Here is a team that won over 60 games playing a team that won only 41, but that 41 is deceptive, because they added Salmons and Miller to that roster and Derrick Rose just kept on improving.

This is not a blog about the Celtics being one and done, but it does play into my prediction from last year.

Funny thing about predictions, you can always bring up the ones that are correct and just forget the ones that are way off. Even timing just gets in the way of the truth. It is kind of like golf, fishing, or stock investing. Hey, did you hear about my fishing trip last summer? There as this fish and it was so big that it barely fit into the boat and, oh, there was this golf hole, number 5, and using a 7 iron, uh then there was that small company in my portfolio and it just zoomed and , wait, wait, wait…We were talking basketball here.

Last year, my prediction/concern was that one of the 3 amigos would get hurt. They didn’t and Boston won. This year Garnett did get hurt (the 3 amigos are getting old and brittle.) and Chicago may steal the series.

In the NBA, there are few office pools because there are few series upsets. The higher seeded home teams should win handily at home and lose by a bucket on the road. That is not happening here. In Boston these two teams look equal. Chicago may get at home and win easily.

Ben Gordon almost out dueled Ray Allen to win this last game, while Read more

NBA Obsessed takes you into the hit and run game of NBA Basketball.

Oh boy, this changes things almost entirely. Cleveland has to be as happy as you can get. Kevin Garnett will not be in the playoffs. He has a knee injury that will not heal.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Thursday that Garnett will not be ready for Game 1 against the Chicago Bulls and possibly won’t be back at all.

“It’s not official that he’s out for the entire playoffs, but it’s official as far as I’m concerned,” Rivers said before practice at the team’s workout facility. “I just don’t see how. I hope I’m wrong, but I just don’t see it.”

Garnett has been the Celtics’ inspirational leader since joining them in a 2007 trade that completed the new Big Three and propelled the franchise to its record 17th NBA title. He averaged 15.8 and 8.5 rebounds per game for the defending champions this season.

“I’m devastated for him,” Celtics guard Ray Allen said. “This is the time of year you’ve been waiting for.”

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Kevin is not too happy about being injured

Without Kevin Garnett, the Boston Celtics are not a serious threat to win the Conference playoffs, let alone the NBA title. The real shame of the matter is that the 3 Celtic stars are getting older by the minute. If they want 1 more title, they do not have a lot of time left.

Photo source Newscom

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There is always the question of whether you want someone like Stephon Marbury on your team. It is complicated. No one doubts his talent, but it is all those other things that matter just as much. Just what are you getting with Marbury on your team?

Maybe even the bigger question is what state of mind is Marbury in?

When Marbury walks into that Celtics locker room, the con is over. He has been threatening a long time to show what he can do for a contender. Now he gets his chance. He hasn’t played a regular-season NBA game in over a year, a playoff game in five years, and hasn’t won a postseason game in six. Losing has always been someone else’s fault – his GM, his coach, his teammates. What’s more, losing is a habit for him. It’s never cost him a big contract, nor bothered him enough to stop partying or show shame.

Marbury still rejects the idea that it’s ever been his job to make his teammates better. “How am I going to make someone else better?” he asked, and always, that question is an answer within itself.

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What is Boston thinking? Well, for starters, if it works, the NBA title will be a whole lot easier, beyond that it is a huge risk. They know they will be creating a distraction both on the court and the locker room if it does not work.

The Celtics are focused on defending our championship and are working day and night to finalize our playoff roster,” Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck said in a statement Tuesday night. “We don’t have anything to announce at this point except that we intend to do everything we can to raise Banner 18.”

What he means is this: The Celtics won’t just do everything, they’ll do anything. They’re hoping against hope that Marbury can make a difference, but they’re running the risk of downloading basketball’s ultimate Trojan virus. Finally, Marbury is free of New York, and just understand: He was never, ever in a rush for this reality.

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Marc Stein puts together the Power Rankings for ESPN.com.

This week the Cavaliers and LeBron James moved ahead of the Kevin Garnettless Celtics. How does LeBron do it? It is just him and a dash of Mo Williams. Amazing.

Don’t get too carried away with the Cav’s though, because the Lakers are still in the Cat Bird seat. Numero Uno. Kobe.

How deep is the league’s deepest team? The Lakers dumped Radmanovic and Mihm to save a little money and are still 9-1 in February … all without the injured Bynum. A four-point stumble at Utah is the lone blemish.
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Unfortunately for the Cleveland LeBron’s their next 8 out of 11 games are on the road.

The Celtics are followed by the Magic, Spurs, and Nuggets. Yeah, Chauncey and the Nuggets, it sounds like a 60’s band or something.

My Chaunceyless Pistons have fallen to 21st. How is it possible?

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Kevin Garnett is out injured for 2 to 3 weeks and the Boston Celtics are on the hunt for victories and a replacement player.

The good news is they found a victory with Rajon Rondo leading the charge. Rondo had 32 points to lead the Garnettless Celtics against the Amare-less Suns.

On the replacement player front, the Boston Celtics are looking at Joe Smith at Oklahoma City. Joe was traded to New Orleans and then the deal was nullified with the Okies received a defective player.

“I didn’t know what to think before the trade deadline. You heard so many things. And now it’s almost the same situation. I hear my name as far as being bought out and a lot of teams inquiring about it. But I really don’t know. I don’t expect anything to happen, but I’m not sure.”

