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Sports InsiderNBA November Team Reviews: Boston Celtics
December 2nd 2008 15:23
The reigning NBA champions are still the team to beat in the Eastern Conference. After the month of November, the Boston Celtics racked up 16-2 record and is currently on an 8-game winning run at months end.
The Big Three of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen are back to defend the title and aims to accomplish something that no Celtic team has done in the last 40 years: Win back-to-back championships.
Standing-wise they are off to a great start pretty much like the same that they had last year en route to the championship. They first faced off with Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in their home opener right after receiving the championship rings and raising championship banner no.17 up the rafters of the TD Banknorth Garden. The Celtics came away with a 90-85 win to kick off their title retention bid. They have also played the Detroit Pistons and the Toronto Raptors twice each and won all of those games.
The Celtics employ their trademark stifling defense to dominate opponents holding everybody else down to league best averages of 90.1ppg allowed and 40.8% field goal shooting allowed. Considering that they aren’t really one of the top offensive juggernauts in the league, their superiority on the defensive end has been their main weapon even from last year.
Boston is a modest 14th overall in scoring at 98.2ppg. Garnett (16.1ppg), Pierce (18.4ppg), and Allen (17.6ppg) are their main producers on offense but it has been pretty much a team effort when it comes to putting the ball in the basket. Rajon Rondo has been on a tear lately showing his newfound capability as a scoring threat by using his speed. The same goes for Tony Allen, Leon Powe, Eddie House, and Kendrick Perkins who has supplied great support by logging in quality minutes.
The level of the Celtics’ offense is surely not in the level of the more high-powered attacks in the league. Outside of the Big Three, there isn’t one player that can be considered as a marquee-type of guy. Head coach Doc Rivers makes do with what he had last year, which proved to be cohesive and effective, who were the same support crew that he has until now. Some of the other players who won a championship with them last year decided to move somewhere else (James Posey) or just retired (P.J. Brown).
Knowing that the Celtics offense is probably average at least compared to the rest of the field, it is still understandable that they are the NBA Champions because of their top notch defensive game, terrific work ethic, and the desire that they bring to the table everytime they take to the hardwood.
There is just no question when it comes to defense when we talk about the Celtics. Of course, the focal point is the Defensive Player of the Year Kevin Garnett. Looking at his numbers, it appears that he is still as versatile as ever with averages of 8.5rpg (20th best), 1.4bpg (11th best), and 1.1spg all on the defensive end.
Other notable defensive players in Boston includes center Kendrick Perkins and Rajon Rondo. Perkins may not be the certified inside scorer as a starter but he sure has put work in when it comes to doing the dirty job. It won him a championship last season and he’d surely be as happy to do it again. Perkins is the Celtics’ offensive rebounding leader with 2.4 a game. His 7.6rpg average is 27th best in the league and he is also the 4th best shot blocker with 2.1bpg. Rondo meanwhile is doing his damage with serious hustle from the perimeter and disrupting passing lanes with a league 4th best 2.2spg average not to mention that he also contributes 6.9apg 8th best in the league.
The Boston Celtics are truly defensive oriented in style of play. They rely first on their defense and lets their execution on offense come naturally with the right rhythm and cohesion. Don’t expect too many high scoring games from the champs because they prefer to grind down their opponents by limiting the other team’s production and to control the tempo with the way that they liked it to be.
Winning it all last season was all that mattered then. This time, the Celtics will attempt to rewrite history. It’s much more difficult this time around because, being the champs, all the other teams are locked on them. Nevertheless, it remains a fact that it will not be easy to dethrone the Boston Celtics.
Photos courtesy of AP.
Paul Pierce hangs tough for a lay-up.
The Big Three of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen are back to defend the title and aims to accomplish something that no Celtic team has done in the last 40 years: Win back-to-back championships.
Standing-wise they are off to a great start pretty much like the same that they had last year en route to the championship. They first faced off with Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in their home opener right after receiving the championship rings and raising championship banner no.17 up the rafters of the TD Banknorth Garden. The Celtics came away with a 90-85 win to kick off their title retention bid. They have also played the Detroit Pistons and the Toronto Raptors twice each and won all of those games.
The Celtics employ their trademark stifling defense to dominate opponents holding everybody else down to league best averages of 90.1ppg allowed and 40.8% field goal shooting allowed. Considering that they aren’t really one of the top offensive juggernauts in the league, their superiority on the defensive end has been their main weapon even from last year.
Boston is a modest 14th overall in scoring at 98.2ppg. Garnett (16.1ppg), Pierce (18.4ppg), and Allen (17.6ppg) are their main producers on offense but it has been pretty much a team effort when it comes to putting the ball in the basket. Rajon Rondo has been on a tear lately showing his newfound capability as a scoring threat by using his speed. The same goes for Tony Allen, Leon Powe, Eddie House, and Kendrick Perkins who has supplied great support by logging in quality minutes.
The level of the Celtics’ offense is surely not in the level of the more high-powered attacks in the league. Outside of the Big Three, there isn’t one player that can be considered as a marquee-type of guy. Head coach Doc Rivers makes do with what he had last year, which proved to be cohesive and effective, who were the same support crew that he has until now. Some of the other players who won a championship with them last year decided to move somewhere else (James Posey) or just retired (P.J. Brown).
Knowing that the Celtics offense is probably average at least compared to the rest of the field, it is still understandable that they are the NBA Champions because of their top notch defensive game, terrific work ethic, and the desire that they bring to the table everytime they take to the hardwood.
Kevin Garnett pulls down a rebound.
There is just no question when it comes to defense when we talk about the Celtics. Of course, the focal point is the Defensive Player of the Year Kevin Garnett. Looking at his numbers, it appears that he is still as versatile as ever with averages of 8.5rpg (20th best), 1.4bpg (11th best), and 1.1spg all on the defensive end.
Other notable defensive players in Boston includes center Kendrick Perkins and Rajon Rondo. Perkins may not be the certified inside scorer as a starter but he sure has put work in when it comes to doing the dirty job. It won him a championship last season and he’d surely be as happy to do it again. Perkins is the Celtics’ offensive rebounding leader with 2.4 a game. His 7.6rpg average is 27th best in the league and he is also the 4th best shot blocker with 2.1bpg. Rondo meanwhile is doing his damage with serious hustle from the perimeter and disrupting passing lanes with a league 4th best 2.2spg average not to mention that he also contributes 6.9apg 8th best in the league.
The Boston Celtics are truly defensive oriented in style of play. They rely first on their defense and lets their execution on offense come naturally with the right rhythm and cohesion. Don’t expect too many high scoring games from the champs because they prefer to grind down their opponents by limiting the other team’s production and to control the tempo with the way that they liked it to be.
Winning it all last season was all that mattered then. This time, the Celtics will attempt to rewrite history. It’s much more difficult this time around because, being the champs, all the other teams are locked on them. Nevertheless, it remains a fact that it will not be easy to dethrone the Boston Celtics.
Photos courtesy of AP.
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