Hook That Horn

For the first time in a long time, I have woken this morning feeling excited about the Celtics. It's true, the Celtics did not play last night. And if they did, I'm sure they would lose, and look pretty bad doing it. With the amount of the injuries the C's have right now, they are the worst team in basketball. It's not even that close in my opinion. However, hope came out of something at least last night. And it wasn't even near Causeway Street. It wasn't even in the same time zone. In icy Stillwater, Okla. last night, the Oklahoma State Cowboys took down the Texas Longhorns in a triple-overtime classic. I don't even want to call it a classic. That doesn't do it justice. This game was one of the best college basketball games in the last ten years, tournament or not. The encouraging sign for Celtics' fans should've been generated by the freakish man-child pictured above. That man, or boy even (he was born on 9/30/88!!!), is Kevin Durant. Durant is hands-down the best freshman in the college and is taking the Big 12 by storm. The 6-9 swingman leads the conference in points and rebounds. After registering 37 points and 12 rebounds last night to go along with four blocks, Durant's averages sit at 24.5 points per game, and 11.5 rebounds per game. He is averaging 34 ppg in conference play. He is the real deal, a combination in my eyes of Kevin Garnett and Tracy McGrady. And as he showed last night, even as an 18-year old freshman, he is not afraid to take over a game. Every big shot the Longhorns took last night came from Durant. He showed no fear. I for one hope that Durant comes out of college after this year. I am a fan of David Stern's rule saying that kids can no longer come out of high school and enter the draft, but with Kevin Durant, it would not have mattered. This is where Celtics fans, like myself should be excited. The Celtics obviously suck. If they keep sucking (they most likely will), they will have the best chance of acquiring the first overall pick in the NBA Draft in June. With that pick, I hope they would take Durant. Sure, Greg Oden will probably be available as well, and the Celtics should be happy to get either. In Oden, you have a legitimate center prospect, something extremely rare in today's game. And two weeks ago, I'd be all for taking the Ohio State big man. Not anymore though. I think it will take Oden a few years to really come into his own. Sure, playing with his offhand has slowed Oden some this year, and he's still been great. But it just doesn't seem he is totally ready yet. When he comes totally into his own, he will be amazing, but Durant is ready to be amazing now. And hopefully he can be amazing in Celtic green. The Celtics are off until Friday when they take on the Sacramento Kings. It almost hurts me to say it, but go Kings. The Celtics will be better off for it, as they limp towards the end of the season. They'll need as much help as they can to get the number one pick. Even then, nothing's guaranteed. It's all about the way the ping pong balls bounce. Just ask Rick Pitino.

-MC