When they want, the Boston Celtics can be as dominant as any team in the NBA. But there’s no denying the fact that the Big Three, among others on the roster, are getting older and can’t put up the same kind of fight for 48 minutes.
The most recent, and perhaps most obvious, example of this came on Sunday, when the Celtics led the rival Lakers by 11 points at home and couldn’t close them out. Kobe Bryant hit a shot over Ray Allen for a 90-89 Los Angeles lead, and Allen missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
In a tough three-game, four-day stretch against three of the top teams in the NBA, Boston completely faltered, going 0-for-3 against the Orlando (96-94), Atlanta (100-91) and the Lakers (90-89). The Celtics led the Lakers and Magic by 11 points in the fourth quarter and blew both leads. They trailed the Hawks 74-73 entering the final 12 minutes and were completely outplayed.
The Big Three — Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, who have a combined age of 99 — are looking more like the Old Three. Garnett has missed a number of games with a knee injury, this coming after missing the final 26 games (and playoffs) of last season with a injured knee. Allen is shooting just 34 percent from behind the arc — well below his career average of 40 percent — and Pierce, who plays nearly 36 minutes a game, seems a bit slow in getting to the basket.
On top of that, 35-year-old Rasheed Wallace was supposed to be a big force in the middle at both ends of the court, but he’s simply turned into a gunslinger who won’t step inside the 3-point line. His stats from Sunday’s loss? Three points (on, of course, a 3-pointer), one rebound, no blocks and four fouls — including another technical.
The Celtics still rank No. 1 in the league in scoring defense, but they can’t get the big stops when they need them. Bryant and Rashard Lewis can tell you that.
At the end of the season, Allen is a free agent, and although he’s a fan favorite, he’s gone. Pierce is here until he retires, and I’d like to think the same about Garnett. But there’s no telling how long that’ll be.
As far as Boston’s prospects for another championship, playoff basketball is about toughness and being able to close out games. Right now, the Celtics are lacking in that department.
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3 comments:
Remember those rumors in the offseason about the Celtics shopping Rondo? They look pretty smart for keeping him, but some moves they did make (i.e. Sheed) haven't exactly panned out.
Even though he has no jump shot, Rondo (as well as Kendrick Perkins) are the only promising young players the Celtics have. They mortgaged their future for that 17th banner and now, even though few would dispute that it was worth it, they're starting to see the consequences.
Hey, Barrett, I've got a great headline for your blog entry: "The weak get weaker."
Thanks, anonymous, that is quite the amazing headline suggestion.
And yes, Josh, Rasheed hasn't been what anyone expected him to be in October. Having Marquis Daniels out with an injury is also not helping matters.
And one more point. The Celtics aren't getting the production they need out of Big Baby and Perkins. I think offensively, they've both taken a huge step back from last year.
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