Projection time!!!

[DERRENMATTS]

With less than a week before the start of training camp (it starts on Tuesday, Oct. 4th), its time for us to get our crystal balls out of the closet, give it a good spit shine, and see what it predicts our players will do this coming season. Its a cheat to wait until preseason to start making predictions because you'll start getting a feel for who may have a big year, etc. So lets do this a week before training camp to make this really challenging.

Alright, I'll go first:

My first prediction is that the color of our uniforms will be green and white!!!

.............

For my next prediction, I say that Al Jefferson will be starting at the PF slot. And not only that, but he will be a 12 ppg and 8 rpg player.

Moving on, Delonte West will beat out Dan Dickau and Marcus Banks and be the opening day starter. Dickau and Banks will split backup duties.

Kendrick Perkins will not beat out Raef LaFrentz for the starting nod at Center. But, he will turn out to be a terrific backup Center and he'll be a force on the boards.

Tony Allen will come back from his knee surgery and regain his starting spot and SG. Not only that, but he will be a fan favorite because of his amazing slashing ability and his highlight reel dunks.

More to come later. I want to hear some of your predictions now.

[esco33]

Alright, here goes:

Ryan Gomes at some point in the season (do not know when) will become starting small forward, and after he does will stay in the starting lineup for the rest of the year.

Raef will become the starting center out of training camp.

At some point in the season Blount will start a handful of games at center and play well.

Big Al will get a handful of starts at the 4 but will not have a real “breakout year”. I think he will next year though. 10PPG, 7RPG.

Dickau will win the starting point guard job, and will surprise many this year, averaging 7 assists per game, and successfully leading the team’s offense.

Banks will be traded before the start of the third month of the season.

Gerald Green will play part of the season in the NBDL.

Celtics will win the Atlantic…………………………………………barely.

[freshnthehouse]

I agree with esco on Al not having a breakout year. A lot of people have way too high of hopes for him. Ill predict 10pts 7brds a game. And he'll reach these numbers by having a late season surge. Heres my bold prediction on our OPENING DAY starting five.

Dickeau
Allen
Pierce
Raef
Blount

by the end of the year, barring injuries

West
Allen
Pierce
Al
Raef

[DERRENMATTS]

Well, my prediction of 12 and 8 for Jefferson isn't exactly a "breakout" season, so I guess I'm on the same page as you guys.

Esco, I was also thinking that Ryan Gomes may prove to be one of the more valuable players on the team (chances are it won't happen this year, but there may be a small chance). If he plays better than Tony Allen, its quite possible that Rivers moves Allen out of the starting lineup, push Pierce to SG, and insert Gomes at SF. This gives us a beefier wing combination without much speed--don't know if that's how Rivers wants to draw it up. But hey, if it works, why not use it, right?

I feel that Delonte has more of the intangibles to put him ahead of Dickau, although Dickau may be more advanced in knowing how to run a team.

[esco33]

I think that out of training camp, Big Al will get the nod as starting 4, but in the middle towards the end of the season, they will tweak the lineup a little at the 4/5 with Raef, Blount, Perk, ad Scal, as possible starters.

I agree that Delonte has more intangibles (grit, determination, hustle, heady play) but I just think that Dickau just has better natural point guard abilities, and he will get the nod at point come opening night.

[esco33]

Derren, don't underestimate Gomes' chances of contributing right away. Ironically, he actually is farther ahead of many of the rooks and second year players when it comes to fundamentals and just pure basketball knowledge. Some people even think he may get the starting small forward spot right out of training camp.

There is a good article on him in Today's Globe. (think its in the news section of Celtics Green)

I think he will have a season a lot like Josh Howard had with the Mavericks his rook year.

[DERRENMATTS]

Yeah, I do feel that Gomes is more advanced than we may expect out of rookies entering the NBA. What he has going for him is that he has been through the riggers of playing both forward positions and excelling at both. For most of his Providence career, he's played the PF spot, and this will help make him feel at home when Doc asks him to go up against PF's. I don't necessarily think he'll be a really good SF--probably because the way I view SF's don't fit Gomes' description.

