17 thoughts on the 2008 Celtics’ mini-reunion and Ray Allen
COMMENTARY
Seventeen thoughts on the televised mini-reunion Monday night of the 2007-08 Celtics, the brash and brilliant champions who hung the 17th banner . . .
1. I’ve been meaning to write about Kevin Garnett’s “Area 21” segments during TNT’s NBA broadcasts for my media column, but for whatever reason never got around to knocking out a few words on it this season. So here’s the abridged version: “Area 21” is fast becoming the best thing about TNT’s NBA coverage, and considering the network still features the best studio program in sports, that’s high praise.
2. Garnett’s segments are candid and cool. The vibe of his conversational style inevitably leads to casual camaraderie with his guests, whether they’re complicated former teammates such as Latrell Spreewell, Celtics star Isaiah Thomas, or the worst football analyst in the history of television, Ray Lewis. All have been guests this season.
3. But when I reported last week that his guests this Monday would include former Celtics teammates Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo, Kendrick Perkins, and Glen Davis, the anticipation — particularly in New England — was piqued. And ultimately, the gathering did not disappoint, particularly because the assembled former stars were candid about the notable absence among them, Ray Allen.
4. Part of the enduring appeal of this group of Celtics, beyond the obvious fact that they claimed the franchise’s first title since 1986, is that there was an edginess to them, a collective competitive nature that occasionally led to them fighting among themselves but also always resulted in having each others’ backs on the court. And so their saltiness regarding Allen’s decision to join the rival Miami Heat in July 2012 — he’s not invited to any of their reunion activities — is totally in character, and part of their enduring charm. It’s a lingering manifestation of their relentless competitiveness on the court.
5. The players made it clear during the conversation that it wasn’t just Allen’s decision to leave that angered them, but more so that he never told them of his plans, even after all they’d been through. “It ain’t what he did, it’s how he did it,’’ said Perkins. Their pride was hurt, it still stings five years after it happened, and to no one’s surprise, Allen is just as stubborn about mending the relationship as they are. They’re all more alike than they realize.
6. I hope Celtics fans still don’t hold this against Allen. He was the player who sacrificed the most by far when he, Pierce, and Garnett joined forces in the summer of 2007. He had an argument to be the Finals MVP in 2008 (Pierce won), hit countless huge shots in his time here, yet had to deal with numerous trade rumors (Danny Ainge nearly sent him to the Grizzlies for O.J. Mayo), lost playing time to Avery Bradley, and had to endure more dents to his pride than any of the established players on the roster. It’s understandable that he wasn’t feeling the Ubuntu at the end.
7. Some of the rationalization for not inviting Allen was a stretch. Garnett said at one point, ‘’It was all Celtics invited to this,’’ which made absolutely no sense when considering that the five players on the stage played for a total of 13 teams other than the Celtics. Further, all played for at least two other teams after leaving the Celtics, while Allen played for just one more, the Heat. Allen’s number probably will never be retired here, but it’s a bit much for his scorned peers to decide who gets to be a “true” Celtic and who doesn’t.
8. Perkins suggested something I hadn’t considered before, and something with which Pierce and Garnett both quickly agreed: The breakup of that championship team really began when sixth man extraordinaire James Posey departed as a free agent in the ensuing offseason. Posey was a great fit with the 2007-08 Celtics. He was copacetic in a hyper-intense way with Garnett, had a handshake and a hug for every teammate, played relentless defense, and knocked down a bunch of big shots along the way. The man earned his ring.
9. But the lamentations of his departure serve as further evidence that a general manager can never allow his players to make decisions for him. Posey signed a four-year deal for a reported $25 million with the Hornets in July 2008. He was out of the league three years into the deal.
10. Rondo smiled more during the segments than he did during his entire Celtics career, and that isn’t even close to being hyperbolic. He gave up nothing on his tense relationship with Allen, though he did confirm on Doc Rivers’s prompting that he once threw a water bottle through a television monitor during a film session.
11. Amusing to hear the nicknames they have for each other. Garnett is Ticket, abbreviated from Big Ticket. Pierce is Truth; dropping the definite article “the” makes it even more candid, I suppose. Rondo is Do (pronounced Doe). Davis is, still and forever, Big Baby. And Perkins is . . . Swamp Thing. Not sure the genesis of that one, but it probably doesn’t require too much imagination.
12. This is not news to longtime Celtics personnel and beat reporters, but Perkins has a wonderful storytelling manner and voice. Comcast SportsNet should hire him to voice over condensed hourlong replays of games from that 2007-08 season. Silly idea? I’ve seen worse programming.
13. Davis ripped Rivers in February, calling him overrated and “lucky as hell’’ to have coached a group like the 2007-08 Celtics. So it was not surprising that the awkwardness was palpable when Rivers made a surprise appearance via video to discuss what it was like coaching that team.
14. When Davis saw Rivers on the screen, he put his hand over his eyes and looked away, and didn’t contribute to the discussion until Rivers’s appearance was wrapping up. Rivers was especially tough on Davis, never the most conscientious player, and he’s unapologetic about it. The Allen situation isn’t the only visible scar with Davis.
15. Davis referred to the five players on the show a couple of times as “the Beatles.” Wonder if Big Baby would get it if someone referred to him as “Pete Best.”
16. Perkins noted at one point that they hadn’t invited Scot Pollard or Brian Scalabrine to the festivities because they couldn’t find either of them. I’m not sure where Pollard is these days, but Scal is more ubiquitous than the NBA logo these days.
17. And somewhere, Gabe Pruitt keeps checking his mailbox.
Chad Finn can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @GlobeChadFinn.
