Yes, Celtics fans, it’s time to ask that question.
Boston had been hanging around the .500 mark for a while now, seemingly taking two steps forward (a six-game winning streak) immediately followed by two steps back (a six-game losing streak) all season. Nonetheless, the prevailing wisdom was that the C’s were a veteran team, and so long as they made the playoffs they’d have enough firepower to make a serious run and challenge the Heat in the East.
Now that prevailing wisdom may need to be amended.
On Sunday, the Celtics learned that they would be without their point guard, Rajon Rondo, for the remainder of the season with a torn ACL. The loss is a double blow insofar as not only was Rondo likely the team’s best player overall, but in running the point he was also integral to the Celtics’ offense. Now, the way they set up in the offensive half of the court may need to be completely changed.
With the loss of Ray Allen over the offseason, the original Big Three had already been broken up, and now with Boston playing middling basketball even with Rondo, there are calls to dump the veterans off and begin the youth movement around guys like Jared Sullinger. However, this is still a team with Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce at the helm and, despite their age, those two are still darn talented players.
So, the Celtics are seemingly at a crossroads: Do they forge ahead with the veteran talent they have, or do they begin looking ahead to the future and start building around Rondo for the coming years?
