Random Thoughts (May 20, 2008)

As the Celtics prepare to open the Eastern Conference Finals tonight against the Pistons, I have to take a second and think back to one year ago and remember the horror that was the Celtics in 2007. The C's had finished the season with the second worst record in the NBA. The Draft Lottery was the one salvation for believers in the green. With Ohio State center Greg Oden and Texas forward Kevin Durant on the board, the C's were primed to get a serious talent to place next to Paul Pierce, Al Jefferson and Rajon Rondo. However, the ping-pong balls bounced the wrong way and the C's fell to the fifth pick in the Draft. Danny Ainge ultimately packaged that pick (which became Georgetown forward Jeff Green) with Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West and shipped it to Seattle for Ray Allen. Later in the summer, Ainge dealt a group of young players, headlined by Jefferson, to Minnesota for Kevin Garnett. As I remember how I felt one year ago, no matter what this team does against the Pistons or, if we're lucky enough, either the Lakers or Spurs, I consider the past year to be a success. KG, Pierce, Allen, Rondo & Co. won 66 regular season games and, even though it hasn't been easy, have won two playoff series to boot. I pity the fans in New York, Miami, Memphis, Seattle and Minnesota who are tying their hopes to the likes of Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley and O.J. Mayo... I like the Celtics to win the Eastern Finals. Yes, they have struggled to get past the Hawks and Cavaliers but (it's never good to explain your point with a BUT in a championship series) I think they matchup well with Detroit. The Pistons are a very good team and they have championship experience that the Celtics do not possess yet (different way of saying BUT) they lack the Joe Johnson or LeBron James that can take over an entire series. Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and Chauncey Billups can dominate a game or two but the Pistons will not just flip the ball to one scorer and get out of the way over a six or seven game series. This is the series where KG needs to get on the block and attack Rasheed Wallace. Wallace can not stop KG for seven games and it will force Detroit to send help, opening up KG for what he does best on offense ... passing. With good ball movement, the C's will be able to get Ray Allen the consistent open looks that he hasn't had in weeks, which should be a good thing (he can't shoot 15% from 3 again, can he?). I will take the C's in five games. They will finally win on the road and they will finally remind us all why they won 66 games this season and why we all believed in the championship hype... Jon Lester is officially no longer known as "cancer survivor" Jon Lester. He is "no-hit" Jon Lester or "World Series winner" Jon Lester. Just let him pitch... I'm actually looking forward to the Penguins-Red Wings Stanley Cup Finals. Sid the Kid v. Hockeytown. Penguins in 6... Enjoy KG tonight...