One: They can play defense.
We knew that with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen onboard that the Celtics could score, but little did we know that with Kevin Garnett in the mix that Boston would transform itself into a top-notch defensive team. At present they lead the League in points allowed and opponents' field goal percentage, two statistical categories usually topped by the World Champion San Antonio Spurs.
Two: They can play with the big boys.
Never mind that they have yet to play the San Antonio Spurs and the Dallas Mavericks, two top-tier teams that haven't been as dominating as they have in previous years. Mind instead that were it not for two free throws, the Celtics would've beaten the Detroit Pistons after being down for most of the fourth quarter. Boston also beat the Lakers and the Jazz at home, two teams back-to-back on a tough road trip that many said would result in at least one loss for the men in green. They have the tools to keep up with the NBA's best, and by the time they have to face the teams in Texas, they'll have to confidence and swagger to come away with the Ws.
Three: They act unbeatable... and for the most part, are.
For a couple of times this season, I thought they would lose games. Their first against Toronto, for example. The ones against Miami, too. But each time it looked like they would lose, the C's always hit the big shots. You look at them and you get the feeling that they think they're invincible, and that no deficit is too large for them to overcome. In the game against the very cool and composed Pistons, they were down by six and they looked like Detroit had them beat. Then Eddie House and Ray Allen hit threes that got them back in the game. When they release their shots, you just KNOW they're going to go in. And that kind of ability is making teams nervous.
Four: Garnett, Pierce, and (Ray) Allen aren't the only decent players on this team.
One knock on the Celtics in the preseason was their depth, or, to be more precise, their lack of it. All the other players were question marks. Rajon Rondo? No jump shot, erratic. Kendrick Perkins? Too soft. Tony Allen? All jump and no game. James Posey? Too old. Eddie House? Too streaky. Glenn "Big Baby" Davis? Too fat. Brian Scalabrine? Brian Scalabrine?!?
Turns out that star power is contagious. In at least one game this season, the abovementioned players starred for the team. In what has become a familiar refrain, someone other than Boston's three stars has stepped up and become the team's x-factor, much to the delight of their three ego-less stars. Rondo, in particular, has been a revelation, a dependable point guard who has learned to use his speed to get to the basket, force turnovers, and push the ball. His defense has also been commendable, a pesky complement to the long-armed presence of KG.
"There's always somebody stepping up," says Celtics captain Paul Pierce. As long as this happens, chalk up more wins for Boston in the months ahead.
Five: Yes, they CAN win the NBA championship.
NBA teams are quickly learning that the Celtics are for real. NBA-Championship-For-Real. With only the Detroit Pistons with a legitimate shot at stopping their march to the NBA Finals, the Celtics are poised to make a return to the Promised Land after a 21-year hiatus. Expect Garnett, Pierce, and Allen to use their small window of opportunity to win it all (the three are all over 30 years old).
We knew that with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen onboard that the Celtics could score, but little did we know that with Kevin Garnett in the mix that Boston would transform itself into a top-notch defensive team. At present they lead the League in points allowed and opponents' field goal percentage, two statistical categories usually topped by the World Champion San Antonio Spurs.
Two: They can play with the big boys.
Never mind that they have yet to play the San Antonio Spurs and the Dallas Mavericks, two top-tier teams that haven't been as dominating as they have in previous years. Mind instead that were it not for two free throws, the Celtics would've beaten the Detroit Pistons after being down for most of the fourth quarter. Boston also beat the Lakers and the Jazz at home, two teams back-to-back on a tough road trip that many said would result in at least one loss for the men in green. They have the tools to keep up with the NBA's best, and by the time they have to face the teams in Texas, they'll have to confidence and swagger to come away with the Ws.
Three: They act unbeatable... and for the most part, are.
For a couple of times this season, I thought they would lose games. Their first against Toronto, for example. The ones against Miami, too. But each time it looked like they would lose, the C's always hit the big shots. You look at them and you get the feeling that they think they're invincible, and that no deficit is too large for them to overcome. In the game against the very cool and composed Pistons, they were down by six and they looked like Detroit had them beat. Then Eddie House and Ray Allen hit threes that got them back in the game. When they release their shots, you just KNOW they're going to go in. And that kind of ability is making teams nervous.
Four: Garnett, Pierce, and (Ray) Allen aren't the only decent players on this team.
One knock on the Celtics in the preseason was their depth, or, to be more precise, their lack of it. All the other players were question marks. Rajon Rondo? No jump shot, erratic. Kendrick Perkins? Too soft. Tony Allen? All jump and no game. James Posey? Too old. Eddie House? Too streaky. Glenn "Big Baby" Davis? Too fat. Brian Scalabrine? Brian Scalabrine?!?
Turns out that star power is contagious. In at least one game this season, the abovementioned players starred for the team. In what has become a familiar refrain, someone other than Boston's three stars has stepped up and become the team's x-factor, much to the delight of their three ego-less stars. Rondo, in particular, has been a revelation, a dependable point guard who has learned to use his speed to get to the basket, force turnovers, and push the ball. His defense has also been commendable, a pesky complement to the long-armed presence of KG.
"There's always somebody stepping up," says Celtics captain Paul Pierce. As long as this happens, chalk up more wins for Boston in the months ahead.
Five: Yes, they CAN win the NBA championship.
NBA teams are quickly learning that the Celtics are for real. NBA-Championship-For-Real. With only the Detroit Pistons with a legitimate shot at stopping their march to the NBA Finals, the Celtics are poised to make a return to the Promised Land after a 21-year hiatus. Expect Garnett, Pierce, and Allen to use their small window of opportunity to win it all (the three are all over 30 years old).
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