HoopsHype.com NBA Blogs - Eddie Johnson

A new NBA season is upon us and we have no idea who will win the championship. There’s a reason why… We have an abundance of teams that are more than qualified – like the Lakers, Hornets, Spurs, Jazz, Rockets, Mavericks and Suns in the Western Conference. The Eastern Conference might not have as many powerhouses as the West, but there still are plenty of qualified teams. Cleveland, Detroit, Orlando, Philadelphia, Toronto and Atlanta all proved last year they can be tough opposition come playoff time to try to dethrone Boston.

Boston is the favorite until someone beats them and the Lakers are the favorite in the West, especially with Andrew Bynum back in the lineup, but I don’t want to focus on teams this early. I am targeting players and where they rank coming into this season.

Here are my Top 25 players in the league and my reasons for ranking them.

25. Shawn Marion

The most versatile forward in the game. Shawn gives a team a little of everything and a lot of solid defense. Underappreciated for what he brings, he will command a ton of attention at the trade deadline if the Heat can’t reach a contract agreement with him.

24. Manu Ginobli

The guy is a winner and a competitor. Definitely the best foreign player in the league when it comes to effectiveness in clutch situations. Led the Spurs in scoring and carried them in crunch time. The most disliked player in the league on the road due to his playing style… But every team would love to have him.

23. Tracy McGrady

The key for Tracy is to stay healthy. I wonder how committed he is in the weight room. Body has not changed much during his career, which is a negative. Definitely one the best scorers in the league, but on-the-ball defense will be huge for Houston this year. He needs to back off on deferring to the three-point shot. I always felt he is a mid-range shooter and that’s what the Rockets need him to be.

22. Chauncey Billups

He has great leadership abilities, but I think he has to step it up even more. He seemed to get along with ex coach Flip Saunders, but allowed his teammates to step out of line too often last year. I think at times he’s a little too unselfish because he is the best scorer on the team with his ability to get a jump shot or drive to the basket at will. I expect more this year to validate being 21 on my list.

21.  Caron Butler

Gilbert Arenas will have to take a back seat to Butler when he gets healthy. He has become the heart and soul of the Wizards. He has an ability to create shots when none seem available and his jumpshot has improved every season. A true warrior who has battled injuries the last few years.

20. Elton Brand

When healthy, he’s one the best power forwards in the game. The Sixers now have one of the best post players and screeners in the game. Brand has a lot to prove this year and eyes will be on him all season long, but he will prevail with consistent offense and sneaky shot blocking ability.

19. Baron Davis

I will not believe Davis leaving Golden State was on his own accord. The Warriors are going to suffer without Davis and the Clippers will be rewarded. He has the most underrated on-the-ball hands in the league defensively. And we all know of his ability to change the opponent’s defense when he has the ball on the perimeter or the post.

18. Shaquille O’Neal

Quite honestly, in my opinion he is still the most dominating presence in the game today. He changes the game when he is on the floor and that makes him still one of the best players in basketball. People tend to talk about his commitment to staying in shape, but look at it this way… How many big men like Shaq have lasted this long? Zero. Give him credit for maintaining what he has with that massive body. Stanley Roberts, Benoit Benjamin, Oliver Miller… No, not great players like Shaq, but they could not stay in shape because of the bodies they had. He will produce some big numbers at times this year with the Suns slowed offense.

17. Carmelo Anthony

A combination of finesse and power. A tremendous offensive rebounder and finisher around the basket. Anthony would be higher if he developed better leadership abilities and trusted his teammates more often on the court. He will definitely wind up in the top twenty in scoring when his career is done, but championships will elude him if he does not continue to improve his overall package.

16. Tony Parker

Please find me someone who can stop him from getting to the basket?  You will not find that person. Speed and underrated strength allows Parker to get in the paint and complete shots. Parker is a true winner and is the most dangerous penetrator in league history.  His jump shot in the two-man game with Duncan has made him a true force.

