1) Starting Five: 2008
This is probably the most intriguing comparison. So just to freshen everybody up about the 2008 team, let’s take a quick look at those guys.
Although we see it in hindsight as a four all-star lineup for Boston, at the time in 2008, it was really only three. The 21-year-old Rajon Rondo averaged 10.6 points and only 5.1 assists per game. While a good player, he was nowhere near the strength of the team at the time.
Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett are going to be the ones ultimately steering this debate. The three were not only great stand alone players, but complimented each other to perfection. You had Klay Thompson before Klay Thompson to spread the floor, that elite all-around scorer crucial to championship teams (Pierce), and a star big with a defensive and scoring presence (Garnett).
I know this is a couple years later, but keep in mind how open Allen was able to get with Garnett as an inside presence.
And how could I forget? Kendrick Perkins did all he really needed as the stopper down-low. Even championship teams have that player that unfortunately seems to be the odd man out in the starting lineup. Perk was a vital piece and did his job. Nonetheless, he must be considered when comparing this team to a current roster with a stacked starting five top to bottom.
On to the 2018 team. I would like to emphasize that it is a great time in Celtics basketball that we can even debate this. The 2018 starting five is just as talented. I believe that Kyrie Irving would take the cake as the most talented player on the court if these teams were to match up over a 2008 Paul Pierce.
Rondo, as a second year player, had a much rawer skill set than Jayson Tatum. If we are basing it off projections on how Tatum will improve this year, then it becomes even less of a debate of who was a better second year player.
Gordon Hayward and Ray Allen neutralize eachother quite evenly. Both are the second in the perimeter-scoring hierarchy and are capable of higher numbers on a worse team. Though coming off injury, Hayward would take the age battle at 28; Allen was in his age-32 season during the Celtics 2008 championship season.
KG clearly takes his battle against Al Horford. No disrespect to Al, but the Big Ticket was just four years removed from an MVP season averaging 18.8 and 9.1 on 54 percent from the field. Even as crucial as Pierce is to Boston, Garnett was the heart and soul of that team.
The last comparison that is not much of a comparison at all is Jaylen Brown against Kendrick Perkins, because the comparison ends right at their play style. Since basketball is smaller now, these are the wild cards of the lineup. That is just how the cookie crumbles sometimes. The nod should definitely go to Brown due to his all star potential that Perk doesn’t have.
When you think you are done you have just gotten started
— Jaylen Brown (@FCHWPO) September 19, 2018
The 2008 Boston Celtics win this debate. Even if they lose the starting five ration 2/5, assuming Hayward edges out Allen (that can be another debate), the proven chemistry gives that squad the advantage. It isn’t fair to compare the 2018 team’s chemistry and we should all know that.
Nonetheless, It would be difficult to not go with a team that has three Hall of Famers and a ring to show if your money was on the line.