Boston vs. LA or Cleveland vs. LA?

This past Thursday, the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics in Boston, 110-109. In yet another Finals rematch, the Lakers avenged their dismal performance in Game 6, beating the Celtics where they could not beat them last season. Looking ahead to Sunday, the Lakers are visiting another contender in Cleveland, who are riding high with an undefeated (23-0) mark at home. It is another duel between the world’s two greatest players, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. The question remains, however, which of these teams (Boston or Cleveland) will face LA in June, when these games truly matter. My answer, barring any major injuries, is the Cleveland Cavaliers.

First of all, comparing the lineups of the two Eastern Conference teams, the Cavaliers have a clear advantage in depth. Daniel Gibson, Wally Szczerbiak, Aleksandar Pavlovic, J.J. Hickson, and Anderson Varejao are the key reserves and their biggest advantage compared to the Celtics’ reserves is that they can back up the starters in all facets of the game. Gibson provides solid point guard play, Szczerbiak and Pavlovic provide scoring (both from behind the arc and in the paint), Hickson provides athleticism and energy, and Varejao provides defense, rebounding, and hustle. Boston, however, has Eddie House, Tony Allen, Brian Scalabrine, Leon Powe, and Glen Davis. The two aspects that are missing in this reserve group are obviously point guard play (handling the ball in pressure situations) and size in the paint. Powe and “Big Baby” Davis are undersized and cannot match up with opposing big men on the block. Read more ->

Kevin Garnett – Passion of a Warrior

It happened way back this season, the game when Kevin Garnett taunted Jose Calderon while he was dribbling the ball across the court.

Some have called for a “taunting foul”, some have disparaged Garnett for being a “bully”, while others have talked about the great passion that Garnett has for the game.

To me, Garnett is just an overgrown kid who enjoys playing basketball above all and hates losing above all – the symbol of ultimate competitiveness. He, not Pierce, not Allen, stands alone on the top of the green pyramid which demolished the Lakers in the finals last year. His passion is contagious, and it never lets down. He’s the guy who kisses Rondo’s head when he’s playing well, and makes “Big Baby” cry when he doesn’t.

Talk about the big three all you want, it’s Garnett who transformed the Celts last year. I know, Pierce had great games against the Cavs and some against the Lakers. Allen had some great games too, despite his slump mid-way through the playoffs. I am also aware that both of them played consistently well throughout the season to earn the all-important top spot before the playoffs. But it is Garnett’s basketball exuberance summed up in his screams after Game 6 against the Lakers: “Everything’s possible,” and “What can you say now” which made Perkins a rock-solid center and Rondo one of the most exciting young point guards in the league; that same exuberance which had helped Pierce refocus on his defense and Ray accept being the third offensive option on the team.

What else can I say now? After you see Garnett talk about his feelings while playing the game all you can wish is to once, only once, feel the same while working for your living.

The Celts’ Biggest Win Ever Over the Maverics

Let me review the last night’s game against the Maverics in line with my statements from the previous article (What Did Florida Trip Reveal).

• Garnett being Garnett: 23 points (11 of 17 shooting), only 2 rebounds, 4 assists, kept Nowitzki to 4-17 shooting.
• Paul or Ray have a good shooting night: Allen had 23 points (9 of 13 shooting, 4 of 5 for three), 5 rebounds and 7 assists. Pierce was more or less invisible.
• Rondo imposes the rhythm: 7 rebounds, 13 points, 4 steals, 14 assists and VERY active all 34 minutes that he played.
• Perkins health: Played just under 24 minutes, enough to grab 6 rebounds  and block 3 shots.
• Bench contribution: Eddie had 23 points (7 of 11 for three). Glen Davis scored 7 points and added 4 rebounds to the tally. The Bench scored 49 points in total – the only unsettling aspect being Leon Powe’s scant contribution
• Doc open to change: Bill Walker played full 12 minutes (the whole 4th quarter). He had 6 points and two assists.

Six bullets explain why the Celtics routed the Maverics, the game already secured in the first quarter. What I believe is the path to the Celtics success this season came alive last night, with maybe exception of the number of Garnett’s rebounds (I don’t remember when it was last time that he grabbed only two).

What Did Florida Trip Reveal?

The Celtics completed their Florida trip with a sweep, first the Heat, then, last night, the Magic. In both games the outcame was predictable from the very beginning. As is well-known, both Miami and Orlando are to be reckoned with seriously come the plyoffs. Orlando, had just completed their trip to the West successfully, having beaten, among others, the Lakers on their own court. Yet, the Celtics dominated both games, and they did it with style. Here are the factors which were important for the trip and will continue being important through the rest of the season.

• Garnett contributes good plays consistently : scoring, rebounding, passing, deflections & blocks, energy, denials after the whistle. Kevin being Kevin is what makes this team so threatening.
• Either Paul or Ray have a good shooting night. If both of them struggle, the Celtics struggle. What also works is when Ray starts hot and Paul finishes the game hot.
• Rondo dictates the rhythm, with few turnovers, penetration to the paint, timely and accurate passing, and he scores 10 points or more. He keeps increasing confidence in his mid-range and his long-range shot.
• Perkins is healthy enough to play significant minutes. This is critical to solidify the defense in the paint and to free Garnett to roam around, harass the guards and shut down the forward.
• At least one of the bench players rises to the occasion. In the Heat game it was Eddie, last night it was Big Baby. It would make an excellent team great if one of the reserves would do it consistently (maybe there are traces of something good in Big Baby making several mid-range shots in a row) and somebody else contributes good plays every night they play. At this point I am also convinced in Scalabrini’s role on the team. His positioning on defense is excellent and him being in the game at times lifts the team if only because the opposing team won’t take him seriously.
• Doc Rivers remains open to change when things don’t work out. There is no need to force Eddie as a point guard when that doesn’t work; willingness to trust Gabe is important, as well as living through some of Big Baby’s mistakes to get his contribution later. We haven’t seen much of Bill Walker and I have a feeling he is eager to contribute and ready to jump aboard.

Of course, there will be bad games, but it is not a too far-fetched thought that Celtics can continue playing as outlined above, and – what should be a scary thought to other teams – even improve. It is imaginable, for example, that Gabe Pruitt will keep maturing as a player, that Eddie, Leon, and Glen will all have a good game the same night, that Tony Allen will return to his old self.

Miami Game

Orlando Game

What’s Wrong with the Green?

After starting the season 27-2, an NBA record, and rolling to a 19-game winning streak, the once-invincible Celtics are playing below-average basketball. Starting with Boston’s loss to the Lakers on Christmas Day, the C’s have gone 2-5, losing to the likes of the Charlotte Bobcats and New York Knicks. They have gone 1-5 on the road during this stretch, which is a troubling sign because of the woes on the road during the Playoffs last season. The Celtics are repeating the same trends that were evident in that losing streak. Ray Allen is missing open shots at the end of close games, Rajon Rondo is not attacking the rim like he does in Boston, and the bench is virtually invisible. The big concern for the Celtics going into the season was bench play, especially because of the departures of James Posey and P.J. Brown. And now, it has become the Achilles’ heel for the Celtics going into their 37th game. The C’s are in desperate need of both a backup point guard and a backup center. Read more ->