Celtics Preview

"ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!!!" Those three words, screamed out by Kevin Garnett just moments after capturing his first and the Celtics 17th NBA championship, can be used to describe the 2008-09 Celtics. Anything is possible with this team. They could repeat as NBA champions. They could be a contender who just doesn't have enough to get by Detroit or Cleveland in the Eastern Conference. They could easily become a pretender if one of their aging trio of superstars misses significant time. The road to repeating will not be easy. The Cavaliers added scoring guard Mo Williams and have the flexibility to trade Wally Szczerbiak and his expiring contract to add another talented player to complement LeBron James. The Pistons have already made a major move, sending Chauncey Billups and Antonio McDyess to the Nuggets for Allen Iverson. Teaming AI with Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, Rasheed Wallace, and Rodney Stuckey could bring the Pistons their first championship since 2003 or could potentially be a complete disaster. In addition to the Cavs and Pistons, the 76ers, Raptors, Magic, Bulls, Wizards, and Heat are all improved in the East and the Lakers, Hornets, Rockets, Trailblazers, Mavericks, Nuggets, and Suns are the powers in the West. I do like the Celtics chances to repeat. Paul Pierce has returned in unbelieveable physical shape and he now has a new level of confidence after capturing his first championship. Kevin Garnett brings his (un)usual level of passion and intensity. Ray Allen is still capable of going off for 30 on any given night. Along with the "Boston Three Party" (by far the best ESPN SportsCenter commercial from last year and the best possible nickname for Pierce/Garnett/Allen), the C's have a budding superstar in point guard Rajon Rondo. Rondo is entering his third season but he plays like a 10-year veteran. Last year he found a way to distribute the ball to keep all three stars happy and engaged, created offense for himself and the remainder of the team, played very good defense, and became one of the best rebounding guards in the league (his ability to rise up and snare a defensive rebound and then trigger a fast break is a skill not too many players possess). Kendrick Perkins also became a force a year ago. He has come so far from an overweight 18-year-old who had no business playing in the NBA. Perk is now a monster in the paint and his performance in Game 6 of the Finals in June, when he played with a shoulder that would need surgery after the series ended, was a legendary effort that has mostly gone unnoticed. The C's bench is good but it could be better. Eddie House is nearly automatic when left open on the perimeter, Leon Powe and Glen Davis are active big men who can score, rebound, and defend, Tony Allen is an athletic defender, and Sam Cassell is a veteran point guard. Patrick O'Bryant gives the bench a 7-footer and rookies Billy Walker, J.R. Giddens and Gabe Pruitt (who did play sparingly a year ago but has almost no experience) provide athleticism. The loss of swingman James Posey to New Orleans and big man P.J. Brown to retirement are serious losses. Posey served as a "sixth starter" last year and his defense, shooting, and leadership will be missed. Brown was valuable as a veteran post player and his contributions in Game 7 of the Eastern Semi-Finals against the Cavs were as important as Paul Pierce's 41 points. Even with the losses of Posey and Brown (who could see his role filled by soon-to-be free agent Antonio McDyess), the C's are deep enough and talented enough to go back-to-back and capture the franchise's 18th NBA championship. Doc Rivers did a great job a year ago finding a way to integrate Garnett and Allen with Pierce and mixing the young players in with the veterans. His assistant coaches, especially Tom Thibodeau and Clifford Ray, create the best coaching staff in the NBA. In the East, the C's will knock of LeBron and the Cavs in the Eastern Finals in a Game 7 on the road before beating up the Spurs in five games to win a second consecutive championship.