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Welcome to Celtics pre-season part two
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The "Big 3" is down to the "Big One" thanks to all of the Celtics' injuries. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
Who would win of the Celtics scrimmaged with these teams:
Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Leon Powe, Brian Scalabrine, and Tony Allen
vs.
Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, Glen Davis, Stephon Marbury and Kendrick Perkins
It would be an interesting game, if the first team could make it out onto the floor, because those are all the Celtics players who missed last night's game. But I'll bet that injured 5 could still make the 8th seed in the East.
The timing of these injuries is both good and bad. Bad in the sense that it's pretty clear they cost us the #1 seed (or at least a shot at it). The Celtics are 4 games behind Cleveland with 13 games left to play. When you consider that Cleveland is rolling and the Celtics are missing half their team, there's really no chance of catching the Cavs.
But the injuries are good (in a way) because they're not major, and they happened at a time where some of these guys can get some rest ahead of the playoffs. So with that in mind, I think it's time to embrace the pre-season part two. That's going to mean a little bit of an adjustment on the fans' part. It's going to mean we've got lay off Doc Rivers for his substitution patterns.
Some guys are going to have to get time in spots where they'd normally sit. Stephon Marbury is going to be in when you might think he should be sitting. Maybe Paul Pierce sits in spots where he would normally play in favor of getting Bill Walker some extra minutes.
I'm not suggesting the Celtics tank any games. The guys out there will be trying to win. And when guys come back from injuries, they should be out there getting back into the flow of things. But this is an opportunity, with 13 games to go, for everyone to really hone in on their roles (I'm looking at you, Mikki Moore) and build some cohesion.
I'm well aware that Orlando is nipping right at the Celtics heels for the second seed, but the seeding doesn't matter. This isn't last year. The Celtics have the ability to win on the road. And when the Celtics are at full strength, is there a team out there that you fear? Me neither.
Doc's said it a lot over the past few weeks, and it's dead on: we'd rather be at full strength at a lower seed than at half strength as a one seed. When the Celtics are right, they are unbeatable. Let's embrace this part of the season as a perfect opportunity for the Celtics to get right.
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