Why Yesterday Doesn't Matter

Christmas? No, yesterday Celtics-Lakers tilt.

As Mrs. Save Fitchburg and my buddy Bigs can attest, I was smelling a loss last night. At some point the law of averages win out, and a long winning streak at some point comes to an end. They were on the road on Christmas Day (an absolute travesty. The champs should be home on Xmas, period. The NBA needs to make that a rule). The Lakers are a very good team, and yesterday meant a lot more to them than it did to the Celts.

Want proof of that last one? Well, right after the game, I felt perfectly fine with the loss. When the home team wins and lets streamers go off after a game in December, you know it meant a lot more to them than to the other team.

So good for the Lakers. The national media, which has an unending lust for LA and its, um, ethically challenged leader, has another reason to get all hot and bothered for the Lake Show. Pau Gasol proved he can come up big in the 30th game of the season. Which is nice for him. Five months too late, but nice for him. At least he acted like he had been there before. Or not.

Of course I wanted a win last night. The Celtics have done an amazing job of putting teams in their place early this year (hello, Cleveland, Detroit and Orlando). They are playing as well as they were in the Finals last year, and if Rondo keeps it up, they're better than they were last year. Throw in Ray Allen's improved performance (if you thought he was good last year -- and he was good -- he's extraordinary this year. He plays with a beautiful grace that can not be overstated. He's beautiful to watch right now. Beautiful), and the Celts are going to be just fine.

They've played better games than last night, but they had a number of things going against them last night, and it was tied with 3 minutes left. That was the best punch the Lakers could deliver, and as we learned last spring, they can't make that effort six times in a row. So I'm not sure yesterday matters much, except the Lakers got a chance to (finally) fire off some streamers.

Back to the Celtics

I've had a Celtics post brewing for awhile. Sorry, I'm still hooked.

First, they are kicking ass. No two ways about it. They're demolishing bad teams, and sucking the life out of would-be challengers (say hello, Detroit and Atlanta). They took care of business the right way against Indiana the other night, smacking around one of the two teams that beat them this year. They're 18-2, and the national NBA writers are busy loving LeBron and 2010, and Kobe. Let them love them. I'm not sure the Celtics are "better than they were last year," because they were very, very, very good in the Finals. But they are better now than they were at this point last year.

Interestingly, I think many Celtics fans though this would be The Year they broke through. Last year would be the transition year, and this year would be the year they went for it all. They were good enough to win it all last year, and look like (injury free) they'll be right there again this year.

A few observations: Ray Allen is playing great ball right now, and when he's playing well, he is just beautiful to watch. Just a joy to behold. Kevin Garnett hasn't lost an ounce of intensity, and that trickles down. When Rondo is playing well, the Celtics are probably unstoppable. Just too much. And Paul Pierce is playing at a whole new level. The guy takes over games now with the confidence of a champion. He's totally believes he can win a game when he needs to. It's pretty cool to see.

I finally got off the dime to write this one after reading S.L. Price's excellent, excellent story on Pierce in this week's Sports Illustrated. Some of it is old news to Celtics fans -- his yelling out the names of the guys drafted in front of him, for example -- but it's a better look at what makes Pierce tick than anything else I've read on him. Ever. He's clearly not a darling little angel, but he's also supremely driven and legitimately gives a damn. Can't ask for much more at this point. Love him or not, definitely worth a read.

The Death of the Boston Sports Fan?

Is this the obituary for the Boston sports fan? You know, the real fan who did the right thing? It just might be.

I haven't been to a Patriots game since they lost to the St. Louis Rams in 2001 (it was the last game that team lost on their way to the first Super Bowl). I'm not a Pats fan, and tickets are so hard to get, so whatever. But for the last few years you've heard some complaints about the crowd not being what it once was.

In the two games I went to this month, I'm thinking that comfort level has leaked into two other teams.

Earlier this month, I went to Game 3 of the ALCS. The game, frankly, stunk. The Sox lost, 9-1. The game was out of hand by the middle innings. It was a nice day in Boston, but by the 4:30 start time the wind was up and it was getting cool. By the middle innings, it was downright cold. Some fans -- likely people who never go to Fenway -- wore shorts or no heavy jackets. They were gone by the 6th. The exodus only picked up in the 7th and the 8th.

There's probably something to be said for leaving early when your team is getting smoked. But I'm willing bet for every person at that game (roughly 39,000), there were 100 who would gladly take their spot. Instead of sticking it out, it got awfully empty late. By the 9th, I was sprawled over about three rows and 10 seats. And no one was even close to me.

Of course, the big stories revolve around Game 5. Mayor Lisa Wong admitted -- awkwardly, uncooly -- at last week's press conference that she left early. She tried to laugh it off, but it was a really uncomfortable moment. As Wong rambled on, Andy Roy (who went to another beating in Game 4) and I were not amused. On the other hand, by brother who also lives in Fitchburg stuck it out. He was a happy boy when he called me leaving the ballpark. Wong wasn't alone in doing the wrong thing. At least my brother did the right thing and was rewarded for it. How do you leave early what might have been the very last game of the season?

That brings me to last night, when the Celtics handed out rings and raised Banner 17 to the rafters. It seemed like a good crowd -- the place was packed in advance of the ceremony, and it was good and loud from the get-go. But the posers were outed halfway through the fourth quarter, when the place started to empty out. The Celts were only up by 6 or so at that point. The real drain began in the last two minutes, even with it being a one-possession game for much of that time. Yeah, it was 11 o'clock, and the national TV timeouts were painfully long, but it was the home opener for the defending world champions (no, I can't write or say that enough), and the place was more empty than full by the final buzzer. There wasn't even the usual backups on the stairways getting out.

Outside of New England, the sports world hates our guts. Our teams win, a lot, to the point where we shrug off an ALCS appearance as nice, but not really special. Last night's display was really lame. It would be borderline for the Bobcats in January. But the Cavs on banner night? Good Lord.

It's frustrating to have to clear out a winter weekend and hope you get lucky just to get two crappy seats to a crappy mid-week Sox game. I can't remember the last time I went to a weekend game for the Sox, tickets are so hard to get. It stinks that Mrs. Save Fitchburg and I spent a good hour poring over the Celtics schedule and made a gameplan just short of D-Day to score three or four Celtics games this year. It stinks to beg, borrow and steal your way into a legitimate, unqualified Big Game, and see the collective crowd treat it like just another random game.

So, this month may have signaled the death of the old Boston fan. The ones who didn't stay late at Fenway just to sing "Sweet Caroline." The ones who stuck it out just because that's what you do. The ones who appreciated the moment, the opportunity, and the specialness of the times.

Let's Go Celtics

In the early 1980s, I lived in St. Petersburg, Fla. The only local sports team was the Tampa Bay Bucs, and they stunk on ice.

So, the first team I truly loved was the Boston Celtics. I was 9 when Larry Bird won his first title, 15 when he won his third and last in 1986. By then, I was living in Maine, so was somewhat regional.

