Post by esco33 on Aug 28, 2007 19:33:53 GMT -5
Man, it seems like I have been gone for AGES. Still no internet at home, and work is crazy. Staying busy and off the net.
Anyway, here is my 2 cents on the upcoming season....
I am extremely excited for the upcoming season. With KG in the fold, we have our best power forward since Kevin McHale (sorry Big Al) and our best all-around player since Larry Bird (sorry Pierce). With KG, Pierce, and Ray Ray as our new "Big 3" we will be a LEGIT team for anybody to play against for the next 5 years. I will miss Big Al, but it is sad to say probably by the 3rd game of the season we will not miss him as much.
Ray Allen is a consummate pro who wants to be here. He will be a GREAT example to some of the few young players that we still have like Rondo, TA, and the 2 rooks. He just might be the best pure shooter in the game. If he isn't he's in the top 3 for sure. He is a PURE scorer. He can get his shot off anyone. Most people do not realize either how versatile the guy is. I consider him one of the most versatile 2 guards in the league. I have seen him on multiple occasions drop like 25 points, 8 assists and 8 boards when his team needs him to do that. Having the Big 3 will also be able to give the other 1 or 2 guys a rest.
Most teams would love to have at least 2 of the 3, like KG and Paul OR KG and Ray. We have all 3. It's kinda like when Randy Johnson came out of the bullpen for the D-Backs in the 2001 World Series during game 7. Imagine giving KG a rest and keeping Paul and Ray on the floor, and then in the last 2 minutes of the game KG comes back in to join both Paul and Ray. We have so many warriors.
I think Perk is not going to have a "breakout" season but it will be solid and he will be a legitimate starting center alongside the big 3 and Rondo. What does he have to do other than grab the boards that KG doesn't get to, man up on defense on the opposing 5's of the league and be an instigator when need be?
Rondo doesn't need to do much but get people the ball and hit the open J with which he has been working out all summer. He will never be Reggie Miller, but I can see him turn into a consistent mid-range jump shooter when he is left open. The guy is an athletic freak. He will fit right in. He is a pass-first/TEAM first kind of guy. If he wanted to he could probably average 15 points a game easy on a poor team. I see him dropping 9 or 10 points with 7 or 8 assists on the season.
Our defense is going to be the best that it has been since the Obie years, and much better than that actually.
TA and Posey will form a formidable one two punch on O and D off the bench at the 2 and 3. Both of those players are starting-caliber players on other teams and they will be coming off the bench!
Also, our main guys coming off the bench should be Eddie House (this guy can SHOOT!), Pollard, and then Scal/Powe. The rest will probably be garbage time/NBDL.
I haven't even mentioned Pierce yet.
I do think it will take some time for all 3 guys to adjust to each other, knowing who likes the ball where, and when. But in the end, this team should at least see ECF. I am not of the opinion that they will win it all in the first year.
I say this year ECF.
Next year NBA Finals.
Even though we gave up a boatload of youth, what we got in return were proven ALL-STAR/ALL-WORLD veterans who are NOT over-the-hill, but have a good 5 years left, who are passionate about playing the game and winning. Having all 3 play together will prolong all of their careers, because they will not have to carry the whole team on their back every night like they were used to doing. Each night it may be a different person, or they may all share the load together. We are in store for an exciting season.
Go Celts in 07-08 baby!!!!!
Anyway, here is my 2 cents on the upcoming season....
I am extremely excited for the upcoming season. With KG in the fold, we have our best power forward since Kevin McHale (sorry Big Al) and our best all-around player since Larry Bird (sorry Pierce). With KG, Pierce, and Ray Ray as our new "Big 3" we will be a LEGIT team for anybody to play against for the next 5 years. I will miss Big Al, but it is sad to say probably by the 3rd game of the season we will not miss him as much.
Ray Allen is a consummate pro who wants to be here. He will be a GREAT example to some of the few young players that we still have like Rondo, TA, and the 2 rooks. He just might be the best pure shooter in the game. If he isn't he's in the top 3 for sure. He is a PURE scorer. He can get his shot off anyone. Most people do not realize either how versatile the guy is. I consider him one of the most versatile 2 guards in the league. I have seen him on multiple occasions drop like 25 points, 8 assists and 8 boards when his team needs him to do that. Having the Big 3 will also be able to give the other 1 or 2 guys a rest.
Most teams would love to have at least 2 of the 3, like KG and Paul OR KG and Ray. We have all 3. It's kinda like when Randy Johnson came out of the bullpen for the D-Backs in the 2001 World Series during game 7. Imagine giving KG a rest and keeping Paul and Ray on the floor, and then in the last 2 minutes of the game KG comes back in to join both Paul and Ray. We have so many warriors.
I think Perk is not going to have a "breakout" season but it will be solid and he will be a legitimate starting center alongside the big 3 and Rondo. What does he have to do other than grab the boards that KG doesn't get to, man up on defense on the opposing 5's of the league and be an instigator when need be?
Rondo doesn't need to do much but get people the ball and hit the open J with which he has been working out all summer. He will never be Reggie Miller, but I can see him turn into a consistent mid-range jump shooter when he is left open. The guy is an athletic freak. He will fit right in. He is a pass-first/TEAM first kind of guy. If he wanted to he could probably average 15 points a game easy on a poor team. I see him dropping 9 or 10 points with 7 or 8 assists on the season.
Our defense is going to be the best that it has been since the Obie years, and much better than that actually.
TA and Posey will form a formidable one two punch on O and D off the bench at the 2 and 3. Both of those players are starting-caliber players on other teams and they will be coming off the bench!
Also, our main guys coming off the bench should be Eddie House (this guy can SHOOT!), Pollard, and then Scal/Powe. The rest will probably be garbage time/NBDL.
I haven't even mentioned Pierce yet.
I do think it will take some time for all 3 guys to adjust to each other, knowing who likes the ball where, and when. But in the end, this team should at least see ECF. I am not of the opinion that they will win it all in the first year.
I say this year ECF.
Next year NBA Finals.
Even though we gave up a boatload of youth, what we got in return were proven ALL-STAR/ALL-WORLD veterans who are NOT over-the-hill, but have a good 5 years left, who are passionate about playing the game and winning. Having all 3 play together will prolong all of their careers, because they will not have to carry the whole team on their back every night like they were used to doing. Each night it may be a different person, or they may all share the load together. We are in store for an exciting season.
Go Celts in 07-08 baby!!!!!
