www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090119/SPORTS/901190355/-1/SPORTSFar from perfect, but C's midway picture still rosy
January 19, 2009 6:00 AM
A glance back at the first 42 games of the season shows, just as they were last year, the Boston Celtics are clearly in shape to make a championship run.
"I feel good. Great record," head coach Doc Rivers said of his 33-9 team. "If someone had said before the season that your record is where it's at, I wouldn't complain about it."
The thing about that record, though, is it stems from a ridiculously successful beginning — a 19-game win streak as part of a 27-2 start, the best in team history. Boston suffered seven losses in its next nine games before appearing to right the ship this past week with four straight wins. And unlike last season, there are three other teams — Cleveland (31-7), Orlando (33-8) and the Lakers (31-8) — also in the argument for the NBA's best thus far.
Here's a look at the individual grades for the Celtics in the first half of the season:
THE STARTING FIVE
The continued development of Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins has been nice, but the comfort level of Ray Allen playing alongside Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce is the key to the starting unit this season. They continue to be the best starting five in the East.
RAJON RONDO, PG
Earlier in the season, Rondo was just ridiculous. He was in the running for an All-Star selection, mainly because other teams were still leaving him alone to double-up on the Big 3. Once teams started paying attention, his numbers tapered off, but he's still improved in shooting (50.1 percent compared to 47.2 percent), 3-point shooting (30.8 from 25.7), rebounding (4.9 from 4.2), assists (8.0 from 5.2) and scoring (10.7 from 9.0).
One concern is an increase in turnovers, coughing the ball up 2.6 times per game as compared to 1.99 for his career mark.
Grade: B+
RAY ALLEN, SG
Unlike last season, when Allen had to adjust from being the team's primary scorer to the third option, the Celtics have figured out how to best ingratiate him into the offense. More importantly, Allen has responded.
While his numbers are right around where they were last season, it's come easier. He's only failed to reach double-figures four times in 42 games, while shooting just a shade under 50 percent for the season.
Grade: A-
PAUL PIERCE, SF
There's a reason why Garnett keeps pushing for Pierce to be known as "Superman." The captain is shooting the best he has in his career from the 3-point line — 41.1 percent, well above his career mark of 36.6 percent — but best of all is his efficiency. He's only taken 20 shots in a game three times this season, proving that even as he continues to relinquish much of the scoring load, he can still make his shots count. He continues to be their go-to guy and best offensive weapon.
Grade: A
KEVIN GARNETT, PF
No Celtic was more vocal than Garnett about the need to leave last season in the past if they hoped to have a similar finish to this one, yet he's certainly on pace to put up similar numbers. He's not the double-double machine he was in early December, but he's still shown the ability to turn it on when needed.
The only real concern around Garnett this year has been the talk circulating about his "antics," such as the finger-wag at Jose Calderon or the "punch" thrown at Andrew Bogut, but chalk much of that up to sour grapes. He's still in the running for another Defensive Player of the Year.
Grade: A-
KENDRICK PERKINS, C
He's been hampered by a shoulder injury the past four games, but prior to that, Perk has quietly been having his best season. Six double-doubles and just under 60 percent shooting stands out, and Perkins is putting up career highs in points (8.8), rebounds (8.1) and blocks (1.8). The biggest concern is that he's also up in fouls per game, at a 3.40 per-game clip, and he's third in the league in technicals with nine (although he hasn't had one since Dec. 1).
Grade: B+
THE BENCH
While the bench was a strong point for Boston last season — giving them the edge over Detroit and Cleveland, among others — it's been a sore spot this year. The departure of supersub James Posey was expected to hurt, but not this much, as the reserves have yet to play with continued consistency.
"Our young guys are improving," Rivers said. "I think our bench has been up and down but it's showing improvement."
LEON POWE, F
Last year, Powe emerged as a solid reserve after not getting a chance early in the year, and put up some impressive post-season performances. He's continued that role and become more effective in his playing time. He does the dirty work, crashing the boards and taking the charges, and he's remarkably efficient, shooting 54 percent for the season.
The biggest change from last year to this? We all remember KG's shoving Powe around in a game last season to pump him up, and Powe just taking it. This season, when KG did it again in the opener, Powe pushed back.
Grade: B+
GLEN DAVIS, F
He's averaging about three more minutes a game than he did last season, but the numbers for "Big Baby" are slightly off from where they were a year ago. However, he understands his role better, now that there's clarification as to how the Celtics are going to use him and Powe off the bench. He's also developing his game more, and has a knack for knocking the ball away. Eventually, he'll figure out how to put all of his talents together in one game.
Grade: B-
EDDIE HOUSE, G
House has probably been the Celtics' most consistent player, giving them exactly what they expected when they brought him back this summer. While he still doesn't have a firm grip on running the offense with the second unit, the emergence of second-year point guard Gabe Pruitt has helped, allowing House to just focus on being a scorer instead of a distributor.
