Celtics Return to Form by February's End (un-edited)

My prediction of a lofty 70 wins for the Celtics this season has proven again to be more of what I wanted to happen, as opposed to what I mostly knew could never happen. If you look at the 2007/2008 Boston Celtic team that won 66 games and compare it to this year's roster, one could understand how I calculated four more wins and four less losses. This year's team on paper is better than the championship roster of 07', yet this team has already lost fifteen games. By adding Rasheed Wallace and Marquis Daniels to the Big Three you're looking at a group that also includes a drastically improved Rondo and Perkins. There is nothing this team's skill set does not match and there is nothing they cannot do on the court. Wallace, Allen, and House are all exceptional three point shooters and Paul Pierce is an above average three shooter.  Perkins, KG, and Wallace can play stalwart interior defense and rebound at will and Rondo and Tony Allen can play effective perimeter defense. Rondo and Maquis Daniels can each play the point guard position quite well; along with the fact that Rondo is an excellent rebounder for his size and position. At full strength the Celtics can spread the floor with three point shooting, lock down the paint with interiror defense, rebound, and attack the basket with Pierce slashing in and getting to the line. So why is this team currently sub par to the 07' team? Why is this team struggling if they are "better"? The key words are "full strength".

The 2009/2010 Celtics have not been fully healthy at the same time virtually all season long. Maqruis Daniel's last game was on December 4th, Garnett has missed eleven games, Pierce five, and Wallace four. Without Garnett for eleven games has hurt the team most significantly as the defensive intensity and acountability seems to diminsh in his absence. The bottom line is that the Celtics were 4-6 in the ten consecutive games Kevin missed and when this team has played at full strength they have been ever bit as good as the 2007-2008 Champions. The first twenty games of the season yielded 16 wins and then even after Daniels went out with a thumb injury the team soared to a 23-5 record. It has not been just the lacking of these players, but the stunting in growth of team Chemistry. A team must practice, bond, win, and lose together to be able to truly develop as a unit. Barring any further injuries the Boston Celtics will be at full strength three days after the Super Bowl, February 10th. The game against the Hornets in New Orleans could be a wild one depending on the mood of the crowd; if their city is one of Super Bowl Champions perhaps the fans will be too distracted. However, if the Saints lose than the city may need to rally behind its' basketball team against Boston. 

By the end of February 2010 the Celtics will have been practicing, playing, and growing at full strength together. This team may never surpass the 66 wins of 2007, but if they can galvanize at the most opportune time, it wont matter. The winning of a championship easily trumps whatever your regular season record might have been. Boston is not and should not be the favorite to win another title, but when they capture the two or three spot in the Eastern Conference and IF the team stays fully healthy they have as good a chance as anyone. 

Super Bowl XLIV

For the first time since the 1993/1994 season the number one seed in the AFC will play against the number one seed in the NFC in the Super Bowl. Every season there are two teams that everyone from fan to expert say will make it all the way to the Super Bowl. Every season the masses are wrong, and a surprise team pulls a playoff upset or two to advance to the Championship game. In 2007 I picked against the New York Giants each round of the playoffs, only to see them rattle off four straight playoff wins and cap it all off with a Super Bowl victory. At the end of the 2008/2009 season the NFL world was shocked by the 9-7 Arizona Cardinals reaching, and nearly winning the Super Bowl. However, this year is the anomaly with the Saints and Colts (both number one seeds) battling for the championship in Super Bowl XLIV. Every since the middle portion of the season people have been saying that the Super Bowl would be Colts VS. Saints; and for the first time in many years the NFL was predictable.

