Our Boston Celtics have given their fans more ups and downs than a VH1 Behind The Music special on just about any 80’s Metal band. The game starts out strong, as the C’s are able to get out on the court and run. Guys are moving away from the basketball and always looking for the open man. Then, much like their Def Leppard brethren, the wheels come flying off when drugs and dismemberment enter the picture in the 4th quarter… or whoops. I guess I mixed my metaphors there, but you get the drift. There has been a lot of be excited about, but there remain a number of areas of concern.

This week, after yet another missed shot to send a game to overtime, Paul Pierce has had the target on his back. Internet message boards have been buzzing over the debate over whether Ainge should work to find Pierce a new home. Even Captain Hindsight himself, Peter May, made note in last Sunday’s Globe that Pierce’s attitude and demeanor are troubling. So what is one to do? Trade the best player on your team? Wait it out until Pierce buys into more of a team concept? Or perhaps pull a Vince Carter and keep him on the roster despite every player on the team despising him? Ok, maybe not the last one, but you get the idea.

We opened up this idea to the Full Court Press’ stable of highly qualified and well compensated writers to look at Paul Pierce’s role on this Celtics team and what his future may be in the NBA. Today is part 1 of this look at the Celtics captain, with part 2 to follow later this week.

Mark:
Paul Pierce is off to a great start.  Thus far this season, his field goal percentage, 3 point percentage, free throw percentage, rebounds per game, blocks per game and points per game are all up from last season.  He’s in the top 15 in the NBA in most offensive categories.  And he could not appear more disinterested in it all.  Paul is turning into exactly what the Antoine Walker bashers wrongly characterized him as for years: a petulant child that needs to be disciplined.
 
When Walker was traded before last season, there was no longer any question that this Celtics incarnation belonged to Pierce.  We heard how Paul had been reading books on leadership, in sports and otherwise, as well as picking the brains of some of the Celtics all-timers for tips on how to make the guys around him better.  And then we watched as he failed to achieve any of these goals, and in the process have the worst statistical year of his career.  Even worse, he looked like the stereotype of the spoiled, me-first NBA player of today down the stretch of the season.
 
That said, I read some of the internet folk who feel that Pierce should be traded post-haste, and I cannot disagree more.  Not because I think he’s the consummate Celtic and cannot be replaced.  No, because right now I can’t see that you can get equal value for Pierce.  Look at the players most named in the NBA rumor mill.  Vince Carter, no thanks I like my teams to win.  Shareef Abdur-Rahim:  perhaps, if you like the 2005 free agents and want to move PP’s 3 years for SAR’s contract in it’s final season.  Tyson Chandler: mmmmm let me ponder this…..NO!!!!  One of the many overpaid guys on the Knicks: why bail out Isiah?
 
The truth is that this early in the season, with Pierce back to his standard form you cannot trade him.  It simply makes poor basketball sense to trade Pierce because he has a sour look on his punim, and hasn’t accepted the mantle of being the team’s anchor.  Perhaps later in the season, as we get closer to the trading deadline some better players will be available, but for now I cannot see how trading Pierce makes this team better, now.  That’s how I see it.

Dan:
An interesting question:  Should the C’s trade Paul Pierce?  The Celtics made a similar type move when they traded Antoine Walker last fall.  People who (admittedly) never even watch the NBA any more buried Danny Ainge for making this deal, primarily because Antoine (along with Pierce) was the only real “name” player on the Celtics that they were aware of.  The truth is, it was not a bad trade.  It would have been a great trade if Raef Lafrentz had stayed healthy, but he didn’t and the GM deserves blame for taking a risk like that.  The real success of the deal hinged on Vin Baker staying sober so Boston had a low post player to balance the offense.  He didn’t, Lafrentz went down, and the team suffered the consequences.  After this, Ainge realized he did not need role players on a 43 win team, so he dealt them (Williams and Battie) for more talented players.

When asked, Ainge said the main reason he traded Walker is because of the “hold” he had on the team.  He did not feel they could change their offensive philosophy while continuing to run that offense through Antoine.  He also knew Antoine would be belligerent the whole season if he was not the primary ball handler, hence making the hasty deal.  This raises the key question, can we say the same thing about the “hold” Paul Pierce has on this team?

I am really on the fence on this one.  Pierce thrives in the half court game where he can create his own shot and get to the line repeatedly, and (hopefully) pass out of double teams.  He is not very fast, so when it becomes a running game, he loses his edge over his defender because the fastbreak is just as much about speed as it is about a quick first step.  The main impact Pierce has had in the running game has been as a defensive rebounder and outlet passer.  That’s all well and good, but it is not why he’s here.  The value Pierce brings to this team is that he is really their only option on offense in the halfcourt game.  Almost every shot they get is a result of Pierce either shooting, or passing out of a double team to start some ball movement.

