Boston Celtics - season preview

[Karma]

POINT GUARDS

Delonte West / Dan Dickau / Marcus Banks / Will Bynam​

SHOOTING GUARDS

Ricky Davis / Tony Allen

SMALL FORWARDS

Paul Pierce / Gerald Green / Ryan Gomes / Qyntel Woods

POWER FORWARDS

Al Jefferson / Brian Scalabrine / Justin Reed

CENTERS

Raef LaFrentz / Mark Blount / Curtis Borchardt / Kendrick Perkins​

2004/05 : 45-37, 1st Atlantic
Coach : Doc Rivers
Key Additions : Gerald Green, Brian Scalabrine, Dan Dickau

Strengths : With Boston having 17 currently on their roster, player depth right now is particulary strong. Paul Pierce leads a strong batch of swingmen, with the talented Ricky Davis and super athlete Gerald Green. Up front they added Scalabrine and Borchardt to the bench behind a solid rotation of Jefferson, Blount and LaFrentz. New signing Dan Dickau had a breakout year with the Hornets and will be pushing 2nd year guard Delonte West for the starting role. Coach Rivers has an abundant amount of options with this roster with many of his bench players capable of starting.

Weaknesses : Whilst Boston may have solid depth at all positions, they really do lack a go to option outside of Pierce. Upfront there bigs are large in numbers but down on consistency. They dont really posess a solid defensive big with Raef a good shot blocker, but poor man to man. With Boston having so many numbers fighting for minutes, it is sure to cause Coach Rivers to upset a few. There are some volatile personalities in that mix and that could lead to anything.

Key Player : With the on again, off again relationship with Walker off again, Paul Pierce once again is this teams sole leader. The talented swingman will lead a youthful squad and will carry a large offensive load. Rumors have been floated about lately of a pending trade involving Pierce which could effect his fragile demeanor. Can Paul finally prove to people he can soley lead a squad? I doubt it.

Overview : Boston finished last season strong taking the Atlantic title and 3rd seed in the Eastern conference. However since then the Celtics have been involved in the biggest trade in NBA history when they moved Antoine Walker off to Miami. What this trade did do is open up more opportunities for young big man Al Jefferson to firm his position as an NBA starter. The way Al, along with other younger players develop like Allen, West and Green will determine how far this team progresses. They look right now like a fringe playoff team which could slip either side of eight position. With good health to their bigs, solid progression from their young guys, and Pierce and Davis keeping their heads on straight this team is headed back to the playoffs. Well to me, thats to many ifs.

Win Range : 39-44 wins

 

[Karma]

Do you guys think this is a playof team? To me they are 8-9 seed in the East. It was very tight between Cleveland, Phili, Washington, Chicago and Boston so anything can happen.

Boston really need Raef and Blount to stand up, but I have major reservations there.

 

[cdt]

Nice, I do think they are a 9th team they are too young still, and who in the world is Ricky Pierce and why is he wearing number 34? lol jp little brain fart probably..

 

[Karma]

Nice, I do think they are a 9th team they are too young still, and who in the world is Ricky Pierce and why is he wearing number 34? lol jp little brain fart probably..

I've had a shocker. Ricky Pierce the ole Indiana swingman. I'll just be editing the main post. :chuckles:

 

[ChicagoCavFan]

I used to kinda respect PP's game - now I can't stand the guy. I hope we kill these guys in each meeting.

I don't see them being a very good team at all. My guess is the bottom quarter of the Eastern Conference.

 

[highplainsdrifter]

The Cavs and Cs have somewhat of a rivalry goin, and all the games will be competitive. Remeber last years training camp, when Pierce spit at the Cavs bench after gettin used by LeBron, and there was a scuffle outside the locker rooms? And of course they got our old friend Ricky Davis, he will have to play well for the Celtics to be successful. And they edged us out of the playoffs in LBJs season 1, and they tanked the last game of season 2 to keep us out of the playoffs again. (I remember Larry Brown playing his starters meaningful minutes when he didnt have to, he felt he owed it to the teams fighting to get in the playoffs to play a competitive game. The Celtics tanked it on their last game) We owe the Celtics a major hurtin this year, I hope we have a chance to eliminate them from the playoffs!

 

[Karma]

It will be very interesting to see who the Celtics waive if they cannot work a trade. They have 2 players too many right now, and if they were to waive a center, it would be worth looking at. The Celts do look like slipping slightly.

 

[TruBuckeye22]

i do think that the Celtics can play the season out with this roster and make a run at a low seed in the playoffs followed by a 1st rd exit. if that is their goal good for them, but if they want to get to a championship level i think they should trade Pierce to the highest bidder and build around the younger guys. of coarse if they do that Green has to live up to the hype for them to be successful.