15. Paul Pierce

His nickname is The Truth. Well, true it is. He has an uncanny ability to score on anyone off the dribble or in the post. He loves contact and is definitely one of the best go-to clutch players in the league. His leadership qualities really came to light during the championship run. That has elevated Pierce among the greats in Celtic history.

14. Allen Iverson

The toughest player pound for pound in the history of the league. A medical marvel that never runs out of energy. I often wondered if Iverson would last five years in the league, but I understand now why he has endured. He was one of the best quarterbacks in the country when he decided to focus on basketball and now we understand the ignorance to pain when it comes to him. He is downright relentless and a joy to watch.

13. Steve Nash

Every time I see Steve Nash I ask God why couldn’t I have been born 10 years later. Nash is the most unselfish player in the league. He honestly dislikes taking a bunch of shots. His enjoyment comes in the form of an Amare Stoudemire or Shaq dunk or a Raja Bell three-pointer than actually scoring 20 points a night. That’s why he won back to back MVPs  and that is why he is still one of the best players in the league. Nash will be counted on to use that stroke more this year because he will play off the ball more than usual. That’s a great move because he is the best shooter in the league.

12. Dirk Nowitzki

He is the best shooting big man in the league, but needs to improve individual leadership on a team in need of it. He also has to stop deferring to the three-pointer and become more assertive around the basket, which he can do with ease. (I apologize to Dirk and all Maverick fans for the oversight. He clearly belongs on the Top 25).

11. Deron Williams

Williams will do something unheard of in Utah if he continues to improve every year. Yes, I will say it… Make people stop thinking about John Stockton. The Jazz are right back at the level Stockton left when it comes to a point guard that leads and produces victories on a consistent basis. Williams is definitely the strongest point guard in the league and equally as smart when it comes to making decisions in a Jerry Sloan offensive system.

10. Dwyane Wade

Would be higher if he could just stay healthy. I mentioned a few years ago that he would not last long in the league if he continued to hit the floor 50 times a game. Wade was fantastic this summer in the Olympics and showed me that he could possibly lead the league in steals. He has really gotten himself into great shape so I expect him to get back on track to becoming the great player we all expected him to be when he led Miami to a title.

9. Chris Bosh

Reminds me of Bill Cartwright, but athletic. I would be terrified to guard him because his body seems to be going in twenty different directions when he attacks, but it works and gets him to the free-throw line consistently. Now with Jermaine O’Neal beside him, he should take off even more. He really needs to develop a go-to move inside and stop trying to incorporate a thousand moves, which I think gets him in trouble at times.

8. Dwight Howard

Can be as good as he wants to. He has the body to maneuver anywhere he wants to on the court and that is huge at this level. His rebounding ability and presence on the court alone warrant Howard this spot. Must improve free-throw shooting if he plans on moving up any further.

7. Amare Stoudemire

The most feared power forward in the game because of the embarrassment factor. He is what I call “dirt strong” and it’s deceiving because of his slender build. His shooting stroke is picture perfect and consistent.  Terry Porter’s new offensive system will allow Amare to get more post-up opportunities, thus improving his trips to the charity stripe, where he hovered around 80 percent all year. He should average 25-plus points again this year and improve defensively.

6. Yao Ming

Injuries cost Yao last year, but before he left for the season he was playing like the best center in the league statistically and one must wonder if Houston would have broken the Lakers’ 33-game winning streak if he did not go down at the beginning of it. He is difficult to guard when in top shape. I expect him to have a great year leading the Rockets deep in the playoffs. Ron Artest will keep him from picking up cheap fouls with his great one-on-one defense.

5. Kevin Garnett

Kevin is the here because he finally got a chance to combine his talents and leadership with All-Stars Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. He is the most persistent player I have ever seen. I have never seen Garnett take a night off emotionally. If you have watched Garnett over his career, he is in constant dialogue with himself for 48 minutes and 82 games. That, my friends, is special in itself and now he is a champion.

