Saving their best for last

[barefacedmonk]

Found this article on the Globe. People like me, the believers/koolaid drinkers/blind optimists, will find it a good read....others not so much. Dan Shaughnessy and I should go out for a beer sometime. 

Everybody around here is simply too negative.Not me. I still believe.

I don’t care if the Celtics are 2-9 against the Cavaliers, Magic, and Hawks. Seeing them lose at home to the New Jersey Nets doesn’t discourage me. Getting whupped by the Grizz by 20 at the Garden is OK. Sometimes you’ve just got to see the glass as half full.

This is one of those times.

There was a point at the end of the 2009 Patriots season when everything crystallized. It became apparent that this was not your typical Bill Belichick “No I In Team’’ unit. The Patriots repeatedly coughed up second-half leads, never won a clutch game on the road, and ultimately imploded under the weight of their own arrogance and effort. It was not a team to be admired, not a team we liked.

Now the naysayers (you know who you are) claim the same malaise has infected the 2009-10 Celtics. Some of the nattering nabobs are projecting a shocker in the form of a first-round playoff exit next month.

Not me. I see what the Celtics are doing. The Green are Going Green. The NBA’s Team AARP is also Team Energy Conservation.

One day after a nationally televised dubious defeat in Cleveland, the Celtics were back home last night, back on national TV (ESPN) against the going-nowhere Detroit Pistons. Reminding their fans they still can dominate, the Celtics raced to a 31-15 lead in the first quarter and blew it out to 64-35 at halftime. It was 80-49 with 6:17 left in the third. The Celtics shot 62 percent and won, 119-93. It was one of those games that reminded you how good they can be. So what if they were playing at home against the moribund Pistons.

“It was a great game to sit back and look at and say, ‘This is what we are,’ ’’ said Kevin Garnett.

Amen, KG. This is what you are. Still one of the most talented teams in the basketball universe.

Before the game, coach Doc Rivers was asked about lack of effort in Sunday’s loss. He defended his veteran stars, insisting there was effort, at least until they gave up late in the fourth quarter.

This can’t be easy for Rivers. He claims he is having fun, but it’s got to be a nightmare to motivate these guys as they wait for the real games to start.

Rivers admits nobody is afraid of his team anymore, but like his galaxy of fading stars, he believes they can put it together in the playoffs.

And I’m still buying.

In recent weeks Rasheed Wallace has emerged as the poster child for everything that ails these Celtics. Fans are treating Wallace like he’s Julio Lugo with attitude. The Celtics certainly have not gotten a return on their investment, and everyone is tired of ’Sheed launching threes when he should be doing the painful stuff in the paint. He is an easy target. Meanwhile, Marquis Daniels, who has done considerably less than Wallace, gets a free pass. Maybe because he has great hair. Ultimately, there’s no sense picking on ’Sheed, Daniels, Glen Davis, or anybody on the bench.
The guys who matter are Garnett and Paul Pierce.

Certainly there are nights when Garnett looks like he might be all done as an NBA superstar. He drags his leg around the court, struggles to score, fails to rebound, and makes guys like Anderson Varejao look like Karl Malone.

This is not necessarily KG’s fault. He’s got more miles on him than my 1995 Volvo and isn’t the same player since he injured his knee in the middle of last season. He’s still the master of gesture and noise, but the game just isn’t the same.

Never forget that Garnett is the man who changed everything. The Celtics went from the lottery to the championship in a single season because of Kevin Garnett.

In order for a long run in April, May, and June, Garnett has to be that player again. Or something close. There are moments he shows us the explosiveness is still there. The Celtics are banking on him being the old KG by the middle of next month.

Pierce is almost as important. Sometimes it’s easy to forget the captain was MVP of the 2008 Finals. Pierce totally outplayed Kobe Bryant in that series. Too often this year he’s been Just Another Guy, but last night he came out of the blocks with 12 points in the first period. Then he turned the game over to everybody else.

“We’re working to reestablish him,’’ said Rivers. “It was great to see that tonight. He looked explosive. I think he’s getting closer. The team is getting closer.’’

The Celtics are probably as healthy as they are going to get. Danny Ainge has assembled a deep, experienced bench and Doc is going to use this final month to determine his playoff rotations. Michael Finley (6-of-7 shooting, 15 points last night) looks like a nice addition. Davis continues to play harder than anybody. ’Sheed? We can only hope he’s chairman of the board of energy conservation.

“If we can get this right, it could be an unbelievable feeling at the end,’’ said Rivers.

Count me in. Put me on the Big Green bus.

I believe.

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2010/03/16/belief_here_is_that_the_celtics_are_saving_their_best_for_last/

[Birdbrain]

I just got done reading this and it's ironic in a contrarion sort of way that Dan S. is the voice of reason.  But I will say that I'm more in his camp than I am the doom and gloom they are done group. 