In a league of "any given Sunday" it is nearly impossible to predict who will make it to the Super Bowl, but for some reason this year what we all thought would happen has. I thought the New York Jets were going to beat the Colts yesterday because of how far they had come, and because they were the team everyone was doubting. I didn't want to make the same mistake I (and many others made) in 2007 doubting the Giants every step of the way. The Jets seemed like that team with the "x-factor" on their side, the team with supreme confidence and a team that was playing stout defense. After the Jets scored to go up 17-6 I was feeling even more so that I had correctly preordained the winner, but as the Colts have done all season long they came roaring back. As far as the NFC was concerned, I thought that the Vikings would win with their superior defense, dominant running game, and a matured Brett Favre at the helm. Favre had what he himself calls "my best season" with only seven interceptions and career highs in completion percentage and  quarterback rating. However, five turnovers and an old "Favresk" bad interception late in the game held a superior Vikings team out of the Super Bowl. I went against the popular notion that the Colts and Saints would square off in the forty fourth Super Bowl by selecting the other teams to make it. It had seemed that if you pick against who you initially think is going to win that you would be correct, but not this year. This is the year of the predictable; the year of the number one seeds in the Super Bowl.

None of this is to say that this will not be an exciting Super Bowl, for it will be, but it is disheartening that it will not include the Patriots or a chance for Favre to be the oldest Quarterback to be in the Super Bowl, or any team I care for. Now it all comes down to the following: please don't let Peyton Manning win another Super Bowl title. I am rooting for the Saints 110% and I do expect them to win. This is an offensive battle between two high octane point scoring machines each led by an exceptional quarterback. Drew Brees is the most accurate passer in the NFL (70.6 % NFL record) and Peyton Manning is the smartest and best quarterback in professional football. I like the Saints to win this game because they have more weapons on the offensive side of the football, a better running game, and they have an opportunistic turnover savvy defense.

State of The Boston Franchise

The current state of the New England Patriots and the Boston Celtics are on the opposite ends of the spectrum. The Patriots are struggling to hold on to their Division lead where as the Celtics are the talk of the NBA town. The C's have a dominant road record of 12-1 (which makes there case for best team currently) where as the Patriots are a dismal 1-5 on the road. With the only road win coming with a victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This game was at a neutral site in terms of crowd support as the game was played in England. New England is 0-4 in the United States road games and has looked nothing like the team we had expected. Also, the Celtics have won eleven consecutive games; the Patriots are 1-2 in there last three games.

The Celtics have opened the past two seasons a staggering 20-2, and at 20-4 there isn't much of a fall off. The additions of Rasheed Wallace and Marques Daniels seem more apropriately comparable to replacements for James Posey and PJ Brown (not the failed Stephon Marbary, Mikki Moore "Posey and Brown"). Wallace and Daniels make up for the lack of a bench we had last year, as they are secure the veteran talent on that reserve squad. Also when Glen Davis ("Big Baby") returns after his impressive season last year, the bench will be as strong as ever. Kevin Garnett looked great averaging over fifteen points per game and nearly eight rebounds. In addition to this, his chemistry with Rondo has been impressive. Rajon Rondo is having his best season of his young career and has looked strong in combination with KG; lobbing him alley oop dunks and assists to open looks. The Celtics are looking great and are not exactly a true contender in the eyes of the NBA public, but I am still holding on to my bold 70-12 early season prediction. This prediction was not published, but a few close friends will recognize the forecast of wins and losses. Look for the Celtics to continue their winning ways in this month. The Patriots on the other hand are traveling a road less known.

Bill Bellichick, Tom Brady, and the rest of the Patriots are in a situation that is rare for them in recent years. They only have a one game lead in the division (which they usually dominate) and have to prove they can win on the road. This weekend's game is a dangerous one  because of the strong possibility for bad weather in Buffalo, and the next two are against a pair of desperate opponents. The Jaguars (7-7) and Texans (6-7) are vying for their playoff lives in the tight AFC Wild Card playoff race. The Jaguars will be a home game which is of much less concern with the Pats 7-0 at home. The Texans game will be in Houston which is a concern due to the 1-5 road record so far. Last season the Patriots went 11-5 without Tom Brady and missed the postseason. This year the Patriots at best, can tie this record, but hopefully make the playoffs. If you had told me that Tom Brady comes back to replace Matt Cassell and there is a chance we could have a worse record; I would have never believed you. How indeed is this possible? Well looking at the offensive statistics will not help you find the answer: Tom Brady: 23 TD-11INT, 3.830 yards. Randy Moss: 69 Catches, 1,074 yds, 9 TD. Wes Welker: 105 Catches, 1,158 yds, 4 TD. Even add in Lawrence Maroney with an unexpected 8 touchdowns. This seems just like the high octane 2007 Patriot offense that set the league afire, however this is anything but the 2007 team. The problem has been the defense and the failures of (believe it or not) the offense in clutch situations.