4. Tim Duncan

This guy is pure professionalism. I would love my son to live with him for a summer. His demeanor and unselfishness with his teammates is pure gold. He could average huge numbers every year, but understands winning championships is more important. No way does Ginobili lead the team in scoring without Duncan allowing him to. Give credit to David Robinson for instilling that in Duncan.

3. Chris Paul

He is here because I personally think he is the best leader right now in the NBA. He has admitted studying Steve Nash and it is obvious when you watch his interaction with his teammates. Paul is a clone of Isiah Thomas and he showed it last year. The best pick-and-roll guard in the league.

2. Kobe Bryant

The closest in talent to Michael Jordan and in a lot of ways better than MJ. Dislike him if you want, but he is the perfect example of preparation when it comes to basketball. He is the smartest player in the league and makes the game look easy.

1. LeBron James

The best physical tools in the history of the game. He has the smarts of Magic Johnson, the brute strength and athleticism of George McGinnis and the speed of Ricky Green rolled into one massive body. I have said this since he has been in the league… If he continues to improve his jump shot, he will become the best ever.

Why the Lakers won Game 5? Here’s why…

Lakers showed off their Big Three

Finally the Lakers got production from Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol in unison. They were outscored 67 to 64, but it was close enough to make a role players’ game and the Lakers won the battle 39 to 31. Boston’s top two role players, Kendrick Perkins and Rajon Rondo, are banged up and L.A. took advantage.

Backs against the wall

The Lakers are the mouse in the corner and they have no choice but to fight. And they did. They were extremely physical against a beat up Boston team and they took advantage early and late in a game they had to win. Their energy was huge again and this time despite another Boston comeback they held on in Game 5.

Garnett foul trouble

Kevin Garnett picked up quick fouls because the Lakers attacked the rim. Gasol and Odom were extremely physical with Perkins out of the lineup. That put a lot of pressure on Garnett and he picked up two quick fouls and was a non-factor the whole game because of the fear of fouling out. The Lakers got big hoops at the rim because of it.

Kobe aggressive at the start

I think this is imperative that Kobe gets going first. The Lakers cannot afford to allow Kobe to coast into any more games. The Celtics’ defense gets better as the game goes along. Hence coming back from two large deficits in Games 4 and 5 and Kobe being held to 10 points after scoring 15 in the first quarter. Those 15 points got the Lakers in a better groove than they had when they did it without him in Game 4.

Picking up 94 feet

The key to beating Boston is to make them use a lot of the shot clock getting into their offense and the Lakers have done a great job in the last two games. This takes away options offensively for the Celtics and has forced Paul Pierce to run the offense, which will tire him eventually if this series goes to a seventh game.

Star of the game: Pau Gasol took advantage of not having to battle Perkins and Garnett because of injury and foul trouble. He had his best stat line of the series: 19 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists and 2 blocks. This will have to continue if the Lakers want to win in Boston.

Turning point: Kobe Bryant’s gamble defensively on Paul Pierce was huge. If he does not execute that defensive move, Boston probably ties the game and we could be talking about the Celtics winning another banner today.

Unsung heroes: Derek Fisher and Jordan Farmar share the honors in Game 5. Fisher’s 15 points helped the Lakers role players have a plus 8 in scoring and Farmar’s pressure defense on Sam Cassell and Eddie House forced Doc Rivers to use Pierce and Allen to bring the ball up the court.

Who needs to step up in Game 6?

Boston Celtics:

Leon Powe and PJ Brown have to play huge in Game 6. Kendrick Perkins takes up space and allows Garnett to guard Odom. The Celtics signed Brown for this sole purpose and he has to play big and consistent. Powe teased everyone with a huge game early in the series and has disappeared since.

Rajon Rondo has given into injury and confidence issues. The Celtics need his energy at home. That’s the difference between a Paul Pierce on a bad knee and a young player with a tender ankle. Experience means everything.

Los Angeles Lakers:

Sasha Vujacic has struggled after a great Game 3. He needs to find his rhythm and bring productivity off the bench in Game 6.

