duncan228
10-25-2009, 12:30 PM
NBA Countdown: No. 3 Boston Celtics (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=tsn-nbacountdownnoboston&prov=tsn&type=lgns)
SportingNews
Leading into the Oct. 27 season openers, Sporting News will preview each of the NBA teams, counting backward from its Sept. 25 Power Poll. For more great NBA content, order your copy of our Pro Basketball yearbook, or pick one up at a newsstand today.
By Marc Narducci
Sporting News Yearbooks
During the offseason, the Boston Celtics had a simple strategy to remain among the elite in the Eastern Conference. In a frenetic summer in which one contender after another made moves to upgrade talent, the Celtics decided to employ the fullcourt press.
There is no other way to describe sending coach Doc Rivers, president of basketball operations Danny Ainge, managing partner and governor Wyc Grousbeck and perennial All-Stars Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen to Rasheed Wallace’s home in Michigan to make an impressive recruiting pitch.
Wallace signed, and the Celtics are now able to stay in the high-rent district occupied by only the most serious of Eastern Conference contenders.
And while trades by fellow East titans Cleveland and Orlando that brought Shaquille O’Neal and Vince Carter to those respective teams might have had more sizzle, the signing of Wallace, a player as celebrated for his defense as his offense, filled a major gap for the Celtics.
“The sexy names out there were great and those guys earned those names for the talent they have,” Rivers said. “If we learned anything from winning a title, it’s more important to have the right fit than a guy with even more talent.”
It’s not like Wallace is a slouch. A four-time All-Star, he was the final piece of the 2004 Pistons championship team. At 6-11, he has the ability to post up, but also hit the 3-pointer. He can guard bruising or quick power forwards and centers alike.
But Wallace wasn’t the Celtics’ only acquisition. Flying under the radar was the addition of swingman Marquis Daniels, who averaged 13.6 points and 4.6 rebounds last season for the Pacers.
Of course, the new arrivals won’t have any impact if Garnett doesn’t rebound from a knee injury that caused him to miss the end of the regular season and the entire postseason. He's still a difference-maker, and the team needs him to stay healthy.
Pierce, the MVP of the 2008 Finals, averaged 37.5 minutes in the regular season and 39.7 in the two seven-game playoff series against Chicago and Orlando. Rivers says he’d like to cut those minutes so Pierce will be fresh in the postseason, and that is where Daniels could be a major asset.
Allen remains one of the more accomplished snipers in the NBA, a one-man defense spreader. Plus, he was second in the league last season in free throw percentage (.952). Still, at 34, there is concern about Allen wearing down.
One area where age isn’t a concern is with fourth-year point guard Rajon Rondo, who turns 24 in February.
Rondo has continued to elevate his game, but still struggles with his shooting (2-for-15 on 3-pointers in the playoff series against Orlando) and maturity.
Underrated center Kendrick Perkins gives the Celtics another key defensive presence, as he was sixth in the NBA in blocked shots (1.97 per game).
On the bench, guard Eddie House can supply instant offense. He was seventh in the league in 3-point field goal percentage (.444). And Boston fortified its frontcourt depth by re-signing Glen Davis, who averaged 15.8 points in the playoffs.
This is a deeper, albeit older, Celtics team. Yet, if healthy, they should maintain their dominance in the Atlantic Division, with their eyes on a much bigger postseason prize.
Fast facts
2008-09 record: 62-20
Last playoff: 2009 (lost in conference semifinal)
Coach: Doc Rivers
Burning question
Is Rajon Rondo willing to be a role player?
Rondo had a breakout postseason last spring, putting up very impressive numbers—16.9 points, 9.7 rebounds and 9.8 assists—in the absence of Kevin Garnett. The Celtics have Garnett back and added Rasheed Wallace, and they will surely be better off with even scoring numbers among Rondo, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Garnett and Wallace. Rondo has been saying the right things about simply being a cog in the Celtics' wheel, but he has had a taste of what it's like to dominate. It will be tough for him to set that aside.
— Sean Deveney
View from the other bench
(an opponent breaks down the Celtics)
"What is there not to like about Boston? Health is the only issue, and whether they can sustain that health with older guys, I don't know. I'm told (Kevin) Garnett should be OK, and Rasheed (Wallace) was a great sign. He's a guy willing to come off the bench and can play with Garnett or (Kendrick) Perkins. Marquis Daniels was a great sign who offers them great versatility. Daniels isn't a great jump shooter, but in Indiana when he would probe and slash and run into the post once in a while, he was really good.
"(Rajon) Rondo will continue to get better, and retaining Eddie House was a good move. (Paul) Pierce remains at a high level, and Ray (Allen) is older, but he takes care of himself and I look for a big season from him."
Rookie to watch: G Lester Hudson
Hudson was the only player Boston drafted, selected 58th overall from Tennessee-Martin. Hudson, who averaged 27.5 points as a senior, doesn't fit into Boston's immediate plans, but he did earn a roster spot.
Inside the numbers
57: Games played by Kevin Garnett in 2008-09, the second fewest of his career. He appeared in 47 games with Minnesota in 1998-99.
61: Games in which Boston posted a higher field goal percentage than its opponent in 2008-09, most in the league.
92.5: Points per game allowed by the Celtics over the last two seasons, the best scoring defense in the NBA.
