FanPost

How close were the recent Celtics were to a dynasty?


The definition of a sports dynasty depends on whom you ask, but generally speaking a dynasty is seen as continued success and multiple championships over a five or ten year period. The Garnett-Pierce-Allen-Rondo combination came close to dynasty status and would have achieved it had it not been for injuries. Let's review:

2007-2008
The first year of the "Big Three" era. The team goes 66-16 in the regular season and wins the NBA championship.

2008-2009
Another good regular season going 62-20 but Garnett hurts his knee and is unavailable for the playoffs. The Celtics get by the ascending Bulls but fall to the Magic led by Dwight Howard. If not for Garnett's injurty, this team had a very good shot at a second title.

2009-2010
They have a decent regular season going 50-32, beat the Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals then lose to the Lakers in seven games as Kendrick Perkins hurts his knee and can't finish. Without Perkins, the Lakers control the inside. With Perkins, this team would have won that seventh game.

2010-2011
Celtics pick up Shaq to start the season with Perkins on the bench. Shaq plays great. Perk comes back but there isn't room for both of these guys on the court so Ainge trades Perkins to the Thunder. Then Shaq gets hurt and is unable to ever play again. Without a big guy in the middle, the Celtics lose in the conference finals to the Heat with Lebron James. If Shaq doesn't get hurt, this team goes all the way.

2011-2012
This team is getting old and Doc is trying to save legs during the regular season. It shows as they finish 39-27. But they also show that they've still got some gas and take on the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. Rondo becomes Superman and we see the arrival of Avery Bradley who is shutting down Dwayne Wade. Celtics take lead in series but Bradley injures shoulder is out for the rest of the series. Heat survive and go on to win a title. If Bradley doesn't get hurt, Celtics beat the Heat and would have had a very good shot at another title.

The 2011-2012 season was the last gasp of this team. Ray Allen sees the writing on the wall and heads to Miami for the 2012-2013 season - the first piece of the era to leave. The 2012-2013 team was mediocre at best so Ainge broke it up by trading his two pillars to Brooklyn. The final piece - Rondo - was auctioned off this week.

Of course there are no guarantees in sports and certainly injury plays a role on every team. I'm not making any excuses here, just saying that without key injuries this team had legitimate chances for FIVE titles. Let that sink in.

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