Ready for some basketball?
Jeff Danford
Issue date: 11/7/08 Section: Sports
With baseball season finally behind us (does anyone know who won the World Series?), and football season well underway, basketball season has arrived at long last. For us football-and-baseball spoiled New England fans, this is the first time in a long time (22 years!) that we, the 2009 Boston Celtics, take to the hardwood as defending NBA champs. This also means that the first tip-off of the new season is quite bittersweet. Last October, Celts fans couldn't wait to get underway and see how well "The Big Three" were actually going to play together (consensus: very well!). But after capping a magical 66-16 season with a Final's Game Six thrashing of Kobe Bryant and old-school rival Los Angeles Lakers, I'm not so sure we are done celebrating. And I'm certain no one wants to be. For die-hard Celtics fans of my generation, this was our version of the 2001 Patriots' Super Bowl victory or the 2004 Red Sox world championship. This past season was one fans everywhere will never forget. In a pre-game banner ceremony last week, before the Celtics season opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Paul Pierce was literally in tears as he showed off his enormous NBA Champions diamond ring to the crowd. Still emotional about last season? Maybe a little.
But life and basketball both must go on, and because of this we put the 2008 Championship behind us as a wonderful memory and something great to build on. In a characteristically weak Eastern Conference, the 2009 Boston Celtics look like the team to beat. But several off-season changes and acquisitions make several other teams worthy contenders. In the Atlantic division, look for the Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors to give the Celtics a few problems. Off-season acquisition Elton Brand anchors an unusually talented 76ers team (probably the best squad they have had since Iverson's departure), including Samuel Dalembert and rising superstar/ highlight-reel extraordinaire Andre Iguodala. Expect veterans Andre Miller and Donyell Marshall to provide the leadership. The Toronto Raptors also hope to be better than usual with the addition of a back-from-the-dead Jermaine O'Neal patrolling the paint with fellow all-star Chris Bosh. Watch out for another rising star, Spaniard Jose Calderon, as he will likely exceed expectations and become a dangerous scoring threat from many areas of the court.
But life and basketball both must go on, and because of this we put the 2008 Championship behind us as a wonderful memory and something great to build on. In a characteristically weak Eastern Conference, the 2009 Boston Celtics look like the team to beat. But several off-season changes and acquisitions make several other teams worthy contenders. In the Atlantic division, look for the Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors to give the Celtics a few problems. Off-season acquisition Elton Brand anchors an unusually talented 76ers team (probably the best squad they have had since Iverson's departure), including Samuel Dalembert and rising superstar/ highlight-reel extraordinaire Andre Iguodala. Expect veterans Andre Miller and Donyell Marshall to provide the leadership. The Toronto Raptors also hope to be better than usual with the addition of a back-from-the-dead Jermaine O'Neal patrolling the paint with fellow all-star Chris Bosh. Watch out for another rising star, Spaniard Jose Calderon, as he will likely exceed expectations and become a dangerous scoring threat from many areas of the court.
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