Murphy's Law

The Celtics solidified their championship aspirations Tuesday by officially adding veteran big man Troy Murphy. Even with the addition of the former Pacer,  Boston still has two more roster spots open to fill. 

Murphy's Law, one of the oldest and most profound explanations of the universe, states, in essence, that "anything that can go wrong, will go wrong." However, when applied to the game of basketball, Celtics fans are now hoping for a much different interpretation of the timeless epigram. 

Filling one of their three open roster spots, the Celtics officially inked Troy Murphy Tuesday morning, beating out the rival Miami Heat for his services. Murphy, who was bought out by the Golden State Warriors on Sunday, fills an enormous void at the center position for Boston created by the departure of lovable big man Kendrick Perkins. 

At 6'11'', 245 lbs, Murphy is a nine-year veteran that could end up being the missing link for Boston. Without the recently traded Perkins and Semih Erden, as well as the injuries to Jermaine and Shaquille O'Neal, Murphy instantly adds size and depth to a team in serious need of both. In addition, the 30-year-old former Notre Dame star has a gifted offensive game that is sure to help the Celtics in the pursuit of Banner 18. Murphy, chosen 14th overall by the Warriors in 2001, has the ability to stretch the floor and drain outside shots. 

In addition, Murphy is a gifted rebounder who should immediately help the Celtics on both the offensive and defensive glass. His late-season signing is similar to the Celtics adding veteran P.J. Brown to the stretch run in 2008. 

One of the biggest reasons Murphy chose Boston over Miami seems to be his belief that the Celtics are his best shot at hoisting a title in June. In fact, Murphy holds the dubious distinction of playing the most career regular season games (639) without playing a postseason game. 

With the acquisition of Murphy, not only do the Celtics add a much needed big man to the mix but they also beat out the rival Heat. In addition, the Celtics still hold two more open roster spots, one of which could be filled with the addition of defensive-minded swingman Corey Brewer. 

Regardless of what Danny Ainge does next, one thing is for sure: The Celtics are a much better team today than they were yesterday.