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Boston Celtics: Who would win? The 2008 Champions vs. Kyrie Irving’s Contenders

By Cole Archer

CHAPEL HILL, NC - SEPTEMBER 28: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics looks on against the Charlotte Hornets in the first quarter of a preseason game at Dean Smith Center on September 28, 2018 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. The Hornets won 104-97. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - SEPTEMBER 28: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics looks on against the Charlotte Hornets in the first quarter of a preseason game at Dean Smith Center on September 28, 2018 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. The Hornets won 104-97. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images) /
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2) Bench: 2018

This one is tough. On one hand you have the nostalgia of Tony Allen guarding Kobe as well as one human can. On the other hand, the 2018 team has a bench much more capable of being starters elsewhere.

Terry Rozier is the clear star of these two team’s benches. Averaging nearly 17 points per game in the playoffs as a starter, it is hard to imagine Eddie House putting up those numbers, even in a similar role . House, and much of the 2008 bench, played effectively in spurts of energy, where a player like Rozier could get a starting gig elsewhere with slight improvements to shooting efficiency, passing, etc. Let’s look at the numbers.

The 2007-2008 bench: a squad of veterans (Sam Cassell),  one of the best perimeter defenders of all time (Tony Allen), and young talent (Glen Davis), had a total of 29.7 points scored per game. That was good for 16th in the league.

The current bench–a squad made up of much younger players (Terry Rozier), with another defensive star (Marcus Smart), and a very comparable backup big in terms of skill (Aron Baynes)–scored 34.6 points , which was good for 18th. That goes to show the emphasis of the bench scoring today.

As far as defensive production, the 2018 team takes this one, though it’s a very close call. As we’ve noted Tony Allen‘s defense of Kobe Bryant was crucial the 2008 team taking the title, and James Posey, PJ Brown, Glen Davis, and Leon Powe provided strong defense off the pine.

However, this year’s Boston bench should have an historic season on the defensive end of the floor with Aron Baynes, Smart, Rozier, Daniel Theis, and Marcus Morris. Rozier has Sixth Man of the Year potential, while Baynes and Smart could both be All-Defense players with higher minutes or smarter voters. Baynes had the best defensive rating in the entire league last season.

It’s clear that super teams and resting stars have changed how benches produce, so it is hard to compare these two situations. Talent wise, the 2018 team takes it.

Marcus Smart is a jump shot away of being a starter. We will call it even down low with James Posey and Davis against Marcus Morris and Aron Baynes. Rozier is a more well-rounded player than both Cassell and House, who both were strictly role players at that time.

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