Boston Celtics Keep Trying To Prove Me Wrong… And Now They’ve Succeeded

The Boston Celtics just keep trying to prove me wrong. And with the latest addition of Sam Cassell to the lineup, I’m willing to admit that on this topic, I’ve been all wrong.

First I said that they wouldn’t be a good defensive team. I thought the addition of Ray Allen to play alongside Paul Pierce would make them so vulnerable against perimeter offense that it renders them defenseless. They still are weak against the perimeter; however, they have managed to stay on top of the league in terms of defensive efficiency.

Then I thought that they wouldn’t have enough production out of the point guard position. But Rajon Rondo certainly has elevated his game to match the output of the superstars around him, and at the very least, he will be serviceable.

I also questioned the mano y mano post defense of the Celtics with Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins, but before that could become a factor in the playoffs, they have now picked up veteran postman PJ Brown, a noted defender.

And despite my newfound faith in Rondo, there was no way he was going to be able to match Chauncey Billups output play-for-play in a 7 game series, so the Celtics have now signed veteran PG Sam Cassell to one year deal.

So it looks like everything that I have thrown at the Boston Celtics has come back to hit me in the face. So does that mean that I am switching my prediction and picking the Celtics to come out of the Eastern Conference, instead of the Detroit Pistons?

Not quite yet… but I’m getting there.

The main difference between the Pistons and the Celtics coming into the season was that the Celtics had a balanced attack where they can utilize match up problems at all five positions on the court. Sure, they have the congruity of having played together for so long as well, but that will only take you but so far when you’re facing talents like Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen. And besides, being able to take advantage of Antonio McDyess on Kendrick Perkins, Tayshaun Prince being defended by Paul Pierce, or Chauncey Billups going up against Rondo, is just too much of a problem for the Celtics to handle.

However, with a lineup on the floor that may include Cassell, Allen, Pierce, Brown and Garnett, all of those match up problems go away. Sure, Cassell isn’t the player he used to be, but he certainly will be up in Billups’ chest, and he knows how to force him to the help when necessary. And if PJ Brown is on the floor, he can guard Rasheed Wallace on the perimeter whereas Perkins can’t, and that means Kevin Garnett could still defend McDyess and the paint at the same time, instead of being drawn out on the perimeter by Rasheed.

Then of course, on the offensive side of the ball, the Celtics gain some other advantages. Most importantly, they would have shooters at every position. Neither Rondo nor Perkins is known for their perimeter scoring, but replacing them with Cassell and Brown gives you two players who have no trouble knocking down open jump shots.

So does the signing of Cassell and Brown swing the pendulum back towards Boston’s direction? Yeah, it does a little bit. But it’s not all the way on the other side yet. The Pistons are still the better defensive team overall, and I think that could be the difference in this series. However, the Celtics certainly beefed up their chances to make a serious run at that #1 seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs, and maybe homecourt advantage will play a bigger role than any other factor in this closely contested, and yet to have happened, much anticipated series.

But then again, maybe I’m all wrong.

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