Around The Bases: Who Is Number One?

As you all know the Boston Celtics are on a complete tear winning their 17th game in a row verse the Chicago Bulls. Where does this team rank in comparison to the top teams of all time?

First Base
In fourth place we have who other than The Boston Celtics of the 1980s. This team was all about the rivalry. The Bird vs. Magic rivalry really set the tone for these two team to battle it out all through the 1980s. The Celtics were dangerous for the simple fact that they had skill from the starting five and all the way to the end of their bench. Bird, McHale, Parish, Dennis Johnson, Ainge, Walton, and Rick Carlisle are some notable names that you may remember from this dream team. This team averaged 114 points per game to their opponents 104.7 points. But what one this team games, and eventually world championship rings was their clutch shooting abilities and their poise. Coming in on fourth of the list of greatest basketball teams of all time is the Boston Celtics of the 1980s.

Second Base:
The Los Angeles “Showtime” Lakers. If there were any team that would give the Boston Celtics any trouble it would be the Lakers. This squad finished the 1984-1985 season at 62-20 scoring an unheard of 118.2 points per game. Most will agrue that this team did not have the depth that the Boston Celtics had, but they sure had just a little bit more talent. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar could score at will in the 1980s. He would not be the success that he is known to be without the teams MVP Magic Johnson, he was quick, he was innovative and people said he really changed the pace of the game. This team was surrounded by tremendous role players such as James Worthy and Byron Scott and Michael Cooper. Winning five NBA titles, this squad of the 80s really put the Forum on the map and inclined the Los Angeles Lakers into being the prestigious team that we all know and love today.

Third Base
The Chicago Bulls of the 1990s. In the 1995-1996 season the Chicago Bulls did something memorable. Something critics say will never, ever be topped. They won 72 out of their 82 game season. When you hear about the Chicago Bulls you think Michael Jordan. Jordan is the poster child of basketball, game in and game out just toying with his opponents. Averaging 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.3 steals per game over his 15 year career winning 6 NBA championships. Michael Jordan has gone down as the most dominant, and clutch player that the National Basketball Association has ever seen. To your shock, this team was much more than Michael Jordan. This team was Jordan, Pippen, Kukoc, Kerr, Harper, Longley, and Rodman. Jordan would have 6 fewer championships than he has right now without the rest of this squad. They were dominant, although other teams during this time period were great and should have won championships, they just couldn’t because they would eventually have to face the Chicago Bulls. Coming in second place on the top NBA teams of all time, The Chicago Bulls of the 1990s.

Home Plate
You ask yourself, well the Bulls went number two on this list, who could possibly be better than them? The 2008-2009 Boston Celtics will go down as the best team to ever play the game. The Celtics start out with their three superstars in Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. Garnett is a 7 foot monster and with his career 20 points and 11 rebounds he will be solidified as one of the best big men that the NBA has ever seen. Along side Kevin Garnett they have Ray Allen who is ranked 2nd all time for most three point shots ever made, second only to Reggie Miller. For his career he averages 21 points per game. To finish off the “Big 3” there is Paul Pierce who averages a career 23 points per game along with 6 rebounds and 4 assists per game. Pierce is a fighter, he has been stabbed at a night club and lost numerous amounts of teeth on the basketball court, but nothing will ever stop him from playing the game he loves. Pierce is the leader and captain of this team and is the Celtics go to guy at the end of every game. What you don’t usually hear about is the “role players” with this team, who undoubtedly would be stars on most other teams. Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins come up big game in and game out. Rondo averages 11 points per game and more importantly 7.3 assists per game. This young true point guard has been compared to players like Bob Cousy for his enormous basketball IQ, except he is much more athletic than Cousy and will be a future All-Star and All-NBA player for years to come. Kendrick Perkins has always been a stump in the center for the Celts until 2008. Perkins is passionate and works harder than anyone on the team to excel in what he does. He can go out and get you 20 points and 10 rebounds when its needed but never tries to do too much, this is a player who knows his role on the team. This team puts fans in seats reminiscent of the old Boston Garden, the new generation of the Boston Celtics are the best team to ever play in the NBA.