Post by FLCeltsFan on Sept 21, 2009 8:09:23 GMT -5
NBA Offseason Buzz: Boston Celtics
As perplexing Rondo continues to improve, how much does Pierce have left?
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Insider
By John Hollinger & Ric Bucher
ESPN Insider
Want to know who's heating up for a big season on the hardwood? Insider is tapping into John Hollinger's projected Player Efficiency Ratings to see who's trending up and down across the NBA. Ric Bucher rounds out the report by examining a pivotal player you'll want to watch as the season approaches. The series continues with the Boston Celtics.
Last season, the Celtics officially replaced the Detroit Pistons as the East's answer to the San Antonio Spurs: The Celtics were a team greater than the sum of its parts, with execution and cohesion allowing them to soldier on with backups and limited players getting big minutes. Then this summer, they even messed with young point guard Rajon Rondo's head by dangling him in trade talks, the same way San Antonio was ready to ship off Tony Parker for Jason Kidd once upon a time. So can the C's replicate the Spurs in the every-other-year title rhythm as well? The No. 1 question, of course, is how much Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, both of whom will have more than 40,000 minutes on their legs by Christmas, have left. If new additions Marquis Daniels and Rasheed Wallace are luxury items off the bench to spell those two, the Celtics are formidable. If Daniels and Wallace have to be staples of the Green diet, well, look to the Spurs' leaning too heavily on newcomers for that answer, too.
To see which player is taking off, which is crashing to earth and which name you'll need to know for the 2009-10 season, you must be an ESPN Insider.
Trending up: Rajon Rondo
Last season: 18.82 PER
2009-10 projection: 19.21 PER
Upside versus Upset -- that is the question. Despite his play, the Celtics were discussing trading Rondo after the season because he'd become such a handful in the locker room. It's too early to know whether these are just growing pains or the sign of a more serious problem, but based on his age (23) and performance to date, Rondo appears to have a very bright future.
As his two-way play for one of the league's premier teams gets more recognition, he has a good shot at receiving his first All-Star berth this season -- an honor he should have been accorded last year instead of teammate Ray Allen. Rondo won't compile nightly triple-doubles like he did in the playoffs, but averages of 13 points, nine assists and five boards seem within reach. -- Hollinger
Trending down: Eddie House
Last season: 15.44 PER
2009-10 projection: 13.55 PER
House opted to pick up the final year of his contract at $2.3 million, so he will be the primary backup to Rondo while occasionally swinging to the 2 when Boston goes small. Look for him to pair with Daniels off the bench: Daniels will handle the ball while House spots up on the wing, and the two will trade assignments on defense.
House is unlikely to keep his True Shooting Percentage (TS%) at the lofty heights of a year ago, especially without any layups or free throws to supplement the jump shots. But as long as his 3-point percentage stays around 40, he'll be a valuable contributor with his scoring and floor-spacing ability off the bench. -- Hollinger
Bucher's name to know: Paul Pierce
He has -- or should have -- the most tread left of the Big Three, but he had their same worn-down look in the playoffs, simply unable to summon the necessary energy every game to get the job done. Granted, he played a staggering 44 minutes a game to get the Celtics past the Bulls, and Rondo's role will continue to expand, but at 31 with barely more than 30,000 minutes played, Pierce should've had more in the tank. Could it be that one ring was validation enough, that the hunger which drove him two seasons ago was a greater missing element than KG?
Whatever the case, the Celtics can't win another title without the Pierce of two seasons ago. For all the growth in Rondo's game, nothing Boston did in the offseason changes its dependence on Pierce offensively when a game is on the line. (As opposed to getting Sheed, who should lighten KG's load considerably.) If there's a saving grace, it's that neither Orlando nor Cleveland appreciably upgraded its ability to defend Pierce.
But for all the questions about Garnett's health -- whispers continue that his knee is still not 100 percent -- Pierce is the Celtics' most indispensable element as their go-to guy and most difficult matchup. They will go as he goes. Whether that's a comfort or a curse might not be clear until spring. -- Bucher
John Hollinger writes for ESPN Insider. Ric Bucher is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine and ESPN Insider.
