What Celtics can learn from ’08 champs to unlock their full potential originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
There’s no shortage of film on the 2008 Celtics, nor is there a shortage of 2008 Celtics, for that matter. Whether it’s Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo, or NBC Sports Boston’s own Eddie House, there always seems to be someone kicking around, and that’s not counting current assistant coach Sam Cassell, who won his final ring with that juggernaut.
It might be time for coach Joe Mazzulla to enlist one of them, or at least roll tape, because that club could impart some valuable lessons to this one.
Monday’s ugly loss in Charlotte can be waved away if you want, coming on the second night of a back to back, without Al Horford and Derrick White, and just two days before a conference showdown with the Bucks. The game screamed letdown.
And yet, dismissing it is dangerous, since it highlighted recurring concerns early in this otherwise excellent season. The Celtics still own the league’s best record at 11-3, but they’re once again making things harder on themselves through some of their familiar struggles; i.e., playing down to the competition, blowing big leads, living and dying with the 3.
We could tackle any one of those issues, but let’s focus on what separated the ’08 champions from every Celtics team since — selflessness.
In Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen, the C’s started three future Hall of Famers. There was no way they could produce at their accustomed rates without going all NBA Jam, so they sacrificed.
It’s easy to forget, but one year before arriving in Boston, Allen averaged a career-high 26.4 points with the Sonics. A year before that, Pierce had set his career-high of 26.8. Garnett arrived with nine straight 20-plus seasons.
Instead of fighting over the ball, they shared it. All saw their averages dip into the teens, and no one cared. Pierce led the team with 19.6 points a night, followed by Garnett (18.8) and Allen (17.4). They played a wildly entertaining style for coach Doc Rivers and they piled up wins — 66 in the regular season, and 16 more in the playoffs to raise Banner 17.
Today’s…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/celtics-learn-08-champs-unlock-191111464.html
Author : NBC Sports Boston
Publish date : 2023-11-21 19:11:11
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