At this point of the life cycle of the Garnett-Pierce-Allen Celtics, there seems to be no question that the team is simply dirty. Kendrick Perkins has augmented his tough defense with a streak of dangerous nastiness. Kevin Garnett has done the whole faux tough guy business to the point of parody. Even bit players like Glen Davis have gotten into the mode, as you can see in the video below.
That flagrant foul on Anderson Varejao might be the dirtiest NBA play since ... Perkins violently threw Jason Maxiell to the floor in January. Is it a pattern yet?
Doc Rivers and Tom Thibodeau haven't told their players to decapitate the opponent, I'm sure. But the style the Celtics play with Garnett as leader (even from the bench) is wild, fast and violent. The forwards and guards have to fly around to deny shots. Sometimes, when caught out of position, they flail ... and rope the opponent around the neck.
And that's fine -- there are ramifications for the dangerous plays. Davis watched the end of the game from the showers, and Perkins might hit the Sheed Threshold for technicals this year. But at some point the rest of the East is going to start matching dirty-for-dirty, clothesline-for-clothesline. I don't think the Celtics can take it as well as they can dish it.
(Addendum: I can't find a clip, but that move in which Paul Pierce cleared out Mo Williams on a fast break ... one more notch, right Boston? Borderline despicable.)
The Celtics: Dirty By Design
Mar 7, 2009 – 10:15 AM
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