Kevin Garnett joined the Celtics in 2007 in search of winning a NBA championship. Along with fellow newcomer Ray Allen, the duo paired with Paul Pierce to win the 2008 title. Since then, Allen has moved on, but Pierce and Garnett have developed a strong bond in Boston to become fantasy basketball gold. Although the core is aging, it appears as though the Celtics are willing to make one last run at a title if Garnett wishes to return.

Boston has a lot of decisions to make, but Garnett’s decision might be the biggest of them all. If he goes to another team, there is really no reason to bring back Pierce. It would prompt Danny Ainge to go into rebuilding mode, and the team would try to get value out of Pierce and to save some money. If both of them leave, Doc Rivers probably is not coming back either. That would be a big blow to the stability of the franchise, but most fans have expected this to happen eventually.

Garnett and Pierce have been friends for a long time, and although the chance of retirement is still out there, it does not appear as though Garnett is quite ready to hang it up yet. That is why the longer this drags out, the better chance that there will be at least one more season of Garnett and Pierce in Boston. Rajon Rondo and Jared Sullinger are expected to make full recoveries during the offseason, and the Celtics are still a very dangerous team at full strength. Remember, this team took it to a Game 7 against the Heat just one season ago in the Eastern Conference Finals.

The two future Hall of Famers are a package deal in that they either both stay, or they both leave. The way it looks right now, both appear to be leaning slightly towards staying with the Celtics.

Athleticism

Larkin was one of the biggest winners at the NBA’s Draft Combine earlier this month.  This was largely due to his outstanding athletic testing numbers.  Larkin’s 44” max vertical leap was the highest of this year’s prospects and the second highest mark in the history of the Combine.  Larkin was also the fastest player at the combine, running the three-quarter court sprint in a faster time than current NBA stars Darren Collison, John Wall, and Ty Lawson.  Larkin’s scores boosted his draft stock significantly, as many scouts are concerned about his size (5’10”, 175 pounds).  With his speed and leaping ability, there’s a good chance that he will be able to overcome his physical deficiencies.

Shooting

Larkin’s greatest basketball skill is his shooting, something the Celtics desperately need.  Last season at Miami, Larkin shot roughly 48% from the field, a little over 40% from three-point range, and about 78% from the foul line.  Larkin has superb form on his jumper to go along with excellent range.  Additionally, Larkin is a strong finisher around the basket.  While his size will likely make scoring more difficult at the next level, his sweet stroke will likely help whatever team he joins next season.

Intangibles

While shooting may be Larkin’s greatest basketball skill, his intangibles are what make him such a strong point guard prospect.  Larkin is, quite simply, a winner.  He’s a tough, hard-nosed player who will do whatever his team needs to win.  He makes a point to get his teammates involved and has great court vision.  He also rebounds surprising well for a point guard, especially considering his size.  He’s a fearless competitor and a great team leader.

Larkin also has a professional sports pedigree, as his father Barry was a Hall of Fame shortstop for the Cincinnati Reds.  He knows what it takes to be a professional athlete and how to carry himself on and off the floor. Larkin’s athleticism and shooting would certainly be welcome additions to Boston, but his intangibles are what would allow him to truly fit in as a Celtic.

To see Larkin for yourself, check out this video.

Athleticism

Schröder is an extremely intriguing prospect to the Celtics, as well as the rest of the league, thanks in large part to his incredible athletic ability.  Like Rondo, Schröder is a relatively small guard (6’2”) with big hands and an enormous wingspan (6’8”).  In addition, Schröder possesses both tremendous speed in the open court and a lightning quick first step.  While he certainly needs to get stronger and add some weight (he currently weighs only 165 pounds), Schröder’s other athletic abilities should help him compensate for his slight frame as they have for other point guards, including Rondo.

Playmaking

Schröder’s athleticism most clearly manifests itself when he is pushing the ball in the open court.  Thanks to his excellent speed, Schröder is often able to beat the defense down the floor and create easy scoring opportunities both for himself and for his teammates.  In the half court, Schröder’s quick first step and outstanding ball-handling skills allow him to get into the lane with ease.

Schröder also has solid court vision and passing ability, two essential traits for any NBA point guard.  Those two attributes, when combined with his superb athleticism, give Schröder the ability to create a number of easy baskets for his teammates every game, something that the Celtics desperately missed after Rondo tore his ACL.  While Schröder does have to work hard on his decision making (he’s fairly turnover prone) and on making sure that he actually uses his playmaking skills (despite his passing abilities, Schröder is often criticized for being a shot-first point guard), the fact that he is only 19 and clearly still developing means that he is likely to improve on these aspects of the game.

