Post by DERRENMATTS on Oct 7, 2005 2:27:54 GMT -5
NBADraft has been doing a team by team analysis, and they have ours posted now. Here it is:
nbadraft.net/2005-06celtics001.asp
The 2004-05 season brought the Boston Celtics an Atlantic Division crown and a 3-seed in the playoffs, but after a depleted Indiana Pacers squad soundly defeated them in the opening round, it was clear that this team needed to shake things up if it had any bigger aspirations. By shake things up, I mean rebuild. Boston isn't doing a complete Denver Nuggets style implosion. Instead, Danny Ainge is rebuilding on the fly, hoping to remain in playoff contention while adding promising young talent.
What does this mean for the 2005-06 season? Probably the lottery. Paul Pierce is the team's lone playoff-tested star. It was only three seasons ago that he had a real shot at the Finals. At this point in his career, he can't be too interested in a rebuilding project. If anyone remembers how he played last season before the Celtics traded for his long-time sidekick Antoine Walker (now hanging out in South Beach with Shaq and D-Wade), you probably remember a miserable player who only dominated one out of every five or six games. With nobody to keep Pierce's mood swings in check, it's possible that he'll frown and sulk his way into a trade to a contender, where he'll regain his status as "The Truth."
That's not to say that there aren't things for Celtics fans to look forward to. After meeting and exceeding all expectations his rookie season, Big Al Jefferson is back and ready to assume a much higher workload. His post-up game at this stage in his development is much more polished than it has any right to be. He's still a work-in-progress on the defensive end, but he's Boston's only legitimate post scoring threat. By the way, he should only be entering his sophomore year in college.
Backing up Big Al will be Brian Scalabrine, the $15 million man. Scalabrine is a perfectly serviceable hustle guy who is, at best, the ninth man in your rotation. Logically, Ainge signed him for $15 million guaranteed over five seasons. I just don't know about this league sometimes.
At the swingman position, Tony Allen and Ricky Davis will likely split time here like they did last season, with high school phenom Gerald Green and Providence star Ryan Gomes possibly sliding into the playing rotation. Allen, the second-year stud out of Oklahoma State, is already viewed as one of the league's top perimeter defenders and most electrifying athletes. His jumper is still shaky, but every team would love to have a guy like Allen.
Davis emerged as one of the league's top sixth men last season. When he's feeling it, he's unguardable. Simple as that. But with Davis, you're always worried that his crazy/selfish side will take over. He's a notorious trash-talker who sometimes gets a little carried away. All that aside, Davis is one of the most talented perimeter players in the league. If Pierce does, in fact, get traded, keep an eye on Ricky, especially if you're a fantasy basketball GM.
In the draft, the Celtics excitedly grabbed Green (who might end up being the most talented player in the 2005 draft class) at #18. He's still a bit raw, but his athletic ability is truly remarkable. The Tracy McGrady comparisons are justified. Gomes is a bit of a tweener (too bulky for the 3, too short for the 4), but he clearly knows how to play and should have a solid, if unspectacular, NBA career.
With Gary Payton following 'Toine's footsteps to Miami, Boston's starting point guard position is up for grabs, with Delonte West, Marcus Banks, Dan Dickau, and Will Bynum all vying for playing time. I'm giving West the slight edge because he's the steadiest player with the best overall sense of the position. Banks is a terrific defender with blazing speed, but he has yet to show any real understanding of what it takes to be an NBA point guard. Dickau had a breakout season for the New Orleans Hornets last year, due mainly to their lack of scoring options. He's best suited as a change-of-pace guard who can bury perimeter jumpers. Bynum, after a solid career at Georgia Tech after transferring from Arizona, will attempt to transition from undersized 2-guard to point guard.
The center spot could prove to be Boston's weakness. Raef LaFrentz will start, as long as his body can hold up. If he can stay on the court, LaFrentz is a shoo-in for "The NBA's Bulkiest Knee Brace" award. Backing him up will be Mark Blount (and his abominable contract) and Kendrick Perkins. Few non-Knicks players make more money for marginal contributions than Blount. Perkins, who showed flashes last season, will fill in at both the 4 and the 5 and has a better-than-decent chance of moving into the starting lineup before New Years.
