If you’re a Celtics fan, you’ve got to be excited to be in the Eastern Conference Finals – I sure am. I feel kind of like the third grader about to launch a spitball across the classroom, despite the fact that I know the teacher is watching out of the corner of her eye as she grades papers. The inevitable end to the big three era seems to be upon us, precisely as I envisioned it may be.
When I wrote my Celtics preview before this season began, I wrote that the Celtics were too old to win a championship; if all went perfectly right they could at best lose to the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. Yesterday’s game 1, if it’s to be any indication, certainly seems to be moving the Celtics along according to plan.
The Heat were too fast. The Heat were too explosive. Rondo seemed a bit out of it again, KG continued his great play but needs to attack the hoop more, and Ray Allen and Paul Pierce are clearly doing their best to downplay injuries that are affecting their games. These injuries are no excuse – they’re further evidence that the Celtics are simply old, beaten, and battered up. As much as I love Ray and Paul, they need to be at 100% to contend with Lebron and D-Wade. And while I’m nostalgic about this team as well, I attempt to read the writing on the wall – the Celtics are looking at at least 5 years of rebuilding until they have a chance to be a championship contender once again.
Jeff Van Gundy, eternal idiot, must have made his broadcasting employers overjoyed when he introduced the game yesterday by basically stating, “Last year the Heat won this very series 4-1. This time around Chris Bosh is injured, and the Celtics have lost significant personnel and two of their best players are injured.” Wow, sounds like one hell of a series Van Gundy. Maybe I should be thanking Van Gundy for tuning people off of this series and saving the Celtics the embarrassment – I see this thing going down 4-1 in favor of the Heat just as it did last year.
There’s no doubt that the Celtics have closers, and three of the best players to ever play basketball on their squad – three of the best players who were at their best this past decade. But Lebron and D-wade are two of the best of this generation – the current generation – and the Celtics will simply be overpowered.
The most important thing is for the Heat to lose either this round or in the Finals, which I think they ultimately will. But if the Celtics are to make anything of a series of it, we’ll need:
- Rajon Rondo at his very best
- Paul Pierce taking over in the 3rd and 4th quarters
- KG to continue shooting, but also to attack the basket more
- Ray Allen to light it up with threes
I’m not saying the Celts can’t do it – a perfect storm of great play can get it done for them as long as Chris Bosh remains out. But the Celtics will need an A+ performance if they are to advance, which I just don’t see coming.
I agree it is going to be nearly impossible for the Celtics to win this series. Hopefully Garnett can stop being a fake tough guy and actually knock Wade or LeBron around so those idiots dont get a championship.
I think you are a little pessimistic about the future though. Rondo is a pretty good building block for the future. Pierce will still have something left for a few years, and maybe Garnett comes back with a smaller contract. Having a little more flexibility to add more pieces might keep that window open a little longer, or open it up sooner then you might think.
The Red Sox are still in last place.
I’m much more concerned with the Celtics future than the Red Sox. I’ve been Rondo’s biggest cheerleader, but his attitude is wearing on me. I’m not sure if he’s the building block we want him to be or not, or how he’ll react when the big 3 start to retire or go elsewhere.
Then maybe Rondo is a trade chip, he will have value somewhere.
The Celtics have made the playoffs the last two years, i dont remember the last time the Celtics were in last place, let alone for a month, and the Celtics are not being led into battle by Bobby V. I am not sure what future I would be more confident in.
Last place is really not very important considering the Yanks are one game up and Baltimore is leading the division. It’ll all shake out. You could get a heck of a lot for Rondo by trading him for sure – it’d be a tough sell to the fans though.
Two games up thank you very much.
And last place might not matter but Bobby V certainly does
Agreed, for sure.
Jeese that is some hard truth Geoff. Id like to see Bass step it up again. I know it was only briefly this post season but the guy can shoot – 27 pnts game 5 against the sixers. Also Dooley isnt bad from the arc. If those two step up we’ll have shot at taking it to game 6 or 7.
Hard truth is all I speak.
You’re right on target. It’s been a nice ride, but the tank is close to empty. It may be a long time before the C’s are in the Conference Finals again. Enjoy it.
Big market teams can rebuild instantly in baseball because there is no salary cap. In basketball and the other sports with caps it’s harder.
Chris Kelley – Framingham.
Agreed.
A huge part in rebuilding is being realistic and setting yourself up to rebuild. You have to know when your window is closed and set yourself up for the next year with assets, expiring contracts, a good free agent class upcoming. The Celtics thought they had one more run in them. As a result it may take longer to rebuild.