Friday, December 12, 2008

Celtic's Start Strong - 1st Quarter Report

The World Champion Boston Celtics destroyed the Wizards last night for their 21st win - in their 23rd game. The 21-2 start is the best in the franchise's illustrious history. I think we can put to rest any concern about a post-championship letdown. The intensity is clearly still there - just ask Big Baby Davis (actual nickname) who was overwhelmed to tears during a timeout this week. The C's aren't lacking for emotion or drive. As Paul Pierce pointed out, you don't get remembered as a great Celtic if you only win one championship - even if you do set the record for best start to a season. These guys are hungry for # 2.

But they lost uber-sub James Posey! How could they continue to win? Last night, the usually insightful and entertaining commentator Reggie Miller said that Posey was the reason the Celtics won the Championship last year. With all due respect (always a preface for a statement of disrespect), that's complete bullshit. That's like saying that a good 8th inning set-up reliever on a baseball team is responsible for that team's success. Bullshit. Posey was a great sub, clutch shooter, staunch defender, good energy guy, character guy, etc, etc. But the reasons the Celtics won the Larry O'Brien trophy were named Pierce, Garnett, Allen, Rondo, Perkins (yes, Perkins), and the bench as a whole. And they're all still on the team, and all still playing well. Pierce, Garnett, Perk, and the bench have been very good, and great at times, but the specific reasons the Celtics are 21-2 and the best team in the NBA right now are in the backcourt - Rondo and Ray. Both players have elevated their games beyond last year's level of play and I'd put them up against any backcourt in the league, including Fisher/Bryant, Iverson/Hamilton, Williams/West, Paul/Peterson, etc. There are better guards in the league, but there is not a better starting tandem. Rondo's triple double last Friday put him in rarified Boston air: only Pierce and Bird have had games with stats that high in points/assists/rebounds. [here's a great breakdown of his skills from truehoop, making the case for Rondo as an all-star] And Ray's been the team MVP so far, shooting over 50% from the field for 20 points a game. He credits the continuing healing of his ankles for his success. If his ankles, and the other key body parts of the team, stay healthy, I think we'll be attending another parade this spring, and I'll be getting another Tommy Point for my flourescent green wig / geriatric sunglasses look.

Barring any big news developments or new creepy VTK photos, this'll probably be the last post until after Christmas. I'm sure I'll cook up a good year in review, which hopefully will be more interesting than "Celtics Win! Obama Wins!". For those, and other reasons (yes you, BVM), it's been a good year. Happy Holidays, VTKountry.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nice post,

I feel that this team is very special and after many years of suffering the likes of Pervis Ellison & A.C Earl we can see a team that is made in the image of the 80's teams with regard to the bench i.e. (Scott Wedman Gerald Henderson great bench / team players) Can I compare Posey to those players maybe not they were different players but there value to the team was the same.

Posey will be missed but we have a core group of players that can take us back to the finals and we will do it by riding the bench all the way there.


Honorable Mention,

Rick Robey, Bill Walton, M.L. Car, etc...

Anonymous said...

Some massive highs and some crushing lows in 2008. I think your shout out is sweet though. See you in DC.

Dan Nolan said...

Joel - agreed. Though Bill Walton was more than an honorable mention. But those teams had tons of great role players, but they probably would have won with other players contributing. Not to say they're not big parts of the team, but the reason they won were those dominant starting teams.

lc - sorry about the crushing lows. I hope 2009 has less of those.

Anonymous said...

Dan,

I know this is a little off the post but any comments on this A-Rod
Madonna trist?

I know you going to call me a Sox "ball washer" but this could be quite a distraction and I think Jeter must be pissed.

Dan Nolan said...

You're a Sox ball washer.

Anonymous said...

What we call them, Madonna-Rod?