It Ain't Easy Bein Green (or is it?)

Hello Everybody,
Contrary to the title of this post, I am pretty happy with the state of the Celtics right now. Right now some people are fretting that Danny Ainge didn't add enough talent at the trade deadline to first, compete this year, and secondly, be competitive for years to come. Frankly, I like the strategy Ainge is using and I'm not overly concerned about this year or the up coming years. Here is my reasoning why:

First off, let's face the facts: the Boston Celtics team as assembled this year with or without Rajon Rondo, is not going to beat the Miami Heat, or even the Pacers or Knicks for that matter, in a seven game playoff series and go on to win the NBA title against: pick your poison, Spurs, Thunder, Clippers, whoever it may be.

Honestly, I like the way they're playing basketball right now. They're moving the ball much better, playing great defense, running the floor, essentially doing things that they weren't really doing with Rondo on the court. While Rondo is a great (at times, when he wants to be) player, his play at times has hurt this team. He can be a bit selfish with the ball, holding the ball until late in the shot clock before forcing a shot from 20 feet out, or driving to the lane and shooting an off balance, stupid shot. On defense, he gambles to steal and plays passing lanes too often while falling asleep in his coverage. Without Rondo, the Celtics appear to be just having fun and playing basketball the way it should be played.

When Rondo went down, I was one of the people who thought they should blow it up completely, and I mean completely. Literally, Pierce and KG, Terry, Lee, the washing machine, whatever and whoever they could get for some young talent to build for in the future. When they won that thriller against the Heat at TD Garden, my mind changed a little bit. It reminded me of the "old" Celtics of 2008 when Pierce and KG were dominant, hitting clutch shot after clutch shot, making big defensive stops, getting the crowd amped up, classic shit. And when they kept winning, my mind changed even more.

That 2007-2008 Championship team with The Big Ticket, Kevin Garnett coming to Boston along with Ray Allen to join The Truth aka Paul Pierce, my longtime favorite player, was the team got me really into the sport of basketball. I remember trying to emulate Garnett's post moves at the basketball court next to my house in the rain, snow or heat, day or night, whenever it may be, I would try to be Kevin Garnett on the court. He quickly became my favorite player and a role model to me, and was part of the reason I signed up to play basketball in seventh grade.

Now here we are in 2013, and although Garnett is still a productive player and All-Star, he is clearly not the same player he once was. And with the Celtics in a place of uncertainty and uncharted territory for many of us that follow the team, many people are ready to jump ship and hit the panic button. I've heard all the trade rumors with Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, and none of them sounded appealing to me in the least bit. Garnett has been here for six years, and ever since his arrival this team and franchise changed itself completely. He has been the defensive anchor, emotional leader, and everything you could ever want in a teammate. On top of that, overall he's a helluva player and it's been a honor to watch him these past seasons.
All this can be said about Pierce as well. The difference is that he has been around since the shitty Celtics days where he literally had to put the team on his back every night if they had a small chance in hell to win. He is The Truth, a legend, and undoubtedly will have his number in the rafters of the Garden right next to Larry Bird when it's all said and done.

I'm very content with the Celtic's deadline moves, which were basically nothing. And to be honest, it would've been agonizing to see either Pierce or Garnett go to another team. Both of these men clearly bleed Celtic green, and deserve to retire as members of the Boston Celtics. I understand, basketball is a business along with all the other professional sports. But c'mon people, where's the loyalty here? Where's the love? These guys have given their heart and soul to this team, this franchise, this city, and brought the Celtics back to glory. Now you want to trade them for what? Josh Smith, Deandre Jordan, Eric Bledsoe?!? Jesus people get your heads out of your asses, these guys will NEVER EVER even hold a candle up to Garnett or Pierce, even in their "old age". Is winning right now that important where you would be more than willing to give up the two faces of the franchise for players who aren't even that great?

These two have brought the Celtics franchise back from the depths of basketball mediocrity, to the highest level a franchise can be at. While they haven't always stayed consistently at the top, they have been pretty damn close. So thank you KG and Paul for being great players, and role models to me and to tons of other fans across the region and country. The Truth and Big Ticket have stayed loyal to us the fams, through thick and thin, and we should do the same for them.