MVN: Most Valuable Network

Can the Boston Celtics be dethroned in 2009?  If their recent slide is any indication, it won't be an easy road ahead for the NBA's defending champions -- nevertheless, Steve Weinman of CelticsBlog remains optimistic about the Celtics' chances of repeating.  NBA Outsider recently sat down with Steve for an interview:

1. If you had to single one out, what is the biggest difference you're seeing in the Celtics between last year and this year?

The disparity between the starters and everyone else, no question about it. Certainly on just about any team, the starters are going to be the best players, but the gap for the Celtics right now is enormous. The team went on its big run in November and December not because the bench had made a leap but because the team had effectively gained three improved starters. Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins both played at the highest levels of their young careers throughout the 19-game win streak and much of the 27-2 start, and Ray Allen is putting up a true shooting mark better than 60 percent. Ray made the biggest sacrifices of the three stars last year, and he seems more comfortable and perpetually in rhythm in the offense this season. There was no doubt through December that the Celtics had the league's best starting five, and I still believe that to be the case.

On the flip side, the bench has suffered from a lack of leadership, headless play (hello, Tony Allen!), size issues in the frontcourt (Leon Powe and the Infuriated Infant are both bangers, but they give up a lot of inches) and having very little going to the basket besides TA. Even during the streak, the bench routinely gave up sizable leads in the second quarter, only to have the starters bail them out afterwards. This was an issue well before the recent slump, but it's become more apparent nationally because the team is losing games right now.

2. What is the biggest reason the 2008-09 Celtics ARE championship material, and what is the biggest reason they are NOT championship material?

There are plenty of reasons for the former, but even without my beloved James Posey and P.J. Brown, this is a team that still has the healthy core (including all five starters) of the squad that won the title a season ago. Again, the Celts still own the best starting five in hoops, and until proven otherwise in a seven-game series, they will be favorites or close to it for the 2009 title.

As for the second question, the team has its share of concerns right now, but the biggest remains depth. Doc presumably won't be going to five-man bench units in the playoffs as he has thus far this season, but even so, this team has yet to find itself a reserve who has been reliable day in and day out this season. The problems mentioned above about the bench all could be impediments to winning another title. That said, there is plenty of time for the young group of reserves to grow and also time for Danny Ainge to make a move. Long way to go before I'm ready to come anywhere close to admitting that the Celts are not championship material.

3. Obviously, it's very early to be talking postseason...but how big of a threat do you see the Cavs and Magic posing to the Celtics come playoff time? (Be sure to check out the most recent NBA Great Debate at NBA Outsider, in which Amar Panchmatia and Joe Boikess debated which team has the better chance of dethroning the Celtics: the Cavs or Magic.)

The Magic were a very good team last year and are getting increasingly closer to jumping a level, largely because of the leap made by Jameer Nelson thus far this season. Suspect point guard play hurt the Magic a year ago, but Nelson had a terrific December, and if he plays anywhere near his current level from here on out, the Magic will have a fourth big-time offensive weapon on the floor along with Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu. The Magic are defending more consistently than ever before, and Howard is of course a huge difference-maker. I still believe they're not quite on the Celts and Cavs' level, but having to go through Orlando and Cleveland in consecutive rounds would be a challenge without a doubt.

As for Cleveland, the Cavs were the Celtics' toughest playoff opponent last season and will be once more this time around if both teams get far enough once more. James has taken the torch from Kobe Bryant as the league's best individual performer, and Danny Ferry has now surrounded him with a team that both plays defense (tops in the league in defensive efficiency) and spreads the floor (Delonte West, Mo Williams, the still-cold Daniel Gibson, the surprisingly useful Wally Szczerbiak) while getting points in the paint (Zydrunas Ilgauskas) and hounding the offensive glass (Ben Wallace, Anderson Varejao). The Cavs are tops in the league in offensive efficiency. Hard to argue much with the validity of the threat of any team playing the best offense and defense in all of basketball. I'd be excited for another great series between these teams if they were to meet again.

4. Give me a bold prediction for the remainder of the regular season -- both for the Celtics and the league as a whole.

Given that we haven't had a repeat title winner since 2002, I'll hope it's bold enough to say that the Boston Celtics will be 2009 NBA champions. I'm a fan, short for fanatic, first and foremost. No bones about that here. A bit of a wnter dry spell won't change the optimism 'round here.

As for the rest of the league, I'll guess that this second season of Marc Iavaroni's in Memphis will be his last.

5. And finally, the big question: How does a seven-game series between the Celtics and Lakers play out?

For what it's worth, I'd like to register that I think the biggest question is how a seven-game series between the Celts and Cavs plays out. As for the Lakers, if both teams manage to get there, you might just get a sense of déjà vu watching it the Finals play out.

Thanks to Steve Weinman of CelticsBlog!