Blog

The jury is still out, but it looks like all it took to fix the Los Angeles Lakers was a certain Hall of Fame point guard.  You know the one, goes by the name of Nash.  You saw what happened last night – after digging a hole and looking like a team that might continue its funk, the Lakers got it together in time to force overtime against the host Golden State Warriors, before coming out on top and becoming the darlings of the NBA once again.

Suddenly, all is right in Hollywood.

Can’t say the same thing for our Boston Celtics.  If we were a discombobulated mess – which we are – and we had a core of Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Nash, then I would be more hopeful for our immediate future.  But to borrow a quote from the the mouth of a frustrated Rick Pitino, Steve Nash ain’t walking through that door.  Neither is a young center/stud in the form of Howard.

What it looks like we’ve got on our hands is a team that will scrap and claw its way into the playoffs, only to find itself out-manned and out-gunned.

No, I’m not giving up on the season.  And I’m a positive person.  But I’m also a realist when it comes to the current state of this team.  And try as I might – and the romanticist in me has tried mightily – I can’t envision this team as a serious contender to come out of the East, let alone entertain thoughts of an NBA Championship.

Not this season.

Not unless Danny Ainge gets some help in the paint.

And what a shame, because I’m sure that Kevin Garnett didn’t come back for this.  In his mind the Celtics were going to compete this year, and that the team would make a serious push to get it done while there is still fight in those legs of his.

But despite the roster tweaking, this team just isn’t equipped to get it done.

Meanwhile, the return of Nash has changed the tone for Laker Nation.  Suddenly, the dark clouds have lifted and this team is now the threat that everyone purple-and-gold fanatic hoped that it would become.

Sure, its only one game.  And OKC is still the beast.  And the Spurs continue to amaze.  And the Clippers are playing like they may not lose another game this season.  And the just-vanquished Warriors are the feel-good story of this young season.  And we haven’t even talked about the Grizzlies.

But trust me – you know how this thing is going to work out.  We’re talking about the Lakers.  The Spurs?  They played great all season long, then folded like a cheap suit in the playoffs.  The only legit threat to the Lakers are the Thunder.  Period.  Point blank.

Meanwhile, back in Boston, the Celtics taste-test has first round exit written all over it.

And I haven’t given up on our Celtics.

I’m just sayin’….