Bill Simmons Likes It Too

by Jeff Clark on Jul 30, 2007 9:41 PM EDT in Boston Celtics News & Links

Now here's where it gets really good: Pierce, Allen and Garnett happen to be wired the exact same way -- three ultracompetitive guys nearing the end of their primes who would sacrifice anything to play on a winner. All of them were stuck in miserable situations last season (combined record: 87-159), all of them are good guys, all of them understand that you only have so many chances to contend. For all three guys, it will be their best team ever, regardless of who's playing with them. Allen hasn't played with a top-20 player his entire career; neither has Pierce; and Garnett hasn't played with one elite scorer, much less two. For Garnett, his major weakness (crunch-time scoring) gets solved with two proven crunch-time scorers helping him. For Pierce, his major weakness (leadership) gets obscured because he has two intense veterans who know how to deal with the media and lead by example. For Allen, his weakness (a tendency to break down) gets negated because he won't have to carry his team offensively every night.

Just think of these three guys thrown together. All three carried playoff teams further than they should have gone: Pierce in 2002, Garnett in 2004, Allen in 2005. All three were on suicide watch as recently as six weeks ago, wondering how they could extract themselves from untenable (and unwinnable) situations. All three are about to become relevant again in April, May and June. Would you bet against them having monster seasons? Would you bet against them embarking on a 100-game mission to make the Finals? Hell, have three star teammates ever had more to prove in one season?

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what’s the over/under on Simmons completely contradicting everything he has to say about this trade? March 2008?

by George Meyer on Jul 30, 2007 9:47 PM EDT reply actions

For once, I disagree with Brick. This is a good trade, because it’s the absolute best we are going to do with the current ownership and GM. Wyc isn’t selling anytime soon and Danny has shown he doesn’t know how to build a team. At least now we have a superstar for a few years. Kevin Garnett will make the waning years of the Wycless/Ainge/Doc era less painful. Who knows, we might even win a playoff series. Imagine that. Best we can do with this trio of clowns.

by greenkite71 on Jul 30, 2007 9:55 PM EDT reply actions

I am not a big Simmons guy, but he nailed it this time.

by twistedrico on Jul 30, 2007 9:58 PM EDT reply actions

Simmons ripped Ainge mercilessly for the Allen trade now he suddenly likes it, Ainge said he was stockpiling young talent from day one, then he executes his plan and Simmons acts like it’s dumb luck, if Simmons took a breath from his unabashed Ainge bashing he would realize that Ainge made the Allen trade to facilitate the KG trade and it worked to perfection, that article was completely disingenuous, either give Ainge credit or rip him, don’t rip Ainge then praise the eventual outcome

by PlayRyanGomes on Jul 30, 2007 10:13 PM EDT reply actions

I seriously think we make the finals.

I knew Golden State Warriors would give Mavs a tussle but could not see the upset happening (8 over 1). I could not see Lebron and a cast of nobody reaching the finals.

So for those believing we may only win one playoff series, I can’t reject your thinking out of hand. All I know is I would rather be the Boston Celtics and play in the JV East, than to be any other team in the NBA for the next 3-4 years.

So for that I tip my hat to Danny and support this team in its’ quest for #17.

by docextension on Jul 30, 2007 10:22 PM EDT reply actions

I am sleeping on it ….hopefully Shaolin wisdom will swirl around my noggin and find the crack in my brain and tell me if this might not be so bad after all.

Right now it seems like we just injected ourselves with expensive steroids and we feel invincible, but how do we look when the “roids” wear off and we didn’t get what we wanted. Makes me nervous and it seems suddenly desperate – check me in the morning – good coverage on here today BTW – thanks

Gomes?

by Master Po on Jul 30, 2007 10:23 PM EDT reply actions

No need to sleep on it, oh Master of the Po. You already hit the nail on the head: desperate.
We don’t win this thing in 2-3 years, and I mean WIN IT ALL, we’re in for yet more years of Wilderness City.
Three huge roadblocks:

Chemistry.
Defense.
Role players. What the heck kind of bench will we now have? We don’t even have a point guard who can sort all those six hands begging for the ball. You think Rondo’s gonna keep those three egos in check? Rondo?!?!? Who backs up Garnett? Perkins? Who backs up Rondo, fer Pete’s sake? These three will need serious rest time, so who’s gonna provide it?
And with no first-rounders, it’s all up to Big Baby and, um, Brandon Wallace to be the youth movement.

by Big_Easy on Jul 30, 2007 10:36 PM EDT reply actions

George Meyer,
You are on your game today. I’m completely ambiguous about the new-look (old-look?) Celtics, but I can definitively say that your posts have been consistently entertaining.

by Cousin It on Jul 31, 2007 12:27 AM EDT reply actions

The best trio in basketball, all under 32. Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. Three SUPERSTARS. C’mon guys if that doesn’t make you happy I don’t know what will. This is something that hasn’t happened in YEARS. Let go of the future (they’ll all come off the books around the same time anyway) and breathe it all in.

by whales on Jul 31, 2007 1:02 AM EDT reply actions

Concerns about depth are definetely legit, but check 2 things: 1. As Whales said, look at the names we have: Paul Pierce Ray Allen KEVIN GARNETT….if you know the NBA, do I need to say more to make you happy? 2. Are we tipping off the season next week? Its soon to be August, not October…plenty of time to fill in some gaps…you have 3 of the best players in the league on one team, you dont need a 5 deep bench with that…

by NUMBA 17 on Jul 31, 2007 6:23 AM EDT reply actions