For 3 reasons:

1. I/We owe it to the current C's to believe in them as our penance for 2008.

2. I think there is still another gear in this team.  Sheed and Pierce being the players that could provide the most in comparison to what they've provided during the regular season.  Sheed is nightmare for anyone on the block. 

3. What else are you going to do?

[Chris]

It's a nice contrarian article by the king of contrarian viewpoints.  Ultimately though, I would not be the least bit surprised if he is right, and they win the title this year, just like I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if they lose in the first round. 

This team has been Jeckle and Hyde all season.  We all know the talent is there, that if things come together at the right time, everyone is healthy, and things start clicking, they can beat anyone.  But we also know they are an injury at the wrong time, or just not being completely focussed against a team they see as inferior, and the wheels will come flying off.

[2short]

Hey until the final second last year I figured we had a chance and KG would suit up for finals (we nearly made it with a decimated team)
so why not this year 

[housecall]

Im more optimistic to especially after watching/listening to KG on "Game Time"last night after the Detriot game answer questions from E.Snow&S.Mitchell...KG without all the one-liners,snappy swear words he usually give the Boston media.He sounded sincere,and clear for a change about what might have been wrong with this team and what he feels they need to do in this last push towards the playoffs.I didn't know he could complete a sentence without swearing until last night.He sounds like he has more respect,and talked more openly to veteran players turned media when asked questions...Players know most of those regular media guys are only looking for a story to possibly make a headline the next day.  

[vinnie]

I will give them credit - The celtics certainly have talked the best game in the NBA this year.

[Birdbrain]

Im more optimistic to especially after watching/listening to KG on "Game Time"last night after the Detriot game answer questions from E.Snow&S.Mitchell...KG without all the one-liners,snappy swear words he usually give the Boston media.He sounded sincere,and clear for a change about what might have been wrong with this team and what he feels they need to do in this last push towards the playoffs.I didn't know he could complete a sentence without swearing until last night.He sounds like he has more respect,and talked more openly to veteran players turned media when asked questions...Players know most of those regular media guys are only looking for a story to possibly make a headline the next day.  

TP caught that as well.  I hope more people got a chance to see KG like that.  He sounded very reasoned with his responses.  It gave me a pretty good outlook on the situation.

[Birdbrain]

I will give them credit - The celtics certainly have talked the best game in the NBA this year.

No doubt.  I know some don't like it, I do.

[PLamb]

I don't know how the spirit of Red Auerbach was able to first possess and then infiltrate through the muck of negativity that is Dan Shaughnessey and pen that article for the Globe but, good for you Red

Getting it done even from beyond the grave

I can't wait to read the retraction tomorrow from Shaughnessey after Red's spirit just can't stand being in the sewer pit that is Shaughnessey and leaves it and Dan reads the article Red forced him to write

[Drucci]

I agree with the author. It sounds more like blind optimism after this tough season but I really do believe that this team can (and will) go all the way.

[Onslaught]

I will give them credit - The celtics certainly have talked the best game in the NBA this year.

No doubt.  I know some don't like it, I do.

Talk is talk. Back it up or shut up. The only time you should ever talk is when you can and will back it up. They don't give out titles for "Biggest loud mouth."

[barefacedmonk]

I will give them credit - The celtics certainly have talked the best game in the NBA this year.

No doubt.  I know some don't like it, I do.

Talk is talk. Back it up or shut up. The only time you should ever talk is when you can and will back it up. They don't give out titles for "Biggest loud mouth."

They gave one in 2008. KG was a lot louder in 2008...not just him...the whole team was. This year's record does not compare to the one in 2008 but its still a good record. It ain't over 'til the fat lady sings

[hwangjini_1]

as far as i can tell, if the celtics dont win it all this year they are a long long long long long long way away from the next championship.

so...

i believe. i believe that when the celtics play with full intensity and intelligence that they can still dominate any other team in the nba.

i believe they will play their best basketball in the playoffs.

i have seen them play their best ball at times this year and no one else in the nba matched them when they did.

will the celtics play smart and intense basketball with lots of energy in the playoffs?

what else can i say but "yes." this is, i believe, the last hurrah for many years to come. so i might as well enjoy it and cheer them on with all my heart.

go celtics!

[BballTim]

I will give them credit - The celtics certainly have talked the best game in the NBA this year.

No doubt.  I know some don't like it, I do.

Talk is talk. Back it up or shut up. The only time you should ever talk is when you can and will back it up. They don't give out titles for "Biggest loud mouth."

  They don't give out titles for the meekest team either.

[ACF]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Im3S8PRWjeg
.