The NBA finals: I’m picking the Celtics, but what do I know?
This picture was taken a while ago. Note the man on the right. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
Don’t listen to me – I’m the guy who picked the Hawks over the Magic. And now I’m picking a team that couldn’t beat the Hawks once in four tries to win the NBA title.
I say again: Don’t listen to me.
My reasons — this assumes somebody is still listening, which nobody should be — is that the Boston Celtics simply outnumber the Los Angeles Lakers. The Celtics have four excellent players: Allen, Garnett, Pierce, Rondo. The Lakers have two: Bryant, Gasol. (I do not include Lamar Odom, or Ron Artest, or Andrew Bynum — they’re good players.)
The Celtics aren’t nearly as good as they were two seasons ago when they won the championship, but the Lakers aren’t as good as they were in their title run of last spring/summer. The Rasheed Wallace Experiment didn’t really work in Boston, but Artest — except for one putback of an air ball in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals, a game in which he made a total of two hoops — has dragged down the Lakers more.
Artest is no longer a reliable scorer, and he’s not quite the defender he was. He is, in sum, just another guy. The Lakers were better with Trevor Ariza, who left for Houston, on the wing. He gave them quickness and finishing power. Without him there’s no Showtime to L.A.: There’s just an aging starting five that waits on Kobe to do something wondrous.
The Celtics are old, too, but they’re young at point guard. And there’s your difference. Rajon Rondo cannot be guarded by any Laker. (If you assign Artest to him, who takes Ray Allen?) Rondo was the reason the Celtics upset Cleveland and Orlando. Rondo has been the MVP of these players, and who would have imagined that?
Loading ...It’s weird. These Celtics won only 50 games, which is seven fewer than the Lakers and three fewer than the Hawks. This Boston team would be, on the record, the worst NBA champion since the 1995 Houston Rockets, who were 47-35. (The 1999 Spurs won 37, but the season was shortened to 50 games by the player lockout.)
And yet: These Celtics have reached the finals having lost only five games as a No. 4 seed; two years ago, the overall No. 1 seed, which was 66-16 in the regular season, lost eight games en route to the title round, having been forced to Game 7’s by both the Hawks and the Cavaliers.
Did I see this coming? Absolutely not. I thought Boston might well lose to Miami in Round 1. I thought the Celtics were too old, too cantankerous. (They were 23-5 on Christmas Day, 27-27 thereafter.) I thought they were the worst of the East’s Big Four by some distance, but they’re still playing. And they’ve just beaten two teams better than the Lakers.
Ergo, Celtics in six. But pay no attention to anything I say.
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90 comments Add your comment
jarvis
June 2nd, 2010
10:01 am
I agree with the second half of MB’s statement.
Ted M
June 2nd, 2010
10:42 am
Mark,
Will the Hawks be in bidding war over Avery and/or Casey with the other teams looking for coaches?
Armond Hill
June 2nd, 2010
10:43 am
The Celts are great and wonderful but too old to have logged this many minutes. Took the hawks money and will continue in the NHL and the Lakers money every game. Lakers in 6. By the way- Doc was no Armond.
Tim Pilgram
June 2nd, 2010
10:59 am
nice write up mark… I can’t agree though. The Lakers and Celtics is the most historic matchup we could ask for in the NBA Finals and I think you are going to have a different result than two years ago… here’s proof with a prediction and gallery of both teams cheerleaders… http://www.lionsdenu.com/2010-nba-finals-los-angeles-lakers-vs-boston-celtics-preview-prediction-gallery-of-lakersceltics-dancers/
It’s not that I don’t believe in Rondo and the big three (who are honestly ‘the final four’ now) but lets be honest… Kobe, Gasol, Artest, Bynum, Odom, Fisher.. I don’t think I’ll be along when I say congrats Los Angeles …
Ted M
June 2nd, 2010
11:44 am
Testing 1 2 3
Mark Bradley
June 2nd, 2010
11:55 am
The Hawks tend not to involve themselves in bidding wars.
i_am_soulstar
June 2nd, 2010
12:00 pm
Lakers in 7
indianman
June 2nd, 2010
12:06 pm
go lakers your are the best make back to back
Jimminy Cricket
June 2nd, 2010
12:35 pm
I’m afraid you’ve missed the mark on this one, Mark. Lakers will take this in 6 games. And this is coming from a Laker-hater, too. Actually, the Lakers are my least favorite team (in large part because of the presence of Kobe) closely followed by the Celtics (in large part because of the presence of KG).
Not sure about your comment about the Celtics beating 2 teams better than the Lakers already– are you really saying that you think the Cavs and Magic this year were better than the Lakers? Are you kidding? Have you watched the playoffs at all? The Suns and Spurs both looked better than the Magic and Cavs… and possibly the Celtics. Hell, the Thunder looked better than most of those teams. And, despite my rooting against them every step of the way, the Lakers took those teams down. Ergo… Lakers are better.
