(Warning- This may contain a few spoilers)
Just recently, I went to go see The Hangover 2 in hopes that it would be just as funny as the first. However, many apparently had the same plans as I and the show was sold out. This left me with a choice, do I go home empty handed, or go see a different movie. I chose to go to see the fourth installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean series which was playing at the same time, and unlike the first couple, was not sold out. In fact, this particular showing was very lightly attended.

I was not exactly ecstatic to be watching it because I had higher expectations earlier to see The Hangover 2. But while I was watching Pirates, I couldn't help but see the similarities between the movie and the Celtics. The most obvious similarity is that this was the fourth movie in the series and last season was the fourth season of the New Big Three. And for both series of movies and seasons, the first installment was by far the finest performance we would see. From there, the quality of both the movies and the Celtics seasons slowly dropped off. The ensuing movies were by other standards very good, but after the high bar the original set, the following movies paled in comparison. Likewise, many are jealous of the seasons the Celtics have had after winning it all in 2008 but after seeing them hold the Larry O'Brien trophy, no other season is quite the same unless it yields that desired result of a championship.

And in both cases, the fourth edition did not seem to be the answer nor did many expect it to match the original. Yet, many still watched both knowing that there was a chance that the odds could be beaten.

Both the movie and the 2010-2011 Celtics faced an uphill challenge when they were without an integral part of their previous success. Kendrick Perkins had been traded and Orlando Bloom was not in this Pirates movie.

And most importantly, throughout the season and the movie, both protagonists went on the same quest. Jack Sparrow was seeking the Fountain of Youth while the Big Three along with the O'Neal brothers were looking for the same thing. And both needed it, badly. If Jack can not navigate to the Fountain, he will likely be killed by Blackbeard. And if the Celtics could not find the Fountain they would be destroyed by their youthful foes, the Miami Heat.

Jack was able to find the Fountain while the Celtics were not as lucky. They never had the youthfulness that they needed and lost the Heat in 5 games.

But in the end, both had the same result. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides was okay, not close to as good as the first one and perhaps the worst of the series. Likewise, the 2010-2011 Celtic's season was good, but not nearly as good as the first season with the Big Three. Neither was all that bad though because the expectations were not as high as they had been before. But the worst part about watching both was not that it was not as good as the original, but that both series were clearly on the decline and you left both with the lingering feeling that you would never see greatness from from either like their originals products.

I think that Johnson will be in the rotation, but I don't see Moore getting too much time. However, with Doc Rivers, there is never certainty about rookie playing time.

The Boston Celtics made the most of their two picks in the NBA 2011 Draft and cashed in on two Purdue Boilermaker teammates JaJuan Johnson and E'twaun Moore. Drafting two college teammates was a great idea by the Celtics organization. This way, the two rookies will already have chemistry with each other coming into training camp. Also, in each other, they will each already have a friend on the team which will make it easier being a rookie in a new league.

Additionally, both players will have a great opportunity with the Celtics organization. Despite Doc River's reputation for not playing rookies, things could be different come next year. With the Celtics apparent need to get younger and more athletic, drafting the duo of explosive 22 year olds helped address that issue. On top of that, the Celtics also addressed their next biggest need with drafting JaJuan Johnson and getting bigger. But these draft picks sitting on the end of the bench will not help these weaknesses that the Celtics have sought to help by drafting them. Thus, these two rookies will likely see more time than those former rookies that have played in Doc River's system.

Not only that, but Johnson and Moore will also have the opportunity play alongside future Hall Of Famers in Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen. This opportunity will likely benefit Johnson the most because he will be able to learn from Kevin Garnett whom I feel his game resembles most. Johnson, like Garnett, is tall, skinny, and explosive with a very good mid-range jump shot and good post moves including the ever effective fade away jump shot. They also have very similar range. Granted, Johnson is not as good as Garnett was at this point (at age 22 Garnett was entering his fourth season in the NBA and already an All-Star). But, with the guidance of a similar player that has reached greatness Johnson could potentially develop into an equally formidable force in the NBA and reach All Start status. 

The seemingly modest pickings of the former Boilermakers seems to have a recipe of success around it. Whether it be the comfortability that these players will have playing with each other and joining a new team together or the chance to play, and contribute, at the next level or the opportunity to learn from veterans and future Hall Of Famers, JaJuan Johnson and E'twaun Moore seem to have been given everything they need for success in the NBA and with the Boston Celtics.

The Celtics made the most of their two picks in the draft last night. Drafting two teammates from Purdue Jajuan Johnson (I called that) and E'twaun Moore, which was a great idea. Looking past just the talent these two have, they already have great chemistry with eachother and a friend on a new team in eachother. I look forward to seeing both of these players in Celtic green next season.

If the Boston Celtics want to contend for a championship in the future, they will need to get younger. And with the NBA draft coming up, they have the perfect opportunity to do just that.

Although Doc Rivers has a reputation for not playing rookies, this trend will most likely not continue with the new rookies the Celtics will draft because the Celtics will need all of the youth they can get.

With the 25th pick, they will not be getting overwhelming talent, but they can fill voids, such as size, rebounding, and athleticism in this draft. And they may need to to stay in contention.

1. Kenneth Faried
Drafting Kenneth Faried would be best-case scenario
for the  Celtics given their position in the draft.

A big man—although undersized—that dedicates himself to rebounding, hustle, 
defense. He led the country in rebounding with 13.3 per game while also 
averaging two blocks and two steals per game.

