Boston Celtics came from the bottom of the pile

by Patrick Ross



The 2008 Boston Celtics came from the bottom of the pile last year, having the worst record in the league, to the leagues elite team. With the addition of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen the team has come together with the best record in the NBA. But now its crunch time, the most important games of the year are currently going on, the playoffs. Now the Celtics were suppose to sweep the Atlanta Hawks in the first round right? Well, that didn’t happen but they did win in 7 games. This causes much fatigue to the team. It seems to be the road games that challenge them, as we now see totally evident with Lebron James and his Cavaliers.
Boston easily went up 2-0 in the second round against Cleveland, however both games were home. The 2 games that followed resulted in Cleveland victories. So as of now the Celtics are 0-5 on the road during the playoffs and it will be very difficult trying to win a championship that way. This is completely uncharacteristic of Boston, who held the best road record during the regular season. Are they choking when it counts? It certainly wouldn’t be the first Boston team to do this to us, because we all remember that embarrassing loss by the Patriots, an undefeated team until then, in Super Bowl 42.
We can’t blame the whole team though. Kevin Garnett is trying his hardest to win his first championship and Leon Powe has emerged as a solid bench player. Unfortunately the Celtics team leader in scoring throughout the season, Paul Peirce, is slumping big time. Peirce just can’t hit a shot no matter how hard it seems he tries. Fade a ways, lay ups, and even wide open shots won’t go in. Ray Allen joins him here as well, going scoreless in the first 6 quarters of this series. The Cavaliers have also been leaving Rajon Rondo with wide open shots, literally, because they do not feel he will make them, which has been the result. The bottom line is that this team needs to learn how to utilize each other in the best possible ways. Remember, they have not experienced the playoffs with each other until now, and it is a much different atmosphere. Boston needs take a day off and remember who they are, a spectacular team. So Ray Allen, take a deep breathe before you drain your next three, and realize that is what you do every night, shake off the other games. Paul Peirce quit taking fade a ways it is getting you nowhere; get physical and drive to the hoop and earn your points. To Kevin Garnett, just bring all the intensity you hold out onto the floor and spark the team with a flame that drives us to the championship you want. Sure it was great watching them whoop ass in the regular season, but some success in the playoffs would be even better. Go win a game on the road.