So I finally made the leap this year and bought the NBA Season Pass. I've wanted to buy it for a few years now but always backed off because I wasn't sure that I'd really actually watch the games. Anyway, given the way The Celtics are playing early, I feel like I'm going to have the most exciting NBA season in years. So here's my early opinions on the season.
The new look Celtics are way better than I had imagined they'd be. You'd be hard pressed to find any Celtic fan who will admit to being against trading for KG, although a poll last summer was about 50/50. A few years back I heard Charles Barkley doing an interview on the radio and the interviewer asked Sir Charles who the most underrated players were in the NBA. I think the interviewer wanted Charles to name some Celtics players but Charles said the most underrated players in the NBA are the very best players. Most fans don't understand the difference between the very elite and some guy who just puts up good numbers. Well Charles was absolutely right, I had no idea how good KG was. I thought he'd be a great inside presence, he'd get his 20 and 10, but I had no idea how dominant he could be as a defender and rebounder; he brings his teammates to a whole other level. Garnett is a great passer, the best on this year's Celtics, and on defense he's a game changer. Having a player on Garnett's level has made Paul Pierce better; you throw in a marksman like Ray Allen who is now seeing more open shots than he's seen in the last five years combined, and you have the look of a title contender. Granted, this team hasn't faced any adversity, and things could totally change, but I do think it's time for a nickname for the new three. The PGA tour is kinda clever but not quite catchy enough and most people would be thinking of the real PGA Tour when it gets mentioned. Other early suggestion have been The GAP, The GAP band, W-KRP in Boston, so I think it's important that our greatest minds come up with a real nickname for them going forward.
One last Celtics note before I give my early impressions on the young NBA season. This week there was a serious war of words between Cedric Maxwell and Larry Bird. Max is the radio announcer for the C's and Larry Bird, for those of you who don't know, is the greatest player to ever lace up a pair of Converse. Well Max went on the radio last week and declared KG to be the second best Celtic of all-time, behind Bill Russell. This is just the latest salty remark by Max who is still upset over the way he left Boston in 1985. Red Auerback and Larry Bird always thought Max quit during the 84-85 season, then Red traded Max for Bill Walton who had one last great season in him. Well Max has been hurting ever since, He likes to come on the radio in Boston and declare that Hakeem Olajuwon was the best player he ever played with, he also said that Dirk Nowitzki is better than Bird ever was. Well Larry isn't gonna take crap from anyone; during the Celtics-Pacers game Tuesday night the sideline reporter asked Larry's thoughts on Max's latest shot and Bird wasn't taking the high road, he just said "Well Max quit on us and he'll probably quit on them too." Classic Bird! Someone should get a hold of Max's PR rep and tell him to put a lid on it before the whole city turns against him; people in boston like Max, but they love Larry.
Ok, so onto my quick thoughts for the NBA that I can only have because of the Season Pass.
-Jared Dudley and Sean Williams started out the season riding the pine but quickly their coaches smartened up and have been increasing their minutes. Williams especially has proven that he belongs in the NBA. Watching last night's Celtics-Nets game, it was obvious that Williams should be getting the bulk of the minutes for the Nets at the five spot.
-My favorite team to watch is the Memphis Grizzlies. Rudy Gay is really emerging as an All-Star caliber player and has finally begun to assert himself. It's highly doubtful that they'll come close to the playoffs, but they're fun to watch nonetheless. I really enjoy watching Mike Miller play, he's an unapologetic gunner, he's a really good shooter and for some reason he's decided that he wants to grow his hair out and be confused for a WNBA player instead of going with his old trailer park look.
-If I ever feel a sentimental longing for the sad old pathetic Celtics of the last couple years, I can just turn on a T-Wolves game. They have many of the same players the Celtics used to have, including an old and out of shape Antoine Walker, and they're coming up with the same results. Watching Al Jefferson from an unbiased point of view is interesting as well, I can't believe how lost he seems on defense sometimes. He still has great touch and nice moves inside, but he's a long way from being a difference maker in the league.
-I've been able to catch a couple Blazers games thus far, and I'm thinking they'll surprise a bunch of teams this year. Similar to many young teams, they're a lot better at home than they are on the road, but they have such a great young nucleus right now. LaMarcus Alldredge is already better than I ever envisioned him being. He's more athletic than I realized and has seemingly bought into the idea of strength and conditioning, he looks to be a bit leaner; also he has developed great touch on his midrange jumper, a key for any succesful NBA power forward. The comparisons to Rasheed still seem a bit premature, but I'm starting to see all the potential everyone else saw three years ago at Texas.
- As for the rookies around the league, I was a big supporter of Yi coming in. I have no complaints with the way things worked out for the Celtics, but if they had kept the 5th pick, I wanted them to take Yi and he seems to be the most pleasant surprise as far as early returns go. Jeff Green has been pretty good so far for the Sonics, but I think his polished game is being wasted in the mess that is Seattle this year. At some point Green will be a contributor for a good team in the NBA, but I doubt he'll ever be an All-Star. It's just a shame that Greem isn't playing for a playoff caliber team right now, because he's definitely ready to play in meaningful games. His teammate Kevin Durant has put up big numbers but looks very selfish and one dimensional. It remains to be seen if his huge self-confidence will develop into that of an assertive superstar or if it will lead him to be an over confident locker room cancer. Durant does show some great offensive moves and other flashes at times, but he just isn't ready to be a star in the NBA, and it seems like expectations were way too high.
That's all I've got for now, just remember that the Celtics, Red Sox and Patriots are undefeated since October 16th.
-Bender Out