Grade: B+
BRIAN SCALABRINE, F/C
Someday, Scalabrine's full value to the Celtics will be understood by all, but he's coming close to getting the respect he deserves. Earlier in the year, he was the subject of Garden chants calling for him (sometimes facetiously) whenever the score turned solidly in the Celtics' favor. With Perkins out the last four games, he's once again responded well when thrown into a more significant role.
Grade: B-
TONY ALLEN, G
Once again, Allen is the team's biggest question mark, and health is playing a part in that concern. He was signed to a new contract in part because the Celtics thought he could help replace what was lost when Posey signed with New Orleans; instead, Allen still hasn't figured out how to put it all together.
He hasn't played since Jan. 4 after suffering an ankle injury, and the team's decline in defense during parts of that stretch can be attributed partly to his absence.
Grade: C
GABE PRUITT, G
After mostly watching from the bench following his return from the D-League last season, the young point guard is finally getting a chance to play, even if in limited minutes. He hasn't done much when only appearing for two- or three-minute stretches, but he's been a more than capable backup when he gets significant time. Plus, he frees up House to play the two.
Grade: C+
BILL WALKER, G/F
The guy everyone wants to see on the court hasn't had much chance to do so — unless you're a big fan of the Utah Flash, you haven't seen much of the rookie. The last two games against New Jersey, he put up six points in 12 minutes in each appearance. If the Celtics can get into more garbage-time situations, Walker should have a chance to impress.
Grade: Incomplete
J.R. GIDDENS, G
The rookie has yet to make an appearance. Tony Allen missing so many games should have opened the door for Giddens, but he's been dealing with a wrist injury that hindered him in his time with the Flash.
Grade: Incomplete
PATRICK O'BRYANT, C
Even though he has the perfect name for a Boston Celtic, he's not exactly a perfect fit for this team. He's the only true center on the roster behind Perkins, but he hasn't worked his way into the rotation. "I'm not playing him when he's not ready, and he's not ready yet," Rivers recently told reporters. "Just because you are 7-feet tall doesn't mean you play."
Grade: Incomplete
SAM CASSELL, G
Cassell hasn't played a single minute this season, but Rivers said he thinks that will change later in the season when they can get the veteran ready for a postseason run. Otherwise, they're very happy with his work as a de facto coach, something Cassell plans on pursuing once his playing days are over. "He's been very very good in the locker room. He tells the truth to everyone, and that's good," Rivers said.
Grade: Incomplete
THE FRONT OFFICE
DOC RIVERS, COACH
Rivers has once again done a masterful job controlling the minutes of his veterans in hopes of keeping them fresh come playoff time. He's been handcuffed by a lack of size off the bench, but he's made the most out of playing small ball against bigger teams.
Most importantly, Rivers has the ear of his players, something a lot of coaches might struggle to find when coaching a championship winner.
Grade: A
DANNY AINGE, GM
It's no secret that Ainge has been questioned in this space about not going the extra year to keep Posey in a Celtics uniform, and so far, the bench has proven that they needed his leadership and contribution. Ainge has been steadfast in his belief that the team as currently constituted can contend for another title.
At the same time, though, we're hearing discussions about a possible deal for Orlando's J.J. Redick and, of course, the potential of adding Stephon Marbury.
Grade: B
HOT
KG'S NEW NICKNAME
He's been known as "The Kid," "The Big Ticket" and his initials, but Kevin Garnett has now dubbed himself "The Garbage Man." After christening Paul Pierce as Superman, Garnett said of himself, "I'll be Batman. I'll be Robin. I'll be anybody you want me to be. I'll be the garbage man." And thus, a new moniker is born.
GARNETT ON THE RADIO
While we're on the subject of Garnett, go to WEEI.com and check out his interview with Dale Arnold and Michael Holley. It's rare for KG to open up in a long interview, but it was great to hear him talk about everything from playing with Malik Sealy and Sam Mitchell in Minnesota to teasing Doc Rivers about the interview making him late for practice.
TOUCHDOWN LEBRON
Great commercial from State Farm Insurance featuring LeBron James announcing he's hanging up his basketball shoes and joining the NFL's Cleveland Browns. Hopefully, Donnie Walsh and the New York Knicks' front office realized it was only a joke.
NOT
CUBAN PUTS MONEY WHERE HIS MOUTH IS
First, Mavs owner Mark Cuban said he would "personally make sure that J.R. Smith is suspended" after the Nugget threw an elbow against Antoine Wright. Then, the league fined Cuban $25,000 for "improper interactions with Denver Nuggets players" after he walked onto the court to confront Smith. Cuban said he'll donate the 25 grand to a charity of Smith's choosing.
DELONTE GOES DOWN
Cavaliers guard Delonte West could be out six weeks with a broken right wrist suffered on a bad fall in Chicago. How key is West to the Cavs? "Delonte's toughness and what he has been able to do for this team this year is unmatched," LeBron said. "There is nobody who can step into his shoes."
NICE HIRE
According to a report in the New York Daily News, the NBA advised Knicks center Eddy Curry not to hire convicted felon David Kuchinsky as his driver. Curry did, and after already suffering a robbery that could have been connected to him, Kuchinsky is suing over sexual harassment and the use of racial slurs.
