Dallas Deja Vu

by Jeff Clark on Jan 11, 2012 7:31 AM EST in Boston Celtics Articles

This veteran, Championship team has lost its defensive minded center, a sparkplug little guy, and a defensive wing man. They face opponents that get up for them every night and they've been struggling a bit to start this season.

BostonHerald.com

"You can’t look at their record and say that’s who they are. They have championship experience with a lot of the guys on their roster, and they have a lot of veteran guys who can get the job done. So they’re a lot better than what their record really shows."

Wait a minute. Who are we talking about here? The Celtics or the Dallas Mavericks?

As it turns out, the above quote was from Paul Pierce talking about the Mavs but it could just have easily been about the Celtics and you could draw plenty of parallels between the two franchises.

They both won a title against a favored and hyped up opponent by emphasizing teamwork and stepping up their defense. Dallas has lost Chandler (Perkins), Barea (House), and Stevenson (Posey) from their Championship rotation. Pierce and Nowitski were even drafted in the same year and had career long questions answered when they each won a title.

Of course not all comparisons are perfect and each situation is unique. Still, it is hard not to feel a certain degree of kinship with this team - especially since their victory over the Heat still gives me warm fuzzies.

For more coverage on the Mavs, see Mavs Moneyball.

Note: Jason Kidd is injured and not expected to play tonight. Hey, that sounds familiar too.

Also see: Mavs, C's on similar mission - Boston Celtics Blog - ESPN Boston

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All very true comparisons

Can’t help but like the Mavs just a little bit. Warm fuzzies indeed!

by 34green on Jan 11, 2012 7:57 AM EST reply actions

Totally agree

but I still hope we crush them like leetle bugs ….

NBA Officiating - Corrupt? Incompetent? Which is worse? Does it matter? It sucks.

by mmmmm on Jan 11, 2012 8:54 AM EST up reply actions

Drago-esque performance?

‘I must break you.’

"Can't eat sushi in Utah, brother. Landlocked."

by IsItTheShoes on Jan 11, 2012 10:50 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Although it was the Pistons, Dallas looked good last night from what I saw of the highlights.

They are still stacked with talent and Wright is playing well at center. It is going to be a tough game tonight. Looking forward to seeing Pietrus in green.

It is a strange feeling to look at the standings and see us in 3rd place. I do not expect us to be there at the end of the year, but it has been a few years since we have not seen the C’s on top of the Atlantic. I am not sold on the Sixers yet but they will give us fits this year.

by JPV on Jan 11, 2012 10:42 AM EST reply actions

yeah, and last year, they were probably our worst matchup

Dirk just abused BBD whenever they could get that matchup. Hopefully, Bass can do a better job when in the same situation.

NBA Officiating - Corrupt? Incompetent? Which is worse? Does it matter? It sucks.

by mmmmm on Jan 11, 2012 11:15 AM EST up reply actions

Should be a good one!

Both teams will be playing with a lot of pride tonight. I think the C’s best days are ahead of them. Conditioning is something that can’t just happen overnight and I really feel that that’s what’s lacking in this abbreviated season we have goin on right now.

Side note: The current background wallpaper ad with CP3 is nauseatingly atrocious…

That is all.

by paul7x5x on Jan 11, 2012 12:32 PM EST reply actions

Like I've said before...

Celtics expected to blowout defending champs tonight after a 4 day rest, and the opposing team facing a back2back. I do not know this team if they lose at home with a full roster excluding Jeff Green.

by SparzWizard on Jan 11, 2012 4:05 PM EST reply actions