Vladimir Radmanovic is due to have a huge game. He does not get many looks, but look for him to get some shots in Game 6 if he can stay out of foul trouble.

Game 6 strategy

Boston Celtics:

- Get off to a good start in the first quarter.
- Get Rondo to attack the rim early against Kobe Bryant’s scrambling defense.
- Post Garnett early. They seem to get great looks when they do.
- Continue to squeeze Bryant and make things difficult.

Los Angeles Lakers:

- They will look to speed the game up with Boston looking like the tired team.
- They must get some production from Radmanovic and will look to maybe work.
- Paul Pierce early on the defensive end.
- Kobe coming out ultra aggressive to settle the young Lakers.
- Attack Garnett especially if Perkins is out for Game 6.

Prediction

It’s hard to fathom the Lakers pulling off two wins in Boston, but they can definitely get Game 6 if they get off to the kind of start they have in the last two games. Bryant still has not had the type of game megastars
have to secure a huge win and he is definitely due. The Celtics know that they need to finish this off now or they face the challenge of having to win a Game 7 with a tired, beat up team.

I expect the energy to be ferocious with the hyped crowd and if the Celtics keep it close in the first quarter, they will win by double digits.

The Celtics will celebrate in Game 6 and make me look as if I knew what I was talking about in my preview article.

Why did Boston go up 2-0 in the series? Here are the keys…

Celtics hold the Lakers to 61 points in first three quarters

The Celtics are playing lock-down defense on every player in a Lakers uniform. I thought going into this series that the pressure perimeter defense would work against the young Lakers and it has in the first two
games. The Lakers are a good shooting team, but the Celtics are keeping them out of big runs with one exception – the fourth quarter. The Celtics run at every shooter with great rotation. So even a head fake cannot give them an avenue to get layups or attack the basket and draw fouls. There is a serious reason why this team won 66 games and critics who chose the Lakers to win this series better take notice. They are so good I saw them switch four players off on Kobe Bryant on one play in the fourth quarter. They are determined to force the Lakers’ others to beat them and so far the plan has worked.

Leon Powe huge off the bench

Historically the team that wins a championship has a player that gives them a great game when least expected. Powe was the guy in Game 2, scoring 21 points. Powe sent a message to every young player in America and that is “Always be ready to play.” He was huge with his scoring and ability to get the Lakers in foul trouble. Powe shot more free throws in 15 minutes (13) than the entire Lakers team (10).

Consistent Big Three

Another 60-plus combined effort is huge by Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. Pierce was the best player on the floor, especially early when the Lakers where trying to get a big lead. Allen, who struggled in the Eastern playoffs, has regained his touch and confidence. He has also made Kobe work extremely hard for every basket. Garnett has effectively opened up the middle for uncontested drives with his shooting. If this continues, the Lakers will find it hard pressed to win one game.

31 assists on 36 baskets

Wow! Although Doc Rivers can’t be happy with the Celtics meltdown in the fourth quarter, he has to be ecstatic with the ball movement and unselfish play spearheaded by Rajon Rondo, who had 16 assists.

Star of the game: Leon Powe. Leon Powe was spectacular in 15 minutes. He changed the flow of the game and gave the Celtics’ bench another victory over the more touted Lakers’ bench coming into this series. This despite not even knowing if Doc Rivers will use him or Big Baby Davis from game to game. You want to cheer for Powe, who fought odds beyond basketball to put himself into this position. A wonderful accomplishment for a young man who grew up in foster homes with his siblings when their home burned to the ground and just one parent to care for them. Hooray for Leon Powe!

Turning point: Leon Powe entered the game with the score 22-21 with 11:21 left in the second quarter. The physicality of the game increased and the Lakers seemed to wither under the pressure. With Powe getting to the line and putting pressure on the Lakers frontline, the lead grew to double figures and the Lakers were climbing up hill all night long.

