FASCINATIN' RHYTHM

This thread was inspired by a quote that appeared in this morning’s Boston Globe:

“When you lose three in a row, you need any kind of win you can get,’’ said Ray Allen. “Right now our goal is to take it one game at a time
going into the All-Star break. Try to win all four of the rest of these games just to get back into the rhythm, get back to the feel of winning games again.’’

It reminded me that, of all the factors that go into winning basketball, I would personally place rhythm at the top of the pack. I
know I use the word “chemistry” a lot, but the two are inextricably intertwined. Basically, good chemistry is a major factor in begetting good rhythm. But there are other elements as well…among them, putting players in optimal positions to succeed, operating more on instinct than mechanically, playing aggressively, playing to your strengths while always being aware of your opponents’ tendencies, etc., etc., etc.

In a way, Ray was summarizing where the Celtics have been and where they are right now. This is a team that depends, perhaps more than any other, on rhythm to succeed. Yet there is absolutely no way a team can maintain anything remotely approaching its desired rhythmic pattern when confronted with the discontinuity this one has endured—and which hopefully will not be extended by Pierce’s most recent injury. I can think of no period, over 61 years of personally observing Celtics history, when this team was such an appropriate model for the
book titled “Blaming the Victim.”

I’d certainly never wish bad luck on any Celtics player. But, unless Paul’s mishap proves a totally momentary thing, it won’t bother me at all if he and KG do not participate in Glam, Inc., which is what I believe the All-star game has become. Let Rondo go and have his
fun and hopefully not get injured. But what Ray said encapsulated for me where the Celtics essentially are at this point in time. They’re gradually marshalling their resources while slogging through the few games remaining until the “re-centering” period known as the All-star break.

I believe that, in the backs of their minds (and not so far back in some cases), the post-All-star part of the season will be a matter of
regroup, rekindle, reassert, and reclaim their rightful spot as very major contenders. Central to that effort will be the rhythm that has fueled this team during its best moments. At long last identifying the best combinations while playing with a full deck…giving those combinations consistent opportunities to form group mentalities…subjecting those mentalities to the solidifying process of repetition.

They know that, right now, they’re good enough to beat the bad teams through sheer talent and will. They’re hopefully heartened that they’re not as far away as people might think from getting over the competitive hump against the elites. And, in the meantime, flashes of their potential creep through even the most disappointing games; I call them “glimmers.”

But ultimately they need to recapture that feeling of the potential for dominance in any situation. And establishing a solid rhythmic flow at both ends of the court will be essential to that goal. Perhaps they'll be dealing with roster changes; perhaps not. Either way, I’ll be in their corner, and I trust all of you will be too.

All the best, and GO CELTICS!

Sam