| Despite Slow Start Celtics Get ‘A’ For Effort Authored by Carl Setterlund - November 6, 2005 - 10:27 pm
Don’t let a 1-2 record deceive you, these 2005-06 Boston Celtics are no pushovers. In both losses the game came down to the last shot. Against Detroit it came down to a defensive slipup and a clutch jumper by Rip Hamilton. At Charlotte it came down to an open midrange jumper that Paul Pierce couldn’t hit as overtime wound down. It truly is discouraging to lose back to back close games, but there is hope for Celtics fans. Experts have given good reviews of the Celtics’ talent base but have given fair warning that developing young talent takes time and that this may be a lost season. However the experts may be proven wrong as the Celtics look like a playoff team in light of the exceptional amount of young players.
Last year it was the presence of poised veterans Gary Payton and Antoine Walker who nudged Paul Pierce and gang toward an Atlantic Division title, however this year it is effort, not composure which is keeping the Green in games. In his advanced years, someone watching a Boston game might have noticed the Glove more for stalling the fast break than anything else. The blame is not solely on Payton for the recently departed (and still beloved) Antoine Walker was, like Payton, not known for making the extra pass up court. Replacing the gaping holes left by Walker’s and Payton’s departure are point guard Delonte West and a revitalized Mark Blount.
No doubt, it was not just Payton and Walker who were lowering the energy level of the team. Celtics’ Captain Paul Pierce was also a culprit. Often we who watched him muscle away an impressive rebound would see a good deed followed by (gasp) walking the ball up the court instead of making an outlet pass. Those days look to be in the past. Although it was evident Pierce hadn’t bought into coach Doc Rivers’ running philosophy last year, Paul came to camp this year in the best physical condition we’ve seen him at in a while and he looks to be making a concerted effort to (gasp, but a good gasp) initiate the fast break. And it’s not just Pierce who has changed his tune, for it seems someone has finally resuscitated Mark Blount. It’s hard to explain how it happened but Blount has, at last “regained his confidence,” as we’ve been waiting for him to do since he received 6 years, 38 million two summers ago.
Aside from the revitalized vets, credit also has to be given to kids who have seen their roles increased. Delonte West has been the point guard form of Andrei Kirilenko thus far posting substantial points, assists, rebounds, steals and blocks while keeping his turnovers low. 2004 second rounder Justin Reed, also getting more minutes, has made his presence felt both defensively and by getting out on the fast break. Then there is 20-year-old Kendrick Perkins who gobbles up defensive rebounds and quickly looks to make the outlet.
So with the 1-2 record it’s easy to doubt the Celtics’ playoff chances this year, and the doubts may well be proven right in a much improved Eastern Conference. However, it is evident that times are changing in Boston; that the entire team has bought into the philosophy Danny Ainge and Doc Rivers have been preaching. They should be able to sneak into the playoffs, but no matter what the outcome ends up being, if the Celtics keep playing with the energy they are displaying, they’ll be in every game. And no matter what the outcome, if the Celtics keep doing what they’re doing, I know it sounds cliché, but they’ll get an ‘A’ for effort in my book. |
