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Jerry checks in on the three currently active Boston teams, including playoff hopes for the Bruins and Celtics.

GREEN TEAM:

 

Things have not looked good for the C's. (Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
Things have not looked good for the C’s. (Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

Even if these musings undergo a rapid ascent to the light of day, it seems to me very unlikely that they will find a Celtics crew that possesses a pulse. In short, I doubt that a team that features a trio of 35 year olds and no point guard, is going to ride into MSG, and leave with a victory. If they do, then that turns the pressure back onto New York, and I just don’t think the Knicks are going to let that happen. One thing, at least, that has been interesting in all this, is that there has been no more talk about whether or not they are better without Rondo. With all the turnovers they have had that were simply the result of sloppy passing, you can say they’d be better with Leandro Barbosa as well, and you’d be right.

As no one expects the Green to come all the way back from 3-0, the talk has already turned to next year and what will become of what’s left of the “Big Three”. People with inside information are saying that Kevin Garnett is hurting so much, that they seriously expect him to retire at season’s end, and not even consider playing for a team closer to his Malibu home. There is also considerable talk about releasing Paul Pierce so that he can finish his career closer to his West coast roots, but that simply would not offer Boston the kind of financial relief they would need for a successful rebuilding project. Hopefully, Danny Ainge will channel the ghost of Red Auerbach, and come up with additions to the returning Rajon Rondo, Jared Sullinger, Fab Melo, and a more seasoned Avery Bradley, to make the Green contenders once again. Stay tuned…

BLACK AND GOLD:

The Bruins really need Rask to step up. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Bruins really need Rask to step up. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

There is surprisingly little optimism surrounding the Bruins and their chances in this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs. I suppose it’s not all that surprising when you take a clsoer look at it. It was just over a month ago when I last talked about their sudden scoring difficulties, and things have not gotten better. Their two leading goal scorers, Brad Marchand (18) and Tyler Sequin (16), are scoring at a goal a week rate, and that obviously does not bode well for the playoffs. There are a great many followers of the Black and Gold who feel that Milan Lucic’s play has fallen off considerably since signing his big contract before the season, and are hoping he will throw some kind of switch and return to form. The play of goaltender Tuukka Rask, doesn’t exactly fill me with confidence either. Although to be fair, if the Bruins were scoring at a consistent, and a bit more prolific rate, it surely would make his tendecies to give up uncontrolled rebounds less of an issue.

Having said all that, I do expect Boston to get by Phil Kessel and the Maple Leafs in the first round, probably in six or seven games. But if Sydney Crosby is healthy, then in the long run, it’s tough to pick against the Penguins in the East, and the Black Hawks in the West. Question: do they have duck boats in Pittsburgh?

RED SOX:

Can these Sox keep on winning? (Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
Can these Sox keep on winning? (Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

I know that the Sox are not involved in any playoffs at the moment, but I wanted to end this on at least one positive note. Last week I expressed my concern over the consistency of the three, four, and five spots in their starting rotation. Somebody must have shown the Red Sox pitchers my post, because Felix Doubront, Ryan Dempster, and John Lackey all went out and had solid outings. In addition, the 5 saves racked up by Andrew Bailey in place of injured Joel Hanrahan, played a major part last month in keeeping the BoSox in first place in the AL East.

Now if Papi can just keep hitting over .500 for the next five months…..

About Jerry Ballgame

The personification of "old school", Jerry Ballgame was born in the shadow of Dr. Naismith's peach basket, and baptized in that "Dirty Water." Designated by his "Uncle" Ted, to keep an eye on things, he's here to tell everyone what his view is like from the Hub of the Universe.