Thanksgiving Should Come Early this Year

Rosalie mentioned the unrest some people have about the possibility that KG's injury could be severe enough so that he'll never be able to regain enough of his form to lead the Celtics to another championship.  It follows that those people would then ask, "Was it worth it to give up all those promising prospects for Ray and KG just for a one-and-done championship?"

Obviously, all good Celtics fans fervently wish KG the best and hope against hope that, sooner rather than later, he'll be back to full strength (or close enough to help propel the team to championship #18).  And, with only a few days to go before we'll probably have more definitive answers about his situation, I almost hate to write about this topic for fear of jinxing him.

But, just for the heck of it, what if the worst happens?  Let's not talk about injuries (the "jinx" factor); but let's assume that KG were suddenly called away to serve permanently as a missionary in the Australian Outback.  (Forget the implications about retirement and salary cap room, etc.; it's my fantasy.)  For one reason or another, assume he's now gone.  Following are my Top Ten reasons for not panicking and for giving thanks that I'm a Celtics fan at this time:

1. We'd still be left with a contender.  In fact, without adding a player, we'd still have 11 veterans available for 12 active roster slots (Perk, Paul, Rondo, Ray, Baby, Sheed, Eddie, Daniels, Williams, Tony, Scal), with at least two young guys (Giddens and Walker) busting their guts to get on that list and possibly another one (Hudson) knocking on the door.

2. Power forward is all of a sudden one of the deepest positions on the team, and Sheed, Baby, Williams and Scal would still be available to meet a need that Baby and Scal alone filled serviceably in last season's playoffs.

3. By not yet addressing the 15th roster spot, Danny has left himself the option of acquiring yet another player at the veteran's minimum.  He could be a PG, but he could also be a big man if needed—obviously not a great one, but at least another body in case of foul trouble, etc.  In fact, it could KG's unresolved situation, as much as PG questions, that has resulted in Danny's inaction to date.

4. Among Sheed, Baby, Williams, Scal, and possibly another guy, not one of them will provide the total package of ingredients represented by KG.  But I'm not convinced that a team this deep and versatile will require as many of those ingredients from one man as the Celtics needed in the past.

5. Doc has proven to be pretty good at adapting the team's style of play to the capabilities of his roster...with the success of his rag tag lineups in the playoffs being an especially good indication.  In the absence of KG, Doc and Thibs would be put to the "adaptation test."  But it could just be that Baby and/or Williams (both of whom I believe face challenges in discovering their optimal roles with this season's Celts) will prove to be difference-makers in one area or another of the game.  And one area of difference-making is all that's required of role players like them.  (More to come on that topic in another post.)

6. I don't know about anyone else, but I wouldn't have traded the chance to be at the 2008 Rolling Rally for anything.  That championship came out of left field, and I will forever be grateful for it.

7. I haven't seen anything from all those prospects who left Boston in the Ray and KG trades that would suggest the Celtics would be anywhere near the same shape with them on board rather than #20 and $5.  Guys like Al Jefferson and Gomes are growing into very dependable NBA players, but I'm not sensing that they exert the kinds of leadership and "NBA savoire faire" exhibited by the Three Amigos.

8. Think of the non-championship benefits that have accrued as a result of the trade.  The Celtics have returned to respectability.  They have become an attractive destination for valuable additions to the team.  Younger players such as Perk and Rondo have had an opportunity to mature within the "womb" of an experienced core.  Paul Pierce not only hung around but also was re-energized to the point of being able to put the Celts on his back when required.

9. Aside from the impact of Ray and KG on the other players and the "product" on the court, Doc, Danny and ownership have formed a highly competent hierarchy funded on mutual respect, trust and enthusiasm.  And the fan base has solidified and strengthened through the advent of "new blood."

10. Even if one forgets the Russell Years (which I know the fans of a certain Left Coast team, in their infinite and unending embarrassment, would dearly love to do), the Celtics have won 15% of all available championships from 1970 onward.  They're not the leaders in that respect, but they're not the Chicago Cubs in terms of championship hiatus either.  Heck, with 30 teams in the league, the purely mathematical "share" of championships should be 3% per team.  So, even adjusting for the varying numbers of team in the league over the years, we Celtics fans have probably enjoyed upwards of five times as much championship fun as should theoretically be our "share."  And, even in the 23 years since 1986, the Celtics have won 4% of the available championships.  That's better than zero, and it's also better than 80% of the teams in the league have accomplished over that span.

So I hope for the most favorable possible outcome regarding KG's injury.  Presumably he'll defer any Australian missionary work until he retires from the NBA due to old age.  But, come what may, I'm very grateful to be a Celtics fan, and I'm prepared to support them through thick and thin...no matter what.

In fact, I'm so grateful that, just yesterday, I went out for a bite of pre-Thanksgiving turkey.  But the sucker darted under some brush before I could catch it.  Bah-da-bing!

Best regards,

Sam