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Brandon

• Curt Schilling’s a Hall-of-Famer.  He’s perhaps the greatest postseason pitcher of all time and he accomplished a lot during the regular season throughout his long career.  He’s got questionable numbers, but doesn’t the one guy you’d want on the mound in game 7 belong with the cool kids?
• The Joba to the rotation move appears to being paying off.  Handsomely.  Given an average of six innings per start for the remainder of the season (for simplicity purposes, it could vary but most likely will be around six) and roughly 16 or 17 starts left, Joba will end the regular season with more or less 140 innings–just about right for his progression.  Plus, now that Wang is down, they need Joba in the rotation.
• If the Cubs or Phillies find themselves a good starter and maintain solid health come October, they should face off in the NLCS.
• Cito Gaston?  Really?  He’s a relic of better days, but I doubt replacing John Gibbons with the ghost of Blue Jays past will change much that wasn’t going to change based on regression (or in their case, rise) to the mean.

“This is a dream come true, and I’m going to cherish this forever.”–Captain Clutch.

Beautiful.

That’s the first word that comes to mind in summing up both the Boston Celtics’ game 6 NBA Championship clincher and the season as a whole.  Boston refused to believe the alpha dog theory that has hung in the air like His Airness since MJ established himself as unbeatable.  The best team won last night.  The best player lost.

Crisp passing, dependable defensive rotations, unselfish decisionmaking, accountability: the 2008 Boston bunch personified the definition of Celtic Basketball.

While the Celtics handed in a quintessential performance, Kobe and Krew submitted a virtuoso white flag waving no show.  After a hot start from profundity, Kobe cooled off, and his Laker teammates gave him no reason to believe passing them the ball would result in anything but missed opportunities.  Instead, aided by dominant Boston defense, Kobe missed shots.  The most prolific active scorer in the entire Association ended his season with 22 points on 22 shots, and averaged 25.7 points per game on .405 shooting for the series–by far his worst numbers of the postseason, and this after owning the superior Western Conference.

Meanwhile, Kobe’s counterparts, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, perfectly played their pivotal roles.  Each scored plenty, and in his own unique way.  Pierce from the line, in the paint, and when the moment called for it, from deep; Allen on fantastic finishes at the rim and raining jumpers that seemed to fall from the heavens.  A point somewhat lost during all the proclamations of “sacrificing” personal stats is this relationship.  Allen and Pierce used to play the same position, and put up similar numbers, but their differences allowed the Celtics a chance at resurgence.

Pierce is a physical beast, country strong.  He maneuvers by defenders almost at will, always awkwardly and at his pace.  He can rebound and score from the post.  And he’s a bit of a wild child, who has matured just in the nick of time.

The man known as Jesus has borderline OCD.  Literally.  He’s meticulous to a fault; but that fault leads to the purest stroke the world of basketball may have ever seen.  He can run the point in a pinch, and prefers the perimeter.

The combination of these two, along with the ever-aquiescent offensive game of The Big Ticket, formed the foundation of an 82-win squad.  Pierce seamlessly slid down the from the shooting guard slot to small forward, and he and Allen responded to Garnett’s dogged defensive determination.

Add a dose of Big Game James Posey and sharpshooting Eddie House, a Cousy wannabe at the point, a physical warrior at the pivot, some scrappy bench players who scoff at adversity, a bit of Ubuntu from Doc Rivers, and Tom Thibodeau’s defensive brilliance, and it would be, in theory, perfect. 

As the rout of a formidable opponent from the NBA’s dominant conference displayed in game 6, it was.

Turn a group of misfits that netted just 24 wins a year ago into an all-time great team capable of raising banner 17?

As KG shouted at the top of his lungs, having just informed legend Bill Russell he wouldn’t be taking up the eleven-time champion’s offer of a championship ring as a gift, “Anything’s possible!”

Light one up from heaven, Red.

I’m a sports fan.  A former basketball and baseball player.  From Massachusetts.  So I’m not one to forget the possibility of jinxing a team.  But it’s not happening.  Not to this team.  The Boston Celtics will be your World Champions in 2008, and from someone who watched them lose 18 straight games, loved Al Jefferson and Employee #8, appreciated Eric Williams and Walter McCarty, was raised on Tommy Points, and wishes he could physically bleed green, this is it.

Captain Clutch came through again.  He owned Kobe.  Ray Allen was a revelation–there’s no way you saw this coming after he walked around like a ghost against Cleveland and for part of the Detroit series.  KG rebounded from a poor first half to do what he does–play defense and pure offense, passing and scoring when given the appropriate option.  The role players stepped up as well.  Eddie House showed why he should have been playing throughout the playoffs, P.J. Brown physically demonstrated the attitude that the C’s lacked in the first half, and James Posey cemented himself as Big Game James.

