Grousbeck has Faith

September 19, 2010

If the Celtics had fallen in the first or second round of the playoffs, exhibiting a feeble effort from an aging team, the decision would have been easy. Instead, they sliced through the Heat, pounded the Cavaliers, and jumped to a 3-0 lead over the Magic before winning the Eastern Conference finals in six games. So a decision to dismantle the Big Three and rebuild wasn't so simple, and the painful Game 7 loss to the Lakers gave ownership even more reason to retain the core of the roster.



As the Celtics left the Staples Center on the night of June 17, they carried not only the disappointment of a disheartening loss but also an undeniable uncertainty. Doc Rivers was considering a respite, lured by the opportunity to watch his son play his senior year of high school basketball. Paul Pierce had an opt-out clause to ponder. Ray Allen was an unrestricted free agent for the second time in five years. And reserves Nate Robinson and Marquis Daniels were planning to search for new clubs after uneven stints in Boston.

But Celtics management not only retained the coach and those players, it added Jermaine O'Neal, Shaquille O'Neal, Von Wafer, and Delonte West, and drafted Avery Bradley and Luke Harangody. The idea of rebuilding was dismissed, at least for two more years, replaced by the desire to make another run at the Lakers and an NBA title. With little regard for the dollar-for-dollar luxury tax, ownership again exceeded the limit and has committed more than $78 million in salaries for one more chance (or maybe two) to sip championship champagne before it is time to rebuild.

"When you are leading a Game 7 and then you lose, I think everybody on that team naturally wants to come back together, try to get back to the mountaintop," said principal owner Wyc Grousbeck. "So I was not that worried about bringing the guys back together. "I thought that the guys would want to come back. I thought that Doc would want to come back. So I played the hand that way."

When Kendrick Perkins was felled with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in Game 6 against the Lakers, adding a big man became a priority. Shaquille O'Neal made it no secret, even in his whisper-quiet voice, that Boston was his preferred sixth NBA destination. And after a flirtation with Kwame Brown, Celtics president Danny Ainge agreed with Grousbeck that O'Neal would be an appropriate fit. "The minute I heard Kobe [Bryant] say he had one more ring than Shaq, I said to Danny, 'Let's go get Shaq,' and it happened," said Grousbeck.

"This is a very, very proud bunch of guys, the champions from '08. And now with Jermaine and Shaq and Delonte, who haven't been champions with us, this could be a good group. We've got huge challenges but we reloaded this summer. We really want banner No. 18."

The Celtics lacked the resources to make the type of splash Miami made, but it can be argued that their depth and overall talent are comparable with the Heat, who will be a starter-heavy team with aging parts off the bench. The emergence of Miami and its three All-Stars is a touchy subject with the defending Eastern Conference champions. "I don't have any comments on Miami," Grousbeck said. "I'm not going to compare us to Miami. That starts Oct. 26 when they come to the Garden.

"I will say that we had a good team. We brought everybody back and added on. We added three 7-footers in the offseason. We're the biggest team in the NBA. We're probably the oldest team in the NBA. We're not a perfect team, but we're going to be a tough out, and it starts on the 26th." Grousbeck realizes that the conversation about an 18th title might have been postponed a few years had the Celtics dissolved in the early rounds. But the prospect of being six minutes away from a championship with aging but productive players changed the thinking of the organization.

Could a franchise with so much pride sell its fans on the idea of rebuilding after losing to its fiercest rival in the Finals? Grousbeck did not want to even ponder that question. "We live and die with this team, and died in June," he said. "We almost had it. We spent all summer trying to get back, and we appreciate what Doc and Paul and Ray did, reupping. We appreciate what Shaq and Jermaine did. "We've got Rajon Rondo coming into his prime. We've got KG [Kevin Garnett] and now we have Paul and Ray again. We were leading Game 7 by 13 points and we needed some more rebounding. We added three 7-footers. We lost fair and square. We're coming back after it."

The Celtics have padded their roster so much that Turkish standout Semih Erden or Harangody may spend time in the NBDL and Wafer could have heavy competition for the 13th or 14th spot. Last week, Ainge invited NBA veterans Adam Morrison, Rashad McCants, Cuttino Mobley, and Trenton Hassell in for a workout even though the Celtics are carrying 14 guaranteed contracts. Miami's training camp may be the most intriguing, but Boston's could be the most competitive.

"We got a bunch of butt-kickers on this team," Grousbeck said. "And a bunch of tough basketball players on this team. We're a long way from saying we're a good team yet - that will show on the court. "It's going to be a great season for the NBA. People's grandmothers will be watching the NBA. I am glad I got a championship ring, and I want another one."