Despite all of the troubles for the Patriots, they will defeat Buffalo and win at least one more game to bring them to 10-6/11-5 which should be enough to wrap up the division. The Patriots will be primed for a playoff run and the Celtics will reach the all star break with the best record in the Eastern Conference.

-Can't intelligently speak on the Red Sox, but hopefully they execute some good trades and get themselves back to the playoffs.

Easy As Perfect

In 2007 The New England Patriots completed a perfect regular season by winning sixteen and losing zero. On the way to this historic mark they scored the most points by a team in a single season ever, and broke the records for passing and receiving touchdowns in a season. This appeared to be a magical season that comes once in a lifetime, but just two years later the NFL has two teams vying for perfection. The Indianapolis Colts (11-0) and New Orleans Saints (10-0) are each entering the home stretch of the season still undefeated. If either of these teams complete the perfect regular season, it will have only been fitting that they had to defeat the Patriots first. In week 10 the Colts beat the Patriots by one point to improve to 9-0 on the year. The Patriots will have another chance to protect their 2007 legacy against the 10-0 Saints tonight at the Superdome. Saints running back Reggie Bush recently stated that his team would and could go undefeated this season; was his aware that they play New England week 12? To become undefeated you must be perfect and you must beat the best. The Saints will attempt to stay unbeaten and the Patriots will try to protect a legend of perfection.

    If the Colts complete the perfect season they will have beaten the Patriots on route to 16-0 and will have finally done what they had come close to in the past. In 2005 the Colts were 13-0 going into the final three games on the season, but they would lose two of these games to become 14-2. In 2007 the 7-0 Colts squared off against the Patriots in Indy only to lose a close game. Fast forward to 2009, Peyton Manning and the Colts are now 11-0 after beating the Patriots earlier in the season. With five games left and the division already clinched the possibility of an undefeated season is strong. However, it will be interesting to see if when the Colts have secured the number one seed in the AFC, if they still play all of their starters. The 07' Patriots were clearly aiming to run the table as Tom Brady and the starters played all the way through until perfection was achieved. If the Colts follow the same rubric for perfection than we may be looking at the second team in NFL history to win all 16 games of the season.

   To protect the 2007 legendary season of 16-0 the Patriots must defeat the Saints. but they are helpess against the Colts winning out. The Patriots must now rely on the Titans, Broncos, Jaguars, Jets, and/or Bills to take down Indianapolis. If the Colts or Saints, or both teams complete the 2009 campaign undefeated what does that say about the NFL? Shouldn't an undefeated season by an incredible feat that is so impossible it can only happen once in a lifetime? If only two years later there is another perfect team or a pair of perfect teams, there is something wrong with this league. An undefeated season should be anything, but easy as perfect. Hopefully the Saints and Colts lose a game or two and this concern vanishes into the night.

Federalist 51

Yes this is a non sports blog post, but just showing readers another side of my writing.

Upon conclusion of Federalist # 51 one is able to acquire a real sense of the true genius of the United States Constitution and the government it created. James Madison had a strong understanding of the American Government system. He was able to accurately predict the necessary changes our political system would and could undergo in the future. Madison saw the boundaries and necessities of the new Constitutional government, and in it’s support Federalist 51 was written. The important message to take away from Madison’s work is that the American Government System is a remarkably adaptable structure with extensive lasting potential to justly govern. Madison’s real faith in the system’s sustainability is drawn from the policy’s structural reliance on checks and balances. Madison conveys a vote of the utmost confidence to the division of power between what would be the executive, legislative, and judicial branches throughout the piece. Madison’s crowning message is the importance of the checks and balances foundation. What it is, what it needs to do, and why it will last.

