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Calm down Beantown

By Scotty15, Section NBA
Posted on Fri Aug 03 2007 at 7:43 PM EST
More on: (all tags)

Boston needs to down a chill pill

Oh, there's potential. Beantown has dubbed this trio the new Big Three - taking over for Larry Bird, Robert Parrish, and Kevin McHale. People have already started comparing these Celtics to great teams from the glory years, causing Paul Revere to shout, "The championships are coming! The championships are coming!"

But not so fast. History tells us different. Most often, placing several all-stars on the same roster doesn't guarantee a title.

In 2004, the Los Angeles Lakers appeared a shoo-in for their fourth title in five years after signing the NBA's second all-time leading scorer Karl Malone and hall of fame-bound Gary Payton. Add Shaquille O'Neal in his prime and an ascending Kobe Bryant, and it created, what most called, the best starting lineup ever.

The result: The Lakers lost in the NBA Finals to the all-star-less Detroit Pistons in five games.

In 1997, the Houston Rockets traded for Charles Barkley, who teamed up with Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler. This created a daunting frontcourt comprised of three hall-of-famers.

The result: The Rockets bowed in the Western Conference finals to the Utah Jazz in seven games.

Venturing from basketball, let's examine the New York Yankees. The Bronx Bombers have boasted all-star-laden lineups and pitching staffs for years. Yet they haven't bathed in champagne since 2000. Here are some examples of big-money talent the Yanks have lured in since their last title: Alex Rodriguez, Jason Giambi, Gary Sheffield, Johnny Damon, Bobby Abreu, Randy Johnson, Hideku Matsui, Kevin Brown, Carl Povano, and Mike Mussina. And not one World Series crown in seven years.

In the movie "Miracle," Herb Brooks (played by Kurt Russell) tells the United States Olympic Hockey Commission why the NHL All-Stars failed against the Soviet Union national team: "All-star teams fail because they rely solely on the individual's talent." In other words, all-star teams tend not to work as a unit. How will Boston's all-star lineup function?

Who says Pierce, one of the league's most selfish players, will share the ball? Same with the other two, who are used to having the team's weight on their shoulders. Will they be able to share the load?

Now, some say one variable separates this Boston trio from past all-star experiments. The Celtics play in the Eastern Conference, the NBA's supposed JV. The watered down conference should allow Boston to get away with selfishness, experts claim.

I disagree. The East will be stronger this year, thanks to new faces and increased experience. Not as good as the West, but better.

The defending Eastern Conference champions, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and their star, LeBron James, won't go way. Dwayne Wade finished last season with one arm. He'll come back strong. As will Gilbert Arenas, who had the Wizards atop the East standings before suffering a season-ending injury. Then there are the two heavyweights: Chicago and Detroit, both of which should contend for a title.

The road to the Finals, therefore, might not be as smooth as anticipated.

Boston has some problems of its own, too. Namely, its depth and coaching.

Doc Rivers shouldn't have a NBA head coaching position. He should've got canned years ago. But so far he has dealt with young, inexperienced question marks. Let's see how he handles real talent on his roster.

Three spots on the floor look stunning. But what about the other two? ESPN projected Rojon Rondo as the starting point guard, with the center position up for grabs. Against teams with five talented starters, like Detroit, Boston could experience trouble in, essentially, a 3-on-5 game.

Depth will prove a huge issue for this team. They, for instance, only have one point guard. Should the new all-stars experience foul trouble, injuries, suspensions, etc., Boston will have to play the same scraps that last year produced the league's second-worst record. Not good.

It's OK. Stay optimistic Boston, because talent won't prove a problem. But don't jump the gun. Talent can only take a team so far.

Just how far? The playoffs? The NBA Finals? Perhaps. But remember, the Celtics aren't a lock for either.