Irrational Exuberance Hits the Hub!
By Kevin Henkin
Two-and-Oh, baby! Who’s next?! Who wants some of this?!? Listen up, Duck Boat People, I want all those boats painted green by next June, catch my drift? And someone call the Dropkick Murphys. We’re going to need a new swagger anthem, pronto. And let’s get a few more of those magazine covers featuring the Big Three, huh? It’s been at least five minutes since I’ve seen the latest one. At this point it’s all about respect, yo, and the men in green have it coming to them in spades.
If you find yourself nodding in agreement to all of the above statements, you’ve officially been diagnosed with a syndrome that’s afflicting a growing number of Celtics fans these days, called Irrational Exuberance. Other symptoms include a strong denial of your team’s shortcomings and a sudden urge to ridicule Knicks and Lakers fans everywhere. No worries, though, because a cure is available. I offer it to you in the form of a breakdown of each position as seen through the eyes of the afflicted, offset then by a carefully measured dose of reality.
Point Guard
Irrational Exuberance
Rajon Rondo is lightning quick, super-crafty on the break and he thieves the ball like Scalabrine does a paycheck. He’s also been working relentlessly on his previously shaky jump shot all summer, which is terrific news because he’s basically being left all alone by panic-stricken defenders doubling up on Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. After Rondo, there is a seemingly endless list of capable backups, including Eddie House (formerly Steve Nash’s backup in Phoenix!), stud rookie Gabe Pruitt and the Allens (Ray and Tony).
Even Doc Rivers appears unfazed by a reported lack of depth at the position. On Celtics Media Day, he dismissed the fretting reporters, confidently stating: “I’ve never run a traditional point guard offense so that’s why I’m not as concerned by if we have a pure point guard or not…I think a lot of guys will handle the ball for our basketball team.” In these modern times, the need for a skilled offensive distributor has clearly become an antiquated notion, much like the two-handed set shot and team defense.
Reality Check
Color me a little concerned about the excessive reliance on Rondo. Fine, it’s not an original thought as far as concerns go, yet it remains a legitimate concern nonetheless. So is the utter lack of depth at the position. If either Rondo or House goes down to injury, the rotation will go to hell in a hand basket quicker than Kevin McHale can dismantle a playoff team. The issue I have with the Rondo plan is that he’s essentially been asked to move away from his primary strengths (quickness, aggressiveness and weaving the ball through transition) in favor of a game plan that exposes his weaknesses (poor shooting and turning the ball over in a half court set). It’s certainly possible that Rondo will succeed in the long term, especially given his high talent and commendable attitude. However, his success shouldn’t simply be assumed. After all, his mountain is steeper to climb than that of anyone else in a Celtics uniform this season.
Shooting Guard
Irrational Exuberance
Did you see that Toronto game? Dude is a dragon slayer. Even better, he’s coming off a career best year in terms of scoring average. He accomplished this feat in Seattle despite having a supporting cast of Rashard Lewis and his merry band of Guys Who Can’t Play Basketball Very Well. Now that she’s surrounded by actual high end talent, Ray Allen is going to lay waste to opponents, dropping 30+ on a nightly basis. Then, when he takes a well deserved rest, he’ll be relieved by his namesake, Tony Allen. Thankfully, TA will soon be healthy and revert back to that guy who dominated for at least TEN GAMES prior to his ACL injury last season.
Reality Check
Alright, everyone recite after me: Our stating shooting guard is 32 years old and coming off ankle surgery. Otherwise, there is no reason to worry about what Ray Allen brings to the table. Cross your fingers and hope for Ray’s sustained health. As for Tony Allen, it remains mixed bag. He has good days and bad days, good moments and bad ones. When (if?) he’s expected to regain full form is a true unknown. Although Allen’s brief emergence last season was an eye-opener, his lackluster play prior to that revealed just how ineffective he can be when he lacks explosiveness and a full degree of confidence in his body.
Small Forward
Irrational Exuberance
Up until this season, Paul Pierce’s best wingmen on offense were a succession of players most famous either for their inappropriate wiggling, atrocious shot selection, shooting at their own basket or being more fragile than a piece of wet Kleenex. As a result, opposing defenses were able to throw everything but the kitchen sink at Pierce, especially down the stretch of close games. No longer. With Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen alongside him, Pierce will be able to operate like an artist on a canvas against single coverage. Defending swingmen will openly bicker with teammates about the lack of help until James Posey relieves Pierce and subsequently shuts down the opposing offense almost single-handedly with his glue-guy presence and gritty effort. As for the age factor, Pierce will be able to remain fresh during the season by sitting out the fourth quarters on those frequent occasions when the game is put out of reach in the first half.
Reality Check
Pierce should certainly flourish on offense against less defensive pressure, especially if and when the core players develop an on-court chemistry. Of course, the possibility always exists that a true chemistry does not develop by the time the playoffs begin, or that the diminishing of individual glory doesn’t sit as well with the stars as initially anticipated. Then there is the concern about minutes. The hope is that Rivers will limit Pierce’s playing time in order to keep him fresh for the eighty-two game marathon and beyond, especially after the historically durable captain succumbed to his first serious mid-season injury last year.
Power Forward
Irrational Exuberance
Kevin Garnett is a flat-out one man wrecking crew. He beats his opponents by scoring, rebounding, providing lock-down defense and just out-hustling everyone else around him. Now that he’s surrounded with some real players, Garnett will drag this team to victory by his sheer will on a regular basis. Remember when Larry Bird joined the Celtics as a 23-year-old rookie and improved the team win total from 29 to 61? Expect that same kind of impact.
Reality Check
Actually, everything said about the Big Ticket above is absolutely true. In fact, the very fate of the Celtics season is tied most directly to his health and level of play. If he goes down to injury, the Celtics will go from a very dangerous team to a very average one. Losing Pierce or Ray Allen would certainly hurt, but losing Garnett would be the singular knock-out blow to anything special that this team would hope to achieve this season. He’s that important.
Center
Irrational Exuberance
Kendrick Perkins is ready at last for his long-awaited breakout season. After suffering last year through severe plantar fasciitis and Al Jefferson’s “Make Way for Lay-ups” defense, Perkins is finally free to develop into the second coming of Ben Wallace. Backing him up is Scot Pollard, a seasoned veteran role player who knows how to bang and how to help his team pull out wins. Although both have a tendency to get into foul trouble, that risk will be offset by opposing centers regularly being carted off the floor on stretchers after being abused by this physical big man tandem.
Reality Check
Perkins is who is he is. He’ll likely never have a deft scoring touch and his nose for the ball is not as strong as one would hope for a man of his size and determination. Thankfully, the Celtics have no need whatsoever for Perkins to score and he has an open willingness to do all the dirty work (who makes more of a sincere effort to set picks?) necessary to win games. Pollard adds a complimentary set of skills as a strong rebounder and a high energy player. Then again, it’s difficult to gage how much the 32 year old big man has left in the tank, especially considering his ankle woes that have plagued him since the beginning of camp.
There. Feel better? If symptoms persist, kick back and enjoy the season anyway. And remember to keep those Knicks and Lakers fans on speed dial.