Veteran Fan
June 2nd, 2010
4:02 pm
i am boycotting the finals as all the games in the East have been decided by the league to get the Celtics to the finals. Jackson is right, these games have been nothing more than glorified wrestling matches with the Celtics having more bodies to throw into the melee! Hey if that crook, David Stern, and his cronies allow it to go on Boston should play that way as they are too slow to play any other way! This isn’t basketball, it is a bunch of overpaid thugs beating each other up and whining to the referees on every play and then the league office excusing technical fouls when the refs have had enough! I have enjoyed the western conference games, with great shooting, good defense, and spectacular passing. But this will be so disappointing from a basketball viewpoint that I cannot bear to watch! On to the draft and the Lebron Circus!
Remarkable
June 2nd, 2010
4:33 pm
Is anyone else concerned about this “Free Agent Summit?” How I read this is, “We are all going to get together and decide how much money we all want to make, which team several of us might want to make into a winner (such as when Boston signed Garnett and Allen), and which team(s) gets shafted.” This sounds like collusion to me.
Stephanie
June 3rd, 2010
12:18 pm
Boston Celtics will win the NBA title!
BeantownAtlantan
June 3rd, 2010
12:43 pm
Look, it’s all about crafty coaching and KNOWING that the “season” is really defined by winning “enough” games to get a favorable seeding…while resting or maintaining the physical condition of your top athletes. Doc Rivers is THE man. Wins his division by ten games. Therefore no sweat of getting into playoffs. Logs 50 to get top seed. Even rested players in last weeks, not worrying about nothing “teams” like the Hawks, knowing a healthy Celtics team of veterans would pulverize the likes of Miami and Atlanta, while taking it to the vaunted Superstar “teams” (huh!). Taking down Kobe will be easier than doing it to the King (of Akron?) and to SuperElbows. The West never sees defense like the Celts play. Celtics in six!
dashizz357
June 3rd, 2010
12:54 pm
KOBE – aka Lord of the Rings & Lakers in 7…….Lakers don’t lose at home!
Johane
June 3rd, 2010
1:00 pm
The Lakers in six, you’re right you don’t know
jg
June 3rd, 2010
1:06 pm
Celtics ~ KG feeling good ~ Rondo has grown so much ~ Pierce is great ~ Wallace can deliver ~ and they play as a TEAM. Lakers ~ Kobe can’t carry it all and his ego is too big ~ too many Europeans ~ who cares how many celebrites are in the crowd ~ over-rated. Hoping for a Celtics sweep~ GO BOSTON RED IS SMILING DOWN ON YOU!!!!
jg
June 3rd, 2010
1:07 pm
and Ray Allen is so cool
Nia
June 3rd, 2010
1:23 pm
Lakers all the way It may go to game 7 but we will win!!! The home team will win!!!! I love LA
Tyrone Biggums
June 3rd, 2010
1:24 pm
Jesus Shuttleworth for 3!
JJ
June 3rd, 2010
1:28 pm
MB, why are/did the hawks interviewing Mark Jackson? He might make a pretty good coach even with no experience. May be another Doc.
JJ
June 3rd, 2010
1:32 pm
Celtics in seven. Phoenix probably should have beaten them.
glenn
June 3rd, 2010
1:34 pm
I’ll take the Lakers . Should be a good series . Weird the Celtics couldn’t beat the Hawks this year . Really thought Celtics were to old . Really impressive playoff run . Lakers match up in the front court & are better in the back . Rajon Rondo will have to play MVP like for the Celtics to win this series . He does at times .
Dekalb's finest
June 3rd, 2010
1:35 pm
The Lakers lost Christmas Day AT HOME. The Cavaliers beat ‘em!! ANYTHING’S POSSIBLE!! (In my Kevin Garrett voice
) Go green & white!!
glenn
June 3rd, 2010
1:37 pm
Hawks apparently are looking VERY hard at Avery Johnson . That would be an interesting hire .
B-BALL
June 3rd, 2010
1:47 pm
the Lakers in 5 remember you heard it hear
HawksFan
June 3rd, 2010
1:49 pm
Why are we calling Pierce and Garnett old and not Kobe. The guy is 32 years old; they’re all nearing retirement. Celtics couldn’t beat the Hawks due to the injuries. Everybody is healthy now. I agree, Celtics in 6.
KOBE FAN
June 3rd, 2010
2:01 pm
FIRST OFF I AGREE WITH VETERAN FAN. THE EAST SEEM TO BE BOUGHT. LEBRON CLEARLY GAVE UP. WHICH MEANS BOSTON WOULDN’T EVEN BE IN THE FINAL IF HE PLAYED LIKE WE KNOW HE CAN PLAY. ONCE BOSTON MADE IT PAST LEBRON, I JUST DON’T SEE HOW ORLANDO COULD LOSE 2 GAME AT HOME, SOMEWHERE THEY HAVE PLAYED THERE BEST. BOSTON IS A GOOD TIME BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THEY ARE A DIRTY TEAM AS WELL. THE LAKERS ARE NOT KNOWN FOR BEING DIRTY BUT ARTEST CAN BE AND THAT WILL BE THE DIFFERENCE. BOSTON CAN NOT AND WILL NOT WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP TRYING TO PLAY DIRTY. I WILL NOT WORK. RONDO CAN NOT BEAT THE LAKERS BY HIMSELF AND THAT’S WHAT THE LAKERS WILL MAKE HIM TRY TO DO. I’M OUT !! GO LAKERS
KOBE FAN
June 3rd, 2010
2:10 pm
I SAY ARTEST WILL BE THE DIFFERENCE BECASUE IF YOU NOTICED, ONCE ORLANDO GOT ON THE CELTICS LEVEL THINGS WERE A LITTLE DIFFERENT. ORLANDO HAD TO PLAY DIRTY. #JUSTSAYING
glenn
June 3rd, 2010
2:18 pm
Kobe is a young 32 : ) …..And the biggest competitor maybe in sports .
