In 2007-08 the Boston Celtics did what so many teams have tried to do, but few have succeeded in actually doing. They brought together three legit superstars and won a championship. Most recently the Los Angeles Lakers tried to do it with Karl Malone, the Houston Rockets tried to do it with Charles Barkley, but neither struck championship gold. In 2008-09 the Celtics experienced the downside of veteran superstars, which is the injury factor. Kevin Garnett's injury may ultimately have been the difference between repeating as champs and losing in the second round of the playoffs.
What Went Wrong
All in all, it's hard to look at the Celtics' season and say a whole lot really went wrong. After all, we're talking about a team that won 62 game and finished with the second-best record in their conference and third-best overall. Garnett's knee injury, which cost him 25 regular season games and the playoffs, falls into the negative category. After needing seven games to get out of the first round for a second-straight year, many questioned the team's mental toughness without their emotional leader. The Celtics, however, went on to push the eventual Eastern Conference Champion Orlando Magic to seven games before finally being eliminated. Not bad for a team playing without their MVP.
The signing of Stephon Marbury wasn't exactly a success, either. Despite the raucous celebration that took place in Boston when the rumors of Marbury finally came to fruition, the veteran point guard never quite got his legs back despite getting ample opportunities from head coach Doc Rivers. In 23 games, Marbury averaged just 3.8 points per game and shot 34% from the field. In postseason play he was even worse, averaging 3.7 points on 30% shooting.
Fortunately, the positives far outweighed the negatives in 2008-09.
What Went Right
The first thing Celtics fans should think about as they try to find positives in a season that didn't see their team repeat as champions is the play of Rajon Rondo. 2008-09 was certain his year. After showing progress through his third consecutive season, Rondo really stepped things up in the playoffs. Taking on the Rookie Of The Year in Derrick Rose seemed to inspire Rondo to extend himself, and his 19.4 points and 11.6 assists in seven games against the Bulls will long be remembered as integral to one of the most exciting series in the history of the NBA playoffs. Rondo is now legitimately a star player, and has plenty of room to continue his growth as a go-to man in Boston.
Whenever a starter is injured it becomes imperative that someone step in to fill the void. In this case, it was Big Baby Davis who was asked to take over for Kevin Garnett (and eventually Leon Powe, too), and he succeeded beyond anyone's wildest imagination. The Celtics went to him more and more as the season progressed, and the more he was asked to do the better he delivered. In March he averaged 11.4 points per game, in April he bumped that up to 14.6, and once the playoffs started he was downright heroic. From hitting game-winners to making huge saves, Davis averaged 18.7 points and 7.5 rebounds against the Bulls in the first round before coming back down to earth a bit with 13.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per game while chasing Rashard Lewis all over the court in the second round.
Of course, the team wouldn't have had the success they did without the brilliant play of their remaining All-Stars. Paul Pierce played in 81 games and averaged 20.5 points per game while Ray Allen appeared in 79 and averaged 18.2 - even shooting 41% from three on the season. Kendrick Perkins may not be an All-Star, but he continued his steady improvement, averaging 8.5 points and 8.2 rebounds while playing solid defense in one of the league's best defensive schemes. In fact, with Rondo, Pierce, Allen, and Davis around Perkins, the Celtics played almost as well as they did with KG in the lineup.
Where The Celtics Go From Here
First of all, the Celtics need to take care of some business. Glen Davis, Leon Powe, and Eddie House (if he opts out) are all free agents, and all essential to the continued dominance of the Gang Green. Unfortunately, the team is also strapped for cap space, which is one reason why we've heard a number of rumors surrounding Ray Allen's future in Boston. Allen is still in his prime, though likely at the end of it, and holds an ending contract. The word is the Celtics would move him for the right price, which would likely be a younger, promising shooting guard and a draft pick that would most certainly yield them a back-up point guard in the guard-heavy 2009 NBA Draft.
The reserve point guard position continues to be problematic for the Celtics, who have tried Sam Cassell and Marbury in that spot over the past two seasons. If they could land a pick - even as low as the 20's - they could grab a promising young talent. If they could get even higher, say the top fifteen, they could get a player who could have an impact by the end of next season. If there was ever a point guard draft, this is it.
It's a tough call, to be sure. This team was built to win now, and with the Big Three they're in a position to do just that. Do you keep them together and let Glen Davis walk away? If Garnett is healthy they don't necessarily need Davis. Keeping Powe might be enough. Or do you move one of your Big Three and continue to build for the future as you win in the present? That's the question Danny Ainge and his staff have to work out this summer. Either way, the Celtics seem poised to have at least one more legitimate shot at a championship before injuries to KG become more and more frequent and force the team to think about rebuilding.
