duncan228
02-20-2010, 12:11 AM
Older but not better, Celtics keep the faith (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AjtiMJ_amP.ScvQzLjc80Vu8vLYF?slug=mc-afterthebuzzer021910&prov=yhoo&type=lgns)
By Marc J. Spears
With their own stars aging and limping, the Boston Celtics just watched the Cleveland Cavaliers, owners of the NBA’s best record, deliver former All-Star forward Antawn Jamison to LeBron James. The Celtics’ two other big threats in the East – the Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic – have combined to beat them seven of eight times. And even the Celtics’ win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday came attached with an asterisk: Kobe Bryant didn’t play and Boston won by a single point.
With each passing week, more and more people are finding more and more reasons to dismiss the Celtics. The seemingly few people who don’t doubt the Celtics’ ability to win a championship are the Celtics themselves.
“Whoever has jumped off the bandwagon, stay off,” Boston coach Doc Rivers said. “But I like this team.”
So did a lot of other people three months ago. With Kevin Garnett looking like he was on the mend from the knee problems that sidelined him through last season’s playoffs, Boston strengthened its depth by signing Rasheed Wallace and Marquis Daniels. Wallace immediately declared Boston could win 70 games. Many of the Celtics seemed to think this season’s roster was better than their 2008 championship, and their 20-4 start appeared to support that theory.
Since then, however, Boston has gone 14-14. Asked to compare these Celtics to the 2008 champs, Lakers forward Pau Gasol said: “Three years older and three years later.”
Gasol’s math might be a little off, but he’s clearly hesitant about labeling the Celtics as a legitimate title contender. “They have to prove it themselves,” Gasol said. “It’s going to be tough. They got Orlando. They got Atlanta. They’ve struggled against Atlanta this year and got swept there. They got Cleveland, of course. You can make your own conclusions there.”
The Celtics blame most of their struggles on injuries. Garnett, still recovering from off-season knee surgery, has missed 11 games. Paul Pierce has missed seven games and is still slowed by a foot injury. Ray Allen is battling back spasms. Daniels has missed 29 games, Glen Davis 28. Tony Allen has sat out 21. Practice days for Boston often become little more than shooting sessions.
“When you don’t work together a lot, it’s going to break,” Rivers said. “You can see the slippage long before the drought came.
“We’re not close to where we want to be, but we are working on it and we are going to get there.”
Pierce is among those who believe that only health is holding back the Celtics. Garnett, the team’s top concern, is averaging 14.2 points and 7.3 rebounds, pedestrian numbers by his usual All-Star standards. But, he, too, thinks he’ll improve.
“My movement has been a lot better than it has been,” Garnett said. “…Hopefully, Mother Nature and Father Time come visit me soon in a good way.”
Of course, the other knock on the Celtics is that Father Time is gaining too quickly on them. Pierce, Garnett and Allen are 32, 33 and 34, respectively. Wallace is 35 and has played like it.
“You read, ‘They’re too old. They’re too old.’ Y’all always hear that now,” Rivers said. “Orlando and Cleveland, that’s all you hear now.
“I think that’s good for us. We know who we are and we believe it.”
The Celtics’ struggles only increased speculation the team was prepared to make a major move before Thursday’s trade deadline. Boston did acquire New York Knicks guard Nate Robinson and rookie forward Marcus Landry in exchange for Eddie House, J.R. Giddens and Bill Walker, but held onto Allen after exploring trade options for him. Allen even sent out a message on his Facebook page to calm worried family and friends.
Rivers tried to cut the tension Thursday morning when he told a few players he needed to meet with them. The players walked up to Rivers thinking they had been traded.
House, of course, didn’t consider this year’s deadline a joke. Not after he was sent to New York for Robinson. The Celtics’ hope is that Robinson, who resurfaced after spending a month in Mike D’Antoni’s doghouse in New York, can give them some scoring off the bench, in addition to defense and energy.
“He gives us speed, No. 1,” Rivers said. “…The answer is yes, he definitely makes us better.”
Lakers coach Phil Jackson, however, didn’t seem quite as sure.
“I have a great respect for House’s game,” Jackson said. “I just don’t know what you’re going to improve on that with an incredible shooter and the skill that [House] has. House has a strike factor in his game that can really affect a team.”
While the Cavaliers drew more attention for acquiring Jamison, the Celtics don’t mind. With a little luck – and a lot more health – they plan to be back in the thick of the title hunt.
