Celtics; Football Picks

Maybe I am just a tad bit excited. Maybe it is the left over feelings from watching the Red Sox win the World Series at a time when the Patriots are making history in the NFL. It may even be related to Boston College making the case for a playoff system in college football as the reside in the No. 2 spot in the national rankings. Whatever it is, it has me believing that the Boston Celtics are going to make a serious run at the NBA championship this year. Coming off a miserable 24-win season, C's fans could only hope the team would have success in the Draft Lottery, therefore getting a shot at either Greg Oden or Kevin Durant. When that failed -- they received the No. 5 pick -- all hope was lost. It was rebuilding time (again) for the team constantly rebuilding since 1986. Then at the Draft, Danny Ainge made a bold, however mocked, trade for Ray Allen. There were rumors circling that Ainge had targeted Kevin Garnett but when KG let it be known Boston was not in his plans, Ainge scooped up the 32-year-old Allen. Not much but it was an improvement. That move for Allen changed Garnett's mind about Boston though. KG saw a team with Paul Pierce and Allen, two veteran stars with plenty of miles on their basketball odometers, and decided he was in. Ainge landed KG from Minnesota for a package that included future All-Star Al Jefferson along with Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes, Theo Ratliff's contract, Sebastian Telfair and draft picks. Now the C's were top heavy -- KG, Pierce and Allen had much in common. They are All-Star talents who are nearing the back nine without a title. They are perfect fits for each other and the Boston basketball community that has longed for a winner since the early days of Bill Clinton. There are questions on this team -- is Rajon Rondo capable of running the point, is Kendrick Perkins ready to play 30-minutes a night, is there a bench??? -- but with the trio of stars leading this team, there will be plenty of answers. I see the C's stumbling a little early on as players get comfortable with each other and their new roles but this team will hit its' stride by February. In a watered down Eastern Conference, the C's will be the top team, running the Pistons off the floor in the Eastern Finals before falling in 6 games to the Phoenix Suns. KG will be the MVP, Pierce will return to the All-Star Game and Allen will nail 45% of his 3-pointers. Doc Rivers will look like an actual NBA coach with the talent assembled in front of him and Celtic fans will be ready for a title in 2008-09. As for the picks... NCAA NOTRE DAME (-3) over Navy Nebraska (+19) over KANSAS MICHIGAN STATE (+4) over Michigan Wisconsin (+15.5) over OHIO STATE BOSTON COLLEGE (-6.5) over Florida State Last Week: 2-3 Season: 16-18-1 NFL Washington (-3.5) over NY JETS KANSAS CITY (-2.5) over Green Bay TAMPA BAY (-3.5) over Arizona Carolina (+4) over TENNESSEE San Francisco (+3.5) over ATLANTA Jacksonville (+3) over NEW ORLEANS DETROIT (-3) over Denver BUFFALO (+1) over Cincinnati San Diego (-7) over MINNESOTA CLEVELAND (-1.5) over Seattle Patriots (-5) over INDIANAPOLIS (LOCK OF THE CENTURY) OAKLAND (-3) over Houston Dallas (-3) over PHILADELPHIA PITTSBURGH (-9) over Baltimore (LOCK OF THE WEEK) Last Week: 7-5 Season: 46-48-4 Lock of the Week: 3-5