j
June 3rd, 2010
2:31 pm
Better than the Lakers? Obviously no drug tests at AJC! Lakers win.
Westside Riders
June 3rd, 2010
2:51 pm
I am going out on a limb and saying Lakers in 4. And no, I don’t think a Phil Jackson team has ever swept the finals, but something tells me the Mamba is looking to be deadly this time around. The season head to head series was 1 & 1, and that loss was with Kobe NOT playing. It only takes 1 game to prove my sweep theory wrong, but worse case, LA in 6. Knowing the Mamba though, he’s going to want to end it on Boston’s floor, which could be game 4 or 5 (2-3-2 format).
Shepherd's say
June 3rd, 2010
3:07 pm
The Celtics will go all the way to be victorious 2010 Champions
JASon
June 3rd, 2010
3:14 pm
See Mark things aren’t always in black and white. If you keep referring back to them winning only 50 games or losing 4 to the Hawks, then no they don’t deserve a championship. But obviously this team has found something and they are at the top of their game right now. I think both the Lakers and Celtics are both better than two seasons ago. Just look at all the Celtics weapons now! Look at how Rondo has matured! Its naive to say that just because they didn’t win as many regular season games as two seasons ago that they can’t be better now. They have turned it on in the playoffs. Period.
Shay
June 3rd, 2010
3:43 pm
Boston in 6………….
RONDOBABYYYY!~
June 3rd, 2010
4:29 pm
The Celtics will win this series because they are a better team. While most teams have one star player and a lot of okay players, Boston has a whole team of star players. Rajon Rondo had the potential in 2008 but has his time to really shine in 2010. I hear a lot of talk about the Celtics playing dirty, where and when did that happen? The techs against Perkins were bogus in the Orlando game but nobody wants to admit the REFS were just wrong!! I’m hoping my boy Perkins can keep his attitude positve because if he does.. the best NBA defending team will take this championship ring!!!! Kobe has the worst ego and he is as big of a cry baby as Dwight Howard. Odom is too busy running behind Kardashian to focus and Fisher is not even a factor until he shoots a 3 point shot .. Gasoul is big but we’ll get past him… and Bynum who?? Celtics all the way.. all day!!
KOBE FAN
June 3rd, 2010
5:39 pm
@ RONDOBABYYYY!~ ……KG IN THE MIAMI SERIES, KG IN ORLANDO SERIES, RONDO IN THE 2008 PLAYOFFS.
Derek
June 4th, 2010
11:44 am
MB the Celts ARE old and looked it, Rondo looked stupid running down the lane flipping underhanded school yard shots up that either missed or were blocked. WHY would Artest guard Allen? duh Gasol on Garnett, Artest on Pierce, Kobe and Derek swapping on Allen and Rondo, Bynum on Perkins, Good matches it seems to me, Oh thats right , thay man-handled the Celts last night…Even though Odom didn’t get involved much, neither did Baby or Rasheed…Farmer can handle T. Allen etc etc
glenn
June 4th, 2010
11:59 am
Now I really like the Lakers .
JacquePierre
June 4th, 2010
2:44 pm
The Boston Celtics played the worst playoff game that ive ever seen in nba history last night. My personal opinion is that the game was fixed. I have no proof of it, except to say that for the course of 48 minutes, NO CELTIC PLAYER CAME THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE PAINT AND SCORED. The Celtics scored zero points in the paint. They did that on purpose because Ive never seen an NBA game where the worst of team didnt score at least a single point in the lane. THE GAME WAS FIXED AND IT PROVES THERE IS STILL CORRUPTION IN BASKETBALL. Umpire Tim Doneghy was corrupt and is in jail now and there might be more corruption in the NBA. Rondo never got into the paint, not pierce, garnett, and even the couple of times where Kevin Garnett was underneath the basket, Garnett failed to stuff the basketball and was repeatedly shooting “AIR BALLS” at point blank close range. That doesnt even make sense. It was apparent that the game was fixed and I will never, ever watch another NBA contest as long as I live.
Jim Mora
June 6th, 2010
12:42 pm
PLAYOFF IN SHORTS! No PADS? Thier Season should have ended in APRIL! All Those TATTS………….LOOKS LIKE A DAMN CIRCUS! NOBODY WATCHING THIS S$%#@^.