A Harsh Assessment of 2009-10: The Window is Closed

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While we may be more talented now than in our championship year, one thing that could come back to bite us is that Powe, Brown, and Posey were warriors.  Powe was always a hustler, but Brown and especially Posey would kill themselves to win close games.  That group just had incredible determination and competitiveness that I don't really see at this time.  I agree that Sheed is lazy and though Daniels is a good player, he looks like he's sleepwalking out there.
I'm not saying we should have signed Posey, but in close games, Posey always made a play or two in crunch time to help win games.  That group seemed much more determined to win.
Just an observation.  I still think the C's could win it.

TP. 

The jury is out on whether Daniels has that fire that we need.  Posey brought that, which made KG's even hotter, and extended the intensity and competitiveness for the full 48.  That competitiveness is one of those "intangibles" that leads to things that don't show up in numbers that we fans get, things like deflected passes and stuff like that.  Players (Delfino?) that have it, I think, are worth more than their talent might otherwise suggest.  That's part of why I don't think many posters here appreciate Posey's value as much now that he is both gone and 2 years older.  That guy was a winner.  I think DA knew he couldn't really be replaced.  He was/is a special player.

[moiso]

While we may be more talented now than in our championship year, one thing that could come back to bite us is that Powe, Brown, and Posey were warriors.  Powe was always a hustler, but Brown and especially Posey would kill themselves to win close games.  That group just had incredible determination and competitiveness that I don't really see at this time.  I agree that Sheed is lazy and though Daniels is a good player, he looks like he's sleepwalking out there.
I'm not saying we should have signed Posey, but in close games, Posey always made a play or two in crunch time to help win games.  That group seemed much more determined to win.
Just an observation.  I still think the C's could win it.

TP. 

The jury is out on whether Daniels has that fire that we need.  Posey brought that, which made KG's even hotter, and extended the intensity and competitiveness for the full 48.  That competitiveness is one of those "intangibles" that leads to things that don't show up in numbers that we fans get, things like deflected passes and stuff like that.  Players (Delfino?) that have it, I think, are worth more than their talent might otherwise suggest.  That's part of why I don't think many posters here appreciate Posey's value as much now that he is both gone and 2 years older.  That guy was a winner.  I think DA knew he couldn't really be replaced.  He was/is a special player.

Yep.  In the closing minutes it seemed like he would do such simple little things every time- a deflection, a steal, a charge, smothering defense, a rebound... He really was like Robert Horry at the end of a game.  Plus he was tough, physical, and gave up his body.  He wasn't a great player but i agree he was very very special.  He wanted to win more than most and was willing to take the punishment to make it happen.

[wdleehi]

I think the Celtics bench can be fine once the KG issue is better.

What does this mean exactly?  How will the "KG issue" get better?  Dude, you are kidding yourself if you think he is going to ever return to the form he has played at in the past.  He is DONE.  His career is over.  He is trying to giving us one more shot this year, and trying with all his might to overcome his deficiencies. 

But we all need to come to grips with the fact that Kevin Garnett is nothing more than a role player at this point, and that he is going to retire at the end of the season.  I have no doubt whatsoever that KG will retire this summer.  Players his age do not suddenly regain their athleticism and health after sitting out for 3 weeks.  Even if we sat him out for a few more weeks before the playoffs, he will not revert back to top form.  He's going to fight the good fight this spring as we futilely attempt to win another banner.  But we will never get past the elite teams and likely won't even make it to the finals.  Either way, this is Kevin's last year in the NBA.

Can you show me the doctor report that says "KG is done" or is this just your opinion since KG just came back from an injury and has not yet played to that level?

Can you show me a precedent where a player at his age magically rehabbed a recurring injury during the season, and got back to playing at the level he was 2 years ago???!???!  When has that ever happened?  The guy can barely move.  He's giving us his all because he doesn't want to let anybody down, and he's got the heart of a true warrior.  But what we see is what we got - Kevin Garnett is done.  And will retire this summer.

Shaq in Miami.

I guess you don't have that Doctor's note that say's KG is done. 

[footey]

The window is closing, but our fingers are still hanging on, maybe jammed in there a bit. The unknown is KG. He was starting to look like 2008 KG, and we were starting to look like the 2008 Celtics, until he went out the second time.  It took a few weeks for him to start looking alot better, and it will take a few weeks this time.  In another month, if we are still playing at this disappointing level, then I will be ready to throw in the flag. But it is just way to early in the KG second return to properly assess who we are.

[MetroGlobe]

I think the Celtics bench can be fine once the KG issue is better.

What does this mean exactly?  How will the "KG issue" get better?  Dude, you are kidding yourself if you think he is going to ever return to the form he has played at in the past.  He is DONE.  His career is over.  He is trying to giving us one more shot this year, and trying with all his might to overcome his deficiencies. 

But we all need to come to grips with the fact that Kevin Garnett is nothing more than a role player at this point, and that he is going to retire at the end of the season.  I have no doubt whatsoever that KG will retire this summer.  Players his age do not suddenly regain their athleticism and health after sitting out for 3 weeks.  Even if we sat him out for a few more weeks before the playoffs, he will not revert back to top form.  He's going to fight the good fight this spring as we futilely attempt to win another banner.  But we will never get past the elite teams and likely won't even make it to the finals.  Either way, this is Kevin's last year in the NBA.