Over the last 22 years, deep down, the Celtics were still my true sports love. Basketball is my favorite sport. Sure, I had my appropriate affair with the Red Sox, and that has been good fun over the years, but the Celtics were always the one for me. Before the playoffs started, I said here the Celts winning it all would be bigger for me than either Sox World Series wins. After last night, I haven't changed my mind.

The last 22 years, of course, have been difficult. I was shooting hoops behind my parents' barn when my dad told me Len Bias died. I was a senior at Northeastern when Reggie Lewis died, and spent the next day putting out a special edition. (I met Reggie a handful of times, including a few times when he stopped by the NU Sports Information office, where I co-oped. He was also extraordinarily kind, and I was thinking about a few of those chance, quiet meetings last night.)

Beyond the tragedy, however, there was some outright sucky seasons. I was covering the Celtics draft for the Central Maine Morning Sentinel when they picked Acie Earl, who plummeted from a Top-10 pick to the Celts (picking at 17, I think). The universal feeling in the room was that it was not just the obvious choice, but a steal. Yeah. A steal alright.

It just never seemed to get better. For a stretch, Kevin Gamble was the best player on the team. Then came the Pitino Era, which seemed like such a good idea at the time -- kind of like Acie Earl, now that I think of it. Pitino's lasting legacy is one of the great tantrums of all time -- and little else.

Up until last night, my best Celtics moment in the last 20 years was Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals in 2002, when the Celtics came back in the fourth against the Nets. I sat in the very last row of the FleetCenter -- stood in the very last row of the FleetCenter -- and watched one of the great comebacks ever. It was probably the loudest Celtics crowd since 1986 until last night. That crowd last night was absolutely phenomenal. In the first quarter and first half of the second, you could tell it was on its game and just ready to explode, just needing that little burst to get going. They got it, alright.

Obviously, all the bad times -- all the sitting through the M.L. Carr era, the ups and downs of Antoine Walker, the sad fade of the Big Three -- came to an end last night. Paul Pierce got what he deserved, a permanent place in Celtics legend. Kevin Garnett got the validation he desperately needed. Ray Allen gets the last piece to his Hall of Fame puzzle. The fans got order restored in the basketball world.

No more remembering Acie Earl or Ron Mercer, (as my pal Jon mentioned last night/this morning, Dontae Jones). No more hoping Tony Battie would "reach his potential" and no more wondering what could have been if Joe Johnson hadn't been traded, or Pierce had been.

For too long, the Celtics were an afterthought. For years, I'd go to the FleetCenter, see a crowd of 12,000, and think it was a pretty good attendance. For too long, the NBA was sucky, the Celtics suckier, and nobody cared. What can be worse than not caring? What can be worse than getting excited for the draft lottery year-in and year-out? What can be worse than sitting through a series of 35-win seasons (or worse) with hope years away?

Instead, a season that began in Rome ended in Boston, and the NBA's longest-running empire is back on top. Since 1986, Celtics fans have given more than they received. Last night, the ledger was finally balanced. Who's up for Banner 18?

Yes, Sir!

After 22 years of Acie Earl, Dino Radja, Vitaly Potapenko, and sadly much more, the Boston Celtics are the champions of the basketball world.

I spent most of the second half pondering all that lost time, and how awesome tonight is. Good times, indeed. The bubbly tastes so, so good at Save Fitchburg Mansion.

I also thought back to about 10 years ago, when Jon Tapper, Greg Levy and Danny Brem joined me in getting season tickets after Rick Pitino came to town. We're all spread out now, three of us have kids and wives and we all have different lives, but for three years we spent 20-something nights together watching the Celts and hoping for this someday. Unlike the bozos in the Globe today, Jon Greggy and Danny deserve this one. Here's to you, fellas.

More tomorrow. Enjoy, y'all.

24 Down, 2 Up, 1 to Go

So, I started the third quarter last night playing a PSP, and peeking at the game. I figured I'd give the Celtics a shot to get back in the game, but after a horrible first half wasn't really expecting much.

Then the Celts quickly got it to 11, so I put the PSP down. Then it was back down by 20, so I picked the PSP back up. And then, quickly, the Celts went to work. I quietly played my Tiger Woods while really watching the game (my round of video golf when in the dumper right fast). Mrs. Save Fitchburg wasn't really a fan of my seeming disinterest, but at that point I wasn't sure the comeback was fully legit, and I had some small superstitions working.

The PSP got put away for the fourth quarter, and you know the rest. After toying with taking the lead, the Cs went down four about halfway through the fourth, and then a little mini-spurt got them a lead they wouldn't give up. The Celtics are one game away from the title.

Considering how last night, there's not much to say, except starting to decide whether or not I should play hooky some day next week.*

If you're a Lakers fan, you're devastated. The Lakes finally played to their full potential, and looked amazing. It was the high-level quality of basketball they had to think they were capable of. But in the last 18 minutes, all their inadequacies -- the things on a smaller scale lost them Games 1 and 2 -- were bare to the world. They couldn't defend. Odom went from all-world to on the missing person's list. Gasol was his consistent non-factor. Kobe couldn't get to the rim, and the offense ground to a halt. Vujocovic (or whatever) looked like he was going to cry on the bench. Obviously it was their 18 minutes of the series (of the season?), but the problems were the ones they've had all series.

Phil Jackson put the right scheme in place when he put Bryant on Rondo. Poor Rondo, exposed to the world. But Doc Rivers (who has pushed all the buttons in the last two week -- reminicent of Francona in the 2004 playoff run) made the (semi-gutsy) move to go with Eddie House and Posey and spread the floor. You'd have to think we'll be seeing a lot of that lineup the rest of the way. The C's don't need too much in terms of power and bigs against this team, so that lineup has potential the rest of the way.

Paul Pierce said after last night he wants to finish it on Sunday, Father's Day. That's absolutely fine with me.

*-Yes, yes, I know this series isn't over yet. Yes, yes, everytime I hear the "28 times a team has gone up 3-1 in the Finals, and all have won the series" I think of "No MLB team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit," but at this point you have to believe, right?

Opportunity Lost

As Joe Castig would say, it was "a giant squander."

The Celtics lost a winnable game last night. I'm as ticked as I am optimistic, weirdly.

You have to figure that last night was the night the Lakers put on their Sunday best. They were coming home, they were desperate, they had a legendary coach bitching about the officiating and had a great ref crew to rely on. They had everything going their way.

I went to bed angry at the Celtics. With six minutes left, I declared the game lost. Four minutes later (at least in game time), I announced to Mrs. Save Fitchburg that the Celtics are winning this series.

Simply, the Lakers came in last night knowing they needed their A-game. It appears they got a lot of the things that constituted their A-game: Kobe was great, a role player stepped up, they played with aggression (missing: Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol, but I'm starting to wonder if they'll ever play very well for an entire game in this series), and Phil Jackson threw in a puzzling adjustment (Kobe on Rondo).

If this was the Lakers' A-game, it's time to start stitching Banner 17.