Unsung hero: PJ Brown has become the huge pickup the Celtics thought he was. His defense on Pau Gasol has been solid and has allowed Garnett to keep Lamar Odom under control.

Who needs to step up? I am not picking on Lamar Odom, but he’d better step up quickly or he will be fodder for every critic with a pen. Odom must know now what Scottie Pippen felt like playing next to Michael Jordan. The difference between the two is Scottie figured it out and performed. Odom seems to be headed in reverse.

Gasol can’t be left out. He shot one free throw in Game 2. He is as soft as they come, but showed some heart with a few strong moves. The Lakers need more.

Game 3 strategy

Boston Celtics:

- Doc Rivers will treat this game like a Game 7. He knows if his team goes up 3-0 it’s over, so expect a hungry Celtic team for game 3
- The Celtics have realized that the Lakers cannot beat them if their bench matches the Lakers.
- They must continue to make the Lakers shoot jumpshots. They had a 38 to 10 free throw advantage in Game 2.
- Run the offense through Paul Pierce. The Lakers have no one who can guard him except Kobe and Phil Jackson would be making a huge mistake if he tried that matchup early in Game 3.

Los Angeles Lakers:

- Get Odom some post-ups and isolations early
- Double Paul Pierce early and often and live with Allen and Garnett taking jumpshots.
- Find a way to make it a fast game, although Rondo has been great with his pace.
- Hit somebody in the mouth and play Ronny Turiaf more minutes, especially since Luke Walton has been AWOL.
- Kobe needs to take 30-plus shots if that’s what it will take.

Prediction

You would expect the Lakers to pick it up at home, but it doesn’t matter where you play if you don’t fight. The Celtics have slapped them around despite a fourth quarter meltdown in Game 2. I honestly think the Celtics will take more from that fourth quarter than the Lakers because they won Game 2 and will go into Los Angeles and win Game 3. No way I would be thinking this could happen before the series started, but as I stated in my preview article, the Lakers are a soft unit and the Celtics are sensing it and will go up 3-0 in the series.

The Finals are here and the league could not be happier. The Celtics vs. Lakers series brings back so many memories of the best era of basketball. Bird against Magic, Kareem battling Parish, McHale fighting the athleticism of James Worthy, Michael Cooper showing what defense is all about, Dennis Johnson doing his Oscar Robertson imitation, Pat Riley wearing his Italian suits,  etc, etc…

Every year these teams met, they where the best teams in the regular season and this year is no different.

The Celtics and the Lakers are the best and now they face off against each other just like in the 80s.

The characters are different but if this Finals go as expected and these two teams stay fully equipped and injury free over the next few years, they could be facing each other a few more times in the future.

This series gives us two of the best one-on-one players in the league in Kobe Bryant and Paul Pierce, the two most versatile seven-foot players in Kevin Garnett and Pau Gasol and most importantly the two most storied franchises in all of sports.

Do I have a prediction? Yes. But first I will give six reasons why each team could win the series.

LAKERS WIN IF…

1. Kobe Bryant dominates the series with his scoring and defense. Boston’s defense is geared toward smothering star players and taking the ball out of their hands. But if Kobe is still scoring regardless, the Celtics are in serious trouble.

2. Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol keep Kendrick Perkins on the bench and forces Doc Rivers to play James Posey, which then allows Phil Jackson to isolate and post Odom when Garnett has to guard Gasol. Odom is the Lakers’ key player in this series and Jackson will focus on taking advantage of this matchup. PJ Brown will give a solid few minutes, but it still helps the Lakers with a very good rebounder like Perkins on the bench.

3. Pau Gasol matches the production of Garnett, which would be devastating for Boston. The Lakers are a great offensive team and Gasol equaling Garnett would give them a tremendous advantage. The Poodle will have to play like a Doberman against the hyper Garnett.

4. Kobe, Derek Fisher and Sasha Vujacic continue to keep Ray Allen inconsistent. The key is to take away one of the Big Three and Allen seems to be the most vulnerable coming into the series.

