Boston Celtics fans finally have something to cheer about. Heading into the 2001 all-star break, they may finally be able to stop longing for the days of McHale, Bird, and Parish.
Despite the Celtics' mediocre 21-27 record, they are cruising into the break on the heels of an impressive 7-3 showing in their last ten games. The swing was highlighted by a six-game winning streak, led by the team's tandem of young stars, Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker.
Walker and Pierce have stepped up their games this year, averaging 22.6 and 24.5 points per game, respectively. Pierce has been an inspiration for his team, Boston fans, and NBA fans everywhere, surviving a pre-season stabbing and coming back to have a breakout year.
The Celtics' new head coach, former assistant Jim O'Brien, is hoping his team will continue to follow the lead of his two young stars.
While much has been made of the Walker/Pierce duo keying the Celts turnaround, O'Brien has also impressed since taking over the Celts on January 8th, after Rick Pitino ended his tumultuous three-and-a-half seasons with the green and white.
Pitino had previously coached the New York Knicks from1987-1989, and then led the University of Kentucky Wildcats for over six seasons. He became legendary for revamping a troubled program and topped it off by winning the national championship in 1996.
While Pitino's style didn't always fit with the "me first" attitude of today's NBA, the Celtics appear to be in good hands with Jim O'Brien and are steadily improving. In the watered-down Eastern Conference, Boston now lies only a half-game outside the final playoff spot currently held by the Indiana Pacers.
With Pierce and Walker among the league leaders in scoring, look for the Celtics to make a surge towards the playoffs and sneak in to the seventh or eighth spot.
While the Celtics seem to be on the right track, the real Cinderella team so far has been the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks have relied on spectacular coaching and balanced scoring to get them a 28-17 record, good enough for second in the east, behind the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Bucks, who started off the season by going 6-9 in November, have rebounded back to the top of the Central division, sporting an 8-2 record over their last ten contests. The team's starting five are all averaging double digits in points.
The unquestioned leaders of the team are All-Stars Glenn Robinson and Ray Allen. Both are having stellar seasons, averaging over 21 points a game. In addition, the acquisition of guard Lindsey Hunter from the Detroit Pistons is also paying off, as the eight-year veteran is averaging 11 points a game.
Sam Cassell has provided the team with leadership at the point guard spot while averaging 17 points per game, and some view his omission from this year's All-Star team as a snub.
Despite quality players throughout the starting lineup, the anchor of the team is coach George Karl, who despite never having won a title has guided his teams into the playoffs in every full season he has coached.
After some clashes with the Seattle Supersonics' front office in 1997, Karl was fired. He landed the Bucks' head coaching job for the strike shortened 1998-1999 season, leading the team to an impressive 28-22 record, its first winning season in seven years.
Last year, the Bucks nearly knocked off the eventual Eastern Conference champions, the Pacers, in a tough five-game first round playoff battle.
With Karl's leadership and the blossoming of young talent, the Bucks should lock up the two or three spot in the East and could be a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs.
While the Celtics and Bucks are on the rise, a team that appeared to be on a similar path before tumbling back into reality is the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Cavs jumped out to a 5-1 record, and appeared to be in good hands with solid contributions from their starting five. But the season quickly turned ugly, and since that point, the Cavs are a startling 15-25 and have lost big man Zydrunas Illgauskas for the year.
Illgausksas was in the midst of a solid season, averaging 11 points per game, and his loss hurts the Cavs up front. Also on the injured list is forward Matt Harpring and his 11 points a night.
The losses of Illgausksas and Harping have magnified the off-season trade of big man Sean Kemp to Portland.
Although the Cavs do have a bright future with sophomore Andre Miller at the point, they need some help in the frontcourt to become a solid competitor. Look for Cleveland to finish at the 9th or 10th spot, a few games out of the playoffs.
