Business as usual.
1. The Big Three- No other team in the playoffs besides the Celtics sport three future hall of fame players. They did it together back in 2008. Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett, when playing together in the playoffs are 21-10. Even without Garnett last postseason, the Celtics still managed to almost beat the Orlando Magic in the second round. Allen is averaging 18 ppg and is shooting 3-pointers at 42% throughout the playoffs. While Pierce is scoring 16.8 ppg and Garnett has been good for 16.7 ppg and 8 boards per game. Their numbers are similar and that's a good thing.
2. Rondo is the best player on the Celtics- Rondo is the most important player on this team. There's no doubt Paul Pierce is the soul of the team, but Rondo is the engine that makes the Celtics run. When the Celtics won their first championship back in 2007-08, Rondo's role wasn't as big. His job was to get the ball out of his hands and not force costly turnovers.During the championship run, Rondo averaged 10.2 ppg and 6.6 assists. Now, Rondo's scoring 17.2 ppg and dishing out 10.2 assists. Rondo's ability to get to the hoop and force defenders to collapse on him, gives him the option to dish and drive as he sees fit. Why do you think Lebron James wanted to guard him in their series? It's because he's the Celtics best player.
3. Tony Allen- He's the Leprechaun
4. Big Baby is playing his best basketball-Remember at the beginning of the season when Glen Davis was sidelined because he had a broken hand from getting in a fight with a friend? Celtics management was so pissed off, there were rumors he was going to get traded. And then KG called him out.
But Big Baby is playing like a big man, using his body to bully opponents. The Celtics only go three deep off the bench, and Glen is playing like an inspired man.
5. The team is healthy- Kendrick Perkins' knee is still sore but the Big Three are healthy. Pierce missed 11 games during the regular season and Garnett missed 13. Doc Rivers was smart to sit his players at times so they would be rested for the postseason.
6. Tom Thibodeau is a defensive genius- Anytime the Celtics shut down a star, you can credit this man. He held Dwayne Wade and Lebron James in check. And evidenced by Dwight Howard's role in game 1, Thibodeau knows how to draw up defensive plays.
7. Rasheed Wallace is starting to step it up- He's been a dissipointment throughout the season.But he's coming to life in the playoffs. He scored 13 in Game 1 against the Magic. But his biggest role might be on the defensive end, where he can guard Dwight Howard when need be. As long as he does this, and cuts down on the 3s he's been taking, Rasheed is doing a good deed.
8. Kevin Garnett will not let this team lose- He plays with too much passion to give up on what may easily be his last chance at a championship.
9. This team is better than the one that won a championship in 2008- Yes, Pierce, Allen, and Garnett are older, but so are Rajon Rondo, Kendrick Perkins, Tony Allen, and Glen Davis- all of who are members of the 2008 championship team. Tony Allen has taken over James Posey's role. And Rasheed is playing the role of P.J. Brown.
10. We are destined to play the Lakers- If we can stop Lebron, we can stop Kobe. In the 80s the Lakers got us 2 of 3 times. We got them in 2008 and we'll do it again in 2010.
The professional jinx Daniel Carew casting his spell...time to put some money on an Orlando comeback.
Posted by: joe | 05/19/2010 at 07:51 AM