Shooting

The one aspect of the game where Schröder really distinguishes himself from Rondo is perimeter shooting.  Schröder shot very well during his week in Portland for last month’s Nike Hoops Summit.  While that sample size is fairly small, his 40% shooting from the 3-point line and 53% shooting on catch and shoot jumpers during the German regular season demonstrate how effective of a perimeter shooter Schröder really is.  Additionally, Schröder showed in Portland that his pull-up jumper has become an effective tool for him when defenses go under ball screens.

One area where Schröder needs to improve, perhaps more than any other, is in his finishing around the basket.  Schröder shot only 44% on 2-point field goal attempts this season in Germany, largely due to his struggles at the rim.  This is a problem that Rondo has also dealt with in the NBA, and perhaps putting on weight will help Schröder finish through contact and thus boost his efficiency in the paint.

Defense

On the defensive end of the floor, Schröder’s quickness and length make him a pesky and effective on-ball defender.  While bigger point guards might be able to body him, imagining the full-court pressure that a Schröder/Bradley would be able to put on opposing backcourts is certainly intriguing.  And while it is on the offensive end that the Celtics need the most help, Ainge and Doc Rivers will certainly welcome Schröder’s defensive abilities, irrespective of how the rest of the roster looks.

To see Schröder for yourself, check out this video.

For some, these teams will be remembered as a disappointment.  After winning a title in their first season upon acquiring Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, it seemed as if the Celtics had positioned themselves to be the NBA’s next dynasty.  Five years later and that one ring is the only hardware they have.  Year after year, injuries have derailed them and fans have been left wondering what could have been.  When you consider all the talent they’ve had over these past six years, the fact that they’ve had one of the league’s top two or three coaches in Doc Rivers, and their consistency in being among the top defensive teams in the league, it’s easy to feel disappointed by this team.

But these Celtics are about much more than championships.  With a franchise like the Celtics, where winning is everything, it’s easy to lose yourself in the “championship or bust” mentality.  The true legacy that this Celtics team will leave, however, will be one of heart, toughness, and togetherness – and it is something that all Celtics fans should feel proud to have been a part of.

As Brian Windhorst wrote earlier this week, one of the staples of recent Celtics teams has been their apparent resurrections after being left for dead by the rest of the basketball world.  Time and time again, Boston has fought back against seemingly insurmountable odds to extend their season.

This year has been no different.  After losing the first three games in this first round series against the New York Knicks, the Celtics have won two gut-wrenching in the gritty, hard-to-watch manner that we’ve grown so accustomed to in recent years.  With the momentum and a raucous Boston crowd on their side, as well as all the pressure on the Knicks to keep the series from getting to Game 7, everything seems to favoring the Celtics.  And if there were ever an NBA team to come back from a 3-0 deficit, it only seems fitting that it would be these Celtics.

Nobody sums up this team’s attitude better than their emotional leader, KG: “We out here scrappin.  This is survival.  This is like a Game 7; every game from here on out is like a Game 7.  We scrappin.”  Scrapping is exactly what’s gotten the Celtics to this point.  It’s what allowed them to overcome a slew of regular season injuries – most notably, the loss of Rajon Rondo to a torn ACL.  It’s also, as KG pointed out, what’s gotten them back in this series with the Knicks.  Despite having what can only be described as an abysmal offense, the Celtics have been able to put two wins together by relying on stingy defense and mental fortitude.  This gritty, scrappy mentality has defined the Celtics since the arrival of the Big Three.

For a team that has made toughness and an ability to overcome adversity their calling card, becoming the first team to come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a series would be the most fitting end.  Although success will always be measured by championships – especially in a city like Boston – perhaps this would be an even greater, or at least more meaningful, accomplishment.  When I look back on these Celtics teams, I will always think of the heart they’ve shown in the face of a number of difficult situations.  I can’t think of a better way for them to walk away than by making NBA history, and if they just keep “scrappin,” they’ll be in great position to do so.

This is just what Boston needs after capturing the Boston Bombers last night and finally ending at least some of the chaos that occurred earlier this week.  Beginning at 3pm today, the Boston Celtics will be playing the New York Knicks in a first round match-up for the second time in three years.  This time the Celtics are the under dog team, seated this year in the Eastern Conference as a 7th seed taking on a surprise Knicks team that earned the 2nd seed.  This has all the makings of a classic, rival-filled, first round series for the ages.