In opening of the discussion about the necessity of the checks and balances upon governmental power, Madison speaks to the inadequate nature of government on its’ own; “...exterior provisions are found to be inadequate…contriving the interior structure of the government as that its several constituent parts may, by their mutual relations, be the means of keeping each other in their proper places” (Madison pg. 1). A government can be created easily, but it often then becomes a tyrannical one in which power is abused. Therefore an organization of checked power must be put into place. This said organization of power should include separate branches that have their own power to create or enforce policy. “…essential to the preservation of liberty, it is evident that each department should have a will of its own...” (Madison pg. 1) A division of power spread through different branches of governance allows for a fail safe or check upon overgrowth of power. Each branch is responsible for and able to usurp any overgrowth of power by another branch. The checks and balances framework severely limits the possible rise of tyranny in American government; and will not leave any attempt to over accumulate power uncontested. If one governmental subdivision seeks to impose it’s will beyond its set power, then another can balance the situation to normal. Such a flexible and versatile system of governance is susceptible to linguistic ambiguity, but attempted or actual abuse of power will never go unscathed or eliminated. What it is: The distribution of power theory/checks and balances is a system of separated power that aims to limit overgrowth of power in any one area of the governmental body; and equally aspires to contest any unconstitutional summoning of excess power. With an understanding of what the system is, Madison leads us to what the system must do.

Not only must the governmental structure protect itself against an imbalance of power, but also it must protect against majority and minority tyranny in the citizen population. “..It is of great importance in a republic not only to guard the society against the oppression of its rulers, but to guard one part of the society against the injustice of the other part”. (Madison pg. 4). The division of power amongst the government allows for a balance at the top, but below the surface is the citizenry. The government will be able to sustain itself, but it must do more than exist, it must govern over its people. “..you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself”. (Madison pg. 2) Governance over the people must be carried out in a fashion that does not facilitate for the existence of a majority or minority tyranny. Each can be harmful to a functioning democracy for many different reasons, but Madison’s real focus was on fear of majority tyranny. Madison hoped for the ability to avoid a situation in which any one group controlled the decisions of a society. Democratic elections safeguard against a dictatorship (minority tyranny), but the danger for a majority tyranny is more prevalent in a democracy. The government must check and balance internally and fairly balance the direction of its power in protection of the citizenship of America. Lastly, the ultimate strength of the argument; why the constitutional United States Government will last.

The most evolved principle of the democracy created in America is the complex system of checks and balances upon power and morality. The trait of our government’s constitution that gives it the most potential for longevity is a built in moral code. Morality in the sense that humans cannot be trusted with amassed individual power and that this is a human government. Although the governmental system is an entity it must be treated as if it were a human body. To be treated human in the sense that to thrive, the government must operate by many functions happening dependent and independent of each other. The human body and mindset operates this very way; the body with blood pumping to many different organs all performing separate tasks all towards a common purpose. Also, if the result is to be moral and fair, the human thought process must deliberate, weigh and balance consequences, think logically, ruminate in a search of truth, avoid temptations of power and greed, and critically observe the moral fiber and essence of an issue, person, or policy. The system is human; and human means prone to greed, power, bias, and of course mistakes. Madison most famously addresses this very belief in stating: “If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary”. (Madison pg. 2) Men are not angels indeed, but the checks and balances on power our government  maintains the integrity of the democracy. This system is so inherently human, so protective and expansive. It can curtail man’s propensity towards corruption and power and in turn last. Our constitution and governmental system of power distribution is built to control man’s weaker and eviler side. With this moral control upon government; shall come longevity of liberty and just governance.

