Ask Julian Celtics mailbag: Opening tip
The questions came in fast and furious for our first Celtics mailbag this week. Submit yours for consideration in a future mailbag at anytime. On to the questions.
Q: We all know the Big 3 will show up for the playoffs and that Rondo will use the stage to show he can be the best. But besides those four, what player needs to get hot and stay hot to win a title? What player is going to be the first go-to-guy besides the Power 4? — Andrew Szymanski, Montgomery, Ala.
JB: Glen Davis usually finds a way to win a game or two in the postseason, and with the second unit still trying to find itself, he’s the only thing close to a certainty off the bench. Even if/when they return, no one’s sure how much Shaquille or Jermaine O’Neal will be able to give the Celtics. Shaq’s role won’t be huge, which is a good and a bad thing. Jermaine’s biggest contributions will be with his defense, but he thinks a lot about his offense even if no one else is. There’s no doubt you’ll see Glen Davis on the floor to close a few games out and he has to be a consistent option for the Celtics outside of the stars.
Q: What is going on with Rondo? He’s been off his game for quite some time. I know all players go through this, but being an important player on Celtics Rondo’s dismal performance will affect the outcome of lots of games, because he is the point guard. — Balaji Birali, Franklin
JB: That’s kind of the million-dollar question these days. He’s already admitted he’s never played this poorly in his career. This was supposed to be the season when his minutes dropped, but he’s playing more than ever (37.3 a night) after emptying the tank last season then trying to make Team USA this summer. Outside of the sprained pinky, which he’s legitimately irked by, no one wants to make his ankle or his foot issues a big deal, but physically and mentally it seemed like he hit a wall after playing out of his mind in the first half.
Q: If the Magic meet the Celtics in the playoffs and Krstic is Boston’s only center, will Dwight Howard score 100 points? — David Bieda, Southampton, Mass.
JB: It’s a scary thought, considering what he did to Atlanta last year in the playoffs. But Glen Davis is obviously pretty confident about guarding Howard. Not to menion, Howard’s two biggest games against the Celtics this year were both losses (33 points and 13 rebounds in a 109-106 loss at the Garden with Shaquille O’Neal starting in January and 28 points and 13 rebounds in a 91-90 loss at the Garden with Kendrick Perkins starting.) But if anything, Howard’s obviously combustible (17 techs this season) and Perkins knew how to get under his skin. Howard looked like he was going to score 100 in that February game then he and Perk got double-technicals and it derailed Howard’s entire night. I’m not sure Krstic’s got that in him.
Q: Are the Celts really that bad defensively without Perk? Is he truly the reason we look awful at times and have struggled the last 10-15 games? Do you see the C’s falling that far and failing to get out of the Eastern Conference Finals? — Greg Rabidoux, Clarksville, Tenn.
JB: Statistically, no. They’re holding teams to a league-low 90.9 points in the month of March, letting them shoot just 43.5 percent. But they have these monumental lapses where they’ll give up huge quarters like the 34-point second quarter a couple weeks ago in Houston.
Some of it has to do with Perkins leaving. He was programmed to defend and do the little things. Kevin Garnett was used to having him as a tag-team partner in the paint. The chemistry isn’t there with Krstic yet. But some of it has to do with Rondo’s struggles, too. Rondo admitted he’s not doing a great job defending pick-and-rolls and point guards have been taking advantage.
As far as getting out of the Eastern Conference, it’s going to be difficult. They’re putting themselves in a position where they could see Philadelphia in the first round, which could be a lot like the Bulls series they played a couple years ago (minus the overtimes), and if they get to the conference finals and see Miami or Chicago, neither of those teams will be easy outs.
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