Celtics Face Uncertain Future
Added on May 10, 2013 by Scott in
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Bowing to the Knicks in six games during the opening round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs, the Boston Celtics displayed the heart and grit that has been evident since winning the NBA Championship in 2008. They could’ve rolled over and been swept after falling behind 0-2, but they didn’t. Instead, veterans Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, with help from Jeff Green and Jason Terry, went down swinging. It was an impressive effort but ultimately not enough, which begs the question: where do they go from here?
Garnett turns 37 next week. Pierce and Terry will be 36 at the beginning of next season. Rajon Rondo is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in January. The core of the roster is aging and in Pierce’s case, set to hit the free agent market. Despite team President Danny Ainge’s assurances that head Coach Doc Rivers will return, rumors continue to circulate that a change is on the horizon.
With a healthy Rondo and emerging talents like Green and Avery Bradley, it’s reasonable to conclude that if the older players stick around, the Celtics have the talent to make one more run at a title in 2013-14. However, the Heat, Knicks, Pacers and Derrick Rose led Bulls are deeper and more talented. Expecting to leapfrog any of those four without adding another key contributor would be unrealistic.
Pierce’s decision to stay or go could be the deciding factor in whether or not to blow things up. He’s been loyal to the franchise for 14 years, but the allure of joining a legitimate contender for a significant payday and another shot at a ring might be too much to ignore. Pierce’s overall game has yet to decline and he remains one of the league’s more reliable stars.
Losing Pierce would leave Ainge and Rivers scrambling. Replacing his 18 points per night won’t be easy. Rondo should be ready for training camp, but he’s still not an elite scorer and will likely need at least a couple of months to regain his signature speed.
Whatever happens between now and next fall, as long as LeBron James is standing upright, Boston and the rest of the East will be looking up in the standings.
