Post by DERRENMATTS on Oct 31, 2005 3:51:22 GMT -5
From Celtics.com:
Preseason In Review
By: Brian Gleason
With the regular season just days away, Celtics.com thought it would be a good time to take a look at the preseason and see how each of the Celtics faired. The Celtics got solid performances from their veterans, while several young players showed flashes of what might be in store for 2005-06.
Mark Blount
By The Numbers: 11.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 23.3 mpg., 65.5 FG%
Best Night Out: Blount scored more points in other games, but he played his best overall game vs. Chicago (10/19) when he posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 boards.
Skinny: Blount isn’t the flashiest Celtic, but he may have had the best preseason. Blount struggled at times last season adjusting to Head Coach Doc Rivers’ new system. However, he looks comfortable this year and has earned his way back into the starting lineup with his outstanding preseason play. Look for Blount to be a significant factor for the Celtics this season.
Ricky Davis
By The Numbers: 13.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 3.5 apg, 27.6 mpg., 37.5 3FG%
Best Night Out: Davis scored a game-high 24 points, going 4-for-4 from beyond the arc, at New Jersey (10/25).
Skinny: Davis struggled early in preseason as he made the adjustment to starting, but came on in the last few games when Doc Rivers made a rotation change. Rivers kept Davis in the starting lineup but removed him early in the first quarter, then put him back in the game with the second unit when Paul Pierce was ready for a rest. Expect that to be the way Doc goes as the regular season gets under way.
Dan Dickau
By The Numbers: 3.9 ppg, 1.5 apg, 13.8 mpg
Best Night Out: Scored 9 points and dished out 4 assists in the comeback vs. Cleveland (10/26)
Skinny: Dickau showed a lot of promise as a playmaker on offense but he must make improvements defensively to overtake rookie Orien Greene for the team’s backup point guard spot. Look for Dickau’s shooting and playmaking ability to come in handy off the bench as he adds some experienced depth to the Celtics point guard rotation. As Doc Rivers mentioned prior to the last preseason game, “Dan Dickau will help this team.”
Ryan Gomes
By The Numbers: 7.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.3 spg.
Best Night Out: The highlight for Gomes had to be his 15 point 4 rebound effort in front of a hometown crowd vs. New Jersey (10/22) at the Mohegan Sun arena.
Skinny: Gomes had a fantastic preseason, and proved he’s going to make it very difficult for Doc Rivers to keep him off the floor during the regular season. He’s not the tallest or most athletic player, but Gomes simply has a knack for the ball and is almost always in the right place, something Doc Rivers loves in his players. Expect Gomes to be a regular on the second unit.
Gerald Green
By The Numbers: 3.1 ppg, 10.1 mpg.
Best Night Out:Scored 9 points, grabbed 2 boards, swiped 2 steals and hit the game-winning shot vs. Cleveland (10/26).
Skinny: The rookie out of high school received quite an education over the last month, but he seems the better for it. He struggled at times in the preseason games, but never let up on the practice floor. Danny Ainge challenged Green to be more aggressive while he’s on the floor and the rookie responded in the final preseason game by grabbing 2 boards, swiping 2 steals and then hitting the game-winning shot. The preseason couldn’t have ended on a better note for Green’s confidence.
Orien Greene
By The Numbers: 2.8 ppg, 3.0 apg, 16.9 mpg, 57.1 FG%
Best Night Out: Scored 10 points, dished out 2 assists and swiped 2 steals at New Jersey (10/25).
Skinny: If Mark Blount had the best preseason, then Orien Greene had the most surprising. Greene, a 2005 second round draft choice, wasn’t cleared to play until a week before camp began and was entrenched in a roster battle with Will Bynum. The 6-4 point guard ended the preseason as the backup point guard, with a real chance of becoming a starter down the line. Greene showed the court vision that Celtics fans haven’t seen in a long time, and unlike most rookies, looked like he belonged from the very start.
Al Jefferson
By The Numbers: 7.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.8 bpg.
Best Night Out: Scored 11 points and grabbed 5 boards at New Jersey (10/25).
Skinny: Jefferson can’t be happy with the way preseason went, but it’s of no fault of his own. An ankle injury on the first day of training camp sidelined him for nearly two and a half weeks. Jefferson appeared in the final four preseason games, and proved he’s ready to showcase all the moves that had fans so excited after last season. At the start of the regular season, expect Jefferson to fill Ricky Davis’ role as the go-to-guy on the second unit. This should be the perfect role for Jefferson. It allows him to get his opportunities but will also take some of the pressure off him.
Raef LaFrentz
By The Numbers: 8.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 54.3 FG%
Best Night Out: Scored 17 points at Toronto (10/21).
Skinny: The best word that describes LaFrentz is “solid”. He had a solid camp and played well in the preseason. He’s one of those guys that just know their role and stick to it. Look for LaFrentz to put up similar numbers this season and provide the Celtics with stability in the starting lineup and in the locker-room.
