Sports Insider by Frank Coppola: Question of the Week: Can Celtics win championship?

February 16, 2008

Question of the Week: Can Celtics win championship?

Do the Celtics have what it takes to win the NBA championship?

Ed Flaherty
Seacoast Media Group sports editor
Yes. From what we’ve seen in the regular season the Celtics have most of the key ingredients to end up playing in June against the Spurs or Mavericks and be successful in their pursuit of that long-awaited 17th banner. While the new edition of the Big Three — Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen — will fuel that run, the key for Boston will be its defense, its bench and the play of point guard Rajon Rondo. Those three factors take a backseat to Boston’s star power, but come playoff time defense, depth and Rondo’s ability to keep the Celtics offense flowing will tell the tale.

Frank Coppola
Seacoast Media Group assistant sports editor
As much I’d love to say yes, I think the Celtics are a year away unless Danny Ainge works some more magic at the trade deadline. The chemistry on this team is amazing, but the depth — especially at point guard and center — leaves a lot to be desired. Depth plays a huge role in the hard-fought, high-intensity NBA playoffs, and the two-month battle takes a lot out of your starters if they don’t get proper rest. Right now Boston has no real backup plan for starting point guard Rajon Rondo, and recent injuries to Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins forced Leon Powe and Brian Scalabrine into the starting lineup. I don’t see the Spurs, Lakers or Suns being intimidated by those guys in the Finals, assuming Boston can beat the Pistons or Cavs to get there.

Roger Brown
Seacoast Media Group sportswriter
Absolutely. The Celtics have perhaps the leading candidate to win the league’s MVP award (Kevin Garnett), a strong starting five (three starters are averaging at least 18 points per game) plus a productive bench. The team’s 16-0 record against the Western Conference — the stronger of the two conferences — is encouraging, and the Celtics are in position to have home-court advantage throughout the playoffs, which is always a huge edge. If healthy, the Celtics have the necessary talent, leadership and experience to make a strong run at this year’s NBA championship. Seems like old times.

Jay Pinsonnault
Seacoast Media Group copy editor
Yes, but I would love to see the Celtics get a veteran point guard (i.e. Sam Cassell) to back up Rajon Rondo. Cassell, in the final year of his current deal, would have to get a buyout from the Clippers. Then the 15-year vet would be free to sign with the C’s. The 38-year-old Cassell has played with both Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen in the past and has averaged 13.2 points, 4.6 assists, 2.9 rebounds this season. Boston has proved it can beat good teams with its current roster as it has gone 7-2 without Garnett, including impressive wins over Western Conference powers San Antonio and Dallas, but anytime you can upgrade your team and give yourself a legitimate chance of raising No. 17 to the rafters you have to pull the trigger.

Mike Sullivan
Seacoast Media Group columnist
Not quite, but they’re close. Boston needs a big man to eat up 12 to 15 minutes a game and give Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins — when they’re healthy — a breather. Scot Pollard is not the answer. Pollard can bring a lot to a team, but he is past his prime and his body cannot handle the rigors of 12 minutes a night in the NBA. The Celtics also need a serviceable backup point guard and rookie Gabe Pruitt is not the answer, not this season at least. If Rajon Rondo gets hurt, what happens? Eddie House is a great shooting guard off the bench, but an ineffective point guard. Once Boston adds a big man and a backup point guard, they can compete for a title; they’re not there yet.

Posted by Frank Coppola at February 16, 2008 07:01 PM

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