5. The Lakers bench, led by Luke Walton, Jordan Farmar and Sasha Vujacic, continue to dominate in the middle quarters when Kobe is resting. Phil Jackson is counting on this unit to win the plus-minus against Boston’s bench, which has been up and down.

6. They score over 100 a game. If that happens, the Celtics will go away quickly. The Lakers will try and force tempo and if that happens this series will be over in a hurry.

CELTICS WIN IF… 

1. Kevin Garnett spends equal time in the post as he does on the perimeter and averages 20 or better for the series. We know his defense will be solid, but the Celtics need his interior scoring and if he gives it to them the Celtics will have success in this series.

2. Paul Pierce forces Phil Jackson to defend him with Kobe. Jackson will try every avenue to keep Kobe away from the physical Pierce. But if he is having his way with Vladimir Radmanovic and Luke Walton, Jackson will have no choice and that would spell trouble for the Lakers. Pierce draws fouls better than any small forward in the league.

3. Ray Allen, quite frankly, becomes Ray Allen. Allen showed some signs in the latter stages of the Pistons series and if he catches fire the Lakers are in deep trouble. The Lakers have one player that can virtually carry a team for a game. The Celtics have three and Allen is due.

4. Kendrick Perkins finds a way to stay on the floor and dominates the glass, especially on the offensive end. This would negate the Lakers getting easy transition baskets and most importantly slow down the pace of the game. The Lakers will give Perkins open shots and he has to be ready to knock them down.

5. Rajon Rondo continues to grow and be steady on the offensive end. He will definitely give Derek Fisher problems with his defensive pressure, but he must make the Lakers pay when they use Fisher to roam and provide help defense.

6. Doc Rivers finally relents and gives Eddie House some solid minutes. The Celtics need consistent scoring against the Lakers. House can change the flow of the game with his shooting. Rivers was afraid to use him against the defensive pressure of Lindsey Hunter and the Pistons, but neither Farmar nor Fisher should bother House in this series to the extent Hunter did. 

PREDICTION

I really like both teams and I am sure whichever way I go will fuel some irate comments, but that’s why I write the blog.

I disagree with the comment “Defense wins championships” because the Lakers won a bunch with Magic and they were known for offense. Plus it is a Catch 22 comment. Why? Because good balanced offense gives you a solid defense. It is all about floor balance and teammates knowing when a shot is going up and not being surprised and out of position to retreat defensively. Yes, defense wins. But offense sets the table, so both should be praised.

Boston comes into this series as a great defensive team and the Lakers are getting high praise for their smooth productive offense. Yet all these prognosticators that preach defense are going with the offensive team. Go figure!

I have always believed that veterans win in this league because when times get tough they dig out and produce when needed. Also veterans are hungrier because the window is closing and they see the end. Young players think it will happen again and again, which makes them close their ears to advice to the contrary.

My prediction is the Lakers will succumb to inexperience and struggle, thus forcing Kobe to try and take on too much responsibility. Radmanovic, Farmar, Gasol, Vujacic and Ronny Turiaf (all key players for the Lakers) will struggle against the pressure of the Finals and the Celtics’ defense.

The Celtics have three players that can carry the load of the inexperience of Perkins and Rondo. My key player for the series will be James Posey. He has experience with the Finals as a Miami Heat player, he is a great defender and he has been deadly with his three-point shooting in the playoffs.

The Celtics will win in six games and hang another banner in the Garden.

The Boston Celtics are doing it the hard way, but the key is to just win and they are.  The Celtics are becoming the poster boys for why you play hard for 82 games and grab home-court advantage. That said, the Celtics better get their road game together in this next series because they are facing a team in Detroit that is rested and knows how to win in any arena.

The Cavaliers did not have the firepower and tough-minded confident scorers Detroit has. So Celtics beware, this series will not proceed like the previous two.