In conclusion, it can be taken away that Federalist 51’ has a clear message of an importance. James Madison wanted to convey three aspects about the American government system. First stating what the checks and balances system is and what it can do, and how what it does is effective. By a calculated separation of power each branch of government will function dependently and independently of each other working towards a common goal of balancing power. Next, Madison explains how it is of the utmost importance that our system protects itself and the citizenry below. Our system must check its’ own power and the power of society. There needs to be protection against minority and majority tyranny, but Madison was more centered on the risk of minority tyranny. In a democracy, the many should rule the many, as compared to the few ruling the many. Lastly, Madison communicates how the American government system of separated powers will have a lasting effect. The fact that the system has a built in moral safeguard against corruption and is so adaptively human; it will indeed last for many years in the future.

Worst Loss Since Super Bowl

   I've found that the best way, as a fan, to move on from such a travesty of a loss, is to do what Brady and Belichick do; move on. Just start thinking about the Jets game next week. Answer the questions, state "it is what it is", and then immediately engage in preparations for the next game. The Super Bowl loss against the Giants was by far the worst in Patriot history; and has taught myself and fans alike to handle any defeat, because that is forever the worst one. There is no point in ruminating on the Lawrence Maroney fumble in the end zone, the Brady interception, the wasted time outs, the failed fourth and two that lost the game, or the fact that it was the worst ever blown lead in the fourth quarter (under Belichick). The entire sports media entity has been honed in on the failed fourth and two play and all eyes and ears have been on Bill Belichick. The fact is that it was just a regular season game. Yes it was an important regular season contest, and with the loss New England now has virtually no chance at securing the top seed in the AFC,  but the Patriots are in excellent position to win their division and of course qualify for the NFL postseason.

    This Sunday is the rematch with the AFC east rival New York Jets, and the Patriots will look to avenge their no touchdown performance of week 2. The Jets won 16-9 and held the Patriots out of the end zone the entire game. This time around the game is in Foxboro and the Patriots are much improved since that early season defeat. New York has been very inconsistent and after starting 3-0 as they now are 4-5 looking up at the Dolphins and Patriots in the AFC East standings. The best way to redeem the heartbreaking loss to the Colts is to blow out the Jets and then prepare for a quite possible Super Bowl preview game against the undefeated New Orleans Saints.

Same Game

  
As much as the NFL changes each season; we find the same teams in the AFC vying for the top position in the conference. The 6-2 Bengals and Broncos are certainly a surprise, however we are still talking about the Steelers, Colts, and Patriots in discussion of conference best. No matter what the other upstart teams do in the course of this season, the facts remain the same; Steelers, Patriots, Colts. These three teams are the best in the conference and we are going to learn alot about who is who atop the AFC.

    The Steelers are one game behind the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC North, despite being 6-2 overall. Pittsburgh lost to the Bengals in a week 3 upset and have a 2-2 record within the division which is not good enough compared to the Bengals 4-0 mark. The defending Super Bowl Champs are going to reclaim first place in the AFC North this Sunday with a solid dismantlement of Cincinnati. As for the other two AFC powers; they will be squaring off against each other later that evening on Sunday Night Football.

    This game will play a major role in determining who will receive home field advantage in the playoffs. The Colts will not be losing more than 3 games this year so New England had better hand them their first loss of the season. Looking back to 2007 the Patriots and Colts meet in week 9 each with undefeated seasons on the line. It was almost exactly two years ago to the day this epic matchup took place; a match which saw the Patriots come from behind to stun the Colts and preserve what would ultimately be an undefeated regular season. Neither the Colts or  Patriots are as good as they were back then, but this is the same game. The same old bitter rivals: New England VS. Indianapolis and Brady VS. Manning. It will be an intense contest between two of the best teams in the NFL and it will be a victory for the Patriots. New England has yet to play it's best football and the Colts have yet to play a worthy opponent this year. Brady and Moss have rediscovered their 07' magic where as the Colts are hurting on the defensive side of the ball. Indy will be missing three starters from their secondary and will still have to cover Wes Welker and Randy Moss. I see a close first half, followed by a shoot out in the second half where New England never looks back. Patriots 41-27 over the Colts.