The Celtics need this exact type player that has unrelenting energy and 
hustle, excels on the boards, and will sacrifice his body for the team. The
Celtics have been missing this ever since Leon Powe tore his ACL, and it seems 
Faried has much more potential than Powe.

However, the national attention he got in the NCAA tournament greatly 
increased his stock in the draft and he will probably go before the Celtics 
pick. Hopefully, the prior teams will focus on his weaknesses such as his size 
(only 6'8") or the fact that he played in a small conference.

2. Tobias Harris
At just 18, Tobias Harris would certainly be a work in 
progress. With his size at 6'8", a wingspan of 6'11" and his versatility to
play  both forwards, Harris is potentially a worthwhile investment.

He greatly improved throughout his freshman campaign at Tennessee.  But his
offensive game, particularly his jump shot, could still use some  improvement.
If the Celtics draft him, Paul Pierce can take him under his wing  and help him
develop.

He may not pay immediate dividends, but with his work ethic, Harris will 
eventually be a force in the NBA.

3. Trey Thompkins
Trey Thompkins is a big man with exceptional post moves and 
scoring ability. He has great footwork on the post with a variety of moves and 
pivots that he uses. He also has a decent jump shot—that with his high release, 
he can get off on most defenders.

Thompkins gets good position down low and with a player like Rajon Rondo 
feeding him entry passes, he would thrive. But while his offensive game is 
excellent, his defense could definitely and conditioning could definitely use 
work. In the Celtics system his defense would no doubt improve. And Kevin Garnett could take him  under his wing
and help him develop.

4. JaJuan Johnson
Like Thompkins, JaJuan Johnson is a big man with incredible 
scoring ability. He has a great mid-range jump shot along with a dependable 
fade-away jump shot and hook shot. And at 6'10" with a lengthy 7'2" wingspan,
he  has great size as well which contribute to his shot blocking on the
defensive  end.

However, his rebounding could use work and will need to improve if he wants 
to be a force in the NBA. A greater  commitment to rebounding
along with bulking up could fix this. Besides  that though, his size and offense
make him a solid prospect for the Celtics.

5. Davis Bertans
A young player at just 18 coming from Latvia, he is possibly 
the second best shooter in this year's draft. He mainly shoots off the catch, 
and with his ability to square to the hoop quickly and quick release he excels 
at it. And standing at 6'10" as a small forward on the perimeter he will almost 
always have the height advantage over opponents and that will make it easier to 
shoot over defenders.

However, he lacks the athleticism to be much more than a spot-up shooter and 
will likely be a defensive liability. But he has great potential to be a role 
player off the bench for the Celtics that can knock down shots.

25 years ago today the Boston Celtics organization was changed
forever. On June 19th, 1986 Len Bias was rushed to the hospital and later
pronounced dead from cardiac arrhythmia after a cocaine overdose, all just two
days after being drafted to the Boston Celtics. In his death, Bias not only left
behind a lesson but also one of the greatest "What-ifs?" in sports.


So what if it never happened? What if Len Bias decided not to use cocaine on
that fateful night?


The answer to that question can obviously never be definitively answered, but
there is substantial evidence that points towards a few answers.


When he was drafted, the Celtics were coming off winning the NBA Finals with
what some consider to be the greatest team ever. Yet, with some wonders worked
by Red Auerbach, they found themselves with the second pick of the 1986 draft.
With that pick they had one player in mind, and that was Len Bias. They
obviously saw something in him because they wanted him badly. Red Auerbach said
at his wake that he had schemed for years to get Bias.


What they saw in him was probably just the same as the rest of the country. A
charismatic kid with athleticism rivaling Jordan, as pure a jump shot as any
other, and an incredible will to win.


If you saw him play in college, then you would know that he was for real. As
good a college prospect as I have ever seen and no doubt destined for
NBA-stardom.

 He drew comparisons to Michael Jordan, who was only in his second year in the
league.


Would he have been the next Jordan? Hard to say. But, as a rookie at Maryland
he battled Jordan and traded him basket for basket before Jordan's Tar Heels
prevailed at the very end and Jordan did his famous Rock-the-Cardle dunk before
time expired.


But for the Celtics team he would soon join, he did not need to be Jordan. He
was walking onto the greatest team ever, they had Larry Bird, Kevin McHale,
Robert Parish, Dennis Johnson, Danny Ainge, and Bill Walton. They didn't need
another star, yet.


Another role player could have given them the 1987 Finals that they were so
close to winning. But beyond that, the main problem of the post-1986 Celtics was
that there was not enough depth and as a result, the starters got worn down and
many fought injuries such as Bird, McHale, and Walton.


So even if Bias was not the next Jordan, at least right away, his very
presence would have helped the Celtics immediately. He could have come off the
bench for either Bird or McHale and cut down on their minutes and lessen the
wear and tear on their bodies.


This would have allowed the Celtics to have a few more years to win it all,
and while Bias developed, they could start to build the team around him.


And a team built around Len Bias had a very good chance of winning, just ask
any ACC rival that he led his Maryland team past en route to an ACC title.



It's safe to say that with him the Bird Celtics could have managed two more
championships and the sky would have been the limit for when the reigns were
handed over to him.


Unfortunately, we never got to see any of this play out. He choose to use
cocaine on the night of June 18, 1986 and died on the morning of June 19th,
1986. Forever changing the Celtics and leaving more questions than answers. But
one thing is for sure, we missed out on a heck of a player. Not only did the
Celtics and Celtics fans miss out, but he whole world missed out on watching
this kid. One to battle Jordan. One to rule the highlight reel. One that anyone
would want to watch. But instead, now, 25 years later, one that everyone wonders
what if about.