Friday, March 20th, 2009...8:45 am
At Center Court With Celtics Hub
Every once and a while Tim and I like to talk to an opposing team’s blogger in the hopes of gleaning a little insight before a big game. When the defending champs are coming to town, that counts as a big game. So I caught up with Zach Lowe of Celtics Hub to see how he’s feeling about his Celtics as the postseason creeps ever closer.
There has been some discussion recently that the Celtics are a dirty team. Do you agree? Where do you draw the line between “physical” and “dirty”?
I don’t think it’s fair to say that the Celtics are a dirty team. As far as I can tell, this is based mostly on Kendrick Perkins’ takedown of Jason Maxiell and Glen Davis’ Flagrant 2 on Anderson Varejao-a foul that was reduced quickly to a Flagrant 1. There’s no doubt the Celtics are a physical team, and, as Tom Ziller says, their defensive philosophy involves running out at shooters and rotating to open men like crazy people. At times, this does create physical fouls (like Big Baby’s), but not dirty ones. That said, I am occasionally uncomfortable with Kendrick Perkins. He’s easily excitable and easily offended, and he tends to do that “over-exaggerated angry arm swing” thing under the hoop if he gets tangled up or if someone reaches in to try and tie up the ball after he gets a rebound. That’s dangerous. And, to be honest, I agree with the critics who say KG has taken his trash talk to an inappropriate level at times this season. I think that, more than anything, has created the impression that the C’s are a dirty team.
Did you support the acquisition of Stephon Marbury? How has Marbury been playing so far? Last year you acquired P.J. Brown and Sam Cassell late in the season. This year you acquired Marbury and Mikki Moore, a similar move. Do you expect Marbury and Moore to be as helpful throughout the playoffs as Brown and Cassell were?
I supported the acquisition of Marbury, but very reluctantly and with the caveat that the Celtics should bench him for the post-season if he does not prove he can play. As of right now, he has not shown he can make a positive contribution to the team. The C’s are battling injuries, so they need bodies for the next five games or so. But if they get healthy, I see no reason to play Stephon in any important or close games. He is awful on defense, his jumper is off and he can’t finish in the lane or get to the line (four FTAs in 10 games). Eddie House has outplayed him badly, and though Doc has shown a willingness to play them together in a smallish back court, I don’t see him giving that combo extended run in a close playoff game. As for Mikki Moore, I write two or three posts arguing that he’s basically washed up and brings nothing to the team that Leon Powe and Glen Davis aren’t already contributing.
The Celtics, like the Spurs, have faced injuries in recent weeks. Do any of these injuries threaten to extend into the postseason? Are the Celtics a contender if not at 100%?
Assuming all optimistic medical projections are accurate, the only injuries that threaten to stretch into the playoffs are Tony Allen’s thumb injury and Brian Scalabrine’s post-concussion syndrome. Don’t laugh. Each of those guys is important to the team, especially Allen. He’s a quick, tall-for-a-shooting-guard wing man who can defend the Kobe Bryant/Manu Ginobili types. We have no one like him among the back-ups, or, really, the starters. He’s expected to play the defensive role that James Posey played last season-and he can provide some offense for the second unit with his (occasionally) out of control drives to the hoop. He’s good at drawing fouls. As for Scal, he was proving to be a servicable back-up power forward/center for five to 10 minutes per game. He’s a smart (if not quick or atheltic) defender, and his shooting creates problems for opposing big men.
At this point it seems like home court advantage throughout the playoffs has slipped through the Celtics’ fingers. Because of their struggles away in the first two rounds of last year’s playoffs, much is made of their ability (or inability) to win away. Are these concerns valid? Can Boston repeat if they don’t have homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs?
Update: Zach and I exchanged questions. If you’d like to read my responses, head over to Celtics Hub and check them out.
14 Comments
March 20th, 2009 at 9:13 am
Is it me or the C fans are counting San Antonio off the O’brien trophy race??
March 20th, 2009 at 9:23 am
It’s not just C fans. Most people think the Spurs can’t make it past the Lakers.
March 20th, 2009 at 9:33 am
Writing to Spurs bloggers, maybe he was politely avoiding the notion that the Celtics could beat the Spurs in the Finals.
March 20th, 2009 at 9:35 am
Yes, including many Spurs fans (not including me). =(
March 20th, 2009 at 9:37 am
I actually think Zach considers the Spurs a contender. The reason they don’t come up in his answer is because the question regards the Celtics winning without homecourt advantage. If Boston and SA play in the Finals, Boston will have homecourt advantage.
March 20th, 2009 at 10:16 am
that would be awesome…second chance to beat a defending champ at their home!!!
March 20th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
I don’t know why I thought that SA won the 2005 ring without HCA
March 20th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Here’s a quick match-up:
Bowen/Udoka should be able to contain Pierce fairly well. Parker/Hill should do a good job on Rondo also. Starbury will continue to be a non-factor. Timmy will most likely play after the extra rest, and with Garnett (I’m not sure, actually) and Powe out, he’ll have little trouble getting his against the lumbering Davis, especially with Perkins/Moore hanging out trying to prevent a Bonner 3-ball. The only position we might “worry” about is the 2. Is Allen ready to play? I think that if Allen were on the Spurs, Pop would have him in street clothes, but I can’t say much about Doc. Otherwise, it’s just House, who can get his shot going, but not anything Mason shouldn’t be able to counter in D and with his own shot. Spurs win! I just want to see Pop give Hairston some minutes.
March 20th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Agreed that Zach considers the Spurs contenders. When asked about injuries extending into the postseason, he responded,
> “the only injuries that threaten to stretch into the playoffs are Tony Allen’s thumb injury and Brian Scalabrine’s post-concussion syndrome. Don’t laugh. Each of those guys is important to the team, especially Allen. He’s a quick, tall-for-a-shooting-guard wing man who can defend the Kobe Bryant/Manu Ginobili types.”
March 20th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
[...] I decided that as long as we were e-mailing, I’d ask him to do the same for Celtics Hub. Go here to read my take Marbury, the importance of home court and whether the Celtics are dirty. Below are [...]
March 20th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
For the record, I respect the Spurs probably more than any other franchise in the NBA-except, of course, the Celtics. I own an autographed photo of Tim Duncan.
That said, I do think it’s going to be tough for SA to take out the Lakers in a series. It’s definitely possible, though, as long as your guys are healthy.
March 20th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
That, or the Lakers don’t make it to the WC Finals. I mean, they still have to play the first 2 rounds, or do they get byes just for being the Lakers?
March 20th, 2009 at 6:54 pm
Tony Parker at his best…
Damn I miss Ginobili
March 20th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
Ugh… we really need Ginobili back. He wouldn’t have bricked 4 free throws in the final minute. What a terrible way to blow a game. This must be how Clipper fans feel all the time.
Leave a Reply