Give and Go: Mike and Al Break Down the Celtics

By Mike Brilliant and Al Assner

[Editor’s Note: This week, we’ll begin a regular feature here at Full Court Press, which presents the back-and-forth banter of two of our writers (Mike Brilliant and Al Assner) who tackle the issues of the day. If you’re looking for snarky pop culture references, self-indulgent asides about recent trips to Vegas or personal anecdotes about friends and family members with clever nicknames, you’ve clearly come to the wrong place. Mike and Al are all about the basketball.]

Al:

Okay, a little over one week into the season, Could it have started any better?  

Mike:

Weeks one and two couldn’t have started any better for your Boston Celtics.  They started 5-0 against four playoff teams from last year.  Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen are as advertised, if not better.  KG’s intensity is not only rubbing off on the whole team but on the Garden fans as well.  And I don’t remember Ray Allen taking the ball to the hoop as much as he has. That’s been a bonus.
 
The biggest surprise to me so far is the defensive output of the Celts.  They HAD to be better than the teams we’ve seen over the last fifteen years, but I didn’t know they had the potential to be one of the best defensive teams in the league.  The one downside so far is the injury bug.  James Posey hurt his back in the Denver game, Scal suffered a karate chop concussion and then you suffered an ulcer from over-excitement (or over-eating) at the home opener.

Al:

Agreed that this was obviously a great start.  No one would have predicted a 5-0 start where everything that could go right, did go right.  Other than the injuries, the one thing that concerns me is the expectations.  Personally, I thought this was a 52-55 win team going into the season. At this point, though, 60 wouldn’t be out of the question.  I think it will be interesting to see how they respond to being the team with all the expectations.  Will the expectations affect Doc’s Coaching?   Will they affect the younger players?

Next topic:   What do you think the biggest hole is on this team right now?  

Mike:

Well, besides the head coach… ….going into the season, I would have definitely said point guard.  I thought that Rajon Rondo was better than most so-called “national experts” predicted, but through thirteen games (including eight in the preseason), he hasn’t been prone to the foolish turnovers he showed us last year.  And he’s directing and pacing the offense while staying out of the way of the “New Big Three” and occasionally going to the hoop for an easy lay-in.
 
So all that said, my biggest concern is now at the center position.  Kendrick Perkins is playing as effective as hoped.  He’s getting the occasional slams just by being on the court.  But more importantly, he’s playing good defense and getting some boards. Well, getting boards that KG hasn’t grabbed already.  But I feel like we have no depth at the position.  Pollard has not impressed.  And it seems he’s not impressing Doc either.  After getting extended minutes in the first game, “Mr. Crazy Pork Chop Side Burns” has seen fewer minutes with each passing game. At the beginning of each game, they should announce, “Introducing Scot Pollard, who will officially be filling the role of Kandi Man this year…’ At this point, I’m looking forward to mid-season when they can either sign P.J. Brown, Chris Webber or another TBA veteran big guy.
 
Al:

I would say my biggest concern is the lack of depth at point guard and center.  As much as I like Eddie House, he is not a backup point guard. And I though I like what Pollard gives you, I prefer a big man who could provide them with 15-20 solid minutes, some boards, etc.  Not sure who that could be, but I sure hope it isn’t Chris Webber.  He wouldn’t fit that role.

I’m also concerned about the minutes.  I think to keep it going for a whole season, the Trio needs to average no more than 35 minutes per game.  Otherwise I am concerned about injuries and fatigue.

Mike:

I agree that the minutes will become an issue later in the season if not closely monitored. Why has Rivers continued to play Garnett for the first sixteen minutes of each game?  I’d say that’s a bit too long that early in the game with out a rest.  Also, with the team up by forty points in the third quarter of the Denver game, why not sit Pierce, Garnett and Ray Allen for the whole last quarter?
 
Otherwise, I’ve been very encouraged with the play of James Posey, Eddie House and Brian Scalabrine.  Posey has shown his strengths by playing defense and hitting those spot threes.  House has shown he can score in bunches.  I’m also surprised in the early going by his ability to push the ball on the break.  I was led to believe that he has absolutely no point guard ability yet I think he’s shown adequate skills at the one spot.  Scalabrine has played the Mark Madsen/Eduardo Najera, hoops dirt dog role.  Funny how he played the same style during the last two years and he was considered a dolt.  Now that we’re winning, he’s heralded as the perfect role player.

Kevin:

Next topic: Van Halen. What song best applies to this stellar start to the season?

Mike:

Get lost. This is the Mike and Al column. And enough with the Van Halen references already. Save it for your next fancy gimmick column. Sorry but we’re talking basketball here, Lester Bangs.

Next topic: How has the Celtics’ chemistry come together so quickly?

Al:

Chemistry has come together because Garnett, Pierce and Allen are gym rats who love basketball.  If either of them were not as dedicated or like Gilbert “Terrell Owens” Arenas, it might be a problem.  Garnett is such a great leader.  He never puts himself first and is so intense.  Seeing him up rooting for the second unit with a thirty point lead was telling.  Basically, your team is usually good if the best player is also a leader.   It was sort of odd watching the post-game press conference the other night with Garnett on the podium with Pierce.  Yes, Pierce is the captain, but Garnett is the leader.  They should just name them co-captains so they can share the responsibility. Both of them were not great on their own.  But to share the load might provide them with relief.

Mike:
 
Who would be the perfect acquisition(s) later in the season for this team?  Choose up to two.   
 
Sam Cassel (buyout)
Skinny Antoine Walker (buyout)
Fat Antoine Walker (buyout)
Chris Webber (UFA)
P.J. Brown (UFA)
Dale Davis (UFA)
Vitaly Potapenko (UFA)
Earl Boykins (UFA)

Al:

I’d go with Cassel and Dale Davis.   I like Davis providing backup center minutes and solid defense.  As I said before, I think Webber is not right for that role. As for Antoine Walker, he would not fit any role here. Unless they needed an M.L. Carr cheerleading-type for the playoffs. 

I think Cassel is the obvious choice to play some playoff point guard minutes.  Might be too obvious though. Usually things like that don’t happen.  But if he was backing up Rondo I would feel a heck of a lot better than with Eddie House backing him up.
 
Next topic: This one is a two-parter. What is your current feeling for the number of wins and a realistic playoff scenario for this team?

Mike:

I originally thought that the Celtics could win 50 games.  But after seeing how quickly the chemistry developed, I’m giving this team 55 wins.  Hey, if Bob Ryan can revise his win total, so can I.  It could even be 3-5 more wins if the team stays totally healthy. 
 
I can see the Celtics entering the playoffs as the #1 or #2 seed.  This would give them the home court advantage for at least the first two rounds.  I think if they have home court advantage in any series within the Eastern Conference, they’ll win.  Hat gets them at least to the conference finals.