Kendrick Perkins
By The Numbers: 3.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.5 bpg.
Best Night Out: Grabbed 9 boards and blocked 3 shots at Chicago (10/15)
Skinny: Perkins also had a great camp, and really got off to a quick start in the preseason. He was really effective on the glass at both ends of the court and was a force blocking shots. Perks lost some time when Al Jefferson came back from his injury, so as the season begins he’s still fighting to be in the regular rotation.
Paul Pierce
By The Numbers: 16.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 4.1 asp, 54.9 FG%
Best Night Out: He had better scoring nights, but Pierce’s best all-around game came vs. New Jersey (10/22) when he scored 12 points, grabbed 10 boards and dished out 6 assists.
Skinny: Pierce had an outstanding training camp, both on the floor and off. He seems comfortable with his leadership role and may be playing the best basketball of his career. He shot an amazing 54.9 percent from the field, 82.3 percent from the free throw line and 36.4 percent from beyond the arc. Expect big things from Pierce this season.
Justin Reed
By The Numbers: 9.3 ppg., 15.4 mpg.
Best Night Out: Scored 19 points sparking the Celtics comeback vs. Cleveland (10/26).
Skinny: Reed worked as hard as anybody this summer, and not only came back in great shape, but with an improved jump shot. Overall Reed had an up-and-down camp, but he ended his preseason on a high note by taking over the fourth quarter vs. Cleveland. Entering the start of the season Reed’s role is still unclear, but you can expect to see a lot of him on the floor.
Brian Scalabrine
By The Numbers: 4.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 15.9 mpg.
Best Night Out: Scored 13 points and grabbed 4 boards at New Jersey (10/25).
Skinny: Scalabrine struggled adjusting to his new team early in the preseason. By his own admission, he’s a better player when he knows his teammates better and how they like to play. This was evident as Scalabrine’s play got better as the preseason went on. At this point you would have to say he’s the second big off the bench, and should see regular time in the rotation. His experience and basketball IQ should really help this young team.
Delonte West
By The Numbers: 6.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 21.9 mpg.
Best Night Out: Scored 3 points, grabbed 3 boards, dished out 3 assists and blocked 2 shots vs. Cleveland (10/26).
Skinny: West enters the regular season as the Celtics starting point guard. He has looked more comfortable in the role after each preseason game. Look for West to provide the Celtics with solid point guard play this season. He didn’t win the job because of his stat line; he won it by playing defense and by the fact that his +/- number with the starting unit was +40 in the preseason.
www.nba.com/celtics/roster/2005TC-Review.html
Preseason In Review
By: Brian Gleason
With the regular season just days away, Celtics.com thought it would be a good time to take a look at the preseason and see how each of the Celtics faired. The Celtics got solid performances from their veterans, while several young players showed flashes of what might be in store for 2005-06.
Mark Blount
By The Numbers: 11.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 23.3 mpg., 65.5 FG%
Best Night Out: Blount scored more points in other games, but he played his best overall game vs. Chicago (10/19) when he posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 boards.
Skinny: Blount isn’t the flashiest Celtic, but he may have had the best preseason. Blount struggled at times last season adjusting to Head Coach Doc Rivers’ new system. However, he looks comfortable this year and has earned his way back into the starting lineup with his outstanding preseason play. Look for Blount to be a significant factor for the Celtics this season.
Ricky Davis
By The Numbers: 13.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 3.5 apg, 27.6 mpg., 37.5 3FG%
Best Night Out: Davis scored a game-high 24 points, going 4-for-4 from beyond the arc, at New Jersey (10/25).
Skinny: Davis struggled early in preseason as he made the adjustment to starting, but came on in the last few games when Doc Rivers made a rotation change. Rivers kept Davis in the starting lineup but removed him early in the first quarter, then put him back in the game with the second unit when Paul Pierce was ready for a rest. Expect that to be the way Doc goes as the regular season gets under way.
Dan Dickau
By The Numbers: 3.9 ppg, 1.5 apg, 13.8 mpg
Best Night Out: Scored 9 points and dished out 4 assists in the comeback vs. Cleveland (10/26)
Skinny: Dickau showed a lot of promise as a playmaker on offense but he must make improvements defensively to overtake rookie Orien Greene for the team’s backup point guard spot. Look for Dickau’s shooting and playmaking ability to come in handy off the bench as he adds some experienced depth to the Celtics point guard rotation. As Doc Rivers mentioned prior to the last preseason game, “Dan Dickau will help this team.”
Ryan Gomes
By The Numbers: 7.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.3 spg.
Best Night Out: The highlight for Gomes had to be his 15 point 4 rebound effort in front of a hometown crowd vs. New Jersey (10/22) at the Mohegan Sun arena.
Skinny: Gomes had a fantastic preseason, and proved he’s going to make it very difficult for Doc Rivers to keep him off the floor during the regular season. He’s not the tallest or most athletic player, but Gomes simply has a knack for the ball and is almost always in the right place, something Doc Rivers loves in his players. Expect Gomes to be a regular on the second unit.
