1992-1993 vs 2012-2013 Celtics & Their Respective Paths

[Redz]

I think I've heard it mentioned before, and I've definitely thought about it myself, but this season and 1992-1993 definitely carry some similarities.

1992-1993 team was the first after Bird retired, and this year we lost Ray.  Obviously Bird is historically the far superior player, but at that stage of his career he was on par, or worse than what Ray had to offer.  They were both parts of their era's "Big 3". 

The old team had an emerging star in Reggie Lewis and this year's team has seen the budding of a hopeful star in Jeff Green.  Both had internal health issues, though it's amazing to think how much medical analysis and treatment have advance in those 20 years.  Maybe Reggie would have survived if we knew then what we know now. 

Each team had future Hall of Famers named Kevin.  Each played some center, but were known as power forwards.  Each was at the tale end of their careers.  McHale retired after the season, and I wouldn't be shocked if KG did the same after this season.

Both teams had the aging veterans and some youth to offer some hope.  Both battled in the playoffs until the last drop.  I'll never forget McHale walking off the court after his last game - a crushing loss to the Charlotte Hornets on a falling down young Alonzo Mourning's buzzer beater.  The Celts had played their hearts out, but just didn't have enough in the tank to handle a very talented and youthful Hornets team.  McHale said, as he leaving the court, "I think a lot of guys learned what it means to be a Celtic today."

I'm hoping this is what KG is sticking around for.  I know Pierce will bring it in the playoffs, but what do we really know about the rest of these guys?  Since KG came here the Celtics have either won the championship or gone down in the 7th game (while being the definite underdog) every year except 2010-2011 when they lost to the Heat in 5 (a series in which their starting point guard was out their playing with 1 arm!).

This year's team will not likely go far in the playoffs, but I have no doubt they will go fighting hard.

We know what path the old team went in, so I won't go down that unfortunate path.  Where does this team go? 

Well, hopefully the aforementioned medical advances allow Jeff Green to have a long, healthy life, and his game continues to develop.  Hopefully Sullinger can fix his back up for the long haul, and build on a lot of the promising things he showed early in the season.  Hopefully Rondo comes back with a renewed focus and a different perspective on what the team needs from him.  Hopefully Danny can bring in a center of substance at some point. 

There are a lot of things to hope for.  I just really hope we don't end up with as long a period of doldrums as we did the last time we aged out of the program.

[BballTim]

  If Rondo and Sully come back healthy and Green and Sully pick up where they leave (or left) off this year we have a pretty decent core going forward, much better than the 92-93 team. It's like the 93 team having 2 Lewis level players plus Sully.

  But, while you didn't mean it as a slight, there's no way Bird in his last year was comparable to Ray. Larry missed a lot of games but he averaged 20/10/7 in his final year. He was more on par with KG in the playoffs last year than Ray last year.

[PhoSita]

I really think this is KG's last season.

The Celtics are headed to a 4 or 5 game defeat in the first round of the playoffs.  They'll fight hard, but they just don't have enough in the tank right now.

KG will retire in the off-season.  Pierce will do some hard thinking, but he'll decide he wants to retire a Celtic and he'll stick around for one more season, delaying the rebuild.

Next season will be pretty similar to this one, with the team gradually working Rondo back in and the bench being mostly made up of guys who are on the team right now.  The only significant addition will be a free agent like Sam Dalembert to play center.

The Celtics will finish around .500 next season and perhaps make a surprise run into the second round.  Then the rebuilding will truly begin.


I do think there are similarities between this season and that 93 season.  I think the "doldrums" between eras will be shorter this time around, though.  Something like 4 or 5 seasons before they're challenging for a top 4 seed and 50+ wins again.

[GreenFaith1819]

Good post, Redz.

I can see the similarities, too.

I think Danny has done a fine job of balancing both THIS team's needs AND building for the future.

Right now, once we get KG and Paul back, I can see us upsetting whoever we play in the 1st round. If It's NY, we can still beat them, or Indy...playoffs are a LOT different than regular season...BOS will be rdy for them.

We have Jeff in our starting lineup, and IMO he replaces a LOT of what Ray took to MIA..he is ANOTHER SCORER, and a pretty good defender. Of course he doesn't have Ray's range, but I think he compensates for that with his slashing, speed, smarts, and athletiscism.

I'm optimistic for this post-season.

As for our future, at the very LEAST we'll have a more experienced, healthy Sully, a more confident Jeff Green, and a Rondo who is even more mature and ready to assume his mantle as one of the top 2 PGs in the league. We'll have an affordable and better defender in Lee. AB will continue his elite defense AND get better offensively.

I think whatever KG does is tied to Paul, and I see Paul coming back next year. Sully, Bass, Wilcox, whoever - MUST provide KG more rest, so Doc can perhaps decrease his minutes even more. It's asking a LOT of KG, but I bet he'd do it.

We are not cash-strapped, either...we can't sign anyone outright, but we're not in the Lakers category, either...we got THIS Jeff Green playing TO his contract, and at times here lately - playing ABOVE his contract.

We got Rondo on a good bargain. We got AB still on rookie contract. We got Bass on a decent contract, too. Lee's on an affordable contract and getting better as a defender.

