There is a whole lot of optimism in Boston about this Celtics team.
Because they made a run all the way to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, then brought back Kevin Garnett (who played fantastically in the playoffs), then got deeper and better with the addition of guys like Jason Terry and Courtney Lee.
How much optimism? Check out this quote from Rajon Rondo, via CSNNE.com.“I believe this team is more talented than that team,” Rondo said. “But the key to the 2008 team is that everyone bought into the system….
“Guys probably won’t play their normal amount of minutes that they have in the past because we’re such a talented team.”
That 2008 NBA championship team had Kevin Garnett playing at a consistently higher level than today’s KG (but he can turn it on for stretches), it had Ray Allen, James Posey and Kendrick Perkins scowling in the paint. But the 2012-13 team has a better Rajon Rondo, and more depth with Terry and Lee and Jeff Green.
If KG doesn’t slide backwards too far and Paul Pierce continues to play at the same level, this year’s Celtics may be better. The problem: The mountain between them and an NBA title this year is much harder to climb and much steeper. They could be better and still not reach their goal.
