11-11-08 D&H Talk Celtics Basketball

There's certain guys with names. And they get a lot of love in NBA circles and fans are talking about the top players in the game. They've mentioned these names. Really haven't done anything. Jermaine O'Neal is one of those guys. Vince Carter is one of those guys up. I hate to say it because the numbers are incredible. The Tracy McGrady he's one of those guys to. Just you look at you know some of the seasons he's had equally between five points again he averaged. Seven rebounds in the same season it really averaged six assists that he really should 40% from three point -- does he really. Do you don't shoot 7580%. From the line. All the numbers. But something's -- in there now on the flip side. Here -- Boston even -- Boston where you know we're we're Celtics homers and and we love the team and they won that seventeenth title. We kind of stopped short of saying about Paul Pierce. Top five player and.

We never say that which isn't -- in nor. You don't want to get eight or nine it's a little murky now if you don't say in this town ain't gonna be -- right well Nolan says it but I want to say today. Top five player because a few things. Before you can make the argument that Paul Pierce was one of those names. He had great numbers but there was nothing with it. And in different defensive presence at times I mean -- adding winning in in the NBA it really comes down of that do you win now you have to be. A Hall of Fame player. Q not win but still get that love is one of the greats. You know Barkley didn't didn't win but you know it's called one of the greats Patrick -- and all right I didn't win the thing but is considered. One of the greats. I'm trying to think of some other guys who who who might fit that category with those of the contemporary guys the cup Karl Malone is another one that's a big one yeah. You know number two scorer in league history. Didn't win anything but call one of the greats but if you're if you're playing right now. And you haven't won any thing people hold that against you so what appears when they MVP last year I think a lot of things change form. Now we know he can goat he can go to another level. And he he did it not only did he go to another level when championship but he pitted against a guy who wins in that top five.

Lelie didn't really against two guys like that back to back series. LeBron James Kobe Bryant well -- what two out of three because they beat Cleveland and then right Detroit and in the Lakers but I mean to those guys are absolutely. In the top five players. Nobody even makes an argument right there that you put LeBron James in there and you don't even there's no debate and look at the project -- You put Kobe Bryant in there there's no debate he's an. I'll put Chris Paul and there. And they should be much of a debate on Chris Paul. But you know some of the guys some of those guys who were automatically in the top five. Start to fade away a little bit. Tim Duncan.

I still like Tim Duncan a lot if you top five player one. Maybe I Shaq is gone absolutely jacked on Steve Nash is on he's he's he's on the perimeter. And he's not even a border could be and could be out but probably more out Dirk.

Jason Kidd who used a I mean Garnett kind of joked about it post game saying you know it's fun to -- Superman go into the phone Booth and and you know change and think about I mean. Tommy was called for it even before it happened Tommy Heintz and one that you could see it. They had no chance to stop and he was in one of those zones -- fourth gave the order and it it would have mattered what he did when it mattered who was on him. It would have mattered if there was two or three guys try to stop them. They were going to be able to keep the ball of who was when he had in his hands and it was it was so much on watch. Was I mean think about this that early November game right which now like -- gain in June you may urge you owners.

And you know dale I heard doc on John and Jerry awhile ago when he when he talked about the challenges of people coming out him coming -- asked when he felt like. They did that in 20072008. Even before they played a game people wanted to. See if the anointed Boston Celtics were really that -- or hated on a bit before the season started. I remember Marc Spears doing a story. With with some of the they. Olympians. Jason Kidd and -- these guys and -- it. -- won anything yet Gilbert Arenas and done anything. Rasheed Wallace you don't build a playoff team in the offseason I've never seen it happen. So doc felt like they were challenged in 7. They word but not like this. Now people know.

Every night gets -- at this this is going to happen. You know it it's what -- it's have been facing for a couple years several years for five years now. Where every time the Patriots -- football field it's the Super Bowl for the upon.

Yep somebody's got something to prove that teams do you believe inefficiency even if it's a very good team. Show to show that it just as good. If not better than the Patriots so when a player best game we saw that several times last year. You know Philadelphia without Donovan McNabb against the Patriots played very good game. Our man Gary stills and and the Baltimore Ravens. Played an excellent game against the the Patriots before losing in the end I think the Celtics are going to deal with that throughout the season. It's going to be hard for them it's it's probably impossible for them. To top there regular season record from last year right. I don't see any problem with. Getting back to the Eastern Conference semi finals or Eastern Conference finals but winning 66 or 67 games this year I think that's going to be.

When you're away for Robinson's earth yeah Michael Felger me at a good point we were discussing the Celtics and you know -- win 66 and was right when he said. They want because it. Don't need to -- have to know that they felt they had to prove something last year you know months and it was it was you know you had these three guys. In particular who hadn't won any thing who work who were being thrown together it was like every single night they felt they had to prove something to somebody. I think they know now that if they won sixty games this year. You know they -- six fewer than last year it wouldn't matter bitten how good they are how they are in the playoffs and you know they're going to be times when and I thought last night was one of I thought last night was one of those you know what voice this is just not one of -- they don't.

Have that I think it. Yet he's he's right. That they don't have to. But and I'm sure they feel about the same way they did a year but I think they do I think they feel like they have to do for different reasons he last year was. A revolving called losers throughout our careers. You know Kevin Garnett in Minnesota you know all the first round exits then they get on the first round and lose in the conference finals. With the lottery with KG -- great -- rarely Ray Allen how great dizzy. Paul Pierce it is still dominating and has gone off for himself -- anybody else better so. They all had that in the back of their minds and and so the head coach. Doc Rivers are you ever done I -- Orlando they weren't that great look at his career record everybody had something approved but now. I think for different reasons they have something to prove and that's you know we want to be great. We want to be one of the great team and this is what great teams do they they take on these challenges. And they put a lot these victories at home even when you know for three quarters it doesn't look like. Is going to happen Foreman that night or 442 and a half court it's an area mid eighties Celtics like is -- You know -- on -- on those guys we just celebrity cruise in.

It just felt like you know the way they would do from time to time they didn't do that why I'm just saying. There were nights when their ring -- on Arnold -- got a tonight Arnold by Felix analysts and they just decide you know what I don't want it.

It and that's that you know not to get too philosophical one and two two Herm Edwards on you but that is the great thing about sports certain sports. Like in football is a moment in the football game we just know. One team is going to win team the scores tied with team down three points. But you just know and and part of it is a big thing is running the football. We get two point senior way to start okay okay here it is. Five here twelve year four year fourteen year old here ago their own little pats. Flirt with green you. Are rolling this team will win the game. In basketball there's a point basketball game dispel that moment and you feel that -- the team isn't -- just know they're knocking -- loose last night. It was very clear that the Celtics. Got into their defensive mode and they through the pain is. If you going to -- Toronto. You have to have one of those long threes and Jason -- own teammates and cup Anthony Parker mason topless but -- again. And and now. We'll get to appoint -- or even given the long three contestant on three. In going to happen make goes with with which Anthony Parker did once when -- here race touched the ball and it still went and but you can see they weren't going to get anything inside and then on the other side. Other into the court for the Celtics offensively that have anybody. Who can stop all players. So you -- popular wasn't going to be stopped and you knew Toronto wasn't going to score inside their four you know the Celtics are gonna win again.