Boston Celtics: Contenders or Pretenders?
By Jeff Clark
The 2015-2016 edition of your Boston Celtics is a tough bunch to figure out. They have had some convincing wins, for instance, a November 27th blowout of the Wizards, a 46 win team from a year ago, and more recently a 10 point victory over the star-studded Miami Heat. Then, there have been the baaaad losses, making you wonder if this team should be tanking: an almost 20 point trouncing by up and comer and conference foe Orlando and a gut wrenching loss to the freakin’ Nets. So what gives with your team, Celtics fans? Are they contenders or pretenders?
Behind Brad Stevens’ endless determination to have every last drop of production from his players, the Celtics have already transformed into an over .500 team since the 2013-2014 season, when they ended the year tied for the fourth worst record in the NBA. How has Brad accomplished this? Last season’s addition of Isaiah Thomas, a bonafide 20 point per game scorer, certainly hasn’t hurt, but there’s more to it.
Brad brings something special, something all his own. Call it his obsessive attention to detail and pioneering usage of analytics. After all, Stevens was the first coach in college basketball to hire someone whose sole job was to focus on numbers. Call it Brad’s cool demeanor, which has made it noteworthy when he makes even mildly critical comments about his team’s performances after demoralizing defeats to lesser opponents. Or perhaps it’s his I don’t care who you are and what you’ve done for me lately approach to coaching getting the results. Who knows? All I know is Stevens is a winner.
But what about his roster? Is it a winner? Let’s suppose the Celtics don’t add an impact player of the caliber they did last year in Isaiah Thomas. As currently constituted, can this team compete with the best in the league come playoff time? And by “compete,” I don’t mean show up — which is all the Celtics did in last year’s playoffs against Lebron’s Cavaliers. Getting swept in the first round isn’t competing.
Can the Celtics even make the playoffs in what is a much improved Eastern Conference? I’m not pulling your legs, Celtics fans. The East is a whole heck of a lot better. A team may even need to win more games than it loses in order to reach the postseason this go round. Who would have thunk it?
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So how good or bad are these Celtics? Currently sporting a 13-9 wins and losses mark, the Celtics have had their share of ups and downs. Some teams can elevate their level of play when it matters most, though. Do you remember the 2009-2010 Celtics? I know I do. The entire season, we heard about how the team was playing as if it expected to be able to “flip a switch” for the postseason — and to its credit, it did, battling all the way to game 7 of the NBA finals. Darn you, Pau Gasol, and your 18 rebounds. You wouldn’t have had half as many if it weren’t for Kendrick Perkins being injured!
Ummm… let’s just not talk about the 2010 NBA finals anymore, ok? Good, I knew you’d agree.
If the 2015-2016 incarnation of the Celtics’ record against above average opponents is any indication, this team doesn’t have the extra gear it needs. Right now, your Celtics are bullies, people. That’s right; you heard me! They’re bullies. They pick on weaker opponents, but when faced with a real challenge, there’s not much fight in them. The Celts are 9-1 against teams .500 or worse. But, get this, they are an abysmal 4-8 when they’ve gone toe to toe with opponents having winning records….
My honest verdict? These Celtics are pretenders. Now, where does this leave us?
The front office and coaching staff must turn their attention to player development. Continuing to give an average of 78 minutes of playing time every game to veterans Evan Turner, Amir Johnson, David Lee, and Jonas Jerebko, is short-sighted. Mark my words, Celtics fans, these players will not be members of the next Celtics team to win a playoff series — let alone a championship. They are too old, not good enough, and they’re not going to get any better.
But then, there are the younger guys, players with untapped potentials: R.J. Hunter, Terry Rozier, James Young, and Jordan Mickey. The first three were taken in the first round of the NBA draft, and the fourth signed the most lucrative rookie deal a second rounder has in league history. Make no mistake about it, the Celtics brass and coaches believe in these players. They’ve invested too much in them not to. But an investment in them today could pay dividends down the road. Real NBA experience is what they need, however. Their full potentials will not be realized if they are left riding the pine or lingering on the Red Claw’s roster, forced to play with and against minor leaguers.
Allow me to make myself clear, Celtics fans: I do not want your Celtics to begin a 76ers style tank job. But I want the Celtics’ wins to be meaningful. To finish the season .500 or slightly better, only to be embarrassed in the playoffs again or to miss them entirely, is not worth restricting the development of this team’s eventual foundation.
Today, your Celtics are pretenders, but that’s not important. What’s important, what is at stake, is what they will be tomorrow.