Has Celtics switched been turned off? May 27, 2010

Note: Kendrick Perkins 2nd technical foul has been rescinded so he is available to play in Friday night’s game 6. The official announcement came from the NBA as follows.

NBA ANNOUNCES RESULTS OF REVIEW OF ORLANDO-BOSTON GAME 5 OF EASTERN
CONFERENCE FINALS

NEW YORK, May 27, 2010 – Following a review of Game 5 of the Eastern
Conference Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Orlando Magic, the NBA
has announced the following:

   ·    Celtics center Kendrick Perkins’ technical foul with 36.1 seconds
      remaining in the first half has been rescinded.

   ·    Celtics forward Paul Pierce’s foul with 8:12 remaining in the fourth
      quarter has been upgraded to a Flagrant Foul 1.

THE Big question at the beginning of the playoffs was “Are the Celtics capable of turning the “play hard and well” switch on for the playoffs after such a lackluster regular season”. The answer was yes, at least for 15 games anyway.

Unfortunately for Celtics fans it appears that someone might have gotten a hold of that switch 2 games ago and turned it off. Visualize the movie Airplane and the part where the crazy guy pulls the plug on the lighting system of the runway and then says “just kidding”. Except this Celtics turn off is no joke.

SO what has happened? Game #4 Paul Pierce went back to the days of him always trying to be the hero and it cost them. Game #5? How much time do you have. No energy, no fight, no nothing. Disheartening after 13 such strong playoff games.

They have been pushed around, bullied, beat down, even technically knocked out, or have they been. That question will be answered tomorrow night.

Tonight at 6 a look at how they were beat down.

-MD

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Celtics in trouble? January 29, 2010

No, I’m not overreacting to one loss but I am looking at the whole picture here and right now it is blurry because of the health of Kevin Garnett.

If Kevin Garnett doesn’t get healthier, the Celtics have no chance of winning a championship. Do I think he will get better-Yes. Do I think he’ll get healthy enough to be able to win a title-I have very serious doubts.

Last night’s loss to Orlando was painful but it also brought out Garnett’s lack of mobility on the game’s final defensive play which was a lay-up by Rshard Lewis who Garnett was (supposed to be) guarding. Painful indeed.

This whole Garnett deal -return from off season surgery, is painful (no pun intended) because no one tries harder but as hard as Garnett tries, right now he is just not physically able. I put him at about 80% which is still just about as good or better than anyone else, but not the dominant Garnett that the Celtics need to win a championship.

To make matters worse, this is a guy who the Celtics are committed to for 20 million dollars a year for 2 seasons after this one. That is alot of money for a guy who is not 100%. The Celtics certainly understand the long term picture so expect Garnett to get some more time off this season to try and get this leg healthy.

In the meantime the Celtics can win alot of games, like they did last year, with Big Baby and now Rasheed filling in. So let’s go, give KG some rest here and there and hope that he can regain most of the strength in his left leg.

-MD