The Truth Hurts

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@ix.netcom.com>]

Best article by Michael Gee in a long time.

http://www.bostonherald.com/sport/sports_columnists/gee08022001.htm


 Even with duo, C's behind 8-ball
by Michael Gee

Thursday, August 2, 2001

Precious few people are unhappy upon receipt of $85 million. Paul Pierce
was no exception to the rule yesterday.

``I'm a little nervous,'' Pierce said. ``This is one of the biggest days
of my life.''

Courtside at the FleetCenter, the Celtics swingman then signed his
six-year contract extension with a signature larger than John Hancock's,
suitable for autographing the basketball Pierce had brought to the
ceremony.

The person who spent the $85 million was cheery, too.

``This is a great day for the Celtics,'' declared general manager Chris
Wallace. ``With Paul and Antoine Walker, we have our two cornerstones in
tow for a long time to come.''

Pierce's signing was a foregone conclusion. The NBA labor rules designed
to limit salaries and inhibit player movement (in that order) made it
certain the Celtics would offer him all the money they could, and that
Pierce would accept the same.

``He's our free agent,'' Wallace said.

True. It's also undeniable that Walker and Pierce are going to be the
Celts' foundation for the future. As they go, so will the team.

``In this league more than any other,'' Wallace said. ``You're only as
good as your best players. Look at the Lakers. They win because
Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant are the league's best duo.''

Right again, Mr. Wallace. Walker and Pierce are surely the best Celts.
Thanks to the league rules, they'll stay that way for many seasons. The
Celtics are strongly discouraged (to the tune of multimillion dollar
fines called a ``tax'') from paying more megabucks for that rebounder
and point guard they could also use.

But the GM's ``Yahoo!'' is another observer's ``Hmmm.'' After all,
Walker and Pierce have already been the two best Celtics for the last
three seasons. Their record as franchise-building superstars has been,
to be polite, mixed. Shaq and Kobe they ain't.

It's not that Walker and Pierce lack the talent to be mutually
supportive superstars. On occasions, especially in the second half of
last season, they've actually done so. Such serendipity remains
sporadic. After a combined eight seasons in the NBA, neither man has
ever participated in a playoff game. That doesn't buff up a
cornerstone's resume.

Still, at least the Celts have potential cornerstones. Pierce has the
ability to be among the league's top seven or eight scorers each year.
Walker remains a disjointed compendium of talent that might yet unite
into a consistent All-Star. After the constant chaos of the Pitino Era,
perhaps an era of David Stern's enforced stability will help Pierce and
Walker grow awesome together.

If that happens, the Celtics will become a playoff team. That's
progress.

But it's all the progress they're likely to see.

Eastern Conference champs? Highly unlikely without a reliable inside
force. NBA champs? The C's are more likely to win the Stanley Cup.

Look at last year's Eastern titlists, the 76ers. First, Allen Iverson
went from tremendous but troubled talent (sound familiar?) to runaway
MVP. Then, Philly traded for Dikembe Mutumbo. And they still didn't get
a sniff of the Lakers in the finals.

The NBA's labor laws have destroyed competition for the foreseeable
future. Teams can't acquire critical masses of All-Star talent (under
the current rules, Dennis Johnson would never have joined the '80s
Celts). They can only improve when their stars get better. Since half
the NBA's teams have no stars, they also have no hope.

The Celts have a little hope, which is better than none. But there won't
be a new NBA champion until O'Neal gets old, bored, or both.