Category: NBA

Following the 2001-2002 season in which the Celtics made it to the Eastern Conference finals, the Celtics’ brass (and probably even more importantly, ownership) had to decide whether or not to re-sign Rodney Rogers.  Rogers, acquired in midseason and an essential piece of that team, was a free agent and potentially the difference between the C’s making it back to the conference finals or becoming a team that dies in the first or second round. Although Rogers expected Boston to pony up, then-Celtic owner Paul Gaston was in the process of selling the team and wanted to add as little payroll as possible and therefore offered Rogers the veteran minimum of about a $1 million.  Bewildered and a little insulted, Rogers refused and signed with rival New Jersey, while Boston made an ill-fated trade for Vin Baker in an attempt to fill Rogers’ shoes. In short, it didn’t work, and the Celtics are still paying for that mistake, both literally and figuratively.

Alright, I hate to be the one to throw cold water all over your dreams, but someone’s got to do it.  Here goes: The Celtics will not win a championship this season. Not one for the Eastern Conference, and certainly not the whole damn thing.