Down Two, and the Boston Celtics are in Big Trouble
By John Eyler
Playoffs certainly illuminate all that ails a team…
It is obvious at this point that the Boston Celtics are likely soon to be bounced from the playoffs. Hard to believe they can find a way to offset the Chicago Bulls obviously superior frontcourt. The Bulls have three bigs in Robin Lopez, Bobby Portis and Nikola Mirotic that are better on the boards than any Celtic. That’s insurmountable. They are the fork.
Now let’s not forget that the Celtics are in rebuilding mode. That is to say there’s no reason to get on the players for underperformance or incompetence. None of the Celtics bigs have ever been advertised as top rebounders.
More from Celtics News
- Boston Celtics’ two-way contract decision will be made after training camp
- Proposed trade sends Boston Celtics playoff killer to the Cs from rival
- ‘Face of Germany’s stunning run’ in FIBA World Cup not the only ex-Boston Celtics player to win gold
- Proposed Boston Celtics trade target pitched for reunion with fired coach
- Battle For Banner 18: Will Boston Celtics battle historical foe in 2024 Finals?
The Celtics as a team quite simply outperformed during the regular season. They played hard and found ways to win. There is nothing negative to find in that. Coach Brad Stevens was amazing. If you must blame someone I suppose you could yell at Danny Ainge but in fact he’s done a pretty good job. So what’s going on?
Last February when all the trade talk was going on the only player prominently mentioned that could have been and should have been acquired was Nerlens Noel. An actual center. Look at what’s happening in this series and tell me he wouldn’t have made a difference. He is exactly the type of talent the Celtics need.
Going forward he will still be exactly the type of talent the Celtics will need. They get Gordon Hayward and go back to the playoffs next year without an improved front court and the results will be the same. Big guys who rebound and alter shots in the paint are pretty important in basketball… duh!
Unfortunately every team in the league knows what Boston needs and no one will trade them that type of player for less than a kings ransom. Unfortunately the top picks in this years draft are not big guys and so that high draft pick will likely not get the Green a real center.
Unfortunately if we do get a Hayward we will have to dump so much salary that there will be no cap room to bring in a top notch big. Unfortunately one big to handle the boards and alter shots is not enough. The team needs two tall talents to actually bully up on the boards. Rebuilding is not easy.
Next: Best and Worse Case Scenario for Celtics Blow up
On the positive the Celtics have this kid Ante Zizic. He’s young but he might be that type of big who will clean up the boards and alter some shots. Might be. All signs are good.