As perplexing Rondo continues to improve, how much does Pierce have left?
Comment Email Print Share
Insider
By John Hollinger & Ric Bucher
ESPN Insider
Want to know who's heating up for a big season on the hardwood? Insider is tapping into John Hollinger's projected Player Efficiency Ratings to see who's trending up and down across the NBA. Ric Bucher rounds out the report by examining a pivotal player you'll want to watch as the season approaches. The series continues with the Boston Celtics.
Last season, the Celtics officially replaced the Detroit Pistons as the East's answer to the San Antonio Spurs: The Celtics were a team greater than the sum of its parts, with execution and cohesion allowing them to soldier on with backups and limited players getting big minutes. Then this summer, they even messed with young point guard Rajon Rondo's head by dangling him in trade talks, the same way San Antonio was ready to ship off Tony Parker for Jason Kidd once upon a time. So can the C's replicate the Spurs in the every-other-year title rhythm as well? The No. 1 question, of course, is how much Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, both of whom will have more than 40,000 minutes on their legs by Christmas, have left. If new additions Marquis Daniels and Rasheed Wallace are luxury items off the bench to spell those two, the Celtics are formidable. If Daniels and Wallace have to be staples of the Green diet, well, look to the Spurs' leaning too heavily on newcomers for that answer, too.
To see which player is taking off, which is crashing to earth and which name you'll need to know for the 2009-10 season, you must be an ESPN Insider.
Trending up: Rajon Rondo
Last season: 18.82 PER
2009-10 projection: 19.21 PER
Upside versus Upset -- that is the question. Despite his play, the Celtics were discussing trading Rondo after the season because he'd become such a handful in the locker room. It's too early to know whether these are just growing pains or the sign of a more serious problem, but based on his age (23) and performance to date, Rondo appears to have a very bright future.
As his two-way play for one of the league's premier teams gets more recognition, he has a good shot at receiving his first All-Star berth this season -- an honor he should have been accorded last year instead of teammate Ray Allen. Rondo won't compile nightly triple-doubles like he did in the playoffs, but averages of 13 points, nine assists and five boards seem within reach. -- Hollinger
Trending down: Eddie House
Last season: 15.44 PER
2009-10 projection: 13.55 PER
House opted to pick up the final year of his contract at $2.3 million, so he will be the primary backup to Rondo while occasionally swinging to the 2 when Boston goes small. Look for him to pair with Daniels off the bench: Daniels will handle the ball while House spots up on the wing, and the two will trade assignments on defense.
House is unlikely to keep his True Shooting Percentage (TS%) at the lofty heights of a year ago, especially without any layups or free throws to supplement the jump shots. But as long as his 3-point percentage stays around 40, he'll be a valuable contributor with his scoring and floor-spacing ability off the bench. -- Hollinger
Bucher's name to know: Paul Pierce
He has -- or should have -- the most tread left of the Big Three, but he had their same worn-down look in the playoffs, simply unable to summon the necessary energy every game to get the job done. Granted, he played a staggering 44 minutes a game to get the Celtics past the Bulls, and Rondo's role will continue to expand, but at 31 with barely more than 30,000 minutes played, Pierce should've had more in the tank. Could it be that one ring was validation enough, that the hunger which drove him two seasons ago was a greater missing element than KG?
Whatever the case, the Celtics can't win another title without the Pierce of two seasons ago. For all the growth in Rondo's game, nothing Boston did in the offseason changes its dependence on Pierce offensively when a game is on the line. (As opposed to getting Sheed, who should lighten KG's load considerably.) If there's a saving grace, it's that neither Orlando nor Cleveland appreciably upgraded its ability to defend Pierce.
But for all the questions about Garnett's health -- whispers continue that his knee is still not 100 percent -- Pierce is the Celtics' most indispensable element as their go-to guy and most difficult matchup. They will go as he goes. Whether that's a comfort or a curse might not be clear until spring. -- Bucher
John Hollinger writes for ESPN Insider. Ric Bucher is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine and ESPN Insider.