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Pay attention, this is not a blog by yours truly. Today we bring you a special treat. This is a blog by Graham Brunell and he is a talented writer for Celtic 17.

Here are some outtakes.
Why Rajon Rondo wasn’t an All Star, and Why he WILL be in the future.

Rajon Rondo, one of the best point guards in the NBA today, was not selected to be an all-star. Why, you ask? We’ll just have to find out.

The Eastern conference: The East was just too good this year. Too good for the coaches to even argue whether his numbers (11.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 8.1 assists) show the true player he really is. Think about it: Ray Allen, Mo Williams, Mike Bibby, Vince Carter, Antawn Jamison, David Lee, NOR Andre Iguodala made it.
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His offensive skills will make him a triple-double machine: Wait are we talking about Jason Kidd or Rajon Rondo here? That’s right folks, Rajon Rondo has rebounding skills whether you like it or not. His passing skills are sneaky, yet accurate, and he can get to the basket almost any time he wants to. If he can develop a 15-foot jump shot, or possibly a three-point shot, which would be a miracle, he could be right up there with point guards like Chris Paul, Deron Williams, and Devin Harris.

His speed leaves most defenders in the dust: There is no denying it, Rajon Rondo can run. His speed lets him get ahead in the fast break, run the baseline freely, and blow by defenders to get an open lane to the basket.
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His basketball IQ and his leadership are at a high level: Being a point guard on the ego-filled Boston Celtics isn’t easy. One night during an interview Doc said that the reason he loves Rondo is because he has the confidence to say “no” to superstars each and every single night.
…
So sorry Rondo, but this year you won’t be in Phoenix (at least not on the floor). Don’t worry, you’ll get plenty of chances. PLENTY.

(To see the whole blog read Celtic 17 in the MVN blog network.

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Paul Pierce takes turns scoring lots of points with Ray Allen

Maybe Boston is just bored, but they just went through a period where losses came more often than wins and that has been rare the last two years.

Boston 115 Toronto 109 OT

Now they turn to Paul Pierce for 39 points to beat a Toronto team missing both Calderon and O’Neal. Sunday they needed 36 from Ray Allen to be Toronto. The big 3 has turned into the big one at a time. Now it is Garnett’s turn to beat Toronto one would assume.

“Ya’ll need to start playing some of that ‘Superman’ theme music in the building when he’s going like that,” Garnett said of Pierce’s 39-point, 49-minute performance, all of it on a sore right knee that nearly kept him out.

“This is Clark Kent right here, ladies and gentlemen,” Garnett said. “He was 13-for-26 tonight with 39 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Superman.”

Not bad for a player who, prior to yesterday’s shootaround, was a 50-50 shot in the mind of Doc Rivers to even play.

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Digging a little deeper one sees that Kevin Garnett held Chris Bosh to 1 - 4 shooting in the 4th quarter and 0 for 0 in the OT. Garnett proving why he is so valuable to the Celtics once again.
Photo source Newscom

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Kevin Garnett dreaming of a second NBA Championship

The Boston Celtics will come into the season as the odds on favorites and for a reason. They are loaded. Just having Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen gives you the early nod, but other players and a staunch defense were developed last year as well.

Before we go all gaga over the Celtics, keep in mind that LeBron James took them to 7 games, until his team, the Cleveland Cavaliers held him back. Also, don’t forget the Pistons with their young players starting to stretch their muscles. Orlando will also have some say with Dwight Howard. And lest we forget, the young Philadelphia team picked up Elton Brand.

Boston lost some key players too and it is always hard to come back after winning.

Will winning the title temper the fire and selflessness they displayed last year? How will they compensate for the loss of reserves James Posey and P.J. Brown? Will age finally catch up to Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett (both will be 33 by the end of the season)?
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And what changes were made in the Celtic roster over the off season?

Added: Patrick O’Bryant (Golden State), Darius Miles (Portland), Bill Walker (rookie)

Lost: James Posey (New Orleans), P.J. Brown (retired), Scot Pollard

Posey and Brown played key roles in the playoffs, but Darius Miles is an interesting player trying to comeback in the NBA.

The Boston Celtics are still the kings until someone knocks them off.

Photo source Newscom

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It appears the diet drugs were working for Darius Miles

Miles, who signed a non-guaranteed contract with the C’s over the summer, was with the Portland Blazers last season and is attempting to come back from chronic knee trouble.

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Before you get all uppity and start talking about dope smoking hoop stars, let it be known that Darius Miles was not puffing on the weed or at least he did not get caught for that, which does not imply that he does that. Darius took a diet drug called phentermine and he took it last spring.

If Darius ever plays up to his potential, he will be a fine addition to the big three of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen. Unfortunately, potential has been the tag on Miles since he entered the NBA.

Photo source Newscom

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You know Kevin Garnett is happy to hear that Sports Illustrated ranks Boston 1st for next year in the East

Marty Burns of SI predicts the top 6 in the East.

He has Boston number 1.

1. Celtics: The loss of veteran forward James Posey (via free agency to the Hornets) could hurt, especially come playoff time, but for now Boston has to be considered the East favorite again. General manager Danny Ainge re-signed key reserves Eddie House and Tony Allen, and Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen should be even better with another year together (assuming they’re not too worn out from last season’s long playoff run). The bottom line is that the defending champs didn’t make any significant moves … but they didn’t need to.

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The only real surprise was dropping the Detroit Pistons to 6th.

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