Can the Celtics Do It Again?

-By Reece Pelley-

The news that came out of Boston last Friday shook both Celtic fans and Boston apartments for hours. Unlike the news that erupted in the city two years ago with the announcement of the big three trade deal this news was on a darker note. Coach Doc Rivers informed the throng of sports reporters and television camera’s that super star Kevin Garnett will be missing the rest of the playoffs. The loss of the team’s leader makes fans across the country question if the Celtics are now down and out.

Coming into the playoffs as one of the top seeds in the East as well as the defending NBA champions, the Celts lost at home 105-103 against the rookie filled Chicago Bulls. Without KG, the men in green failed to win the battle in the paint and struggled throughout the game with their perimeter shot.

The loss was obvious and to anyone who had been watching the Celtics this season it looked as if there was a 6-11” whole in the team. The hole left by the big man, who averaged 15.8 points per game along with 8.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, left them without a focal point in the defense. It is clear the offense cannot be filled by any other Celtic. That’s even with the youngster Glen “Big Baby” Davis putting on a show by his standards with 18 points and 3 rebounds.

Even though both Ray Allen and Paul Pierce can easily lead the team questions arise when the Celts can’t even blow out the Bulls if they will even be able to compete with the Cleveland Cavaliers if they face each other in the playoffs. The number 1 seeded Cavs are led by potential NBA MVP LeBron James who is on a war path for an NBA championship. Charging through the regular season with 66 wins (leading the entire league) the Cavs and James seem to be unstoppable with his average of 28 pps. The one weak point that the injured Celts might be able to use against the Cavs is the fact that their bench lacks depth. In the second game against the Detroit Pistons, the Cavs secured a 25-point lead with 10 minutes left in the fourth but once Cleveland benched their starters the Pistons went on a 20-0 run forcing the Cavs to put King James back into the mix which led to an eventual 20-point victory.

If Boston has any hope for another celebratory parade led by the big 3, or now the big 2, they must rap up their series with the Bulls and start looking towards knocking off James and his beast from the East, Cavaliers.