In 2008, the Boston Celtics had the big three and at the end of the season were NBA champions. In 2010, they were they arch-nemesis of LeBron James and the Miami Heat. At the start of this season, they were a mid-level, fast team with a young coach and an All-Star point guard. This week marked the beginning of a new challenge: finding a new identity.
The team finding a new identity starts with their young players finding their game. Coach Brad Stevens will have to find himself as well and grow with his players. This time next year Stevens will have an entirely different cast of players to showcase.
Rajon Rondo is out the door and Jeff Green will be next. The C’s are cutting off all the fat and preparing for a long, painful rebuild. This leaves young guys like Kelly Olynyk, Marcus Smart and Tyler Zeller to develop and instill their future on the team.
The Celtics simply did not look like they wanted to be playing in the first half against the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night. They played lethargically and were outscored 53-30 as a result. They did, however, battle back to within three points after an impressive 27-3 run.
The Celtics showed a lot of heart in the fourth quarter on Tuesday, and the heart of this team is the foundation of which to build upon. The heart of the coach, players and fans refuses to die.
Kevin McHugh is a Boston Celtics writer for www.Rantsports.com. Follow him on Twitter @MchughintheBean or add him to your network on Google.
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