Celtics only score 76… And Win!

Ok, that might have been the most pitiful offensive performance I’ve seen from the Celtics this year. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen accounted for a whopping 4 points (all from Pierce) when they averaged a combined 37 points a game during the season. Kevin Garnett was the only bright spot for the C’s, scoring 28 on 13 of 22 shooting. 

How did they win? LeBron James went 2 for 18 from the field and scored only 12 points, while turning the ball over 10 times. For a player averaging 30 points a game, this was a terrible performance.

Yes, the defense was good on both sides. But both teams, the Celtics especially, looked very sluggish and displayed very little offensive rhythm throughout the game.

So, the question arises: Are the Celtics good enough to win the NBA title?

My answer is no. They barely squeaked by Atlanta, the worst team to make the playoffs, in 7 games. They have not yet won a playoff game on the road. The only bright spot they had was beating Atlanta by wide margins at home, but they could only pull off 76 points and beat Cleveland by 4 at home in Game 1, when LeBron had probably the most miserable playoff game he will ever have. Yes, they might get past Cleveland. But what happens when they have to play a team as talented as Detroit or the Hornets, Spurs, or Lakers?

I’d love to see the Celtics win it all. But I just don’t see it happening.

~ by davesports on May 7, 2008.