The Ceatles Will Win, Eight Days A Week

I sat down to watch the Celtics' season opener and expected big things after a Steven Spieldberg directed promotional video (no, not really, but it was cool). The Celtics delivered, squashing the Wizards and making Arenas look like an idiot in the process. Sorry that you’re prediction didn’t turn out too well, Gil, but I’m sure you had a great Halo game later that night. Pierce scored 28 points, Garnett had 22 points and 20 rebounds and Allen seemed content with his meager (by comparison) 17. The Big 3 shot a combined 52%. Even the other guys did well, but Garnett doesn’t exactly need to worry about Scalabrine coming for his spot.
This game was pretty impressive, though the Wizards didn’t look too good but I wasn’t ready to jump on the bandwagon just yet. Then, the Ceatles headed north of the border to face their only real competition in the Atlantic Division. The Raptors looked like they would dispel the myth that the Celtics are the NBA version of the Justice League, and TJ ford sent the game to overtime. The teams went bucket for bucket until the end of the game when Allen (33 points) hit a 3-pointer with 2.6 seconds left for the win.
So, what do these recaps amount to? The Celtics are the best team in the East right now and I’m prepared to say they’ll remain that way. When the three superstars joined forces this summer, people were actively searching for a weakness. They won’t be able to share the ball, they won’t be content with diminished numbers, they won’t gel, etc. None of these possibilities seem likely anymore, as the Big Three appear to be BFFers, regardless of stats. I want to hate the Ceatles as much as the next guy, but if these first two games are any indication, they have no real competition on the road to the Finals.

Ceatle Mania

I actually watched the Celtics play the Raptors in the first (Italian) preseason game of the year. I wasn’t exactly surprised to see KG drop 19, Pierce drop 21 of his own with Allen adding 10, but I was surprised that none of these guys forced anything and let the ball actually come to them.
There were times when 2 or 3 possessions in a row failed to include any of these superstars and yet they stayed in rhythm and got their fair share of buckets when the time was right. Because I am a hater, and sit here on my computer and hate, hate, hate all day, I can’t help but assume that this won’t last all season, or can I?
The most hopeful event for an effective Boston franchise didn’t come when Ray actually passed to Eddie House or Pierce’s dime to Perkins; it wasn’t even during the game at all. During a timeout, NBA TV ran a short segment in which Pierce, Allen and Garnett were enjoying paninis or espressos or something at a café, and discussing the new team. The expected was said, “we still have to prove ourselves”, “we’re excited for the season”, blah, blah, blah… but then KG gave the three all-stars a fateful nickname, a name that, if lived up to, would bring with it a new basketball era. He donned them “The Ceatles” (see-tulls).
Now, I’m not one to jump on the latest band-wagon that happens by, in fact I still don’t believe LeBron will be able to make the transition to the NBA, but a claim like this inspires hope, even in the pessimist blogger, not to mention 76ers fan. So, the best of luck to you Paul (KG), George (Pierce) and Ringo (Allen).
I guess John can be Posey or somebody, whatever.


(The fateful claim is made at about 1:40 in)

Did You Know Garnett Is An Irish Name?

Unforunatley, I am forced to blog about Kevin Garnett's move to the Celtics. This is because as a sports blogger, and specifically one of basketballic proportions, I must recognize this move as one of the most significant in recent memory.
KG is arguabley the best player in the NBA and many, myself included, thought he would end his career in Minnesota. Instead, he sacrificed his insane loyalty and moved himself to a team that doesn't even recognize draft karma as a tangible entity.
You can argue that Pierce and Allen are better players than Garnett has ever had the pleasure of playing with, and that would be true (the next best set is Cassell and Sprewell... awful), but as they both play the same position (with poor health history) and hog the ball even more than Garnett does, this franchise will go nowhere fast. Garnett's not getting any younger and this three year deal may solidify his title of best player to continually fail. And I'm not talking like Reggie Miller fail, I mean like "this team may win the Atlantic Division only once or twice" fail.
That being said, this move can't possibly hurt the Celtics, the 06-07 season's version of the 05-06 Knicks (best comparison I could come up with), and it will sell plenty of tickets. On the downside for Boston, they better be right about this guy because they sacrificed every young talent they had in order to get him. (Prediction: In eight years, Gerald Green will dunk on a a walker using Kevin Garnett hobbling around in the lane).
Is it possible for three aging, shoot first, ball-demanding, highly paid superstars to win some games? Sure, but don't excpect another Bean Town Dynasty.