The Green Blueprint for Success

Seems like ages since the last time I waxed poetic to you all but with the commencement of the NBA season upon us, I thought it appropriate that I give you my Celtics blueprint for success.

For me this season is about 2 people: Rajon Rondo and Doc Rivers.

The Rondo Effect

Rondo is an electric player when he attacks the basket, partly because that is the only real way he can score, but he has proven time and time again to be a mental midget.

After his BFF (Best Friend Forever) was traded last year he went into such a funk it was hard not to see that he was sulking because he was lonely. Then his "game" was criticized by Barrack Obama (not only do we need to listen to his foreign policies, but his vast basketball knowledge *puke*). Players on his own team came out and said that negatively affected him throughout the rest of the season.

This past abridged off season Rondo had his name swirling about in trade rumors galore so it brings up one question: Is he man enough to deal with the business of basketball and how can he rebound from it?

The Celtics only real youthful impact player is Rondo so his legs are going to have to carry much of the burden of this veteran-laden team.

Rondo has made a habit of playing better against the point guards that are supposedly better than him. So hopefully he takes the trade rumors as motivation to prove all of his doubters wrong. And for the record, Chris Paul is in another class, balky knees or not, than Rajon Rondo, it's not close either.

This could be the single most difficult season Doc Rivers has to coach. He has to monitor Pierce, Garnett and Allen's minutes, while putting a couple of rookies into the rotation, with no secondary offensive play maker after his starting five is out. The Jeff Green development is a tragedy for the Celtics, but a godsend for Jeff Green the man, us here at VFC wish you a speedy recovery, but his void will be felt when the second unit is on to give the starters a blow.

Brandon Bass is a definite upgrade over Glen Davis, but can Brandon Bass be a player that can take the reigns and create his own offense, ala Paul Pierce-lite? I'm not so sure.

Doc has said that this season is "the" season. There is a very small window and a lot of things are going to have to go VERY right for the Celtics for them to sniff the Conference Finals let alone the NBA Finals.

My one suggestion for Doc would be, do not go balls to the wall for the first seed in the playoffs. The schedule certainly doesn't do the Celtics any favors, and they should play out their string in such a way to be healthy come playoff time, rather than be banged up and go for the number 1 seed.

I for the most part live my life in the Ricky Bobby school of thought, "If you ain't first, you're last." Losing is not a word or act in my repertoire, but the Celtics need to be smarter than the rest of the teams this year. They should limit the minutes of the Big Three. 25-30 minutes per night, tops. 35 if there is an overtime. These guys are old, and if you want to have any sort of chance in the playoffs they need to have legs left to give in June and July. On the back-back-back nights, one of the Big Three will have to sit and if there are any other nights along the way that they need a blow Doc has to be judicious enough to know when to do it. If this means that the Celtics get in with a 6th seed then so be it. I'd rather be healthy without home court than banged up with it.

That means the rest of the team have to step up during the rest of the time. Fundamental, defensive basketball. Rondo is going to have to log big minutes, same with Bass and Daniels. Ja'Juan Johnson for me could be the linchpin to the entire season. Ja'Juan Johnson was a joy to watch in college and his ability to consistently hit the 18-20 footer for Purdue was part of what made them a powerhouse the last two years of his college career. If that jumper comes with him to the Pro's and he can be a slightly less demonstrative KG I sort of like where there bench sits, but time will tell.

Ultimately do I think the Celtics are putting up a banner? Nope. I think the "championship window" is now a championship mouse hole that is rapidly being sheet rocked over. If they are healthy and rested going into the playoffs I'll take them to win 2 series, if they aren't, mark them down for 1 series and then a second round exit.

Stay Tuned

Norton