| Celtics Still Building Champions Authored by Jared L. Cantin - August 9, 2005 - 1:59 pm
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The 2003-2004 Detroit Pistons
When Rasheed Wallace rumors surfaced, there was little doubt that he was being jettisoned from Portland. However, it was a bit of a surprise that he landed in Atlanta. Atlanta provided little if any of the qualities that Rasheed was looking for in a team. Rasheed asked for tall, dark and handsome, he got Costanza. Rasheed looked doomed to play out the final year of his contract in Atlanta. However, the Celtic's curious involvement in a Champion Building trade ensured that wouldn't happen.
Atlanta, Detroit, and Boston managed to swing the "Rasheed trade", netting the Pistons Sheed, Atlanta a pick and expiring contracts, and to the Celtics: Chucky "My Contract is (F)Atkins", Lindsey Hunter, and a first round pick. The Celtic's involvement provided Atlanta with an additional expiring contract (Chris Mills), and in essence made the deal financially feasible for Atlanta and Detroit. Absent the Celtic's willingness to move Mills' expiring contract and take on (F)Atkins undesirable contract, the Pistons may not have gotten their man. And if the Pistons didn't get their man, they would have likely failed in their Championship bid.
The 2004-2005 San Antonio Spurs
Even when the current Celtic regime isn't building (other NBA) champions, the missing luck of the 1990's Leprechaun continued Boston's bad fortune.
Going into the 1997 NBA draft, the Celtics were the favorites to walk away with the ultimate prize, Tim Duncan. With two high entries into the lottery, thank you Dallas, the Celtics were a mathematical favorite to end the drought and obtain the coveted quiet man. Unfortunately, the Celtics weren't even lucky enough to end up with Keith Van Horn (picked second), and yes, I did just say "not lucky enough to land Van Horn". (That sentence seethes desperation)
Instead, the Spurs tanked, benching a debatably healthy David Robinson for the end of the 1996-1997 season. The result was a 20-62 record for the Spurs, and the second best chance at Tim Duncan. The Celtics ended up with Chauncey Billups and Ron Mercer. The Spurs have won two NBA Titles on Duncan's shoulders, and the Celtics never even got to know Billups or Mercer. (And they passed up T-Mac) What's so lucky about a leprechaun anyhow?
The 2005-2006 Miami Heat
I know, I know, the Heat haven't won anything….yet. However, thanks to the Celtics and their part in bringing James Posey, Jason Williams and Antoine Walker to Miami, the Heat now boast one of the most talented 6 man rotations in basketball. The last time Shaq had a versatile big man like Antoine, he was a Laker, and so was Robert Horry.
Toine is capable of doing things that many 6'9'' power forwards can't. He is handled the ball well, delivers dazzling post entry passes, and even shoots the lights out on occasion (although rarely, more like "special" occasions). However, he is also guilty of playing small, shying away from contact, and shooting from the outside far too often. These are the traits that chased him from Boston. They are however, the very same traits that will make him invaluable to Miami.
There is one simple fact in the NBA. If you are not named Yao Ming, then you stand a very poor chance of hanging with Shaq one on one. Yao, although often overmatched, has shown the occasional ability to frustrate Shaq man to man. As a consequence of Shaq's pure physical dominance over nearly all big men, his career has been riddled with double and triple teams. Power forwards like Horace Grant, Udonis Haslem, and Karl Malone, although very useful in the short and intermediate game, simply lacked the skills to stretch a defense like Antoine can. (Karl due to age and health when he played beside Shaq)
Antoine, in a lineup that should often include Jason Williams, Wade, Posey, and Shaq, creates a floor spacing problem for any opponent. With free looks, even Toine, Williams, and Posey can drop the three ball. The key is that teams are either going to have to give up those free looks, or they are going to have to man up Shaq. It's a matter of picking your poison. Toine's primary weakness, playing soft and on the outside, become useful in Miami. Furthermore, his lack of athleticism and interior toughness are countered by Shaq's presence in the middle. The greatest part of the puzzle however, is that should Toine's style not mesh, the Heat still have Haslem, a more traditional banger to revert to.
I am not arbitrarily giving the "World's Championship", as Stephen A. Smith would so eloquently put it, to the Heat just yet, but thanks to our Boston Celtics, they look poised to make a serious run this year. A run that may revive Antoine's basketball image somewhat. (And another thing, Does Stephen A. Smith really think North America constitutes the world? And can we please go back to calling it what it is, an NBA Title.)
The Celtic's championship drought is nearing year twenty. However, they are a talented young team that looks poised to compete in the near future. Young blue chip talents like Al Jefferson and Gerald Green could be the Celtic foundation within the next two to three years. Unproven young talents like Justin Reed, Delonte West, Marcus Banks, Kendrick Perkins, and Tony Allen (and I suspect Ryan Gomes) have all flashed the ability to play a role at the professional level. The future looks bright.
Even though the Celtics haven't won an NBA Title since 1986, the Celtics are still doing what they do best, building champions. Fortunately practice makes perfect, and by the 2008-2009 season, maybe the Celtics will be building champions at home, in the new Garden. |
