Recap: The celtics won 66 games and this thing called a championship. Danny Aigne went out and got Ray Allen and the Big Ticket KG. These two moves along with a much improved Rajon Rondo, a re-energized Paul Pierce and a bench filled with role players who knew their role propelled The celtics to a championship an a long waited duck boat tour. The c's had the greatest one year improvement in league history, but no one really saw the domiance the celts had coming. Maybe the biggest offseason move for the celtics was the hiring of Tom Thibodeau from the Rockets. Thibodeaus scheme helped turned Boston into one of the greatest defensive teams ever ( their defensive efficiency rate was the 3rd highest all time).
Strength: Their biggest strength for the celtics is not the big 3 but teamwork. The celtics have adopted the Spurs method of basketball, there is no I in team. It is easy to win when you have Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett, it is not easy to keep all of them in check because each is going to want the ball in key moments and each is goning to want to get their stats. From day 1 Pierce, Allen, and Garnett, bought into Doc Rivers brand of ball and all said hey if we have to sacrifice our own individual numbers for the better of the team we will do it. The bench talent was not the best bench with the likes of Sam Cassell, PJ Brown, Leon Powe, Eddie House, Big Baby and James Posey. As a unit though the came together beautifully. You had the cagie vets in Brown and Casell, the shooters in House and Posey, the bangers in Big Baby and Powe. The celtics return almost all of their bench minus posey and brown, but they drafted JR Giddens who is a super freak and Bill Walker who is an excellent player when healthy, they also signed Darius Miles in the offseason.
Weakness: Inside Scoring. Your probably thinking how i could say this when they have KG but to say KG is a banger down low is like saying Kevin Everett is a excellent dancer. KG plays a soft 4 and loves his fade away j. So then this leaves Perkins who is in my eyes offensivly challanged. Now Perkins is a very good defensive player and a monster on the boards but hes not going out and getting you 20 points. I would have to say that Leon Powe is the best true low post threat, and when your best low post threat is your 7th or 8th man thats never a good thing. Luckily for Boston the Center position has all but died with Dwight Howard the only true Center in the league (Bynum is up and coming).
2008 Outlook: The Celtics ran threw the NBA's jv league known as the East last season. But that was last season and the East has cought up with the West. Now Boston has to worry about Philly, Detriot, the Raptors, Cavs, and Magic. So if Boston has a season like last year i would be stunned. There are a couple of things to look out for this year. One is age, Boston is not a young team with Pierce being 31, KG 32 and Allen 33. Another is it is unlikely for Boston to play defense like they did last year. Now will they be the best defensive team in basketball? Yes, will they lead the league in efficiency like they did last year, doubtful. Losing Posey will hurt as well. Now i am not as high on Posey as other i think he is good but a healthy Darius Miles with Bill Walker and JR Giddens can easily fill the void. With all that said you cant create a sceniaro where the Celtics dont finish with the best record in the East. Pierce would have to be stabbed 11 more times, KG would have to get hit by a car in order to miss any b-ball an Allen well all it takes to keep him out is an ankle injury. With that said The East is good, just not as good as the Celtics. The Celtics will roll through the regular season again, but can they survive the young sixers, LeBrick, or Kobe only time will tell.
Prediction: 58-24
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