winning team for a long period of time without any of those guys?
I think when it comes down to it, of the four Rondo would be the easiest to win without.  Then Ray. Then it's a toss up.

Really if you think about it Perkins might be even more important to this team than Rondo in the course of a season, which is why we struggled without him.

I realize that a lot of people will take issue with that but I really do think we could win without Rondo.  Although we would have to play differtently we have the talent to do that.

[wdleehi]

KG.

This team is still driven by the intensity of it's defense, and KG is the leader there. 

[jdub1660]

This is almost an impossible question to answer, because the Celtics truly are a team, as we all know, and they'd be much worse off without any of these guys. Nevertheless, I thought that it would be interesting to discuss who you think has been the Boston's most valuable player this season. For me, it's tough not to choose Kevin Garnett, because without him the team wouldn't be where it is now, and so on and so on, but I'm not talking about last season's MVP. If you're talking strictly about the 2008-2009 season, and who has been the most important player to this team this year, the answer has to be Ray Allen. While most of the other guys have been up and down, Ray has been consistent all season long besides a very, very short slump, and his being on pace for 40, 50, 90 shows just how consistent he has been. While Allen scored quietly last year, he has often been a catalyst for the Celtics this year, scoring early and often. Also, Ray Ray has been a huge part of many of the Celtics' third quarter surges; he always seems to be the one who puts the game out of hand early, so that he and his fellow starter can take the 4th quarter off. Allen is currently shooting a higher percentage from the field and from the free throw stripe than he ever has before, and his 3P% is his highest since the 01-02 season. Defensively, I also believe that Allen is putting forth a consistently solid effort, just as he did last year.

You could make a case for any one these four players, but the bottom line is that Allen has been the most consistent. For me, he is unquestionably the player that the Celtics can least afford to have injure himself.

I gave you a TP for having the same feelings as myself. As I read the title, I immediately thought of KG, b/c he's my favorite player of all time, but then when I thought about individual play that makes the most difference...I said Ray. Then I read you pledged the same thing, and made great points about him. For the record, I would say he is playing much better b/c this year he isn't quietly hurting with his ankles, etc. He's a trooper and very professional player, and I hope for him to stay past his contract year

[Big Ticket]

KG.

This team is still driven by the intensity of it's defense, and KG is the leader there. 

^^

[USG]

Eddie Mansion, yo.

Ok, maybe not.

[Fafnir]

KG by a mile. He is the center of how we run our offense and defense. He's our best and most important player.

We play such good team ball though and have a such great talent in our starting five that you can make the argument for all four.

But I think KG was the start of it all last season and he's the reason it all works. When you're the highest paid player and you bust your ass and expect the same of everyone else it matters.