The Celtics should have won last night. The offense stunk, and Garnett and Pierce were chief el stinko offenders. Pierce forced every shot he took, I think, and Garnett missed some "bunnies" while taking some bad shots. Ugh. Why didn't Ray Allen get the ball more down the stretch (or, for that matter, why was Eddie House getting contested looks late)? The Celtics played probably a C game (they played an excellent third quarter, and did enough to have a shot late). A B, and they're up 3-0.

The Celtics need to get the flow back to the offense tomorrow night, and they need to find a way to get around this Kobe-Rondo thing. It gives Kobe freedom to roam, and really exposes Rondo. It's almost embarassing to see Rondo passing up 17-footers. Win or lose this series, you know what Rondo's working on this summer. It was an unexpected wrinkle, and one the Cs need to solve before tomorrow night (I'd want Allen to go after Derek Fisher, but that's just me).

I'm taking the optimistic view. I felt going into the series the Cs needed to hold serve in Games 1 and 2, and then take one of the next three. After last night, you gotta feel good about that happening. At least I do, even though I'm pissed they let a golden opportunity to lock this up go by.

Halftime Adjustments

As the interminable halftime drones on, what I'd be looking for in the second half:

Just some more shutting off of Bryant to the hoop. When he's got the ball crossing halfcourt, he's thinking getting to the basket. They need to slow him down a little bit. They don't need to junk the defense, just tighten it up a little bit.

They need more flow on offense, but really, they need Pierce and Garnett to take good shots and make them. That's it.

Down 6, 24 minutes to go. A win tonight -- still within reach despite a bad first half -- would be so, so, so big. Let's go get 'em.

About Last Night: Halfway There

The Celtics played seven stink-o minutes last night, and it almost ruined 41 minutes of very good basketball. But they pulled it together in the end, and head out to LA up 2-0 in the NBA Finals. And if you're a Celtics fan, there was plenty to like in the first two games.

First and foremost, Paul Pierce is the man. Last Thursday's drama aside, he was the best player on the floor in both games, not only making big shots, but getting others involved and playing good defense. The knee seems not to be an issue right now.

Second, the Celtics are playing good defense on Kobe Bryant. Bryant had some easier buckets last night, but the best things the Celts are doing is keeping Bryant away from the basket, and off the foul line. He can go 9- or 11-for-26 all series, and that's fine. When Bryant kills you is when he goes 11-for-26, with 12 or 15 trips to the line. He's not living on the foul line, where his good games go to great games. That might change with some home cooking, but I don't think there were a lot of penetration fouls missed on Bryant last night.

The Celtics still have some work to do, obviously. It would be very beneficial to win one of the next three. I'm not going to say the Lakers can't win in Boston, but it appears to be a very, very difficult task for them. The Celtics need to take their defensive intensity with them to LA. The offense will take care of itself. Compared to Cleveland and Detroit, the Lakers' defense is subpar.

Since they lost Game 2 of the East Finals to Detroit, the Celtics have been playing some very, very good basketball (and you might want throw Game 1 of the East and Game 7 of the Cleveland series in there). The only stinkbomb was that horrible Game 4 in Detroit -- a game the Celtics could have (should have) won. They played a great Game 3 in Detroit, and owned Games 5 and 6 of that series. In the first two games of the Finals, they've clearly been the better team.

That will change tomorrow night. The Lakers will be ready to go (as they were in the first six minutes last night, when they were the far more aggressive team). The Celtics don't always play their best on the road. But they need one of three. It's a doable mission.

For the Celtics to win out there, they'll need to stick with the defense, continue to get good bench help (Leon Powe doesn't need to go off for 21 points, but that would help), and Kevin Garnett needs to start making baskets. He's not getting to his spots consistently, and when he does you feel like he's trying to will in the hoop as often as not. You have to think he'll be OK, but I'd feel much better about things if he started making baskets.

Kobe's going to have a say in all this -- or at least will very much try to (he was desperately trying to take the game over in the second quarter last night and just couldn't quite make it happen) -- and the Celtics are going to have to deal with that. But there's a lot about the Lakers that need fixing. They've played terrible defense, they've been inconsistent offensively, and they just haven't seemed quite all together at times. The defense should get a boost from the home crowd if things go well, the offense should get better, and they should just look better at home. But the way the Celtics played the first two games, they should get their chances out there.

The Celtics needed to win both these games. Just had to have them. Now they go out west knowing that one-of-three will do just fine, thank you. After what we've seen so far, you have to be optimistic. Still on edge, but optimistic.

A Different Override Question; About Last Night

Mayor Lisa Wong said this morning she wants to put non-binding override questions on this fall's ballot, and then proceed with perhaps some binding override questions early next year. You can read all about it at the Fitchburg Pride website.

It's an interesting move. It opens the override discussion, but doesn't create a one-and-done atmosphere that makes override debates so heated. How hard to advocates push in November? What's the threshold for getting onto the early-'09 ballot? Has this ever been done before?

It does give residents a clear say in what they funded. Even if nothing passes in the end, it gives some a road map to city officials of what people want to see money put toward.

It will be very interesting to see how this turns out. In November, voters would be essentially given a wishlist. Do you want money to be spent on X, Y and Z? But early in '09, it will be, do you want to spend money on X, Y and Z? That's a big different. I'm guessing a solid majority of people support the idea of spending more money on the library. But would a majority of people actually support the funding? I'm sure there will also be a bloc of folks who will vote "no" on everything through sheer principle.

I'm not sure if this has been done anywhere else, but it should be an intriguing experiment.

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If you're a Celtics fan, you have to pleased with how last night turned out. The Celtics and Lakers both played well, and except for the back end of the second quarter, you felt like the Celtics were either in control or close to taking control of the game. The last three minutes of the third and the first 10 minutes of the fourth were particularly well-played by the Celtics. In short, if the Celtics play well, they can win games.

Some interesting stuff out of L.A. in the aftermath. After spending almost the entire night outside of the paint, Kobe Bryant said he just missed a lot of "bunnies," and he was getting good looks. Of course, SportsCenter then shows a series of 15-foot fadeaways with a hand in his face (including that second-half airball) and other tough shots. Will Bryant go 9-for-26 again? God, I hope so. But that's kind of unlikely. But was shooting 49.7 percent in the playoffs before last night, so what is it? Bad shooting night, or good defense? Or both?

Also, Bill Plashke falls for Phil Jackson's bizarre whining after the Paul Pierce episode last night. Jackson questioned how hurt Pierce actually was. Plashke takes it a step further in his column this morning. I don't know how hurt Pierce is, but Mike and Mike were on point his morning when Golic questioned how Pierce could have the presence to fall down, immediately act very hurt, and know that his triumphant return would get the place charged up. That's a lot of scheming in about a half-second. But whatever. As a Celtics fan, I'm hoping Pierce was faking it, because they won't this series without him. They get an extra day off with Game 2 on Sunday, so hopefully he's ready to go.

In the end, a good start last night for the Celts. Now they have to take care of business Sunday night and really put the pressure on the Lakers.

Cats and Dogs Living Together

As Jack Buck once said, "I can't believe what I just saw."