I'm hoping we can perhaps lure DeMarcus here somehow for our FUTURE Celtics, but right now I'm optimistic about BOTH of our teams - present and future.

[GreenFaith1819]

Adding a bit - I'm a LOT more confident about THIS team going forward than 92-93....Larry was recently retired, I believe, KM was just about done, and I believe Chief had already bolted......Reggie's passing was just a punch in the gut, to me.

The Lean Years began in the early 90s.

This team will NOT have Lean Years, thankfully. Not going back to that. Jeff Green, especially playing here LATELY....nope, no Lean Years again.

[Redz]

Adding a bit - I'm a LOT more confident about THIS team going forward than 92-93....Larry was recently retired, I believe, KM was just about done, and I believe Chief had already bolted......Reggie's passing was just a punch in the gut, to me.

The Lean Years began in the early 90s.

This team will NOT have Lean Years, thankfully. Not going back to that. Jeff Green, especially playing here LATELY....nope, no Lean Years again.

It was McHale's last season, and I know Chief hung around for at least another year before he went off to the Hornets.

  If Rondo and Sully come back healthy and Green and Sully pick up where they leave (or left) off this year we have a pretty decent core going forward, much better than the 92-93 team. It's like the 93 team having 2 Lewis level players plus Sully.

  But, while you didn't mean it as a slight, there's no way Bird in his last year was comparable to Ray. Larry missed a lot of games but he averaged 20/10/7 in his final year. He was more on par with KG in the playoffs last year than Ray last year.

Yeh.  I guess I meant it more as equally proportional marginalized versions of their former selves.

[GreenFaith1819]

Good catch, Redz...I think I purposely forget those 90's.

I was on my first ship in the Navy, and having many of the crew back then as basketball fans and finding out I loved BOS...I received many howls of laughter, then

The last few years, even with the disappointments, have been SWEET....none sweeter than June 17, 2008.

[CelticG1]

One key thing you forgot to mention was that Dee Browns alley oop attempt at the end of the Charlotte Game was goaltended!!

At least that's what Tommy said and im sticking with him.

I think I still have that game recorded on vhs at my parents house. Probably the first Celts game I vividly remember from my childhood

[Redz]

One key thing you forgot to mention was that Dee Browns alley oop attempt at the end of the Charlotte Game was goaltended!!

At least that's what Tommy said and im sticking with him.

I think I still have that game recorded on vhs at my parents house. Probably the first Celts game I vividly remember from my childhood

That game was against Orlando the year Shaquille and Penny went to the Finals.  Last game ever at the old Garden

[Celtics18]

I think Danny and Doc have done a very good job of starting the rebuilding process without blowing it up and aiming for the lottery.  I'm looking forward to the next five to ten years of Celtics basketball. 

[CelticsFanNC]

   Ainge needs to somehow find a top banana, #1 option, franchise player. 

Rondo and Green are just fine as your second and third best players on a contender.   Sullinger if nothing else looks like an elite rebounder.   We have some nice younger role players.

  Get a franchise player and w're back in business right?

  Easier said then done. 

[Roy H.]

This team will NOT have Lean Years, thankfully. Not going back to that. Jeff Green, especially playing here LATELY....nope, no Lean Years again.

Man, I hope you're right.  I think that once Pierce and KG retire, it's going to be a long time before we're contenders again.

[BballTim]

   Ainge needs to somehow find a top banana, #1 option, franchise player. 

Rondo and Green are just fine as your second and third best players on a contender.   Sullinger if nothing else looks like an elite rebounder.   We have some nice younger role players.

  Get a franchise player and w're back in business right?

  Easier said then done.

  Rondo probably won't be the best scorer on a title team but he's capable of being the best player on a title team. Not that it's tremendously easier to get but what we need is a big that can  defend and rebound well, and (easier to get) possibly a better sg.

[CelticConcourse]

I might not have been born then, but I was still rooting for the Celtics — I don't see the this year's Green-Team losing on a buzzer beater (and if they do, it'd be absolutely dreadful...); I hope they end KG's career on a good note, and I don't see KG sticking around to rebuild, since that really doesn't help anybody. Pierce might be almost done too, and this is probably their last chance (again). Let's make this postseason count. The past (KG/Pierce) and the locked up (Bass, Lee, Green) will make this a postseason to remember... with banner 18!

[CelticsFan9]

   Ainge needs to somehow find a top banana, #1 option, franchise player. 

Rondo and Green are just fine as your second and third best players on a contender.   Sullinger if nothing else looks like an elite rebounder.   We have some nice younger role players.

  Get a franchise player and w're back in business right?

  Easier said then done.

  Rondo probably won't be the best scorer on a title team but he's capable of being the best player on a title team. Not that it's tremendously easier to get but what we need is a big that can  defend and rebound well, and (easier to get) possibly a better sg.

I think Bradley's fine as our SG, and I definitely agree that we need a big (by that I mean, a seven-footer) who can do the dirty work; however, I disagree about Rondo being the best player on a title team.  If he can develop range on the jumper, then yeah, he's our guy, but his game right now is better suited to be a second banana (ala Pippen, Wade from last year, Kobe when Shaq was there, etc.).

I'm hopeful that he works on the jumper during rehab, because if he can become consistent (especially from three), we've got ourselves a keeper.