Is the 2024 Celtics better than the 2008 Celtics?
With this years group holding a 2-0 series lead over the Dallas Mavericks and only have lost 2 games this entire post season many people are saying this is a top 5 Celtics team all-time. At the age of 38 I couldn’t tell you anything about the 80’s teams. The best Celtics team I have ever saw was the 08 Celtics and when I bring up the 08 Celtics people say this team would destroy them.
You have to break it down. Position by position, coach vs coach and hell, GM vs GM. Let’s start with that.
Danny Ainge or Brad Stevens
Danny Ainge revitalized the Celtics organization. Growing up the Celtics were a joke, the early to mid 90s saw a group of guys where you would say, “who the hell is that?!” A league dominated by Michael Jordan, the only time the Garden was sold out is when he was coming to town, other than that you could go watch this putrid team for dirt cheap. From 1995-2001 this team didn’t even make the playoffs (weird to think that now a days). When Danny was hired in 2003 you could tell he was about to change the Celtics landscape, being a former Celtic himself during the glory years he knew that the city had lost its championship perigee.
Danny Ainge wanted to bring a championship to the city and did it by becoming “Trader Danny” and pulling off the greatest fleece in NBA history. It started with with keeping Paul Pierce here and that was an obstacle in it self but then trading Wally Sczcerbiak, Delonte West, 2007 1st round pick in exchange for Ray Allen. The second and biggest piece of the puzzle was first convincing then trading for Kevin Garnett, who at the time couldn’t get past the Lakers and wanted to win a championship in the worst way. The Celtics sent Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Sebastian Telfair, Gerald Green, Theo Ratliff, cash considerations, Boston's 2009 first-round draft pick (top 3 protected), and the 2009 first-round pick for KG! Which would later result into the an NBA championship. Trader Danny also later on landed us two guys named Jaylen and Jason but we can talk about them later on.
While Brad Stevens is new to this he did send out trash in exchange for gold. With out getting rid of Marcus Smart, Robert Williams, and Malcolm Brogdon, I don’t think in my opinion we would be where we are now.
Danny Ainge wins
Doc Rivers or Joe Mazzulla
This one is easy, you got a guy who chokes in the playoffs and the other guy who doesn’t know how to make adjustments during games.
Push both guys suck
Rajon Rondo or J’rue Holiday
Both of these guys know their role, which in a time of diva players is a rarity. Rajon Rondo would be able to find the open player and rack up the assists on the score sheet. He could also lock you down on the defensive side of the court….but J’rue can do all of that and something that Rondo could not, and that’s score. J’rue is an unselfish player who takes his opportunities when the team needs him too. You just ask this guy what to do and he does it. No questions asked. You need him to step up and score, go look at game 2. You need him to make a stop defensively, go look at his 6 all defensive team awards. You need him to distribute the ball and away shot selections he does that too.
J’rue Holiday wins
Ray Allen or Derrick White
Derrick White is a fan favorite here in Boston. Just one of the most lovable guys on this roster and the sponsors take notice since you can see him in at least 1 commercial during any Celtics game. Like J’rue, does what he needs to do to help this team win. Coming from San Antonio most casual fans asked the question, “Who the hell is this guy?” But most now are saying, “we love fucking Derrick White!” (In the most Boston accent ever). Leading the team in assists, he’s humble and just balls out. But, he’s no Ray Allen. Like White, Allen bounced around from shitty teams like the Bucks and Super Sonics before coming to a winning organization. Ray Allen took a lesser role coming to the Celtics but is one of the best pure shooters in NBA history. He is also the star in one of my favorite movies playing Jesus Shuttlesworth in “He Got Game” and if you never have watched that movie go check it out.
Ray Allen wins
Paul Pierce or Jaylen Brown
Jaylen Brown has balled out this post season and has earned that $300 million dollar extension this past offseason. He’s the 1A this post season and his peers, the media and even Jayson Tatum has come out and said it. I’m excited to see what he can do for years to come whether that’s here or somewhere else, he’s solidifying his career with this run as a top 10 player possibly in the NBA because of what he’s done this year. With all that he’s no Paul Pierce, the captain, the man who if not here still in 08 and demanded to be traded we wouldn’t be talking about banner 18 but instead of tying the Lakers with 17 this year. Paul suffered through the lows and if he wasn’t here Ray and KG definitely wouldn’t have become Celtics. Paul Pierce was Mr. Celtic for me growing up and Jaylen with all his accomplishments so far isn’t there yet.
Paul Pierce wins
KG or Jayson Tatum
Ooooooo boy this is the matchup of all. Jayson Tatum will soon be the face of the league and if he can do what KG did and win a championship here in Boston he will have that number 0 hanging up in the rafters. Without KG here in 08, Pierce and Allen don’t win a championship. They needed KG’s leadership and intensity to win that championship. Jayson Tatum this year is getting it especially during these finals. People are throwing shade on a guy because of his scoring slump but the man is getting double and triple teamed every time he goes to the basket. Yet instead of forcing up a bad shot he’s find the open man. Jack Simone said it best on his recent pod that years before he tried to be Kobe or LeBron but now he’s driving and saying shit if there is 3 guys on me who is open and finding that guy. Both KG and Tatum are extremely important to their teams success.
Push
Kendrick Perkins or Porzingis
Kendrick Perkins was just a bully that would lock up the paint and take your big man out. Porzingis has shown that he can be a great defender and also shoot the ball something Perkins definitely couldn’t do. This is easy.
Porzingis wins
6th man James Posey or Al Horford
Posey was good off the bench averaging 7.4 PPG, 1.5 APG, and 4.4 RPG but he’s no Al Horford. The big man has had an illustrious career and the only thing that’s needed is an NBA championship. At 38 he’s still competing and doing everything that is needed to help win games. When Porzingis went down he came back in the starting lineup and had solid minutes. The whole region wants to see this man win an NBA championship and hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy.
Al Horford wins
With all that said the 2008 team at this moment right now is better, now ask me this question again in 5 years and if the Jays have multiple championships and Joe Mazzulla learns how to coach then we could have a different outcome but in order for the 2024 team to be in this conversation they need to finish the job and win the Championship.