The City Council, during the budget process, moved money from one area to another through free cash and cuts. They can do more than "only cut the budget." Who knew?

In case you missed it, the council used some free cash and a cut or two from some other areas to fund new cruisers for the Police Department. These were the new cruisers that had funding cut under duress in 2006, and never had a chance last year.

This is good news for a couple of different reasons that have nothing to dollars and cents.

First, I feel like I spent the second half of last year howling into the wind that the council's hands were not as tied on budget matters as they claimed. One mayoral candidate in particular tried to wash his hands of all things budget problems while on the trail, leaning on the "the council can only cut" mantra. Then, and now, I argued the council has political power and legislative maneuvering to get stuff done. Ta-da. Look at this week's action.

Second, on some level, this council has some priorities. If they did in the past, it wasn't always clear. There was a feeling of 11-councilors-and-11-cabs no one really tried to refute. Clearly, public safety is a chief concern for this council. They targeted the PD, and are making noises about Fire. Let's see what happens there. Can this council do it again?

All of this is good news for the city. Watching the council over the last 18 months or so has been fairly interesting. You could kind of sense it was trying to figure out last year how to get going, but was so busy squabbling with Dan Mylott that it couldn't quite get there. Now, it's picking priorities and making things happen.

I like a proactive council, and I like what happened this week if only because this council is proving that it can pick a target and hit it. And it's only been together five months, which is also encouraging. The next step: being proactive on something other than budget survival. But I like this first step.

I have some questions on this, purely in the wondering sense. I wonder if this gets done if Marcus DiNatale isn't on the council. By all reports, it sounds like he was the driving force on this. I wonder what kind of signal we should take from this on the council-mayor relationship. She could have told them to stick it (although she said from the outset she'd go along with reasonable changes). You'd have to think everyone is getting along right now.

This isn't good news for everyone. If you're a library supporter, it's pretty clear that the council's general "public safety first" philosophy was more than talk, it was an action plan. While there may be some dollars here and there to shuffle around, clearly moving them toward the library isn't a top priority. And considering the library's big cut, I'm not sure there's enough dollars out there to fill in that hole.

While we're on the topic: the library folks will be out tonight, picketing during First Thursday and protesting the cuts. I'm not sure I'm a fan of that move. On the one hand, public protest is all well and good, but usually those protests are centered around political events, like a council meeting. This is a community event. But a high-visibility one. I can't say I blame them, but I think there's something to be said for keeping the politics with the politics. It certainly didn't hurt trash fee opponents to plan their protest around a council meeting.

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If you're tired of the Celtics, stop reading. If not, let's get ready for tonight.

First, here's what I wrote right after Garnett got traded to the Celtics. After, a few thoughts on those first thoughts.

UPDATE (4:55 p.m.) There's a slight change in the Garnett deal from what I have below. Rajon Rondo stays, Bassy Telfair goes. So long, Bassy, we hardly knew ye. That said, the more I think about it, the more I like that trade. A bunch of people have mentioned it to me today, and it's great that the Celts are relevant again. That alone might make it a great trade.

More importantly at this point, the Sox just finished a trade for Eric Gagne. That means in October, you'd better be beating the Sox after six innings, because Okijima, Gagne and Papelbon are waiting after that. Yikes. Sure, Gagne's back my cripple him any day now, but whatever. That bullpen is now ferocious.

I know, I know, you don't want to hear it. If you don't want to read about the Celtics, you're free to go. But....

My first reaction to the megatrade for Kevin Garnett was immediate anger. I didn't want to see Al Jefferson go away. Throw in two serviceable players (Gerald Green and Ryan Gomes), the C's best trade bait (Theo Ratliff's contract) and apparently the starting point guard (Rajon Rondo) -- and a top pick, and that's quite a bounty.

My negativity -- Rick Pitino would be so proud -- was that fact that the Celtics traded away the future we've had to sit through and nurture over the last few years. Coming on the heels of the Ray Allen trade, I was done with Danny Ainge yesterday afternoon.

In the long term, this might not be a good trade for the Celtics. In three years or so, when Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen are all in their mid-30s, this will be an old team (hello, late 80s/early 90s Celts). There is so much money wrapped up in those three players that there will be little cash to flesh out the roster. By the way, who's the point guard? The team's two "best," Delonte West and Rondo, are gone.

But for the next two or three years, the Celtics suddenly matter. A lot. And for 82 games a year, we get to watch a star (Pierce) and a superstar (Garnett) on the same court for the same team. Cool.

More importantly, for the next two or three years, the Celtics are in fact contenders to at least make the Finals, if not win them. Part of that is because the Eastern Conference stinks. Bad. A Celtics team of its latter-day Big Three, me, and Dan Mylott would make the playoffs (allegedly Mylott is a great spot-up shooter).

Cleveland won the conference this year, and that team was a one-man band. Detroit's on the downside, Chicago is a player short (Allen or Garnett would be huge there, in fact), Miami could be dangerous if Shaq muscles up, but that mystique is fading fast. In short, the Celtics are suddenly in the mix.

So, today, fresh off a mini-vacation, I'm taking the optimistic outlook. Even at best, a fully matured Jefferson with Pierce and other parts would be looking at a two- or three-year window to compete -- in two or three years. That timetable just got moved up, and this team is more solid.

Obviously, it's better to have your teams always competitive and able to just reload through its monster resources (the Red Sox) or its smarts (the Patriots, although they're not my team. I'm a Raiders fan). To think Ainge and Doc Rivers will be able to reload this team is still not a trustworthy situation. So you have a two-year window to sit back and watch three stars try to get the Celtics back to basketball's biggest stage. That would be cool.

OK, thoughts...

I'm still pissed at how far off I was on Gagne. Boy, did he suck. I was so psyched when they got him, though. I'm a silly boy.

Nearly a year later, I'm also pissed I was upset for even 20 seconds about this trade. Hindsight is grand, but I should have been more excited at the time. I'm almost there back then (it was July 31, by the way), but didn't have it figured out then.

I think the one thing that was a big problem then, without an obvious solution, was the rest of the roster. Posey, Eddie House, P.J. Brown, none of those guys were even on the radar at that point. Glen Davis was optimistic potential. Somehow, Ainge pieced it all together. It's one thing to make a couple of good trades, but to fill in the back half of the roster the way Ainge did was a great job -- and probably a tougher one.

As you can see through the update, the rumor mill got the trade wrong at first. Obviously, hanging on to Rondo was gigantic, and probably allowed the Cs to get this far. Would Bassy Telfair have gotten into the Finals? Ugh. Looking back on this year, Rondo's growth has been the one of the best things to see this year. He's not all the way there, but he's significantly better than he was in November. Hell, in February, when Cassell jumped on, there were still questions about Rondo. I think at this point Cs fans are perfectly fine having Rondo on the court for 40 minutes, even when he's not playing his best. If nothing else, he just doesn't turn it over. After wrangling with Billups the last two weeks, he should have a little more freedom this go-around. He'll be a key, as usual.

