Boston Celtics: Top 5 greatest one-season wonders in team history
By Steve Zavala
2. James Posey — 2007–2008 season
The Celtics during the team’s Big 3 era over the late 2000s to early 2010s always seemed to have their sights on adding accomplished veteran players for depth. From Stephon Marbury to Michael Finley, they had their eye on bringing in experienced talents to their championship-contending team in hopes of pushing them over the hump.
But among the bench veterans that they signed over this time period, no player had a greater influence on the team than James Posey. The Celtics signed him as a free agent in late August of 2007 after he had spent two seasons in Miami, one of which ended in a championship parade at the end of the year. Posey was deemed to be just another key role player on a Celtics team with high expectations following the additions of both Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. Fortunately for head coach Doc Rivers, he turned out to be more than just another bench option.
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Posey logged a 7.4 points per game and 4.4 rebounds per game average for the 2007–2008 Celtics. But his impact on the floor measured beyond the basic stat lines. He became a tenacious player who exerted a hefty amount of effort on defense and simply became a magnet to creating turnovers. No offensive possessions for the opposition were going to be effortless with Posey on the floor.
This was exemplified most during the 2008 NBA Finals. Along with both Ray and Tony Allen, Posey also took on defensive responsibilities against Kobe Bryant. Of course, Bryant had his way during the series, but it did not become as easy as expected against the physical Posey — a shock not many expected to see.
Posey’s most memorable performance in his year in Boston came in Game 4 of the Finals. He scored 18 points and helped lead the Celtics to a 24-point comeback win to put the team up 3–1 in the series.
Posey wound up leaving Boston for the playoff-contending New Orleans Hornets during the 2008 free agency period. The Celtics surely ended up needing his services during their 2009 and 2010 playoff runs.