I do like how things are evolving for Boston among the Big Three. I said earlier this season that Paul Pierce should be the go-to guy. Kevin Garnett’s value is across the board and Ray Allen’s value is knocking down threes or just being a serious threat, but Pierce is “The Truth.”  The performance he had Sunday was the best of the postseason and he has to continue that effort against the Pistons.

Celtic fans should be patient with Ray Allen. He is in a tough position because he has gone from No. 1 option his whole career to the third. That in itself is extremely difficult, especially when you are a shooter and not getting consistent touches.

I do applaud the fact that Doc Rivers has realized Eddie House should be playing in the rotation over Sam Cassell.  Energy is what House brings and he gives them a potent three-point threat without dominating the ball. Cassell will be needed in this series before it’s over, but House deserves to play right now.

I must admit that I am now a member of the LeBron James Fan Club.  He almost pulled off another miraculous moment Sunday, just like he did in Game 5 last year against Detroit. He virtually showed us why he will become probably the best player this game has seen, but he will need some help and I think Cleveland is just two athletic shooters away from winning the Eastern Conference next year. James just knows how to seize the moment and that is rarified air reserved for Michael Jordan… or maybe Kobe Bryant this year if the Lakers win it all.

The Lakers did something that most teams look back on and say, “That was the turning point to winning a championship.” They beat the Utah Jazz in an elimination game on their floor, which only a few teams did all year. They also did it wire to wire, which was even more impressive.

The Big Poodle (Pau Gasol) is one the most fundamentally sound big men I have ever seen and I guess all it took was him not having to be the star to show us.  The Lakers road to the NBA Finals will be extremely difficult no matter who they face. They have no answer for Tim Duncan and they have no answer for Chris Paul.

The Pistons put us to sleep at times and we question their motivation, but one thing remains true… They might be the smartest team left in the field and Chauncey Billups is back healthy and ready to go in the Conference Finals.

The burden again falls on Rasheed Wallace. Wallace can guard Garnett without help, so if Pierce gets hot the double team will be directed at him all series long.

The Boston Celtics have just taken the elevator from the basement to the fifth floor in an eight-story building. They could reach the eighth floor before the season starts, but it will be based on the ability of Danny Ainge to find the right cheap pieces to mold around Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen.

I applaud the acquisition of Garnett despite having to give up everyone except the cleaning crew. The Celtics needed to make something happen to acquire Garnett and they obviously did it when they sent the fifth pick to Seattle for Allen. Garnett wants to win and I believe the Celtics will indeed win with this trio. Critics will wonder how they will mesh and I say it will be a smooth transition because of the unselfish play and leadership of Garnett.

These are three different scorers. Allen is a catch-and-shoot player who does not need to dominate the ball in order to score. Garnett will be the focal point of the offense because of his ability to pass and keep players involved and he will also get a ton of chances on the offensive glass. Pierce will be the go-to guy because he can score in a plethora of ways and get to the foul line better than any player in the league not named Kobe Bryant. The biggest challenge for Doc Rivers is to find two role players that can effectively play with these three and still produce without many touches and few accolades.

The Celtics are on the fifth floor because Cleveland, Detroit and Miami are still the top three teams in the Eastern Conference. But they have effectively leaped over Chicago, New Jersey, Toronto, Washington, Orlando and the improved Knicks.

I am sure Celtic fans will take just that position as a preview and not the question mark that would have been laid on them even with the addition of Allen. Teams with deep benches and good point guard play can go deep in the playoffs and the Celtics will have to improve in that area if they want to overtake the top three teams in the conference.

Kevin McHale obviously has not lost his loyalty for his former team. Although the Suns and the Lakers were in the running with the Celtics for Garnett’s services, it was pretty obvious that McHale was enamored with sending him to the Eastern Conference and preferably to his former team and teammate Danny Ainge. Because of this loyalty, the Celtics are now back on the map and the Lakers will have to deal with the ire of the best player in the game, Kobe Bryant, for not doing everything possible to get Garnett, who already had a home in Los Angeles.