Even Doc Rivers was phenomenal.  He subbed properly and never let his team down.  His turnaround during the playoffs has mirrored Ray Allen’s, and together they have given the rest of the Celtics a chance to do display their talents in the way they did during the regular season. 

There’s not much more to say, and in this euphoria I’m not thinking or writing clearly, but this is the moment.  This is what we watched the lottery for, this is what we believed in developing the kids for, this is what we believed in keeping The Truth around for.

The Celtics are about to complete a full season of wins–they stand one shy of a whopping 82.  We will probably never see a collection of talent and personalities equal to the team that Danny Ainge assembled this past offseason, when the Green Rennaisance started. 

My advice?

Savor it, it’ll never be this sweet again.

• I can’t possibly stress the importance of changing the pick-and-roll defense.  The Celtics continue to trap high and allow Kobe to pass the ball off to the his versatile big men, who aren’t missing.  Let’s make Kobe be the ball hog he truly wants to be, and see if it can get us back in the game, or at the very least give us something to work off of for game 5.
• Sam Cassell need not play ever again.  Unfortunately, I fear that Doc left Eddie House sitting on the bench so long his shot has gone lame.  Hopefully I’m wrong.
• Leave KG in the rest of the game.  Who cares if he picks up another foul?  Seriously, just as Van Gundy said, you needed to leave Garnett in the game during that last minute of the first half in order to not lose momentum and blow the comeback–as Jordan Farmar’s running bank three just accomplished.
• KG must get the ball where he wants it and go to the basket.  Hard.  At least 5 times in the first 6 minutes of the third quarter.  At least establish some attitude.
• The game is probably over, but just as L.A. did in the fourth quarter of game 2, it’s time for the Celtics to wake up.   
• Oh, and stop turning the damn ball over every two possessions.

There might be fewer than five games left in the season for the Lakers after this man (apparently/hopefully) has learned to harness his team’s tremendous potential.

For the first three quarters of game 2 on Sunday night, basketball perfection had been acheived. The commitment to team defense, fearsome rebounding, crisp ball movement, and intelligent play that the Celtics exhibited throughout the first three quarters of the season, had returned to the Garden. Thoughts of winning it all well before game 6 or 7 in Boston sometime next week had crept into the minds of fans and players alike–and then the Lakers, themselves a snoozing giant, delivered the best team in the NBA a wake-up call.

Better yet, a slap to the face.

The Lakers put up an incredible 41 fourth-quarter points on the league’s best defense. And Kobe Bryant, who can’t even comprehend the meaning of the word “no,” led the way. The petulant posterboy displayed everything he brings to the table. Streaky shooting, a dominant personality (as seen in showing up teammates and referees–although the officials deserved it), and an impact on the game felt even when up 22 points with 12 measly minutes remaining.

But before we get to the awakening of KB24 and what it means for the (hopefully) now wide-awake Parquet Posse, let’s address the initial 3600 seconds of game 2.

Doc Rivers was nearly spotless. He’s learned how to coach a team with no legitimate weakness, to the point where watching his substitutions and timeouts no longer leads to potential aneurysms. Sam Cassell needs not step on the court, as a perfectly acceptable replacement for the alien warrior waits not sitting on the bench but leading the reserve Celtics a la Cedric Maxwell: Eddie House, the very man Cassell has replaced in the rotation. Otherwise, Doc outcoached Phil Jackson. Think about that.

Leon Powe played meaningful minutes. And dominated. The national media demonstrated its disbelief via the words of Mike Breen, ABC announcer, who called The Show’s performance the game of his life. Not so.

Leon is a talented, but undersized power forward. Given a couple more inches he would have found himself selected in the lottery two years ago. Instead, fortune fell upon the Celtics, who managed to acquire the rebounding, scoring, and charge-taking inspiration for meager portions.

Paul Pierce carried the offense in the first half and late when necessary. Kevin Garnett made up for a slow shooting start by picking up the slack that a less-than-stellar night from Kendrick Perkins on the boards required. Ray Allen gave Kobe fits early on and fired away from deep, demonstrating his deft touch from the corner three. Put simply, the Boston Three Party did what it should do.

Rajon Rondo lived up to expectations. Lofty expectations, the kind the Green Giant, Tommy Heinsohn, placed upon him as a rookie. Maybe Rajon hasn’t reached Cousy comparisons just yet, but an 8:1 assist to turnover ratio ain’t bad. Add 6 rebounds, 2 steals, and a block to his 16 assists and 4 points and you’ve got yourself the true point guard this year’s version of Gang Green requires.