But I won't dismiss the possibility of Gomes starting this season. I truly believe (and even hope) that Doc will continue using Ricky Davis as the 6th man. So the wing spot opposite of Pierce will be open for contention. Seeing that Tony Allen is not going to be ready to play by the time training camp opens next week, Gomes may get a headstart. Justin Reed may also be in the mix if Doc wants a more defensive starting unit.

Your Gomes comparison to Josh Howard is merited. Howard slid under the radar and received no hype and it was only when he started showing his maturity and advanced level of play that people took notice of him and gave him props. Gomes could very well be like this. His college credentials are very good and his game isn't about raw potential like so many of these high schoolers and underclassmen coming out of college. Its actually 'realized' potential. Gomes' ceiling isn't nearly as high as many of the other players drafted this year. But he's been able to work on his game and develop the potential that he had to become a mature player.

[meltinjohn]

To start the season:

Raef
Scalabrine
Gomes
Pierce
Dickau

middle to end:

Raef
Jefferson
Gomes
Pierce
West

[mev17]

1) I predict we win the Atlantic
2) I predict Al Jefferson leads the team in FG%
3) Perkins will be our #2 center behind Raef, and will be near the top of the league in rebounds per 48 minutes and blocks per 48 minutes, but will struggle with fouls the first half of the year.

[bleedgreen]

This is an exciting time - just a few days away from Training camp! My predictions are absed on what I've seen, read and what comes from my "gut".

1. Individually; Green WILL play ! this is my secret (no more) desire ! I've already seen some things happen that will afford him pt - Oh, and he will let us never forget those moments. Allen, wil NOT have those momentary lapses in the game that he showed last year - his current problems/management warnings, will keep him focused and at his best. Raef will play very well in the post (legs much more mobile and stronger), while Perks will be an "enforcer" the middle - teams will always put in a game plan to counteract him. Blonut will play with much more enthusiasm ! My man Ricky, will win 6th man this season and will be leader of this team - the younger guys WILL listen to him (his life and game is a testimony). Paul, well, I just don't know what to expect, because he is so full of himself. Until he comes off that high horse, he will be just "Paul"! Gome will be "the man" at SF - he will work his butt off to ensure he does. Reed of course will be the "lock down "stopper with surprising offense to his game. I can't help but to remember the words taht Jermaine O'neal said about AL, "In a couple of years, he (Al) will be demanding the ball from Antoine and Paul". Wow, even Oneal, has seen what will be coming the NBA way. I also, believe that Veal, will bail out any bad moment that Al experiences. "The BATTLE", through the year will be PG, because whoever wins the starting slot ( I beleve Delonte) will continue to excel during the season - knowing that there are footsteps behind him. Marcus banks will be the most improved player - trust me on that! ;D

2. As a Team; we will have one of the best defenses this season. We will NOT lose too many close games this season. Our shot selection AND shooting percentages will vastly be improved. Our rebounding will be up there with the elite (because of Perks, Al, Veal & Raef). Like I said before - every year there is a surprise team. THIS TIME IS OURS !!!!!!!

[Deleted]

Lineup:
C - Lafrentz(25 mins), Blount, (20mins), Perkins(3mins)
PF- Jefferson (25mins), Scala (18 mins) ,Gomes(5mins)
SF - Reed,(15 mins) ,Davis (30 mins) ,Gomes (8 mins)
SG - Pierce (37 mins) Green (6 mins) West (5 mins)
PG - West (25 mins) Banks (15 mins) Dickau (8 mins)

Pierce 21 pts 7 rebs 5 ast.
Davis 16 pts 3 rebs 3 ast.
Jefferson 8 pts 8 rebs 1 blk
Lafrentz 12 pts 6 rebs 1.5 blk
West 10 pts 4 ast 1.5 stl
Reed 3 pts 4 rebs 1 stl 1 blk

Predict
*Dickau = Bust
*Jefferson puts up simlar stats that D.Howard did for his rookie season
*Blount remains back-up center
*West becomes the starting PG
* Davis puts up buckets
* Celtics barely make the playoffs and get eliminated in the 1st round
*That following summer Pierce will demand a trade

[eja117]

D West starts more games, but Banks starts a good handful too and the two put pressure on each other the whole year

At some point GG makes a phenomenal dunk that is all over sportscenter, then three minutes later Tony Allen makes an even more phenomenal dunk

At some point Gomez will get significant pt and make a lot of contributions promting Tony Korheiser to call Danny Ainge a "genious". At that exact moment Gomez starts to fade and in two weeks he's getting DNPs, prompting Wilborn to call Korheiser a "dunce" about two months later. At that exact moment Gomez starts playing a few good minutes a game again after he is needed due to an injury to PP

PP scores the second most ppg on the team.