“They’re a loaded team and they have the best record in the NBA,” Pierce said of the Cavs. “But we’re not worried about them right now. There will come a time where we are worried about them, but right now we are focused on us.”
By Marc J. Spears
With their own stars aging and limping, the Boston Celtics just watched the Cleveland Cavaliers, owners of the NBA’s best record, deliver former All-Star forward Antawn Jamison to LeBron James. The Celtics’ two other big threats in the East – the Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic – have combined to beat them seven of eight times. And even the Celtics’ win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday came attached with an asterisk: Kobe Bryant didn’t play and Boston won by a single point.
With each passing week, more and more people are finding more and more reasons to dismiss the Celtics. The seemingly few people who don’t doubt the Celtics’ ability to win a championship are the Celtics themselves.
“Whoever has jumped off the bandwagon, stay off,” Boston coach Doc Rivers said. “But I like this team.”
So did a lot of other people three months ago. With Kevin Garnett looking like he was on the mend from the knee problems that sidelined him through last season’s playoffs, Boston strengthened its depth by signing Rasheed Wallace and Marquis Daniels. Wallace immediately declared Boston could win 70 games. Many of the Celtics seemed to think this season’s roster was better than their 2008 championship, and their 20-4 start appeared to support that theory.
Since then, however, Boston has gone 14-14. Asked to compare these Celtics to the 2008 champs, Lakers forward Pau Gasol said: “Three years older and three years later.”
Gasol’s math might be a little off, but he’s clearly hesitant about labeling the Celtics as a legitimate title contender. “They have to prove it themselves,” Gasol said. “It’s going to be tough. They got Orlando. They got Atlanta. They’ve struggled against Atlanta this year and got swept there. They got Cleveland, of course. You can make your own conclusions there.”
The Celtics blame most of their struggles on injuries. Garnett, still recovering from off-season knee surgery, has missed 11 games. Paul Pierce has missed seven games and is still slowed by a foot injury. Ray Allen is battling back spasms. Daniels has missed 29 games, Glen Davis 28. Tony Allen has sat out 21. Practice days for Boston often become little more than shooting sessions.
“When you don’t work together a lot, it’s going to break,” Rivers said. “You can see the slippage long before the drought came.
“We’re not close to where we want to be, but we are working on it and we are going to get there.”
Pierce is among those who believe that only health is holding back the Celtics. Garnett, the team’s top concern, is averaging 14.2 points and 7.3 rebounds, pedestrian numbers by his usual All-Star standards. But, he, too, thinks he’ll improve.
“My movement has been a lot better than it has been,” Garnett said. “…Hopefully, Mother Nature and Father Time come visit me soon in a good way.”
Of course, the other knock on the Celtics is that Father Time is gaining too quickly on them. Pierce, Garnett and Allen are 32, 33 and 34, respectively. Wallace is 35 and has played like it.
“You read, ‘They’re too old. They’re too old.’ Y’all always hear that now,” Rivers said. “Orlando and Cleveland, that’s all you hear now.
“I think that’s good for us. We know who we are and we believe it.”
The Celtics’ struggles only increased speculation the team was prepared to make a major move before Thursday’s trade deadline. Boston did acquire New York Knicks guard Nate Robinson and rookie forward Marcus Landry in exchange for Eddie House, J.R. Giddens and Bill Walker, but held onto Allen after exploring trade options for him. Allen even sent out a message on his Facebook page to calm worried family and friends.
Rivers tried to cut the tension Thursday morning when he told a few players he needed to meet with them. The players walked up to Rivers thinking they had been traded.
House, of course, didn’t consider this year’s deadline a joke. Not after he was sent to New York for Robinson. The Celtics’ hope is that Robinson, who resurfaced after spending a month in Mike D’Antoni’s doghouse in New York, can give them some scoring off the bench, in addition to defense and energy.
“He gives us speed, No. 1,” Rivers said. “…The answer is yes, he definitely makes us better.”
Lakers coach Phil Jackson, however, didn’t seem quite as sure.
“I have a great respect for House’s game,” Jackson said. “I just don’t know what you’re going to improve on that with an incredible shooter and the skill that [House] has. House has a strike factor in his game that can really affect a team.”
While the Cavaliers drew more attention for acquiring Jamison, the Celtics don’t mind. With a little luck – and a lot more health – they plan to be back in the thick of the title hunt.
“They’re a loaded team and they have the best record in the NBA,” Pierce said of the Cavs. “But we’re not worried about them right now. There will come a time where we are worried about them, but right now we are focused on us.”