The 09-10 Boston Celtics: Greatest team that never was?

[JMapleton]

If anyone follows basketball, wrap your brain around this starting lineup:

Ray Allen - G
Rajon Rondo - G
Paul Pierce- F
Kevin Garnett - F
Rasheed Wallace - C

http://www.nba.com/celtics/roster/2009-2010-roster.html

A first class, all star wrecking crew from NBA legend. Mind boggling.

They haven't been winning because injuries have plagued the team.

But if they could get healthy, this could be one of, if not, the greatest team(s) of all time.

Flame away and tell me I'm wrong.

 

[WT]

Look at the 2003 Lakers lineup:

Gary Payton - G
Kobe Bryant - G
Shaq - C
Karl Malone - F
Horace Grant - F

A stacked lineup, and even the bench was quality with Rick Fox, Derek Fisher, Devean George and Byron Russell to get some minutes. But some were just a bit too far past their prime, and team chemistry was horrible as well. Hard to say whether another year together as a team for the group would have changed a thing.

 

[JMapleton]

Look at the 2003 Lakers lineup:

Gary Payton - G
Kobe Bryant - G
Shaq - C
Karl Malone - F
Horace Grant - F

A stacked lineup, and even the bench was quality with Rick Fox, Derek Fisher, Devean George and Byron Russell to get some minutes. But some were just a bit too far past their prime, and team chemistry was horrible as well. Hard to say whether another year together as a team for the group would have changed a thing.

You have a point, that was one badass team.

I still think the Celtics will take the title this year easily if they get healthy before the playoffs and stay that way.

 

[UncleWai]

On paper I will take magic's full strength line-up with the deep bench any day over the celtics.

 

[Lonyo]

I'm pretty sure the fact that they have 5 amazing players but haven't been doing so well tells you that as a team they aren't the greatest.
The greatest team would have those same 5 players, but as UncleWai suggests, a deep bench that means everyone would be able to perform to a top level.
5 great players does not a good team make.

 

[MrMatt]

If anyone follows basketball, wrap your brain around this starting lineup:

Ray Allen - G
Rajon Rondo - G
Paul Pierce- F
Kevin Garnett - F
Rasheed Wallace - C

http://www.nba.com/celtics/roster/2009-2010-roster.html

A first class, all star wrecking crew from NBA legend. Mind boggling.

They haven't been winning because injuries have plagued the team.

But if they could get healthy, this could be one of, if not, the greatest team(s) of all time.

Flame away and tell me I'm wrong.

Sheed doesn't start, Perk does. Kevin Garnett has bum knees. Ray Allen can't defend anymore. If you could put each of those players on the team at their peaks, then yeah, great team. But they're not at their peaks. It's about the players skill, not their names. Using your logic if I could put Michael Jordan on a team now it'd be the greatest of all time, despite the fact that he's 45 or whatever.

But yeah, I don't mind KG sitting now, save his legs for the playoffs. Same with Allen & Pierce (my all-time favorite Celtic). But yeah, greatest lineup of all time? Not even close. Rasheed's never even been 1st team all-nba I believe.

 

[Marinski]

Celtics are getting old, fast. If Garnett is at full strength then maybe they can make a run but Orlando, Atlanta, Cleveland are probably better. Plus, they play in the weaker eastern conference.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

I'd take any of the 6 NBA championship Bulls team with Jordan over the current Celtics. I'd take the Utah teams with Malone, Stockton, Hornacek. Last years Lakers team and this years Lakers team. This years Cavs and Magic team. I have a list of about 100 teams I'd take before this decrepit Celtics team.

 

[child of wonder]

Garnett is so banged up I don't think they can do it again this year. Not to mention Ray Allen is rapidly declining on defense (not that he was a great defender to begin with) and Pierce is starting to decline overall.

Rondo is the big reason they even have the amount of wins they do.

Being a Timberwolves fan I'm happy KG finally got a championship but I'm also happy we moved him when we did because not less than 2 years later his body is finally giving out.

 

[MotF Bane]

Celtics are just getting too old at this point.

 

[Miramonti]

Celtics have gotten too old at this point.

fixed.

 

[LikeLinus]

Nevermind, it says that never was. Misread that.

 

[Fizzorin]

Iverson, Carter, McGrady, Marbury, Francis, Webber, Davis, Miles, Walker, Marion, Houston, Magette, ... Garnett???

Yes, Kevin Garnett is, in fact, a stealth member of the list of lottery picks from 1993-2000 (the "me-first" era) who had big names and decent production but were absolutely, 100% incapable of making the players around them better (and often made them worse [see: Iverson, Carter, McGrady]).

 

[Gibsons]

Look at the 2003 Lakers lineup:

Gary Payton's corpse - G
Kobe Bryant - G
Shaq - C
Karl Malone's corpse - F
Horace Grant's corpse - F

Fixed.

 

[Lamont Burns]

Your way overrating Allen and Wallace at this point in their careers. That's not even the best Celtic lineup of all time.

 

[vi edit]

Iverson, Carter, McGrady, Marbury, Francis, Webber, Davis, Miles, Walker, Marion, Houston, Magette, ... Garnett???

Yes, Kevin Garnett is, in fact, a stealth member of the list of lottery picks from 1993-2000 (the "me-first" era) who had big names and decent production but were absolutely, 100% incapable of making the players around them better (and often made them worse [see: Iverson, Carter, McGrady]).

When Garnett was stuck in MN, is there still anyone that he played with that is even on a starting roster ?

He had a billion year old Sam Cassell, Latrell Sprewell, Eddie Griffin and Wally Szerbiac for teammates. Micheal Jordan wouldn't have been able to get that crew through a playoff run.

 

[MrMatt]

Your way overrating Allen and Wallace at this point in their careers. That's not even the best Celtic lineup of all time.

or the last 3 years

 

[Gibson486]

Look at the Pats this year. Did you really think that team would just barely finish first in their division?

 

[Regs]

Basketball needs 10 player squads on a bigger court.

 

[Krazy4Real]

No.

 

[thegimp03]

No way...team is too old and they won't bring it together when it counts.

 

[DesiPower]

N O - NO
how can it be greatest if they do not win even a single conference championships let alone national. GreatEST teams dont get beaten by underdogs in a best of 7 match. They are just a bunch of regular old basketball players like SA Suprs. I really HATE to say this but Lakers... thats a different story.

 

[krunchykrome]

Luc Longley
Dennis Rodman
Scottie Pippen
Michael Jordan
Ron Harper

Bench:
Toni Kukoc

 

[jalaram]

I thought this thread would've been about last year's Celtics team. Didn't they have a phenomenal start until KG got hurt?

And honestly, the following C's team (and any with Russell) would cream the current one:

Bird
Parish
McHale
Johnson
Ainge

Bench:
Walton

 

[AMDZen]

Nuggets are better

Carmelo Anthony F
Chauncey Billups G
Kenyon Martin F
J.R. Smith G
Ty Lawson G

#1 scorer in the whole league, arguably one of the best draft picks last year even though they made it to the conf champianship.