Businesslike Approach Working For Celtics
By Tim Legler
ESPN
As I sat and watched Boston scratch out its 18th win of the season in Washington on Thursday night it occurred to me that even with all the Celtics have accomplished over the last two and a quarter seasons they are still, remarkably, underrated.
Surprisingly, Doc Rivers doesn't feel slighted or disrespected. He's actually fine with it because it motivates his team as they employ a quietly determined approach to consistent excellence.
Underrated? Really? Let me explain.
The Celtics have sprinted to an 18-4 record, tops in the Eastern Conference, yet they have somehow managed to operate in the immense shadow cast by the universal admiration of
LeBron James and
Kobe Bryant. The Celtics don't generate the lead plays on nightly highlight reels, nor do they dance on the sideline during blowout wins. They aren't as sexy as the Cavs and Lakers. They don't have a player capable of putting up video game numbers every night. What they do have is a group of guys that define what winning basketball in the NBA is all about.
The Celts share the ball. They defend on every possession. They accept roles. They play with energy, passion and pride. They look, feel and play like a group of guys that love playing together. Their balance makes them incredibly difficult to defend because teams cannot "lock in" on a particular player, set or area of the floor.
All five starters average between 11 and 18 points per game, and they can initiate their offense through anyone on the court. Despite claiming an NBA title in 2008 and winning 62 games a year ago, this team is the best of the three under the leadership of
Kevin Garnett.
There are several reasons for that. First,
Rajon Rondo has emerged as a legitimate All-Star-caliber point guard. He has transformed himself from an inconsistent blur with unlimited potential to an elite floor leader mastering the balance between taking over a game with his diverse talents and steadying the offense when things get tight down the stretch.
Secondly, in adding
Rasheed Wallace and
Marquis Daniels, Boston has added the type of versatility to its bench that gives Rivers numerous options in terms of defensive matchups.
Finally, the Celtics' top three scorers,
Paul Pierce,
Ray Allen and KG haven't begun to show any signs of diminished scoring ability. They all seem to be as efficient as they were a few years ago.
It is early, and an NBA season is as much about attrition as anything else, but the Celtics have shown to this point that they are sitting in the pole position in the Eastern Conference. They will continue to win almost silently, etching a notch in the win column from night to night with the same combination of businesslike demeanor and individual excellence that makes watching them so much fun.
Now if they'd only work on their sideline dance moves once in awhile they'd really get everyone's attention.
I guess Legler isn't a fan of Bron's dancing either.
