With the healthy return of Kevin Garnett's knee ranking as the main ingredient in Boston's stew, Wallace could be the appropriate spice. A 6-foot-11 post player, Wallace will give the Celtics flexibility by working efficiently at both inside positions. He has a high hoops IQ, championship experience, a competitive streak (how's that for a euphemism?), defensive chops and lingering skill.
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Name one reason the Boston Celtics won the NBA championship in 2008? Ok, sure. There are a lot of reasons. Today, I want to focus on one. New bodies. Hungry new bodies with something to prove.
Take a look at the 2007-08 roster. The only returning faces belonged to Paul Pierce, Tony Allen, Kendrick Perkins, and Leon Powe. That means the other 11 roster spots were consumed by new bodies, and other than Gabe Pruitt, every one of the new guys played like they had something to prove. Meanwhile, every one of the returning players, except for Tony Allen, played like they had something to prove to the new guys.
It was the perfect storm.
I won't say this ingredient was missing last year, as we started the season 27-2. On the other hand, Tony Allen's lacadaisical approach in ‘09 didn’t really hold a candle to the way James Posey played in ‘08. When Leon Powe and Glen Davis entered the game together last year, a comfort level and an aura of familiarity pervaded that was missing when either one of them entered the game by themselves a year earlier. PJ Brown joined the Celtics to block shots, get rebounds, and win a ring. We knew this every time he reached the scorer's table. Not so much with Patrick O’Bryant in '09. Even Sam Cassell's hunger was palpable in '08.
Eddie House? One might argue that he was about the same in ‘08 as he was in ‘09. But to other teams, he was certainly a more widely known commodity in ‘09, after becoming famous for his game 4 heroics in the 2008 NBA Finals. So you could even argue that the bankable and predictable Eddie House had a bigger impact during the championship run.
So what does any of this have to do with the 2009-10 season?
The betting money right now is on Rasheed Wallace playing this year like its his last, his last chance for some hardware. If he does, expect to see Kevin Garnett play better and more effectively than he ever has wearing a green uniform. That by itself should be enough to send a not-so-pleasant greeting reverberating across the league. No one knows what Marquis Daniels has to offer, and, even if some of his new teammates do know what he can bring, not even they know what he will bring. My point? He has something to prove.
Who else we got with something to prove?
Rajon Rondo is playing for his first big contract. Ray Allen is playing for his last good contract. Speaking of contract years, you also have Tony Allen and Brian Scalabrine playing for dinner next year. Big Baby, if he joins the team, will probably do so for one year, and then become an unrestricted free agent next summer. So what? That makes this year a contract year for him, too. Team options for JR Giddens and Bill Walker are scheduled for next summer, making this an important season for them, too. Lester Hudson? Only playing for respect and a roster spot.
Is that about it?
Nope.
Every Celtics' fan remembers what Kendrick Perkins said when first interviewed after the C's won the championship. He reminded the world that Rasheed Wallace began the 2007-08 season by bad-mouthing the green because they didn't have a center. You don't think he has something to show Sheed, now do ya? (especially with talk of Sheed supplanting him in the starting line-up!)
What about #34? He's only playing for Celtic Immortality. He adds another ring, and his place in the pantheon of Celtics' greats is secured. Two more rings? He moves up the ladder. Paul Pierce will be as hungry as ever. Ray Allen also understands the importance of being a Celtics' God. It was the sales pitch he used on Grant Hill.
The sales pitch won’t fall on deaf ears in the Celtics’ team huddle this year.
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