New York Knicks

Saying the Knicks overachived is an understatement…They are the second oldest team in the league with the likes of Jason Kidd, Marcus Camby, Kenyon Martin, etc. and are 30th in assists per game and 26th in rebounds per game.  While the offense may seem bad on paper, they are actually one of the top five three-point shooting teams in the league and seventh in points per game.  Despite all these weird statistics on offense, the Knicks are in the top 10 in points allowed and have the third best forward in the game right now, Carmelo Anthony.  And believe it or not, Melo is actually playing defense and is competing the hardest I’ve seen him compete since his early days in Denver.  The Knicks have built this identity the past couple of weeks of giving the ball to Melo and 6th man of the year candidate, JR Smith, and letting them create offense with various pick and rolls and iso’s.  Teams are having a hard time adjusting to this offense, but if any team can figure it out, it will be the Celtics.  In short, the Knicks are a nitty gritty team full of veterans that will be there defensively, but offensively, it all depends on Melo and JR Smith.

Boston Celtics

Oye, where should I start with my Celtics??? Should I start with the fact that the injury bug has hit us yet again with injuries to Sullinger, Bradley, and Rondo? Or should I start with the emergence of the young star Jeff Green and his inconsistent play over the season? How about I start with Coach Doc, who has done a wonderful job of getting this team toegther despite the adversity they have faced all season.  Every player on this team has stepped up, and now that KG and Paul Pierce have rested, I believe our Celtics are poised to make another run to the Eastern Conference Finals again this year.

What the Knicks have to do to win - 

The Knicks have to keep the Boston bench out of the game.  We know Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett are gonna show up, but Jeff Green, Jason Terry, and others are game changers.  They are what keeps the Celtics either below 100 points or above 100 points.  If the Knicks can stop the Boston bench and execute in the fourth quarter then they can definitely win this series.

What the Celtics have to do to win - 

For the Celtics, it’s all about keeping Melo in check.  Melo is given unfair treatment by the media for his isolation, me-first metnality that he plays with.  But that is who he is, the Knicks are better off when he scores 30+ points in a game.  This is why I believe the Celtics will take him totally out of the game, just like the other two times the Celtics played the Knicks in the playoffs. But even if they take Melo out of the game, the second priority is limiting three point attempts and then keeping the much improved JR Smith in check.

PREDICTION - 

BOSTON CELTICS in 6 - In the end, I pick experience mixed with the new additions of Jordan Crawford and Jeff Green’s emergence late in the year to be too much for the old Knicks.  Melo can’t win it by himself, and I expect JR Smith to be great at times, and just damn awful at times.  The heart of the champion takes this series.

If you aren’t pumped after reading this then check out these promos!!!

#CelticsNation

So I recently came across a youtube video that features KG and Paul Pierce in the McDonald’s All American 3pt shooting contest and Dunk contest. You’d think the Truth would be in the 3pt contest and KG in the Dunk contest, right?

WRONG…the 6’11 center out of high school, Kevin Garnett, was selected to particpate in the three point contest and boy did he struggle! Although, KG has made 173 three pointers in his career, he was definitely not ready for this contest!!!

In the second part of the video, you see a much more athletic Paul Pierce throwing down some vicious slams!

Check out the video (credit to Celticslife):

#CelticsNation

To scare the fans a little bit Avery Bradley suffered an injury this week but reassured the press that he would be OK and is looking forward to getting back to the playoffs. Last year, the Celtics were eliminated in the Eastern finals after some despicably bad referee calls cost them at least a few games. After an injury riddled season and the loss of hall of famer Ray Allen they would very much like to show that they have what it takes to make it to the Finals this year representing the Eastern Conference! THE PLAYOFFS SEEDINGS ARE LIKE A WHOLE ANOTHER SEASON ALL IN ITSELF! The Celtics are looking to go far and this fan/writer can hardly wait!!!!

