| 10 January 2009
Boston have lost a few games recently. Well... ok, more than a few. And you can pretty much log onto any NBA site - be it mainstream media, blog, or chatboard - and read about Boston's fall from grace.
"Boston reeling..."
"Can the Celtics win the East?"
"Boston tailspin"
"It's make or break time for the Boston Celtics"
Really?
You want reeling? Boston reeled off 19 straight wins, and we're getting worried about a mid-season slump of 3? Cleveland lost to Washington only a few days ago, and we're questioning the Celtics' pedigree? Boston are half a game behind Cleveland (who have a pretty demonic January to face), and it's suddenly a crucial point in the season?
Talk about a knee-jerk reaction.
Yes, Boston have lost 3 on the trot, and 6 of their last 8. Yes, the Boston brains-trust (only 2 seasons ago that phrase would provoke laughter) should be concerned. But not overly so.
Is it time to explore what they're doing? Undoubtedly. Is it time for the panic that many around are declaring? Ummm... hell no.
I'm a Lakers fan, and the team that still scares me the most is Boston. I'd hazard a guess that the Lakers themselves eye the Celtics as the team most likely to foil their attempts at a title. Kevin Garnett is still KG. Paul Pierce still possesses the game and the self-belief, Ray Allen is still a stone-cold killer. Rajon Rondo is (well... not lately) better than last year... So's Perkins.
Their time's over? Not likely...
Today, Boston take on the Cleveland Cavaliers. LeBron James. The team many so-called experts are declaring to be the number 1 team in the East. Again, really? Cleveland have yet to really play anything resembling good competition on a regular basis. They've beaten Denver (twice), but the only other team they've played that ranks is Atlanta, and they've split the pair of meetings with them. End of January, we'll know who Cleveland are (they have a string of good opponents through January).
But I already know who Boston are.
3 losses? The sky is not falling.