Head coach Doc Rivers has a lot of young talent on this roster, but their collective lack of NBA experience will make it difficult to repeat as Atlantic Division champs. The jury is still out on Rivers (who was owned by Rick Carlisle in last year's playoff series) and Ainge (whose draft record indicates he knows talent, but his judgement regarding free agent signings has left a lot to be desired). If Green and Big Al progress as expected, this could be a dangerous team in a year or two.
nbadraft.net/2005-06celtics001.asp
The 2004-05 season brought the Boston Celtics an Atlantic Division crown and a 3-seed in the playoffs, but after a depleted Indiana Pacers squad soundly defeated them in the opening round, it was clear that this team needed to shake things up if it had any bigger aspirations. By shake things up, I mean rebuild. Boston isn't doing a complete Denver Nuggets style implosion. Instead, Danny Ainge is rebuilding on the fly, hoping to remain in playoff contention while adding promising young talent.
What does this mean for the 2005-06 season? Probably the lottery. Paul Pierce is the team's lone playoff-tested star. It was only three seasons ago that he had a real shot at the Finals. At this point in his career, he can't be too interested in a rebuilding project. If anyone remembers how he played last season before the Celtics traded for his long-time sidekick Antoine Walker (now hanging out in South Beach with Shaq and D-Wade), you probably remember a miserable player who only dominated one out of every five or six games. With nobody to keep Pierce's mood swings in check, it's possible that he'll frown and sulk his way into a trade to a contender, where he'll regain his status as "The Truth."
That's not to say that there aren't things for Celtics fans to look forward to. After meeting and exceeding all expectations his rookie season, Big Al Jefferson is back and ready to assume a much higher workload. His post-up game at this stage in his development is much more polished than it has any right to be. He's still a work-in-progress on the defensive end, but he's Boston's only legitimate post scoring threat. By the way, he should only be entering his sophomore year in college.
Backing up Big Al will be Brian Scalabrine, the $15 million man. Scalabrine is a perfectly serviceable hustle guy who is, at best, the ninth man in your rotation. Logically, Ainge signed him for $15 million guaranteed over five seasons. I just don't know about this league sometimes.
At the swingman position, Tony Allen and Ricky Davis will likely split time here like they did last season, with high school phenom Gerald Green and Providence star Ryan Gomes possibly sliding into the playing rotation. Allen, the second-year stud out of Oklahoma State, is already viewed as one of the league's top perimeter defenders and most electrifying athletes. His jumper is still shaky, but every team would love to have a guy like Allen.
Davis emerged as one of the league's top sixth men last season. When he's feeling it, he's unguardable. Simple as that. But with Davis, you're always worried that his crazy/selfish side will take over. He's a notorious trash-talker who sometimes gets a little carried away. All that aside, Davis is one of the most talented perimeter players in the league. If Pierce does, in fact, get traded, keep an eye on Ricky, especially if you're a fantasy basketball GM.
In the draft, the Celtics excitedly grabbed Green (who might end up being the most talented player in the 2005 draft class) at #18. He's still a bit raw, but his athletic ability is truly remarkable. The Tracy McGrady comparisons are justified. Gomes is a bit of a tweener (too bulky for the 3, too short for the 4), but he clearly knows how to play and should have a solid, if unspectacular, NBA career.
With Gary Payton following 'Toine's footsteps to Miami, Boston's starting point guard position is up for grabs, with Delonte West, Marcus Banks, Dan Dickau, and Will Bynum all vying for playing time. I'm giving West the slight edge because he's the steadiest player with the best overall sense of the position. Banks is a terrific defender with blazing speed, but he has yet to show any real understanding of what it takes to be an NBA point guard. Dickau had a breakout season for the New Orleans Hornets last year, due mainly to their lack of scoring options. He's best suited as a change-of-pace guard who can bury perimeter jumpers. Bynum, after a solid career at Georgia Tech after transferring from Arizona, will attempt to transition from undersized 2-guard to point guard.
The center spot could prove to be Boston's weakness. Raef LaFrentz will start, as long as his body can hold up. If he can stay on the court, LaFrentz is a shoo-in for "The NBA's Bulkiest Knee Brace" award. Backing him up will be Mark Blount (and his abominable contract) and Kendrick Perkins. Few non-Knicks players make more money for marginal contributions than Blount. Perkins, who showed flashes last season, will fill in at both the 4 and the 5 and has a better-than-decent chance of moving into the starting lineup before New Years.
Head coach Doc Rivers has a lot of young talent on this roster, but their collective lack of NBA experience will make it difficult to repeat as Atlantic Division champs. The jury is still out on Rivers (who was owned by Rick Carlisle in last year's playoff series) and Ainge (whose draft record indicates he knows talent, but his judgement regarding free agent signings has left a lot to be desired). If Green and Big Al progress as expected, this could be a dangerous team in a year or two.