Gerald Green
By The Numbers: 3.1 ppg, 10.1 mpg.
Best Night Out:Scored 9 points, grabbed 2 boards, swiped 2 steals and hit the game-winning shot vs. Cleveland (10/26).
Skinny: The rookie out of high school received quite an education over the last month, but he seems the better for it. He struggled at times in the preseason games, but never let up on the practice floor. Danny Ainge challenged Green to be more aggressive while he’s on the floor and the rookie responded in the final preseason game by grabbing 2 boards, swiping 2 steals and then hitting the game-winning shot. The preseason couldn’t have ended on a better note for Green’s confidence.
Orien Greene
By The Numbers: 2.8 ppg, 3.0 apg, 16.9 mpg, 57.1 FG%
Best Night Out: Scored 10 points, dished out 2 assists and swiped 2 steals at New Jersey (10/25).
Skinny: If Mark Blount had the best preseason, then Orien Greene had the most surprising. Greene, a 2005 second round draft choice, wasn’t cleared to play until a week before camp began and was entrenched in a roster battle with Will Bynum. The 6-4 point guard ended the preseason as the backup point guard, with a real chance of becoming a starter down the line. Greene showed the court vision that Celtics fans haven’t seen in a long time, and unlike most rookies, looked like he belonged from the very start.
Al Jefferson
By The Numbers: 7.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.8 bpg.
Best Night Out: Scored 11 points and grabbed 5 boards at New Jersey (10/25).
Skinny: Jefferson can’t be happy with the way preseason went, but it’s of no fault of his own. An ankle injury on the first day of training camp sidelined him for nearly two and a half weeks. Jefferson appeared in the final four preseason games, and proved he’s ready to showcase all the moves that had fans so excited after last season. At the start of the regular season, expect Jefferson to fill Ricky Davis’ role as the go-to-guy on the second unit. This should be the perfect role for Jefferson. It allows him to get his opportunities but will also take some of the pressure off him.
Raef LaFrentz
By The Numbers: 8.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 54.3 FG%
Best Night Out: Scored 17 points at Toronto (10/21).
Skinny: The best word that describes LaFrentz is “solid”. He had a solid camp and played well in the preseason. He’s one of those guys that just know their role and stick to it. Look for LaFrentz to put up similar numbers this season and provide the Celtics with stability in the starting lineup and in the locker-room.
Kendrick Perkins
By The Numbers: 3.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.5 bpg.
Best Night Out: Grabbed 9 boards and blocked 3 shots at Chicago (10/15)
Skinny: Perkins also had a great camp, and really got off to a quick start in the preseason. He was really effective on the glass at both ends of the court and was a force blocking shots. Perks lost some time when Al Jefferson came back from his injury, so as the season begins he’s still fighting to be in the regular rotation.
Paul Pierce
By The Numbers: 16.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 4.1 asp, 54.9 FG%
Best Night Out: He had better scoring nights, but Pierce’s best all-around game came vs. New Jersey (10/22) when he scored 12 points, grabbed 10 boards and dished out 6 assists.
Skinny: Pierce had an outstanding training camp, both on the floor and off. He seems comfortable with his leadership role and may be playing the best basketball of his career. He shot an amazing 54.9 percent from the field, 82.3 percent from the free throw line and 36.4 percent from beyond the arc. Expect big things from Pierce this season.
Justin Reed
By The Numbers: 9.3 ppg., 15.4 mpg.
Best Night Out: Scored 19 points sparking the Celtics comeback vs. Cleveland (10/26).
Skinny: Reed worked as hard as anybody this summer, and not only came back in great shape, but with an improved jump shot. Overall Reed had an up-and-down camp, but he ended his preseason on a high note by taking over the fourth quarter vs. Cleveland. Entering the start of the season Reed’s role is still unclear, but you can expect to see a lot of him on the floor.
Brian Scalabrine
By The Numbers: 4.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 15.9 mpg.
Best Night Out: Scored 13 points and grabbed 4 boards at New Jersey (10/25).
Skinny: Scalabrine struggled adjusting to his new team early in the preseason. By his own admission, he’s a better player when he knows his teammates better and how they like to play. This was evident as Scalabrine’s play got better as the preseason went on. At this point you would have to say he’s the second big off the bench, and should see regular time in the rotation. His experience and basketball IQ should really help this young team.
Delonte West
By The Numbers: 6.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 21.9 mpg.
Best Night Out: Scored 3 points, grabbed 3 boards, dished out 3 assists and blocked 2 shots vs. Cleveland (10/26).
Skinny: West enters the regular season as the Celtics starting point guard. He has looked more comfortable in the role after each preseason game. Look for West to provide the Celtics with solid point guard play this season. He didn’t win the job because of his stat line; he won it by playing defense and by the fact that his +/- number with the starting unit was +40 in the preseason.
www.nba.com/celtics/roster/2005TC-Review.html
