7.19.2012

Deepest Celtics Team of the Garnett Era? Puhlease

Wow.

There is going overboard, and then there is losing it altogether.

I'm gonna vote for the latter when it comes to a blog calling the current Celtics' team "the deepest of the Garnet Era." (although kudos for using a term I coined!).

In case you've forgotten, let's take a look at the Celtics' second team that walked off the court world champions in 2008.

First you had James Posey and Eddie House coming off the pine.Surely you remember these two characters. Their joint contributions may be best remembered during game 4 of the 2008 NBA Finals when, some would justifiably argue, they led the Celtics back from a 24-point deficit in the third quarter and then helped close the deal in the fourth. Ho hum. Right?

Then we move on to PJ Brown. What did he do? Only help seal game 7 against Cleveland with a key basket in the final minutes of play. Add to this timely defense throughout the playoffs, intimidating blocks against the Mamba in the Finals, and a locker-room presence second to none.

Then we have the Leon Powe/Glen Davis combination. What Glen Davis accomplished during the regular season and first three playoff series was only surpassed by what Leon Powe did in game 2 of the 2008 NBA Finals, when he scored 22 points in 15 minutes, a performance that disheartened the Lakers as much as it surprised them.

We're talking about the NBA playoffs here, people. Posey, House, Powe: difference makers in the NBA Finals. PJ Brown, difference maker in the closest series of the Eastern Conference playoffs. How do you possibly even mention the Celtics' current bench in the same breath as the guys from 2008?

Then there is the question of who, exactly, is going to replace Ray Allen from the 2008 starting line-up? I won't even go there right now. But needless to say, that question raises a series of hurdles that must be overcome (not to mention the Paul Pierce of 2012 is nothing but a shadow of the guy who won the playoff MVP 4 years earlier).You can't have a deeper team this year if the 2008 starting line-up was markedly better.

And, just for fun, we throw in Sam Cassell, who, in addition to hitting some key shots during both the regular season and playoffs, helped coax the C's back from death in game 4, exhorting on  the C's by telling them "this is what it feels like to win a championship." Championships are only won by overcoming adversity, he said, and that is exactly what the C's did to come back and win that game.

The only guy on the C's bench right now who even comes close to offering a contribution along those lines is Jason Terry, and, who knows, he may end up starting. Nobody else has accomplished diddly.

Maybe Chris Wilcox will show that he has some PJ Brown in him. Maybe Courtney Lee will reveal his inner Eddie House, and Jeff Green will remind us all of #41.

But don't hold your breath.

5 comments:

FLCeltsFan said...

Maybe not deeper than 08 but they are also the deepest since. But, as always, they have to stay healthy. We had a deep team to start last season until they started dropping like flies.

Lex said...

Yeah, good point, FCF.

The 2010 team wasn't too bad off depth-wise either. I believe there was talk of a 70-win season when that started.

I would still like to add another big -- steamship?

And maybe another point.

FLCeltsFan said...

Agree we need another big and another point. Dooling is a possibility and so is Christmas at the Point. Goldy Blocks is gone if Minny ever makes him that offer. I posted a list of the remaining centers on another post. It's a pretty scary lot. Maybe someone else will get bought out. Danny usually likes to keep one spot open to nab any late waivees.

Lex said...

Hey FCF, yeah, thanks for that list.

Not much to choose from there.

I guess there is always the mid-season trade deadline.

Dooling probably can't be ruled out either at the 1

FLCeltsFan said...

Dooling did ok as back up point last season. He played good defense and hit some big shots. Also he mentored Rondo and took him under his wing, a point that can't be underestimated.