Can you show me the doctor report that says "KG is done" or is this just your opinion since KG just came back from an injury and has not yet played to that level?

Can you show me a precedent where a player at his age magically rehabbed a recurring injury during the season, and got back to playing at the level he was 2 years ago???!???!  When has that ever happened?  The guy can barely move.  He's giving us his all because he doesn't want to let anybody down, and he's got the heart of a true warrior.  But what we see is what we got - Kevin Garnett is done.  And will retire this summer.

Shaq in Miami.

I guess you don't have that Doctor's note that say's KG is done. 

Wow talk about a disingenuous comparison.  Shaq wasn't 35, and he wasn't coming off a season ending injury that took nearly 10 months to recover from.  I mean come on, man.  The injury that KG had was not a simple matter of bone spurs.  That's just ridiculous.  Anyone who swallows that company line is either naive or delusional.

[BballTim]

Rondo was atrocious tonight - refusing to shoot, an absolute rally-killer with his "fiddlin' and diddlin'" as Johnny Most used to put it, totally dominated on both ends of the floor by Crawford.

  I didn't get to see much of the Hawks game but this is probably right behind KG's knee in importance. Rondo played well while Paul and KG were out and he was more of an option on the offense. He and the team need to readjust to having everyone healthy. It will take at least a few games. Rondo was hesitating to take shots that he's been taking and making with regularity. But they're also running the set where Rondo gives the ball to Paul and goes to a corner too much. Part of it's on Rondo, Part of it's on Ray and Paul and part of it's probably on Doc. But they need to get to a happy medium where Rondo's a more aggressive scorer with the big three on the floor and Paul and Ray let him run the offense more.

  The window for the Celts where Ray/Paul/KG take us to the title through sheer dominance is indeed closed. If they win the title it will be more of a Piston's type of team with a great starting five and not a superstar dominated team. This depends on KG staying on the floor and the team adjusting to the new reality.

  Just to put an "in game" spin on this, if Rondo plays like he is in the 2nd quarter of this Laker's game we can contend. If not, we can't. But it's not just Rondo, it's the team making him into a bigger factor. He doesn't have to shoot it a lot but he needs to break down the defense with his dribbling and passing (or "fiddlin and diddlin"). Rondo giving it to Paul in the frontcourt and going to the corner won't cut it.

[Roy Hobbs]

[PosImpos]

If only we played the Lakers every game...then maybe this team would get up to play like they have today.

[GreenFaith1819]

Wide Open....

[wdleehi]

I think the Celtics bench can be fine once the KG issue is better.

What does this mean exactly?  How will the "KG issue" get better?  Dude, you are kidding yourself if you think he is going to ever return to the form he has played at in the past.  He is DONE.  His career is over.  He is trying to giving us one more shot this year, and trying with all his might to overcome his deficiencies. 

But we all need to come to grips with the fact that Kevin Garnett is nothing more than a role player at this point, and that he is going to retire at the end of the season.  I have no doubt whatsoever that KG will retire this summer.  Players his age do not suddenly regain their athleticism and health after sitting out for 3 weeks.  Even if we sat him out for a few more weeks before the playoffs, he will not revert back to top form.  He's going to fight the good fight this spring as we futilely attempt to win another banner.  But we will never get past the elite teams and likely won't even make it to the finals.  Either way, this is Kevin's last year in the NBA.

Can you show me the doctor report that says "KG is done" or is this just your opinion since KG just came back from an injury and has not yet played to that level?

Can you show me a precedent where a player at his age magically rehabbed a recurring injury during the season, and got back to playing at the level he was 2 years ago???!???!  When has that ever happened?  The guy can barely move.  He's giving us his all because he doesn't want to let anybody down, and he's got the heart of a true warrior.  But what we see is what we got - Kevin Garnett is done.  And will retire this summer.

Shaq in Miami.

I guess you don't have that Doctor's note that say's KG is done. 

Wow talk about a disingenuous comparison.  Shaq wasn't 35, and he wasn't coming off a season ending injury that took nearly 10 months to recover from.  I mean come on, man.  The injury that KG had was not a simple matter of bone spurs.  That's just ridiculous.  Anyone who swallows that company line is either naive or delusional.

KG is 33.  (not 35 as you are trying to sell)


Shaq was 32. 


We have seen the flashes of KG.  Is he going to be KG from his prime?  Of course not.  Does the team need him to be?  Heck no.  Just be the leader and defender we know he can be.



Why such a rush to put the final nail in KG's coffin? 

[celticsclay]

We dont look like a team with a window shut today whether we win or lose....

[wdleehi]

We dont look like a team with a window shut today whether we win or lose....

Yep.  All it takes is a little spark from someone and a team they hate. 

[scoop]

The Cs just need Garnett to be their best player (not to be at his 04/05 level or something) and I think that is more or less doable. There's a good chance it closes this season though.  

[ctrey]

I hate to say it, but I think the Celtics have zero chance of winning the title this year. They are simply too old and banged up. If the team is worn down now, wait till May. Time to start rebuilding. Ray needs to be dealt to a team with shot to unseat the lakers in the west so we can get some younger talent or picks back. KG would be great as a sixth man, but he simply has to much mileage on the wheels to hold up. The team needs to move on. We got one title, time to get a new team building towards another one.

[Roy Hobbs]

If Kobe had missed that shot, would your opinion be different?

I have a hard time judging the fate of this team but a matter of inches.