I still think there's a two- or three-year window, and God knows what happens when Pierce, Allen and Garnett get creaky, but they're taking advantage of the window, and that's all that matters.

So, tonight's the night. For the first time in 21 years there's June basketball in Boston. I can't stinking wait. Let's Go Celtics.

Let's Talk Hoops

Nope, the weekend did nothing to lessen my obsession with the Boston Celtics. In fact, it was a distraction all weekend.

Part of the problem is that for the last six weeks, the Cs were playing an every-other-day schedule. No game last night was a little weird. I had been conditioned for one day on, one day off. Whatever, I cleared up some of the "Lost" backlog (no discussion, please. Still three episodes away from being done. Yes, I stink).

Anyway, it's time to talk hoops.

Of course, for the Celtics, dealing with Kobe Bryant is issue number one. Of course, he can go all LeBron and drop 40 at a moment's notice, but it seems as if his playoff MO this year has been to get 30 or so, but get them in bunches when it matters. Taking over games is his speciality. That's a problem.

You'd have to assume they're going to run something similar as they did with James, doubling way up high and stopping him before he gets a head of steam. Part of the problem, though, is that Bryant has a dependable jump shot, which James doesn't have. Also, Bryant has a better supporting cast, namely Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom (who can disappear at times, however). Derek Fisher is a troublesome spot-up shooter.

Set aside the Kobe situation for a second, and there are still problems. Gasol is very, very good, and will keep Perk busy (Garnett has to go on Radmonovic, to be a free to wander). Odom will be a significant problem. He's big at 6'10 for Pierce to cover, but it's gotta be Pierce, which means Pierce can't cover Bryant, forcing it on Ray Allen. Doc Rivers should note that bringing James Posey in for defense isn't a bad idea if the offense is clicking OK (see Friday night's fourth quarter), and I'd think about bringing in Posey regularly to try to keep Kobe down as much as possible (good luck on that one).

The short answer is the Lakers are a very, very good offensive team. The good news is the Celts are the best defensive team in the NBA. This won't be the slogfest of the Pistons or Cavs series, although the Spurs did keep the score in the high-80s/low-90s a few times.

The good news is that the Lakers aren't in the same league defensively as the Cavs and Pistons, and the Celts will provide some matchup problems equal to those the Celts face. Rondo is much quicker than Fisher. If Rondo can play his confident game, he should be effective on both ends. Kobe is going to have to cover either Allen or Pierce. In either case, the Celts have to make Kobe work on the defense end, either chasing Allen from one side of the court to the other, or having Pierce grind him away by going to the basket and running him off pick-and-rolls.

More importantly, perhaps, the Lakers' best chance at guarding Garnett might be Odom, but the Celtics are looking at a significant mismatch in Garnett vs. Laker X. Maybe a Luke Walton brings some high-energy, change-of-pace D to the game, but for the most part the Celtics need to see Garnett has a super-quality option in this series -- particularly in the post and his now-patented elbow jumper. It just might end up being the key to this series.

One more thing: If Phil Jackson wins this series, he ties Red Auerbach for most titles as a coach. This can't happen. It just can't. Not on the Celtics' watch. I expect this plotline to become bigger, but the legacy of Red must be protected.

So, in the end, here's a fan's prediction: Celtics in 6. They take the first two at home, win Game 4, and then finish it at home in Game 6.

LET'S GO CELTICS

This will be last time over the next few weeks that I'll write this note. Just carry it along in future posts: I know most of you don't care. But I don't care that you don't care. I say you should care. If you don't care, and don't want to read, that's OK. We'll see you later.

On with the business at hand...

The Boston Celtics are in the NBA Finals. It's the morning after their fantastic Game 6 win in the Eastern Conference Finals over the Detroit Pistons (in Detroit), and I'm still a giddy, giddy little boy. Fantastic.

It's been a stressful six weeks. The Cs have played pretty much a game-day, off-day schedule for nearly two months. It's a rhythm that has you ready for a game one day, assessing the game and the prospects for the next one the next day, and then right back at it. It's been all-consuming. It's been, in the end, a great ride.

What have we learned? Well, that the Celtics can be beaten by high-energy, high-athleticism teams. We've learned their defense is as good as advertised. We've learned their offense can disappear inexplicably at times. We've learned Sam Cassell has little left in the tank. We've learned Ray Allen can be a headcase, but that we appreciate his dead-eye shooting all the more when it magically returns. We've learned coach Doc Rivers is a little shaky (and that's putting it charitably today). We've learned young guys Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins, and old-timers P.J. Brown, Eddie House and James Posey can suddenly combust. Brown and House will be remembered for their offensive outbursts, but Posey's fourth-quarter defense last night was tremendous.

We've learned that the Celtics are still sometimes unsure headcases, best displayed during the can't-win-on-the-road travails, which were absolutely painful. We learned they can win on the road, and we learned that since Game 4 of the Cleveland series, there are times when they've played some very, very, very good basketball (Games 3 and 6 are exhibits one and two, not in that order). We've learned they belong here. We've learned they have a very legitmate chance of winning the championship.

We learned two more things, that are probably most important of all.

First (maybe we didn't learn it as much were reminded), Kevin Garnett can't play a bad game. He doesn't have to put up 30-20, but he can't go 12-6, either. In the ugliness of Game 4 -- a game all but handed to the Celts on a platter -- Garnett stunk. He was out of sorts, and not in the flow of the game. In the first half of Game 6, he couldn't make a basket. He started to warm up in the third quarter, and played a valuable secondary role in the fourth. He needs to play well for the Celtics to win. Not dominate, but play well.

Second, we learned the answer to a question that has hung over this team since the day Garnett was traded here. If Game 7 of the Cleveland series wasn't definitive proof, last night was. When the Celts need a score, when they need someone to take over the game, that guy is Paul Pierce. You could see Pierce itching to take over early in the fourth, and slowly he did. He ignited the 10-point run that tied it up, and carried the Celts home from there. He was the best player on the court in the fourth quarter, and usually the team with the best player on the court in fourth quarters wins playoff games. Paul Pierce is a front-runner. When things are going bad, he pouts, complains, is generally not a good teammate (maybe was). When things are good, he's one of the best players in the league. Right now, you must love Paul Pierce. He is four games away from officially being a Celtics legend. His time served, Game 7, and last night make him a debatable retired-number candidate. If they win it all, book it.

So, here we go. I was on youtube past midnight last night, watching chunks of the 1984 Finals. It's Celtics-Lakers. I'm just thrilled the Celts have made it. The whole Lakers thing is just icing on the cake. Film of Kareem sucking oxygen, please.

The Celtics aren't going to get a whole lot of national media love in the next five days. There is much, much, much love for Kobe Bryant right now. He's the best player in the league. One of the all-time greats. The Celtics can't hold him down. They need to figure out a way that he doesn't absolutely kill them when he's ready to take over games late. I'm not sure they can do it. No one else has. They'll have to double out high (see Joe Johnson, LeBron) and hope for the best, in all likelihood.

