Celtic pride

Led by Pierce and O'Brien, Boston returns to prominence

Sports Illustrated senior writer Jack McCallum will answer your NBA questions every week during the season. Click here to send him a question.

Why do the Boston Celtics get no love from NBA analysts, including yourself? You've mentioned New Jersey, Orlando, Detroit and Philly -- all of which have been beaten by Boston this year -- as contenders in the East. The Celtics are flying high and getting no love, despite having the second-best record in the conference. Paul Pierce's MVP season? Jim O'Brien's impeccable coaching? Let's hear about it.
--Amol Sharma, Webster, Mass.

Well, Amol, I haven't gone back and reviewed everything I've written about the Celtics this season, but I certainly think they deserve love. (I don't recall mentioning Detroit as a bona fide contender, either, and I know I just kind of wrote off New Jersey last week, and I don't love Orlando except for T-Mac and ...) Jim O'Brien is a strong candidate for coach of the year and P.P. is among a group of six or seven players that have to be considered for MVP. I spent some time with Pierce this season and I really respect him as a player and a person.

The Feb. 21 trade with Phoenix that brought over Tony Delk and Rodney Rogers made the C's better, and they have a chance -- a chance -- of getting to the Eastern finals, though, in my opinion, no shot at winning the NBA championship. I still think of the 76ers as the true team to beat in the East, and, for the Celtics' sake, I hope they stay away from Philly in the first round.

I'm just a poor, stupid 14 year old, but I think that Paul Pierce deserves some MVP consideration. Personally, I think he is the most underrated player except for Andre Miller. I usually keep my mouth shut, but it ticks me off that Pierce is never mentioned as an MVP candidate. Do you think he deserves some consideration, Mr. McCallum?
--Dave, Wheaton Ill.

Dave, see above. In the MVP race right now, I would choose, in the following order: Tim Duncan, Jason Kidd and Shaq. And maybe Pierce and McGrady next. By the way, I'm a poor, stupid 52 year old, so we have something in common.

Can you see Red Auerbach giving free-agent-to-be Tim Duncan the following sales pitch: Sign with us and you'd be the dominant center on a winning team that has a storied history. If you join the Celtics and we dethrone the Lakers while renewing our rivalry with them, you will have more of an impact in the league than if you languish next to the aging Admiral. Imagine a frontcourt of yourself, Pierce and Antoine Walker (bringing back memories of the Bird, Parish and McHale era) meeting Shaq and Kobe in the NBA Finals? Could it happen, Jack? Can you think of a better scenario for the NBA's sagging ratings?
--David Starr, New York

Man, this must be some sort of unofficial Celtics week. (Probably has something to do with St. Pattie's Day earlier this week.) Well, Duncan, Pierce and Walker would be a helluva frontcourt, even though A.W. and P.P. hoist up enough threes that they resemble a backcourt. If there's one player in the league who keeps his mouth shut about his future plans it's Duncan, so I have to be honest: Except for the early whispers about him liking Orlando, I have no idea where he wants to play or if he wants to stay in San Antonio.

I am a long-suffering Warriors fan. I heard a report that Jerry West was considering coming out of retirement and would like to work for one of three teams, the Warriors being one of them. How valid are those rumors? Someone like West would bring instant credibility to the franchise, and we could finally give Gary St. Jean his walking papers. Also, after four years in the league, is it time to classify Antawn Jamison as a bust? Or at least someone not deserving of the huge contract he received?
--Peter, Oakland, Calif.

Oh, there are few things safer, Peter, than that last supposition. A.J. seems destined to be remembered as a guy who put up those back-to-back 51-point games last season and then did little else.

I think the Jerry West rumors have some validity, though let me emphasize that I have not talked to him. I don't think the former Lakers GM wants to uproot, but if he took the Warriors' job he could stay on the Left Coast. Bringing in West could result in a chain reaction of events that would bring the franchise credibility: A legit coach (Jeff Van Gundy?) and free agents willing to go there.

I saw Jalen Rose single-handedly destroy Houston on March 16, as he scored 45 points and made the game-winning shot. I really think if the Chicago Bulls improve in the offseason and get their two young guys (Eddy Curry, Tyson Chandler) going, they may have something special. Do you think there could be a new era in Chicago?
--Omar Ismaeel, Washington

I've written, Omar, that the Jalen Rose trade was good for the Bulls and the Pacers. With all the talk about what Indiana received, the best player by far in that deal was Rose, and he's made the Bulls instantly more competitive. So has new coach Bill Cartwright. So has Chandler, now that he's getting a chance. Curry needs some work. But the Bulls are in that Eastern Conference where, as you know, it doesn't take much to move up. But before you talk about "a new era" or start mentally constructing any more statues, better set next year's goal as making the playoffs.

Be honest with me. Is it time for the Timberwolves to let old Flip Saunders go? Come on, he hasn't done anything new in the last five years and the team seems to be stuck in third gear. Wouldn't some fresh meat in the driver's seat do some good for the Wolves?
--Jethro Montzka, Bemidji, Minn.

I will be honest with you: What gets misspelled more: Jethro, Montzka, or Bemidji? J.M. (those are good initials, by the way), I positively DO NOT agree with you. I think Saunders is a terrific coach and the rest of the league does, too. Yes, the Wolves are slipping a little and look as if they might fall behind the Blazers in the Western Conference. But most everyone I talk to agrees they are a team that will continue to rise.

Jack, what kind of chance do you give the Clippers to catch Utah, or even Seattle, for the final playoff spot in the West? While it's obvious that L.A. would get crushed no matter who they played in the first round, don't you think it would be good to see some fresh blood in the postseason, rather than the old, tired Jazz?
--Jim B., Syracuse, N.Y.

I assume Jim B. from Syracuse is not my old friend, Jim Boeheim? I did a story earlier in the year for Sports Illustrated on Elton Brand and fell in love with the Clippers and their youth and energy and freshness. So, yes, they would bring some life into the playoffs, if only so everyone could write about that unknown, head-pounding signal that Quentin Richardson and Darius Miles do after almost every play. But when you're an aging 52 year old who has covered Malone and Stockton for a long time, you don't call the Jazz old and tired.

Sports Illustrated senior writer Jack McCallum will answer your NBA questions every week during the season. Click here to send him a question.

 

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