The struggling Boston Celtics and their road to the NBA playoffs – Part 2
As discussed in Part – 1, the Boston Celtics need to improve considerably if they wish to remedy their standing in the Eastern Conference playoff brackets. Some of the causes for the recent torrent of losses can be attributed to the trade agreement with
the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Celtics sent away Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson in return for Jeff Green and Nenad Kristic. What compelled Boston to go through with this apparently useless trade is beyond anyone’s grasp. The Celtics have dug themselves into a hole.
Perkins was a perfect fit in the Celts offensive system, and Robinson was a great back-up point guard.
Rajon Rondo – Offensive Catalyst
Speaking of point-guards, Rajon Rondo has always been the conductor for the Boston Celtics. When Rondo plays well, the Celtics roll, but if Rondo can’t get his act going, the Celtics crumble.
A look at the Celtics troubles in the recent past can lead us straight to the culprit.
Rajon Rondo has been putting up All-Star numbers ever since Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen came over to Boston, but has always seemed to have trouble continuing his good performance in the month of March.
Call it a curse, but Rondo just cannot get going in March. A quick comparison of his stats for February and March will solve that issue and prove how important his contributions are for the Celts. Rondo shot 48.3 percent from the floor, while averaging 12.3
points and 10.5 assists in the month of February. The Celtics were 7 – 4 during that stretch. The Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers and a surging Denver Nuggets were responsible for some of the losses.
In contrast, Rondo has shot 39.1 percent, while averaging just 8.6 points and 8.6 assists in the month of March.
The story grows bleaker when we take a look at the last 10 games Rondo has played, where he has shot a pathetic 37 percent and averaged a measly eight points and 7.2 assists per game. The Celtics have been 5 – 5 in their last 10 games, and lost to mediocre
teams like the Charlotte Bobcats, New Jersey Nets and Indiana Pacers. All three of these teams have a losing record.
So it’s pretty clear that the Celtics’ performance is largely dependent on the way their star point-guard plays.
Shaq’s Return
With Big-man Shaquille O’Neal expected to return to the Celtics line-up for the Atlanta game on Friday, there is hope that Boston will finally have the dominant inside presence that Nenad Kristic has failed to provide them. Although way past his prime, there
is still some fight left in the 15-time All-Star.
In the 36 games that Shaq played for the Celtics this season before injuring his Achilles tendon, he averaged 9.3 points and 4.9 rebounds with a phenomenal 66 percent field-goal percentage.
An effective and intimidating shot-blocker, he can crowd the lane and eliminate any opportunities to drive. On the offensive end, Shaq is a prolific scorer and willing passer. With Shaq on the floor, it will be easier for Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray
Allen to create easy scoring opportunities, since the defence will be reluctant to leave the big-man un-manned anywhere close to the rim.
Playoff hopes
With Shaquille O’Neal and Jermaine O’Neal back in the line-up for the Celts and Rondo’s March madness over, Boston is expected to dominate their opposition in the playoffs and make another appearance in the NBA Finals.
But the road to the Finals has many hurdles for Boston. To get to the Promised Land, the Celtics will first have to go through perennial eastern powerhouses Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, and the rising Chicago Bulls. All three have the ability to offer stiff
resistance to the Celtics’ hope of an 18th Championship Banner.
And if the Celtics do find themselves in the NBA Finals, a possible match-up with the reigning Champions, Los Angeles Lakers, or the San Antonio Spurs awaits.
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