Looking Good in the Neighborhood

[The Eye of the Q is upon you!]

Celtics are emerging as the class of the Atlantic Division if not the entire NBA. Boston has won 4 out of five games by double digits and have knocked off their two toughest division foes on the road. It hasn't been this much fun since Boston Garden was still in business and Bird, Parish, and McHale walked through that door.

Kevin Garnett is the engine that drives this green machine to the lead of the NBA racetrack. He is concentrating on defense and rebounding. BTW Perkins has found a very comfortable role in getting the rebounds and playing defense. Garnett does it all basically (scoring, passing, shot-blocking, rebounding) and I can see why he is consistently a top pick among the fantasy players.

Ray Allen is a nice guard who scores and he plays well all around. He will get a lot of exposure in Boston he did not get in Seattle. We have had generally good luck in trades with Seattle (except with Vin Baker).

Pierce does not have to carry this team and create off the dribble any more. He causes matchup problems if you single team him.

Rajon Rondo is a star PG in the making. I love his court vision and he dogged Kidd quite a bit last night. He has a reliable mid range jumper at certain spots on the floor and can penetrate.

Perkins is improving his offensive game slowly.

Eddie House is a scoring threat but he does take some defensive possesstions off.

Then we have Glen Davis who provided energy off the bench. This is something we have not had in years. I think we will need Scalabrine and Posey back soon for the grinding part of the schedule which starts in December. But somehow, I think the Celtics can compete with any team out there, including the defending champions. In past years I was hoping the Celtics could compete. This year we know the Celtics can compete. That is a big difference.

ANd Paul Pierce claims this is the tip of the iceberg. If so, this season will be special.

[findawgg]

I watched the game last night on the YES network, Marv Albert couldn't stop gushing over the KG, Pierce and Allen trio. I would have thought it was a New England based telecast if I didn't know better. I thought the Celtics would struggle early in the season as they needed to develop chemistry and a team identity. I hate being wrong.............unless it's in a good way.

--Fin

[DERRENMATTS]

Its actually like living in a fantasy right now. I have never cheered for a Celtics team that has been this good. I came along at the tail end of Bird's career, so I didn't taste how good it is to be the favored team in every game.

[FLCeltsFan]

I cheered for the Russell Celtics at the end of his career and the 70's championships and then the Bird years. That 86 championship team was the best I have ever seen from #1 to #12. We don't have anywhere near as good a bench now as they did then. The Three Stars from each team match up but as a whole the starting 5 on that team were all stars not just 3. Ainge came the closest to a role player and he was darn good. It was incredible watching them.

But that being said, I was also a fan through the rough times in the 70s and through the Pitino years and it has been a long long stretch of "wait till next years". Next year is finally here and I am really, really enjoying it.

[The Eye of the Q is upon you!]

flceltsfan12 said:

I cheered for the Russell Celtics at the end of his career and the 70's championships and then the Bird years. That 86 championship team was the best I have ever seen from #1 to #12. We don't have anywhere near as good a bench now as they did then. The Three Stars from each team match up but as a whole the starting 5 on that team were all stars not just 3. Ainge came the closest to a role player and he was darn good. It was incredible watching them.

But that being said, I was also a fan through the rough times in the 70s and through the Pitino years and it has been a long long stretch of "wait till next years". Next year is finally here and I am really, really enjoying it.

Amen to that. I think Rondo and Perkins will play better and better. If Tony Allen can find his game, he joins a strong bench contingent of Eddie House and James Posey. Also Glen Davis might be really good, too (only down side would be that Leon Powe might get pinched out). Ainge will keep his eyes open for hungry veterans that might be available. Heck, I'd be open to Toine coming in if he gets bought out for the minimum as a bench playa.

Bottom line is - I expect to watch good Celtics basketball the next few years.

[Roadrunner]

McHale, oh I meant Ainge for Executive of the Year.

[mev17]

flceltsfan12 said:

I cheered for the Russell Celtics at the end of his career and the 70's championships and then the Bird years. That 86 championship team was the best I have ever seen from #1 to #12. We don't have anywhere near as good a bench now as they did then. The Three Stars from each team match up but as a whole the starting 5 on that team were all stars not just 3. Ainge came the closest to a role player and he was darn good. It was incredible watching them.

But that being said, I was also a fan through the rough times in the 70s and through the Pitino years and it has been a long long stretch of "wait till next years". Next year is finally here and I am really, really enjoying it.

I began at the tail-end of Havlicek's era, and couldn't agree more FL! Next year is finally here. This team in not as deep as in 1986 (my pick as well for best ever) but in today's NBA we can be nearly as good if we stay healthy and don't wear down.

[DERRENMATTS]

We are far from having depth in talent that will rival the '86 team, but we've got a couple of good pieces off the bench on this team. James Posey is definitely a big contributor off the bench--moreso on defense right now, but I also see him being a good complimentary scorer in the mix. Tony is getting better with playing time. House is deadly when he's hot.

I think Baby and Powe (I'll call them Double Trouble) add energy and umphh.

Scalabrine and Pollard have their days.

But just wait till this offseason. Better free agents will want to play for us.

[freshnthehouse]

quinielabox said:

Bottom line is - I expect to watch good Celtics basketball the next few years.

And isn't it a sight to behold, as well as a sight for sore eyes? For being one of the league's premier franchises, we haven't seen good basketball in a long, long time. I'd say the 91-92 Celts were the last good team. We were due, dang it!

[Roadrunner]

I guess ainge can say "allen is walking through those doors, and garnett is walking through those doors."