Celtics Central

Boston sports jubilation is ratcheting up a notch as Boston’s former flagship and recently laggering pro sports team, the Celtics, are quickening their step in hopes of catching their lofty NFL and MLB counterparts.

Featured on the recent cover of Sports Illustrated, ESPN magazine, and even entering the conversations on Boston radio sports talk shows for the first time in a long time, the Celtics have the sports world’s attention. Win or lose, it will be well documented by the national media throughout the year. There will be lots of drama and they are truly Boston’s new reality show.

There are three hungry titleless stars on a mission, along with a good guy coach in search of redemption, and a controversial team president who came up with a nice roll of the dice and says, “Here’s what I got.”

Celtic fans can no longer cry about being left out because of an anti-Celtic bias by David Stern, because Boston isn’t a major market, it is too cold, it has a racist image, or any other such nonsense. The Celtics simply did not have the gravitas to shatter those beliefs. Now they do.

Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen just walked through that door.

The negative dramas surrounding the Celtics just became positive ones with the team’s makeover this summer. And that is what Sports Illustrated’s Ian Thomsen titled his cover story – Extreme Makeover. No one is quite sure how happy it will end and how many happy tears will be cried in this ‘reality show’ at season’s end, but it is starting off fairly well.

Even Paul Pierce didn’t think Ainge could pull off what he did, to turn this team in a new direction. Even after the trade rumors began, before the draft, Pierce didn’t think Ainge could possibly get Kevin Garnett. When the two players met at a pick-up game at UCLA Paul didn’t even mention becoming team mates to Kevin. From Thomsen’s SI article….

“He didn’t even bring it up,” says (a confused) Garnett…

“I just thought there was no possible way,” says Pierce, “and left it at that.”

The day of the trade, Pierce came in and hugged Danny Ainge saying (Sports Illustrated article)……

“Never did I think you could bring me these kind of veteran players.”

While Boston is rocking, the Cavs are rolling…in the wrong direction.

This preseason and last night’s game made clear that Cleveland will be hard pressed to duplicate last year’s success. While preseason games and records are not usually good predictor’s of what is to come, I find it hard to believe that Mike Brown will get this team going right out of the gate.

Even LeBron sounds realistic about their current state and 1-7 exhibition record (from an article by the Globe’s Julian Benbow for The Plain Dealer) …

“Season starts next Wednesday,” James said. “We either get it together or we get blown out some more. Simple as that, get it together or get blown out.”

“We are still in the process of searching.”

The Celtics scored 62 point in the paint on a team that prides itself on defense. Benbow’ article again…..

“That’s a cardinal sin,” Cavs coach Mike Brown said. “We don’t give up middle.”

and…

“A lot of teams don’t have that in three games,” said James…

The deconstruction of the LeBron led Cavaliers occured both inside and out by a Celtic team that was sharing the ball led by Garnett’s 10 assists and Pierce and Rondo’s 6 assists each …

Rondo attacked the middle in the critical 3rd period, drawing Mike Brown’s attention…

“That kid Rondo got in the paint whenever he wanted to.” (Benbow)

Rondo wasn’t quite that good, scoring but 10 points, but he did it at a key moment, when the Cs pulled away for good, near the end of the 3rd. At least 2 of Rajon’s assists (Glen Davis lay-up, Kendrick Perkins dunk) were directly attributed to his penetration.

The injured absence of new PF Cedric Simmons and MIA Anderson Verajeo was noticeable. But Brown’s point guard options are among his concerns as well. He flinched before declaring Damon Jones as his possible starter for the opening game. The Cavs haven’t used the same back court in a single preseason game.

It’s time for me to re-evaluate my preseason predictions for this team and maybe a few others (Miami and Indiana). LeBron won’t let the team go into freefall, but he needs help in order to move the team forward.

Boston starts it climb to NBA glory at home on Friday against the Washington Wizards. In the NBA’s reality show, Boston will no longer be a team of ‘Apprentices’, but instead, look to be a ‘Contender’ and the season’s final ‘Survivor.’

Get me some popcorn and a beer (or in my case – fine wine). I finally have a reality show I want to watch. Check the Boston Celtic’s schedule for dates and times in your area.

Tom Halzack (aka tenaciousT)

This article first appeared in Celtics 17 on the MVN.com network.