Are they declining?

[celticfanreseda]

if DA gets it right again, he will sorround them with young players that can prolong their careers. DA and doc already had a plan in mind for the inevitable. The great part about following celtics bball is to see how it plays out. last offseason we were worried about the lottery and who will get drafted at the 5th spot or who they should trade for.

This year were worried if the big 3 can go back to back. Spurs have'nt been able to and we'll have to wait and see if the big 3 can.

I feel that KG will have that same hunger hi did a year ago. PP and RA is in question. will they be complacent? i think not. i think the yiounger guys will carry the load in the reg season and come playoff time, RA and PP will turn their games up again.

Only time will tell!

[ramshackle75]

If winning a championship means they're slowing down as players, I hope my decline goes something like that, too.

[captain_cheapseats]

hehe, nice sig ramshackle75!

[rambo_ortega]

not at all, they're even maturing very wisely which includes preserving their stamina considering that they're not getting any younger. in terms of game, they are still at a very high level and you can even see it in crucial stretches of our championship runs. they declined in statistical production just because the team is playing great and they have fewer touches with the big 3 together.

[ramshackle75]

hehe, nice sig ramshackle75!

Thanks, cap'n! Scal is my hero. Not the best player in the world, but still my freakin' hero.

[Tenbomber]

hehe, nice sig ramshackle75!

Thanks, cap'n! Scal is my hero. Not the best player in the world, but still my freakin' hero.

A World Champion is something to be!

Go get em Scal!

[billfromBoston]

I'd really like to know how people are defining and IDing this perceived decline...while it is natural for physical gifts to ebb over time, there are plenty of players who've played at a very high level into their mid-thirties...

As for GPA, I didn't perceive anything i'd consider "decline" past their current All Star ability...each was as effecient as they've ever been in their careers and any inconsistencies in their play I attribute to acclimating to each other...the performance in the ECF and finals were enough for me to worry very little about "decline"...

[drza]

In a way I feel that it's a catch-22. GPA all knew that they had to sacrifice certain parts of their games and become better/more efficient at their given roles in order to win a title. To do this, they knew that necessarily their volume numbers would go down, but that if they stuck to their individual roles it would likely lead to a title.

They did this.

Now, people are taking the very actions and sacrifices that led to that title as proof of a decline. As Bill points out, while their points per game went down, all three of their shooting efficiencies went up. While KG's rebounding numbers went down, he channeled that rebounding energy into playing some of the best man/team defense of his career. I think one would be hard-pressed to use their performances this season, especially for Pierce and KG, as any kind of evidence of a decline.

[MyInsatiableOne]

WE NEED TO BLOW THIS TEAM UP ASAP, it is the only way

Come on now.. seriously.

I know...we only won the title...but since it took us 6 games to do it instead of 5 and since we went 7 games with Atlanta and Cleveland, clearly the team should be dismantled and we need to rebuild again...

honestly...