 April 9, 2010 -- Chalk up April 9th as a microcosm of what has become of the Boston Celtics 2009-10 season. Hosting a Washington team that was 24-54 heading into the contest, the Celtics came out flat and disinterested (again) needing the superhuman effort of Rajon Rondo to try to erase a 28-point third quarter deficit built on a 32-4 Wizards run in the first half.
Another night where they get outworked on the boards and can't defend the high pick-and-roll. Another night where Rajon Rondo looks like the only player leaving it all out on the floor. Another night when your local high school girl's basketball team could have shot better percentages from the free-throw line (57.9%). And yet another night of Doc Rivers continuing to change up the rotations despite putting the third slot in the East in jeopardy, although I'm not sure anything could have helped them tonight.
There act, like their team, gets older by the day. Worse off, they are running out of time to get into a confident groove for the playoffs. And I don't buy into the "this is a veteran team, they know what to do when the playoffs come." As individuals they may be confident of their abilities, but basketball is a game in which players need to be confident in their ability to cohesively work together if they wish to go anywhere in the playoffs.
No more excuses. No more "tonight they didn't bring it" or "they couldn't get up for a game that didn't mean anything". The playoffs start in a week and teams who do bring it every night, await the Celtics. It's unlikely the C's will lose in the first-round to the Bucks or Heat, but as a team that poses a threat to itself, all bets are off. If they are lucky enough to get out of the first round, the Cleveland Cavaliers are the likely opponent.
Between the two teams, there is no love loss. Lebron and Co are hungry and certainly won't lose a night's sleep if they dispatch the Celtics in four games in the second round. The NBA playoffs begin on April 18th, five days after the NHL Playoffs begin. And yet if tonight was any indication of the C's future, the Boston team with three future Hall-of-Famers may be the team hitting the links first.
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