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April 26, 2008
Who Shall the Celtics Fear?
The Boston Celtics move their year long quest for an NBA title to Atlanta tonight. Game is at 8:00 pm.
Few thought, including Celtic fans, that the new look Celtics would actually make the NBA Championship series in their first year together. Eastern Finals were perhaps within reach in a great year, but few were willing to say that they were finals material. Fewer still predicted they could handle any team that made it from the ultra talented west. A finals appearance is still pre-mature, but that outlook looms more likely every day now.
Detroit is once again under performing and being nonchalant about it. They were to be the likely dream stopper for these Celtics. What has happened to that thinking? The surprising 76ers have happened to the Pistons. They are up 2-1 and have made the league take notice with an impressive win against the Pistons, pummeling them by 20 points and looking very Pistons-like in their defensive effort.
During the season, the Pistons, to a man, downplayed every Celtic victory and each of their losses to the Celtics. Chauncy Billups, in particular, laughed when asked if the Celtic wins against them meant anything, or sent a message. Rasheed Wallace has been equally unimpressed.
From where I sit, one of the main problems with the Pistons is their own lack of a sense of urgency. They have played thus since their World Championship against a stronger Laker team in 2004. They played their hearts out in that series and conquered a bigger foe. They went back to the Finals the following season and lost a 7 game series to the Spurs. They actually re-conquered Shaq, now teamed with Dwayne Wade in Miami, in another 7 game series, along the way to the finals. Miami returned the favor the next year on their way to the NBA Title.
The Pistons' Ben Wallace-less loss to a lesser Cavalier team last season, should have sent a strong signal that all things were not right in the Motor City. With a gimpy Chris Webber instead, LeBron carved his way through the Detroit defense for a stunning amount of open looks at the hoop and another upset of a more talented Pistons team.
If the Pistons nonchalant their way to another upset loss to an inferior team, it leaves a much easier path for the Celtics to the finals.
The rest of the teams in the east can absolutely give the Celtics trouble, especially the Magic, in my opinion. Washington and Cleveland both have provided match up problems. The 76ers seem to keep getting better and better. They don't know they aren't supposed to be winning these games. But a focused, concerted effort by the Celtics should carry the day in a best of 7 series with any of them. The team with the best chance to derail their quest may be gone in the first round.
You won't hear the Celtic coach or players say any such thing. The standard answer is, "one game at a time." If you have heard that once from anyone in Celtic green you have heard it 100 times.
By staying true to the very grounded, purpose-driven Chinese philosophy that every journey begins with a single step and following that game.... by.... game, has helped the Cs arrive in the play-offs with the league's best record and the Celtics 3rd best in their long storied history. That is saying something, contrary to what Doc Rivers will tell you.
But Doc is also dead right in keeping their emotions down until they have actually won what they are after.
Tonight's match against Atlanta will provide a few sideshows with Mike Bibby and the Atlanta crowd. As far as I know the game is not sold out. Take that Mike Bibby. You actually have a bigger problem in the name of Rajon Rondo. Paul "Rocky" Pierce will play after getting knocked down hard, resulting in a lower back sprain. We will see if he is able to sustain a Paul Pierce type game.
The Hawks will try to take 'physical' to another level. The Celtics will try to get one win closer to their goal of three star players' first NBA title and cement their place in league legend and join a very exclusive club of players who can say that they were the very best in the world for 12 month period.
Paul, Kevin, Ray and the boys are performing in act three of this terrific drama this evening. Be sure to watch it.
Posted by Tom on April 26, 2008 12:28 PM
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