2008-09 Boston Celtics Preview
Sports Network | October 21, 2008
Pierce, who took home MVP honors in the finals, led the club in scoring (19.6 ppg), while Allen averaged 17.4 points in 73 games during the regular season and Garnett posted 18.8 points and a team-best 9.2 rebounds per game.
Of course the veterans were supposed to produce. It was the Celtics role players that put them over the top.
Center Kendrick Perkins and point guard Rajon Rondo proved they fit perfectly with the big three in the starting lineup, while Glen Davis, James Posey, Leon Powe and Tony Allen all had their moments and played key roles in Boston's championship run. Veterans P.J. Brown and Sam Cassell also contributed mightily at times.
All will be back with the exception of the valuable Posey, who signed with New Orleans, and the aged Brown.
Boston's executive director of basketball operations, Danny Ainge, will try once again to surround his aging nucleus with enough role players to help the Celtics repeat.
Meanwhile, underrated coach Doc Rivers will continue to stress defense from Day 1 with the hope of capturing banner No. 18.
2007-08 Record: 66-16, defeated the LA Lakers in the NBA Finals.
ADDITIONS: Darius Miles (F) - Signed with Boston; Patrick O'Bryant (C) - Free Agent; Bill Walker (F) - Trade with Washington.
SUBTRACTIONS: James Posey (F) - Signed with New Orleans; P.J. Brown (F/C) Free Agent; Scot Pollard (C/F) Free Agent.
RE-SIGNINGS: Tony Allen (G); Sam Cassell (G); Eddie House (G).
2008 DRAFT PICKS: 1. (30) J.R. Giddens (G, New Mexico); 2. (60) Semih Erden (C).
PROJECTED STARTING FIVE:
PG- Rajon Rondo SG- Ray Allen SF- Paul Pierce PF- Kevin Garnett C- Kendrick Perkins
KEY RESERVES: Glen Davis (F), Leon Powe (F), Sam Cassell (G), Tony Allen (G), Eddie House (G), Darius Miles (F); Patrick O'Bryant (C)
FRONTCOURT: The heart of this team is Garnett and Pierce and as good as Pierce was in the finals, Garnett is the engine that keeps Boston on track. "The Big Ticket" is the rarest of breeds, a true superstar who isn't concerned about any numbers, save the one in the "W" column. Before last season many wondered how Garnett, Pierce and Ray Allen would co-existent. It was never an issue because Garnett is secure and virtually ego-less on the floor.
On the other hand, Pierce needs his touches or he will sulk, affecting his play on both ends of the floor. A superlative scorer, Pierce is the man of 1,000 moves, who uses his brilliant body control to abuse defenders and parade to the free throw line at will. He's also an underrated defender when motivated.
Perkins, who had offseason shoulder surgery, is an afterthought to most but developed into a solid interior defender and a more than competent rebounder.
BACKCOURT: Ray Allen is clearly on the downside but he is still one of the three or four best pure shooters in pro basketball and that needs to be accounted for. His presence on the floor insures that the Celtics will be able to generate great spacing in the half court game.
At the point, Rondo is a lightning fast player, who can get to the rim at will but struggles to hit the jumper consistently.
BENCH: When the Celtics lost Posey over the summer, they lost their best bench player and a lockdown defender who could score enough to keep defenses honest.
They still have a ton of bodies to throw at you off the bench and everyone from Davis and Powe to Cassell, Tony Allen and Eddie House can be impressive for stretches. Whether any of them have the consistency of a Posey is doubtful, however.
The Celtics also took out flier on the talented Darius Miles, who hasn't played since 2006, and big man Patrick O'Bryant, who flamed out in Oakland.
Miles, the third overall pick by the LA Clippers in 2000, missed the past two seasons with knee injuries and was suspended without pay for 10 games this season for violating the NBA's anti-drug program. He didn't make it, however, and was released earlier this week but O'Bryant, the ninth overall selection in the 2006 draft by Golden State, made the club and may get a chance to contribute at some point.
That said, it's Tony Allen that Rivers is looking to for a big leap.
"I think that Tony's going to have a special year this year," Rivers told NBA.com. "I thought last year, he spent the year trying to get healthy, trying to believe that he was healthy. This year, he's just going to be able to play basketball. So, we're going to miss what Posey gave us, but what Tony can give us will help us."
"During the summer I worked on just taking what the defense gives me and putting pressure on the defense when I can," Allen added. "I'm just trying to get better, game after game."
OUTLOOK: Boston is a veteran team that will most likely not be as hungry as it was last season. That should mean looser defense and far less consistency during the regular season but there is still too much talent here to forecast a big drop off.
The Celtics will likely have a tough time reaching 60-plus wins again but if they don't make the Finals, they will be awfully close.
"I thought our guys came with the right energy," Rivers said after a recent practice. "It's different from last year. A lot of our guys can pick up stuff quicker. The guys returning [know our stuff]."