Additions: Shelden Williams, C/F (Minnesota), Rasheed Wallace, F/C (Detroit), Marquis Daniels, G (Indiana)
Subtractions: Gabe Pruitt, G (free agent), Leon Powe, F/C (Cleveland)
SportingNews
Leading into the Oct. 27 season openers, Sporting News will preview each of the NBA teams, counting backward from its Sept. 25 Power Poll. For more great NBA content, order your copy of our Pro Basketball yearbook, or pick one up at a newsstand today.
By Marc Narducci
Sporting News Yearbooks
During the offseason, the Boston Celtics had a simple strategy to remain among the elite in the Eastern Conference. In a frenetic summer in which one contender after another made moves to upgrade talent, the Celtics decided to employ the fullcourt press.
There is no other way to describe sending coach Doc Rivers, president of basketball operations Danny Ainge, managing partner and governor Wyc Grousbeck and perennial All-Stars Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen to Rasheed Wallace’s home in Michigan to make an impressive recruiting pitch.
Wallace signed, and the Celtics are now able to stay in the high-rent district occupied by only the most serious of Eastern Conference contenders.
And while trades by fellow East titans Cleveland and Orlando that brought Shaquille O’Neal and Vince Carter to those respective teams might have had more sizzle, the signing of Wallace, a player as celebrated for his defense as his offense, filled a major gap for the Celtics.
“The sexy names out there were great and those guys earned those names for the talent they have,” Rivers said. “If we learned anything from winning a title, it’s more important to have the right fit than a guy with even more talent.”
It’s not like Wallace is a slouch. A four-time All-Star, he was the final piece of the 2004 Pistons championship team. At 6-11, he has the ability to post up, but also hit the 3-pointer. He can guard bruising or quick power forwards and centers alike.
But Wallace wasn’t the Celtics’ only acquisition. Flying under the radar was the addition of swingman Marquis Daniels, who averaged 13.6 points and 4.6 rebounds last season for the Pacers.
Of course, the new arrivals won’t have any impact if Garnett doesn’t rebound from a knee injury that caused him to miss the end of the regular season and the entire postseason. He's still a difference-maker, and the team needs him to stay healthy.
Pierce, the MVP of the 2008 Finals, averaged 37.5 minutes in the regular season and 39.7 in the two seven-game playoff series against Chicago and Orlando. Rivers says he’d like to cut those minutes so Pierce will be fresh in the postseason, and that is where Daniels could be a major asset.
Allen remains one of the more accomplished snipers in the NBA, a one-man defense spreader. Plus, he was second in the league last season in free throw percentage (.952). Still, at 34, there is concern about Allen wearing down.
One area where age isn’t a concern is with fourth-year point guard Rajon Rondo, who turns 24 in February.
Rondo has continued to elevate his game, but still struggles with his shooting (2-for-15 on 3-pointers in the playoff series against Orlando) and maturity.
Underrated center Kendrick Perkins gives the Celtics another key defensive presence, as he was sixth in the NBA in blocked shots (1.97 per game).
On the bench, guard Eddie House can supply instant offense. He was seventh in the league in 3-point field goal percentage (.444). And Boston fortified its frontcourt depth by re-signing Glen Davis, who averaged 15.8 points in the playoffs.
This is a deeper, albeit older, Celtics team. Yet, if healthy, they should maintain their dominance in the Atlantic Division, with their eyes on a much bigger postseason prize.
Fast facts
2008-09 record: 62-20
Last playoff: 2009 (lost in conference semifinal)
Coach: Doc Rivers
Burning question
Is Rajon Rondo willing to be a role player?
Rondo had a breakout postseason last spring, putting up very impressive numbers—16.9 points, 9.7 rebounds and 9.8 assists—in the absence of Kevin Garnett. The Celtics have Garnett back and added Rasheed Wallace, and they will surely be better off with even scoring numbers among Rondo, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Garnett and Wallace. Rondo has been saying the right things about simply being a cog in the Celtics' wheel, but he has had a taste of what it's like to dominate. It will be tough for him to set that aside.
— Sean Deveney
View from the other bench
(an opponent breaks down the Celtics)
"What is there not to like about Boston? Health is the only issue, and whether they can sustain that health with older guys, I don't know. I'm told (Kevin) Garnett should be OK, and Rasheed (Wallace) was a great sign. He's a guy willing to come off the bench and can play with Garnett or (Kendrick) Perkins. Marquis Daniels was a great sign who offers them great versatility. Daniels isn't a great jump shooter, but in Indiana when he would probe and slash and run into the post once in a while, he was really good.
"(Rajon) Rondo will continue to get better, and retaining Eddie House was a good move. (Paul) Pierce remains at a high level, and Ray (Allen) is older, but he takes care of himself and I look for a big season from him."
Rookie to watch: G Lester Hudson
Hudson was the only player Boston drafted, selected 58th overall from Tennessee-Martin. Hudson, who averaged 27.5 points as a senior, doesn't fit into Boston's immediate plans, but he did earn a roster spot.
Inside the numbers
57: Games played by Kevin Garnett in 2008-09, the second fewest of his career. He appeared in 47 games with Minnesota in 1998-99.
61: Games in which Boston posted a higher field goal percentage than its opponent in 2008-09, most in the league.
92.5: Points per game allowed by the Celtics over the last two seasons, the best scoring defense in the NBA.
Additions: Shelden Williams, C/F (Minnesota), Rasheed Wallace, F/C (Detroit), Marquis Daniels, G (Indiana)
Subtractions: Gabe Pruitt, G (free agent), Leon Powe, F/C (Cleveland)