As my legions of fans have no doubt noticed, it has been a while since I last posted and a lot has happenned in the meantime. America elected its first black president, I got engaged (we're calling Monday to reserve the Basketball Hall of Fame for the reception. It's going to be awesome), Deep Throat died. And the Celtics went on a complete tear, winning 19 in a row. Their follow-up to this has of course been to lose 7 of their last 9 games. I don't know what has been more troubling, that they have lost to teams that they should easily beat like the Knicks and Warriors, or that they've lost to teams like the Cavs and the Lakers that they may very well have to beat in the playoffs if they hope to repeat.
I haven't done enough statistical analysis to explain why they're losing, all I know is I used to get excited when the bench came in and now I feel like I'm going to have a heart attack every time Brian Scalabrine comes in the game. And that's not a shot at Scalabrine; he always plays hard and every once and a while hits a three. But he is sort of representative of the Celtics bench lately. It's not that they're playing horrible, they're just not playing very well. Powe and Davis had a swagger earlier in the season that in some ways was a little "too big for your britches," but they were backing it up, and now they're just...passable. Gabe Pruitt is getting more minutes at the point, which is good for his development but he's just...adequate. Tony Allen, who I had finally accepted as a scorer and not just a freakishly athletic human being, has been just...good. During the winning steak, they would come in with a lead and expand it. Now, they can't be trusted to expand a lead or keep a deficit from growing. They have no real intensity.
So what's the answer? Maybe it's just rest. The Big Three are in their 30s and winning 19 straight games probably takes a lot out of you.
Or maybe the answer is new blood. Someone to come in and say, "You guys were awesome last year and I want some of it." Of course one name has been thrown around a lot lately: Stephon Marbury. Would he be a cancer on the team (or any team), or is our perception colored by the fact that he is he handling his crappy situation with the Knicks in a pig-headed and crappy way? Not that this has been the first time he's acted like this. Just ask KG about playing with Marbury in Minnesota. But every time I think of these things, I remember that this is the man who has his own brand of sneakers that he sells for $15 so every kid can afford them. I mean, that's unheard of: a professional athlete putting the consumer--especially the low-income youth consumer--ahead of his wallet and using his fame for good. This probably isn't that important, but I can't help think it must say something about the kind of person he is, or at least could be. And yet everyone seems to agree that this guy is a cancer and there's no way you'd want him on your team. When the rumors first started I didn't find it necessary, but given the slump we're in now, why not? It wouldn't be the first time a supposed bad apple came to Boston and turned their career around. Just look at Corey Dillon and Randy Moss.
So what does the future hold for our Celtics? Is it another streak or a continued slump? Will we welcome some new blood, or do we just need some rest? I don't know what is needed, but I hope it happens soon, because the sad reality is Pierce, KG and Allen aren't getting any younger and this year might be the only realistic shot they have at Banner 18.
Keywords: Boston Celtics