This past week’s action was up and down. The Celtics lost in Minnesota 110-100 in a game where there were defensive lapses. This must be cured quickly come playoff time! The Celtics returned home to play the Detroit Pistons. This game is where they clinched a playoff berth!They beat the Pistons 98-93! Although Paul Pierce was understandably concerned with the birth of his baby Prince Paul Pierce, his teammates picked up the slack to secure the win and put everyone at ease! Importantly, they got it done sooner rather than later as they would lose on their home floor Friday night to the Cleveland Cavaliers after an extraordinary game by Kyrie Irving! The Celtics need to finish out the season playing much better Basketball on the road because their seeding will not be high enough to obtain home court advantage!
They have won steadily at home but been very erratic on the road. this trend must change soon! They have a chance to improve on their road play at the end of this week when they take a road trip to Miami and Orlando. These should be excellent chances for them to fine tune some of their inconsistency problems. Before these games, they start off the week continuing their homestand. Washington comes in on Sunday followed by the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday! After this week… 2 games are left in the season and then comes the awaited playoff run. Let’s hope the results are good for our Boston Celtics team. Go Celtics Go!

Injuries have clearly depleted the Celtics bench this year.  Rajon Rondo’s injury thrust Courtney Lee into a starting role while the loss of Jared Sullinger dealt a major blow to the C’s who were already short on skilled, effective bigs.  But there is good news for Boston fans; the team has made a few important in-season additions that they believe can help them come playoff time.  Despite falling short Friday night in a 97-91 loss to the Cavaliers, three key players off Boston’s bench showed that they have the potential to be important pieces down the stretch and in the playoffs.

Jordan Crawford

Since coming over in a trade from Washington, Crawford has provided some excitement off the Celtics bench.  Always known as a capable, if very inefficient scorer, perhaps the most intriguing aspect of Crawford’s game in his time as a Celtic has been his highlight-reel passing ability (Danny Ainge has even said that Crawford may be the best passer on the team).  In Friday night’s game against the Cavs, Crawford immediately injected the C’s with a burst of energy by coming in and dishing out three assists in five possessions near the end of the first quarter.  Although Crawford struggled from the field, going 3-14, his passing and playmaking had a tremendous impact.  While Crawford certainly has his deficiencies – namely his defense and shot selection – he will be extremely valuable in the playoffs if he is able to provide some sort of scoring and playmaking punch off the bench.

Terrence Williams

If the Celtics hope to beat small ball teams like the Knicks and Heat, having versatility in their lineups – especially on the defense end – is going to be critical.  Williams is built like a wing (standing 6-foot-6, 220 pounds) but has the ability to play the point.  In order to get minutes on a roster filled with capable wings but lacking strong ball-handlers, Williams was asked to play as a pure point guard upon joining the Celtics.  Like Crawford, Williams has good court vision and can make plays for others, something few healthy Celtics are capable of.  In addition, as he displayed Friday night during his time defending Kyrie Irving, Williams is able to defend point guards as well as wings, a skill that will be needed against teams like Miami or New York who will certainly use lineups featuring multiple guards and versatile wings like LeBron James, Shane Battier, and Carmelo Anthony.

Shavlik Randolph

While Crawford and Williams will be able to help with Celtics backcourt depth, their frontcourt remains relatively thin.   If they end up drawing a team like Indiana, the C’s will need to get solid frontcourt minutes from someone other than KG and Brandon Bass.  While Chris Wilcox has been solid thus far this year, if Friday night was any indication, Shavlik Randolph may very well end up as the third big in Doc Rivers’ playoff rotation.

Although Randolph is not a very skilled offensive player and is extremely foul prone (against the Cavs he fouled out in only 13 minutes), his work on the boards is just what the Celtics are looking for from their third big.  For several years the only chink in the Celtics’ defensive armor has been their inability to rebound effectively.  In addition, their lack of offensive rebounding has been one of the many contributing factors in their sub-par offense.  While it cannot be expected that Randolph will get 16 and 7 every night, his work against the Cavs certainly proved that he can provide them with a rebounding spark and some easy baskets in limited minutes.

First he scored a whopping 42 points against the defending champion Miami Heat to keep the Celtics in the game when KG was unable to play while injured! Then he won the respect of fans and teammates alike by punctuating a 4th quarter comeback against the Cleveland Cavaliers last Wednesday night with the game winning basket! After the Celtics team outscored their opponents 21-6 in the remaining minutes the game clock expired with Jeff Green stunning the defense by driving the lane and releasing a layup just ahead of the final buzzer! He was quickly embraced by teammate Paul Pierce who also knows a few things about hitting the last second shot! The Celtics escaped Cleveland with a much needed bounce back win after losing to both Memphis and New York earlier in the week!