The Lakers certainly have other parts, chief among them Pau Gasol. But let's be honest, if the Lakers win this series, it's because Bryant takes over games late. No way around it.

The Finals are the horrible 2-3-2 format, which puts more pressure on the Celts to win the first two. It also moves Game 5 out of the Garden, which sucks. If they can hold serve, win one of the three out west, all of the sudden Game 6 is clinch night. It's just that easy, right?

Here we go. Let's go Celtics.

The Playoffs Start Now

I was going to write this after the Celtics dispatched the Hawks, because like everyone else, I figured this series would be five games tops, with the Hawks squeaking one out to save a little face.

But everything changed last night, very late in the game, when Al Horford got up in Paul Pierce's face as the Hawks were running away with Game 3. You don't let that happen without some retribution.

For Celtics fans like me who grew up in the 1980s, it's hard not to look back at those mid-80s teams these days. And those teams never, ever, would have put up with that. Horford should probably be careful tomorrow night, and Pierce might go off.

At least, that's what should happen. This is yet another test for this team. They had to prove from opening night that the three stars could play together and succeed. Check. They had to prove they had depth, as GM Danny Ainge cobbled together a bench. Check. They had to prove they could stand up to the better teams in the East. Check. They had to prove they could take on the teams in the West. Check. Rajon Rondo had to prove he could play big-boy ball. (Giant) check. Beyond that, the Hawks took it to the Celts last night. The Celts looked, well, old. They looked slow, frustrated, and confused. That can't happen again.

Now, they have to prove that that playoff dead-eyed killer mentality. They have to make sure that even the slightest insult (and Horford went above "slight") is dealt with with harsh repercussions. They have to send the message that for the next two months, you don't screw with the Boston Celtics.

I figured the playoffs would start in the next round, when the C's would have to wrestle with LeBron James. Al Horford decided last night that the playoffs start now.

By the way, I think I've decided I'll be more fired up about a Celtics title this year than I was for Sox wins in 2007 -- and 2004. That's how much of a Celtics geek I've been the last 25 years or so, and that's how much I want them to win now. So, the playoffs start tomorrow night. It's time to make the Hawks pay.

Another One for the W4 Councilor

I think, in a moment of extreme dread and oncoming depression, I mumbled -- not yelled -- "oh, no, not that guy," at about 11:05 last night.

At that point, Kevin Garnett had thrown the ball away and it ended up in the hands of Robert "Big Shot" Horry. But last night, Big Shot didn't come through, and the Celtics did. And this morning, whooo wheee, I'm here to write about a great game and team that might just be a real, live, title contender.

Whenever you beat the defending champs, that's good stuff. Whenever you beat the defending champs in their place, that's very good stuff. Whenever you beat the defending champs in their place when they clearly bring their A-game, that's great stuff. Whenever you beat the defending champs in their place when they clearly bring their A-game and you're down 22 in the second quarter, that's ridiculously amazing stuff.

Winning, of course, makes watching more entertaining, but last night's game was an absolute delight. It was entertaining, energized, full of passion and big plays. It was physical, it was bumpy, it was one of the better games you'll see this year.

The Spurs played a ridiculously beautiful first quarter. The Celtics played with fire in the second, and played some of the best six minutes of the season at the beginning of the third. The fourth quarter bogged down toward the end, but it was tense, big shots were made, and it was worth staying up for.

For Celtics fans, this was, of course, a quality, quality win. Not only did the team win, but Rajon Rondo played Tony Parker to a virtual draw. He was phenomenal after a slow start. Sam Cassell carried the Celts in the second quarter, and hit essentially the game-winning three late in the fourth. It looked like he might have -- might have -- done a slight version of his big balls dance. Which rocks. I love Sam Cassell, and that won't be the last big shot he hits this year. Garnett was shaky in the last minute (missed jumper, that bad, bad throwaway) but his energy picked the team up when down 20, and his defense was outstanding throughout.

For non-fans, you missed a good one, and it was a good example of how the game has changed for the better. The Celts' two biggest crunch-time shots were threes from Eddie House and the Cassell bomb. Both (particularly House's) were created through ball movement. The days of isolation drives are fading fast. Particularly for the Celts.

The best news? It's pretty clear the Celtics are title contenders. The road will be tough. They'll likely have to get by LeBron James in the second round, and the Pistons in the East finals. Neither is an easy chore. But from what we've seen over the last month (12-of-13, Garnett back healthy, a strong bench, huge pickup in Cassell, the further growth of Rondo, solid minutes from Tony Allen), the Celts should be a strong favorite to get out of the East. The question is, can they hang with a West team for seven games? The West is far, far superior, but the C's have shown enough -- particularly last night -- to increase the hopes that they can make it happen.

All that said, they're back at it tonight, and all signs point to them taking the loss. At Houston, second game of back-to-back, and Houston has a nice little (22-game) winning streak. Such is life in the NBA, but like their title chances, you have to think that maybe tonight they can pull it off.

For the Ward 4 Councilor

For months, Kevin Starr has been on me to write about the Celtics. Here you go. If you don't care, we'll see you later.

After last night's beating of the Clippers, the Celts are 43-12. Good lord. I was a pretty strong advocate of the over (50.5) going into the season, but I didn't expect 43-12 after the West Coast trip (2-3).

Obviously, the Celts got off to a ridiculous start. Ridiculous enough that local fans still full of Red Sox glory and obsessing over the unbeaten Pats took just enough time to realize the Cs were playing crazy ball. Contrast that with the Bruins, who are giving away Montreal tickets (!), and at least local fans realize something's up with the Celtics. Not enough to, you know, actually watch some games and realize the NBA is significantly better and more watchable than its been in 20 years, but whatever.

We've learned a few things this year: Garnett, Pierce and Ray Allen meant it when they said they weren't in it for themselves, they just want to win a championship. Rajon Rondo was well worth keeping. Glen Davis is a very good seventh or eighth guy on a very good team. Posey, House and the rest of Ainge's reject pickups have been very savvy moves. Tony Allen is getting better, and is absolutely a very good player. In short, this is a very good team.

What we haven't learned is, how good, or can they win a title? I'm leaning toward "no," but I have a lot of hope.

Consider: Games with the Pistons have been all-out wars, and both teams won on the road. That portends to a fantastic potential playoff series, but not one you'd be very confident in the Celtics winning. In the meantime, the Cavs are starting to put it together, and LeBron James is just ridiculous. Look at what he did last spring, and you have to think he can will the Cavs to the Finals again, no? The East playoffs are no cakewalk for the Celts, but they are winnable.

It's tough to see the Celts winning the Finals, although you'd have to give them a punchers' chance. The West is so, so good. The Spurs are the Spurs, Phoenix is looking for harmony, and the Lakers are very tough after getting Gasol (and you'd have to think Kobe would be super-human if he could drag the Lakers back to the Finals).