P.J. Brown once again stepped up off the bench for Perk, and James Posey continued his solid season of defense, rebounding, and lethal long-range daggers.

In short, the Celtics were 75% perfect.

Now, on to the other 25%.

The Celtics doubtlessly lost their focus after 36 minutes of beautiful Boston basketball. The Lakers, on the other hand, finally decided to show up. L.A. appeared listless for most of the game, with only an efficient first half from Pau Gasol and a late burst from Kobe and friends in the fourth to contradict the rest of their night’s work. The Lake Show looked like a collection of talent, rather than a team, and a collection that hadn’t yet learned to mesh against a squadron willing to take a charge or play chest-to-chest defense.

But, after a phenomenal fourth quarter from the Lakers, each city can take solace in what it saw from the two best teams in basketball.

The Lakers are not done. It’s always nice to know you’re not D.O.A. when heading home for your season’s final three games in front of season ticket holders.

Conversely, remembering that your opponent is worthy never hurts before flying coast to coast for three games at the Staples Center.

So, it’s now up to each team to prove which part of Sunday night’s game was the anomaly. The majority of the game, or the freak final period?

Down two games to none against the best team the NBA has to offer, Phil Jackson better convince his team that the 7 mediocre quarters his squad put forth in Boston were the outliers, otherwise Red Auerbach will remain alone above the man who made Michael MJ.

After last night Celtic faithful have something to proud of, regardless of the ultimate result of the NBA Finals.

As Tony Allen carried Celtics captain Paul Pierce off the court, with help from the Human Victory Cigar, Brian Scalabrine, the season was over.  There would be no Green 17.  The NBA Finals would be over within five games.  The ratings bonanza that the NBA had hoped for would pop off like Pierce’s knee had just done after a collision with teammate Kendrick Perkins, and just as bottles would do for the Los Angeles Lakers within a 10 days. 

It was certain.  Until Pierce pulled out his best Willis Reed impression, the one every athlete dreams about in the dark, in time to lead his team to an essential game one victory. 

Pierce’s performance made his Reed-like comeback even more impressive.  And unlike the Knick legend, who scored only 4 points in his famous game 7 effort, Pierce led the offense in the second half with 11 points after hurting his knee, including back-to-back triples that propelled the Green ahead for good.  Pierce’s return was more than a mere morale boost.

The media have focused on Kevin Garnett primarily as the fuel that fires the Celtic engine, but they have missed with their analysis.  Garnett is the MVP, the man who posts the best numbers and leads the defense, but without Paul Pierce, this team has no shot. 

In an attempt to understand Pierce’s place on his 79-win (and counting) squad you must look first at Boston’s roster.  No other player packs the offensive versatility of Pierce.  Tommy Heinsohn has called Pierce the best offensive player in the history of the franchise–and he’s very nearly seen them all. 

The Truth’s diverse attack and complete game are irreplaceable.  There is literally no other player in the entire world of basketball quite like him.  There are better players, many of them, but none with the ability to play both the 2 and the 3 for full seasons at a time (Pierce was a gunslinging shooting guard during the days of Antoine Walker and Jim O’Brien, but seamlessly shifted to the small forward position with the arrival of Ray Allen), and the rebounding skill to effectively play the 4 at times.

If you look at the PER leaders for each position, Pierce’s talents become more obvious.  He finished with the league’s fourth best Player Efficiency Rating from the small forward spot, a great metric, but one that even fails to accurately measure the Inglewood native’s best defensive season yet.  Essentially, other than LeBron James, Paul Pierce is the best swingman in the entire league.  The problem is there are many more talented scoring and combo guards and big men than most realize, which means that Pierce remains outside the top 15 active players, but is the most irreplaceable player on the Celtic roster.

When Kevin Garnett went down with an abdominal strain earlier this season, the team managed a 7-2 record with the insertion of Leon Powe and Brian Scalabrine into The Big Ticket’s slot.  With Paul Pierce out, James Posey and the still-hobbled Tony Allen will not be able to carry the distinct offensive load that Pierce brings to the table, and the Celtics will wither against their formidable opponents, the Los Angeles Lakers.

He was nearly stabbed to death once, he played through mediocrity and carried his team the way Kobe chose to do prior to the emergence of Andrew Bynum and the fleecing of Chris Wallace begat Pau Gasol, and he’s battled imaturity, sometimes frustratingly so under the spotlight of the playoffs. 

But as last night proved, the time has come to recognize the evolution of Boston’s captain, and give him a new name.

The Truth is now Captain Clutch.