The Boston Celtics are the most decorated team in the history of the National Basketball Association. Seventeen world championships have come through the historic parquet floor weather on the floor of the Boston Garden, or the TD Garden. Legends have come in and out of the Boston dressing room over the 68-year history of the franchise. For the most part, Celtics fans have been spoiled with stars, MVP’s, and some of the greatest champions the sport has ever seen.
This season has been far from what us Celtics fans are used to. The offseason started with the emotional departure of Kevin Garnett, and the 15-year Celtic vet, Paul Pierce. A trade with the Brooklyn Nets sent the two friends to the up-and-coming franchise for some small pieces and more importantly, three first round draft picks.
With Doc Rivers signing on to coach the Clippers and the Big Three out of Boston, what Celtics fans have come accustom to over the past six seasons must be rebuilt.
Rajon Rondo suffered an ACL tear this past season, which has left him on the shelf for 44 games this season. Rondo has appeared in nine games, but is under strict minute-restriction and has been playing every other game. Rondo has shown spots where he has looked like the spark plug he can be on the court. Although Executive Director of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge has denied any reports, it is not unlikely that Rondo could be moved before the Feb. 20 trade deadline.
“Tank-a-pa-looza” has been the theme of this year’s Celtics team, along with many other NBA teams. This is the notion that NBA teams purposely lose games in order to put themselves in a good position to receive a high lottery draft pick. The more games you lose, the more little lottery balls you get with your teams logo on them at the end of the year. This year has been especially interesting in regards to teams tanking, as the draft class coming out of college is reportedly top-notch.
The players on the court this season have done what they can to play as a team and work the demanding NBA schedule. After an above average start, the C’s have now come back to reality and have successfully found themselves at the bottom of the Eastern Conference (or not so successfully).
After a win over the pathetic Milwaukee Bucks, Boston is 19-34, sitting in 11th place. In terms of winning percentage, the Celtics are eighth worst in the entire NBA with plenty of season to drop even more.
With the trade deadline fast approaching, few players are safe from being dealt. Talks have already begun with teams inquiring about Rondo, Bass, Green, and others.
Celtics fans will be interested to see the moves Ainge can and will pull off in the next week. Ainge has a reputation for pulling the trigger sometimes when he should not and has been criticized for moves he has made in the past. Remember though, this is the man who brought KG and Jesus Shuttlesworth to Beantown.
The Celtics have a good group of role players and have shown that new head coach Brad Stevens is the brightest part of Boston’s future.
This season has seen the emergence of Jared Sullinger. The 6 foot 9 inches and 260 pound forward out of Ohio State has had a break out season so far for the C’s. He is averaging 13.4 points per game along with 8.4 rebounds. This past week, he was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week after dropping 31 points and hauling in 16 rebounds against one of the best big men in the game, Demarcus Cousins.
Other players such as rookie Kelly Olynyk, Green, and Avery Bradley have shown improvements this year. One thing the Celtics lack is the big game player who makes everyone better. Perhaps the front office felt that Green had that type of ability in him; so far this season he has shown flashes of brilliance but needs to be more consistent.
It would be very surprising if the Boston Celtics that took the floor against the Bucks are the same Celtics that will take the floor after the trade deadline.
No matter what moves Ainge makes, this team will need to make leaps and bounds this offseason in the draft and in free agency to become a contender once again in the East.