There are teams in the West 10 games over .500 who might not make the playoffs. There teams in the East that might get in 10 games under .500. That shows just how much better the West is. The Celts recovered to go 2-3 on the western swing, which is merely OK. Losing three in a row didn't do them any favors, and shows they are mortal. But they did go 2-3 in a five-games-in-seven-days stretch, and won the last two, which shows they are good and mentally pretty tough.

If the Celts can survive Detroit/Cleveland/both, you'd have to think at the very least they're going to get a chance to win. They haven't been blown out this year (absolutely amazing), so you'd have to think they'd have a chance to win every game. The biggest problem with Garnett would probably making sure he didn't get too excited. You'd have to think after sucking for long, Pierce would be out of his mind in the Finals. I don't like Rondo against a number of West points (Nash, Parker in particular) in terms of talent and experience, and while Davis has been very good, can he handle the big stage? How about Tony Allen? And they have to get a real all-star performance from Ray Allen, who has been good/very good but rarely great this year.

But here we are at the end of February, and we're talking about whether or not the Celtics can win the NBA Finals. I still think they're a year away, but this year is most certainly not out of the question. Nice.

Where the Bandwagon Happens

This one isn't for Dave Svens.

Before I get going here, a note: I've been on the bandwagon for a long time. My only evidence: Flip through some posts from last winter, when I was writing about the Celtics even when they were totally irrelevant. I do care. I do.

Now, here we go.

Hop on board, fan. There's plenty of room on the Celtics bandwagon. They're 7-0. In a week, they could have a record as good as the Patriots.

I came into the season pegging the Celts over/under win total at 50.5. I'm confident right now it will be higher than that. And I'm also excited about this team's playoff possibilities.

Here's why. Simply, seven games in, they are already playing like a cohesive team. They play good defense (last night a great example). They move the ball very well on offense, and they share the ball. So far, all the happy talk from the Pierce-Allen-Garnett trio (I won't use that term that you might see in other places. There was only one of those. Viva El Birdie) has been proven on the court. Will it last? Really, why not.

One last thing: Kevin Garnett is absolute beast. A force of nature. If nothing else, watch the Celts to watch him. He's not Pedro in 1999 or Ortiz in 2004, but if he gets this team to the Finals, that might have to be reconsidered. He's that good, that motivated, that amazing to watch.

Beyond the bench (which has played quite well so far, thank you) and the point guard (who's hanging in), the biggest question going into this year was whether or not the Pierce-Allen-Garnett trio would be able to put aside their all-star resumes and play together. So far, so very good. There's a little bit of desperation in these three -- all in their 30s, with their last chance to make It happen. They won't go 82-0, but if Doc Rivers doesn't wear them out in the regular season, these three have the potential to make a run into June.

Last night's game was an excellent sign of this team's future. It was the second night of back-to-backs, and it was against a New Jersey team that was probably itching for a win after losing to the C's at home on Saturday. The first half was ugly, but in the second half, the Celts won mainly with defense. How many games in the last five years have the Celts won mainly with defense. And not just lock-down defense, but a steals-and-turnover defense that led to some easy hoops and a couple of nice trailer threes. Good stuff.

That first Jersey win was also impressive. Any time you beat a playoff contender on the road on the back end of a back-to-back, that's impressive.

The Celts still need to some proving. I'd like to see how they handle the Texas trip (Houston, San Antonio, Dallas might be the toughest three-game stretch in the league), a tough week or two, and certainly watch to make sure Rivers doesn't wear the three big guys out.

But right now is the time to get board the Celtics bandwagon. Not only good, but entertaining. Now, if only Comcast would start televising road games in HD, we'd be all set (another rant at another time).

Speaking of bandwagons and HD, you really should be watching "Dirty Sexy Money" (ABC, Wednesdays at 10). I started this one from the beginning, and was worried after a couple of episodes that it would be this year's "Studio 60." Great potential, but completely not living up to the potential.

Potential acheived.

Great characters, good story lines, and charming humor that is, well, darling (ha, ha. If you watch it, you get it).

This show is in some trouble, because it's got only four or five episodes left due to the writers' strike. It's not exactly a ratings blockbuster (why do I pick these great shows no one watches), and whatever steam it's building is likely to get doused by this strike.

So, figure out a way to watch it. I'm guessing abc.com has some episodes available on line. The last two episodes are currently available. That should be plenty to get you going. I'll answer whatever other questions you might have. Well worth the watch.

And while we're that it, watch "Friday Night Lights." It's all part of being a good citizen.

The Future Is Now

UPDATE (4:55 p.m.) There's a slight change in the Garnett deal from what I have below. Rajon Rondo stays, Bassy Telfair goes. So long, Bassy, we hardly knew ye. That said, the more I think about it, the more I like that trade. A bunch of people have mentioned it to me today, and it's great that the Celts are relevant again. That alone might make it a great trade.

More importantly at this point, the Sox just finished a trade for Eric Gagne. That means in October, you'd better be beating the Sox after six innings, because Okijima, Gagne and Papelbon are waiting after that. Yikes. Sure, Gagne's back my cripple him any day now, but whatever. That bullpen is now ferocious.

I know, I know, you don't want to hear it. If you don't want to read about the Celtics, you're free to go. But....

My first reaction to the megatrade for Kevin Garnett was immediate anger. I didn't want to see Al Jefferson go away. Throw in two serviceable players (Gerald Green and Ryan Gomes), the C's best trade bait (Theo Ratliff's contract) and apparently the starting point guard (Rajon Rondo) -- and a top pick, and that's quite a bounty.

My negativity -- Rick Pitino would be so proud -- was that fact that the Celtics traded away the future we've had to sit through and nurture over the last few years. Coming on the heels of the Ray Allen trade, I was done with Danny Ainge yesterday afternoon.

In the long term, this might not be a good trade for the Celtics. In three years or so, when Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen are all in their mid-30s, this will be an old team (hello, late 80s/early 90s Celts). There is so much money wrapped up in those three players that there will be little cash to flesh out the roster. By the way, who's the point guard? The team's two "best," Delonte West and Rondo, are gone.

But for the next two or three years, the Celtics suddenly matter. A lot. And for 82 games a year, we get to watch a star (Pierce) and a superstar (Garnett) on the same court for the same team. Cool.

More importantly, for the next two or three years, the Celtics are in fact contenders to at least make the Finals, if not win them. Part of that is because the Eastern Conference stinks. Bad. A Celtics team of its latter-day Big Three, me, and Dan Mylott would make the playoffs (allegedly Mylott is a great spot-up shooter).

Cleveland won the conference this year, and that team was a one-man band. Detroit's on the downside, Chicago is a player short (Allen or Garnett would be huge there, in fact), Miami could be dangerous if Shaq muscles up, but that mystique is fading fast. In short, the Celtics are suddenly in the mix.

So, today, fresh off a mini-vacation, I'm taking the optimistic outlook. Even at best, a fully matured Jefferson with Pierce and other parts would be looking at a two- or three-year window to compete -- in two or three years. That timetable just got moved up, and this team is more solid.