The momentum carried over to Friday night’s game against the Atlanta Hawks where the Celtics would again emerge victorious, by a score of 118-107 and behind Paul Pierce’s triple double! Jeff Green finished with 27 points also! It is wonderful to see the Celtics playing well and in playoff form after the devastating loss of Rondo! Many teams would have folded by now but this Celtics team is tough! Rondo lent his support by sitting on the bench Friday night injured and in street clothes! It is nothing short of spectacular to see Jeff Green play so well after all he has been through so much also and missed most of last season!

With three weeks to go before playoffs the Celtics are battling to clinch a spot and hopefully a good seed position! With the occasional bump in the road… Coach Doc Rivers has been steadily steering his team towards a succesful playoff run!!! There is a long playoff road ahead of them but let’s hope that this year’s Celtics squad just keeps on cruising along! Go Celtics Go!

Though you might not know it from the lack of concern shown by Ainge and Rivers regarding the long-term effects of Garnett’s injury, the Celtics are facing a crucial part of their schedule in the upcoming weeks.  As of Monday afternoon, the C’s sit 7th in the Eastern Conference with a 36-33 record.  They are situated squarely between 6th and 8th in the standings, with only two games separating them from Chicago and Milwaukee, respectively.

While moving up to 6th might hold some sort of symbolic value – though I’m not really sure that this Boston squad takes symbolic value from anything – the most important thing for the Celtics is to avoid falling to 8th, which would mean a first round matchup with Miami.  Given their current four game losing streak and the temporary loss of Garnett, the fate of the Celtics season will be decided on the lineups Doc puts on the floor over the coming weeks, and how the team reacts to the absence of its heart and soul.

One thing that will hopefully work to Boston’s advantage down the stretch is the schedule.  Both the Celtics and Bucks have thirteen games left to play in the regular season, though the C’s schedule looks much friendlier.  Only six of the Celtics remaining games are against playoff teams and only two of those six (New York and Miami) are on the road, where they have struggled mightily this year – going 12-23 as opposed to 24-10 at the TD Garden.  For the Bucks, the home stretch will be a little more daunting.  Seven of their final thirteen games are against current playoff teams and four of those seven (New York, Miami, Atlanta, and Oklahoma City) are on the road.

Milwaukee’s recent struggles offer additional support to a Boston team in need of all the help it can get.  Despite their early success after trading for shooting guard J.J. Redick in late February, the Bucks have lost six of their last eight.  Some of those losses, however, may be attributed to the absence of forward Ersan Ilyasova, who is in the process of returning to full strength after missing four games due to back and hip injuries.  His return could be extremely helpful to the struggling Bucks, as their points per possession differential with their opponents is 2.3 points better when Ilyasova is on the floor.

While Ilyasova’s return may dim the Celtics hopes to some extent, the fact remains that they control their own destiny when it comes to the 7^th seed.  Although Garnett is obviously crucial to the Celtics success, there is evidence that the Celtics will be able to remain competitive in his absence.

First, the starting lineup that Boston is likely to use sans Garnett has been extremely successful to this point.  Despite playing far fewer minutes than the Celtics normal starting five since Rajon Rondo’s injury, the lineup of Avery Bradley, Courtney Lee, Paul Pierce, Jeff Green, and Brandon Bass has been it’s most successfulin terms of points per 100 possessions differential.  Though it is highly unlikely that they will be successful at that rate when given many more minutes, it is certainly possible for this group to at least keep Boston on track against a very mediocre schedule.

Second, the Celtics have been a much more efficient offensive team with Garnett off the floor.  This should come as no surprise, as Garnett has posted a career low in offensive win shares and a true shooting percentage of 53.1% his lowest since the 2000-01 season, per Basketball-Reference.  Although he has proven that he is an effective midrange shooter, Garnett’s affinity for long two-pointers, the least efficient shots in basketball, do not give the Celtics a very efficient or consistently effective offense.  Assuming Green takes a majority of Garnett’s minutes, it is likely that his more advanced stat friendly shot chart, though not perfect, will help alleviate some of Boston’s offensive issues.

Because of the Celtics relatively light schedule the rest of the way, the Bucks recent struggles, and Boston’s effectiveness when playing with Green instead of Garnett, Celtics fans should be fairly optimistic about the team’s chances to retain the 7th seed in the East.  The next step will be getting past either Indiana or New York, two teams against whom the Celtics have enjoyed a great deal of recent success.