PP gets suspended for a game or two from either the league or the Celts themselves.

Perkins gets arrested for crippling the man that stabbed PP

Perk is starting and the team is winning at some point, then inexplicably Doc starts giving Blount starts and the team starts losing. Then he gives Raef starts and the team starts playing about ,400 ball and still nobody gets it (except maybe 2 or three of us on this board)

At some point Tony Allen gets about 45 points and says "It shouldn't surprise anyone. I'm like one of the top 3 guards in the league". Doc benches him the next game in favor of GG who gets about 15 points in a successful debut. the next day in practice the two get in a fight. Afterwards both players say "everything is fine". Ainge and Doc refer to it as "an internal incident". Two weeks later it's like nothing ever happened.

The team is winning, the kids are doing great, the team is leading the division, PP is unhappy.

In a very fishy trade prompting the commissioner to fine both teams involved Blount gets traded to the Hawks for 3 players. All 3 are waived and end up back on the Hawks making less money.

At some point Perk, J reed, and Al j all say to reportes "Would you stop asking us about the hurricanes?"

Perk picks a fight with Shaq and gets his !!!GREENIAC!!! kicked. The next week he does it again and holds his own. Doc benches him for a month. Perk says "and I'd do it again" The team praises him as an enforcer. Fans love it. Perk gets a shoe deal with PUMA.

Al J is spotted with Tara Reid.

Al J goes for 15 ppg and 9 rpg his first month. He goes for 7 ppg and 7 rpg the next month. Each month he goes back and forth between those stats before finally having three solid months at the end of the year.

For some reason Perk and Al J are just best friends but also just don't seem to get along and nobody really knows why.

Gary Payton is signed to several 10 day contracts. Ainge attempts to trade GP while on a 10 day contract prompting GP to claim he will kill DA before cooling down and saying he loves Boston

At some point in the championship game in the 4th quarter of game 7 the Celts are down 20 points. Tom Bady then enters the game and racks up 32 assists, mostly on alley oops to Ricky Davis, TA, and GG. The final shot is a swish from half court made by Adam Viniateri who is inexplicably given the MVP. Kornheiser calls Ainge a "genious" and Brady "the best to ever play the game" . PP is mad and vows to force a trade to the Knicks. Somewhere in Atlanta Blount is toking up and telling a chick (that he doesn't even know is ugly) "I was actually the best player on the team"

In the draft DA manages to get Greg Oden who absolutely inexplicably drops to 31rst. Reviews are mixed.

In the summer DA signs Curtis Borchardt to a 6 year $30 million deal claiming "where can you get players like this? The draft?"

[Celtic17]

43 - 45 wins

---Starters @ beginning of season...
Reaf
Big Al
Reed and Gomes split time
PP
West and Dickau split time

---Starters after PP is traded... (mid-season)
Reaf and Mt Perk split time
Big Al
Reed
TA and GG split time
West

---Ricky Davis wins 6th-man award and is voted MVP of the Celtics by his teammates.

---None of our drafted players play in the NBDL (unless on injury rehab).

---PP pouts after being traded and cries to the press about DA and Doc.

---Big Al is named MVP of the Rook/Soph game during All Star weekend.

---Reaf plays injury-free all season.

[meltinjohn]

Holy sh|t eja. Those are some predictions for the season let alone the lineups. But I do see Pierce being more unhappy the more Gerald Green will be noticed. Heres a kid who was supposed to be a top 6 and he fell to Boston. Pierce will ENVY him. Mark my words.

[Celtic17]

---Marked--- as you !!!GREENIAC!!!-ked John...