Obviously, it's better to have your teams always competitive and able to just reload through its monster resources (the Red Sox) or its smarts (the Patriots, although they're not my team. I'm a Raiders fan). To think Ainge and Doc Rivers will be able to reload this team is still not a trustworthy situation. So you have a two-year window to sit back and watch three stars try to get the Celtics back to basketball's biggest stage. That would be cool.

At Least We Have the Red Raiders

If you missed the story in the Globe on Saturday, after a $3 million override failed in Stoneham, officials eliminated the entire high school athletic department, which costs roughly $750,000 a year.

What does this have to do with Fitchburg? Well, not much. But...

The Stoneham situation is another reminder that things are tough all over around the state. Communities are looking at overrides to help fill in the gaps, and when it doesn't happen they are resorting to some fairly Draconian cuts. Stoneham sports = Fitchburg Library?

I'm not a big fan of the "we're cutting all sports" move. It stinks of politics and municipal extortion. The message is, give us money or kid won't run track this year. Instead, I think Fitchburg is doing the proper and appropriate thing by trying to maintain at least parts of everything. That might change tonight with the library. At least one councilor thinks the council might vote to close the library tonight. That councilor doesn't agree with that idea, but thinks it might happen. 'Nough said on that.

Finally, as usual, you hear folks around the city mention receivership. Some think it's a good idea, some think it's merely destiny based on the city's financial condition. While that condition isn't very good, it's not receivership level. When the city ends the year millions of dollars in debt, or is making cuts triple or quadruple what is making now, then we'll talk about it. But there's a big difference between the current situations in Fitchburg and Stoneham and receivership. Just getting that out there.

Finally, a couple of sports matters while I have your attention....

The Celtics seem to be getting closer to wanting to draft Yi Jianlian on Thursday night. Combine the mock drafts, rumor mill and this Globe feature, and you have wonder if this is their guy.

In short, ugh. First, they should be trading this pick for a veteran. Not sure the AK-47 rumor floated by Peter May yesterday does the trick, but it's close. I just can't get excited about Kirilenko. Anyone?

If they don't trade the pick, Paul Pierce is likely to go nuts. Use the pick on Jianlian -- who no one knows and is considered a "prospect" -- and you might as well put Pierce in solitary, so as not to infect the rest of the inmates.

But with Garnett not wanting to come here, and the Celtics, ahem, braintrust deathly afraid to trade young talent lest they become very good somewhere else (the ghosts of Chauncey Billups and Joe Johnson live), you can count on the Cs hanging on to the pick Thursday night. Grrrrrrr.

We talked a few months ago about the Sox's hot start, and holding off the Yankees. Without going into the archives, I remember Rupert K saying the Sox would be caught. We went to the numbers to figure out how tough it would be for the Yanks to make up the ground. After this brutal week for the Yankees, I figured it was time for an update:

The Red Sox are 48-26. We figured all along their good for about 95 wins. They need to go 47-41 the rest of the way to get to that mark. And yes, we're ruling out the rest of the division, which doesn't have the horses for a run. The Sox have a few problems -- they can't hit sometimes, the middle relief is due for a rough stretch one of these days, and they're starting pitching has gotten nicked up. But, if you believe Beckett has had his DL stretch, and that Schilling is halfway through his, how can you not think the Sox are going to win at least 95 games this year? Even if Schilling is out for a while, 95 seems a minimal goal.

So...

The Yankees are 36-37. Yup, back under .500. Unbelieveable. The Yankees would have to go 59-30 the rest of the way to get to 95 wins. 59-30. Basically, they'd have to win every series the rest of the way. Can they do it? Well, yeah, I guess. They certainly had a nice two-week stretch there a few weeks ago. But that's an awfully, awfully, tough task. And that's assuming the Sox only go 47-41 the rest of the way.

To sum this all up: I made plans to be away the weekend of Sept. 15-17, forgetting I have tickets for the Sox-Yanks game on the 15th. At this point, I'm confident I can be away and not miss anything. I don't think things will change over the next two-and-a-half months.

Two Non-Fitchburg Items

Because sometimes there's other stuff on my mind I want to talk about...

The worst-kept secret ever -- well, not really a secret it was so poorly kept -- became reality today, when Marty Meehan said he'll take the UMass-Lowell job he's been offered.

It sets off a pretty good political brew-ha-ha, with a bunch of folks looking at the seat. Most locally, Rep. Jamie Eldridge of Acton and former Lunenburg Selectman Steve Kerrigan (who also worked for Ted Kennedy and Tom Reilly is a genuinely good guy) are in the race. Nikki Tsongas is doing her semi-annual campaign tease, and other folks like Lowell City Councilor Eileen Donoghue, Middlesex Sheriff Jim DiPaola and probably one or two more and jockeying for position.

As the Phoenix's Talking Politics Blog astutely notes, the state senators in the district are taking a pass. Interesting.

In any event, we can't help but yap about what will be a most entertaining campaign (you can take the boy out of Lowell...). Good times ahead there. As some folks in these parts have noted before, it also might make things a bit interesting in a few years if the state has to drop a congressional district. You'd have to think the New Guy would be either forced out or pushed into a vicious survival battle with a longer incumbent. That's a ways away, so in the meantime, enjoy the election excitement.

-----

I might be the last guy -- and certainly the last mostly political blog guy -- who still remotely follows the Celtics, forget writing about them. But a funny thing has happened over the last few months: It's become pretty clear who can play (and should stay) and who can't.

Obviously, this team begins and ends with Paul Pierce. If the Celts are serious about getting Odum or Durrant, teaming that guy with Pierce makes the Cs instantly far more credible.

Ryan Gomes is a keeper. He's a fantastic role player and can go off from time to time. Gerald Green has oodles of potential, and needs to stay. Delonte West shouldn't be a starting point guard in the Association, but he's another role player who would be a valuable sixth or seventh guy on a good team.

Rajon Rondo appears to have a future, but it's too soon to tell just how good he can be. He has glimmers of greatness, but has struggled. He needs to incubate a bit more. Kendrick Perkins is a nice 8-9 guy in a rotation, but shouldn't be starting. He won't if Odum is on the team next year.

Sebastian Telfair has been a no-passing disappointment. Wally Szerbiak (I don't even care enough to look to see if that's spelled right) has been a brutal disappointment and can't stay healthy. He's rarely missed when he's not around anyway.

That about covers the rotation guys, except for Al Jefferson. He has been absolute monster the last few months, and finally fulfilling the promise he had shown his first couple of years: The dude can flat out play.

He's averaging a double-double since Christmas, but his game has improved beyond the numbers. He's confident, quick to make a move, and smart with the ball. He's rebounding like a fiend. He's even staying out of foul trouble pretty well. If nothing else, the save grace of this season has been the coming out party for Jefferson. He's become a pleasure to watch.

Let's say things go right for the C's in the lottery. You're looking at Pierce at the 3, and then Jefferson and Odum/Durrant at the 4 and 5. Nice. A little veteran leadership at the point, maybe a streak shooter off the bench to fill the 2 from time to time, and that's a team that could win 45-50 games. Not a championship team, but on the path.