How Bout Dem Celtics!
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by Trizz
I know I know, I'm becoming everyone I hate, getting way too ahead of myself we're only 1/4 into the season, but if you had a commanding lead in the first quarter you would be expecting to win the game so call my bluff, the Celtics are going all the way baby!!!!!(barring injury of course).
I knew the Celtics were going to be good, but not this good. They are blowing teams out of the water. They already got 19 wins, 12-0 at home, and only 2 losses by a combined 7 points to two former 1st overall picks, Not too shabby. Doc Rivers is looking like the same coach that for some odd reason won the Coach of the Year in 2000. I mean even Isiah Thomas couldn't lose with this squad but I'm in a good mood so I'll give Doc some credit.
While I'm dishing out credit, I think Paul Pierce is the dark horse for MVP. I know the media loves KG but who has been more valuable to the Celtics than Pierce, we saw what happened without him last year. But like in 2004 when Steve Nash and Shaq changed scenery they suddenly become the reason the team is competitive, but like how Amare Stoudamire and Dwyane Wade got snubbed, Pierce will likely suffer the same fate. Pierce has scored in double figures in all but one game, and he sat out the 4th quarter. KG is only averaging 18.9 points , 10.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists, not exactly first overall fantasy pick numbers while Pierce is a steady 22, 5, 5 guy. But of course this means nothing if I don't see Banner 17 in the next 3 years tops....actually make that 2 years.
Of course I have to address the naysayers. I hear a lot of complaining about strength of schedule, they play in the Eastern Conference, they play Easter Conference teams. They aren't exactly the Ohio State of the NBA. I don't see why people are so eager to watch the Celtics play the Spurs and the Suns, that's like complaining why don't the Patriots play the Packers and Cowboys twice a season or why the Sox don't play more interleague games over the season. They played the Eastern Conference champions Cleveland Cavaliers twice already. Played Miami twice(no one knew they would be awful this year), Chicago, and got Detroit coming up, that was the class of the East last year. They play one series against the West if they get that far so what benefit do they get by playing them everyday. Face it Western Conference fans, you just want to see them play.
Of course there's the bench/minutes issue. I find it hilarious that people truly believe that professional athletes are going to "break down." If you ever watched the Celtics the past couple years(I doubt you have) you would see that the main problem was that they gave the bench too much minutes, Doc was coaching like it was Junior Varsity making sure every player had a chance to play. James Posey, Eddie House, Big Baby Davis, Brian Scalabrine,Tony Allen are not a second starting five but they complement their starters perfectly and maintain tempo. This is one of the more balanced lineups I ever seen, and as far as compatibility I'd take Rondo/House over Telfair/West anyday. Lets go C's!