So I guess the way I see it is this:  although Pierce does not really mesh well with the type of frantic fast paced game the C’s want to play, he is a much needed presence for when the game slows down.  And, as much we like to think they can run all the time, we all know that’s not how it goes (especially come playoff time).  Without an impact player for defenses to focus on like Pierce, the Celtics would struggle to score 80 points on most nights.  That is why I believe they need to keep him here.  We all know what he’s capable of when his head is right, and come playoff time, we will appreciate having someone on the team who is willing and capable of taking the offensive load on their shoulders.

By Dan
November 30, 2004

It is all well and good to talk about athleticism and being a running team, but it is quite another thing to put that talk into practice.  The Celtics did just that last night in running the Orlando Magic out of their own building in a 117-101 thrashing that was never really even close.

I had spent the afternoon in a near depression over the news that Delonte West had broken his hand.  If you have even a smidgen of basketball knowledge and had watched West’s play in the two games he has been on the floor this season, then you know that this news was crushing.  It is easy to see that the kid gets it.  He brings a ton of energy into the game, but even more importantly, he knows how to play under control with intelligence.  Losing him for an extended period is a huge setback for the second unit, as he easily could have settled into a nice role of giving twenty quality minutes a night to spelling Gary Payton.

But from this dark cloud of despair emerged? Marcus Banks?  In the words of Ted Sarandis, WOW!  Marcus Banks was the best player on the court last night for either team.  He played with intensity and reckless abandon (he always does this—with heavy emphasis on the word “reckless”), but he was always under control.  In the past, he has reminded me of someone’s escaped pet hamster running insanely all over the kitchen until it runs smack into the closed screen door.  Last night he led the C’s to 30 fast-break points, which is their second highest total for the season and the second game in a row they turned in more than thirty.  If Banks can overcome his other big problem, inconsistency, it will make the loss of West a lot more manageable for the C’s.

Banks was not alone however.  Boston’s ability to push the ball on offense meant less time in the half-court set, and it resulted in easier baskets.  The Celtics put up 70 points in the paint because they scored on lay-ups and pull up jumpers instead twenty foot jump shots.  In fact, the C’s only took nine three’s the whole night.  If that’s not a testament that the days of “chuck and duck” offense from the Jim O’Brien era are over, then I don’t know what is.

Rookie Al Jefferson continued to excite C’s fans with 16 points and five boards in only 21 minutes of action, while also blocking two shots.  Paul Pierce had a decent shooting night because he did not force anything, and Raef Lafrentz continued his early season “Lafren-naisance” (yes, I know that’s a stretch, but you try coming up with a catchy slogan for a 6’11” Frenchman with a bad knee) with 14 points and six rebounds, all while shooting over 50% from the field.

A running offense often times makes defending an easier task.  The C’s this season have been terrible in their half-court defense with the starters on the floor.  The age of Gary Payton and defensive disinterest of Paul Pierce catches up with them often as always seem a step behind in their rotations.  Not last night though.  Because they set the tempo and pace of the game early, Orlando felt the need to follow suit.  When this happens over 48 minutes, the Celts have a huge advantage.  This is because of the athletes on their second unit.

Overall, it was everything that the little cult club I like to call “Celtics Fans” hopes to see from the team this year:  solid defense, good ball movement, and above all, constant running and motion.  This team has the athletes to create chaos and mismatches all over the floor as long as they keep running (I sound like Tommy), and last night was a very enjoyable Exhibit A.

By Tom
November 28, 2004

For the second consecutive game, Paul Pierce and the Celtics had a chance to tie the game and put it into overtime. For the second consecutive game, Pierce came up short.

Unfortunately, many people will take away the above sentences as the sole memory of these past two games. They will quickly point to Pierce and his inability to make the key shot. They will also talk about how Pierce dominates the ball and that is the reason why the Celtics fall apart down the stretch.

For the record, Paul Pierce attempted only 10 shots this game. He also went to the line 10 times, making 9 of those 10 attempts. He led the team in rebounds and assists. This was the type of game that you wanted your star to play (well, other than the whole miss free throw thing). His first attempt from the field did not come until there was 59 seconds left in the first quarter. He let the game come to him as they say. This team needs this version of Paul Pierce in order to have any success.

This was probably one of the most entertaining games of the season. The score at the half was 60-59, Boston, and it featured plenty of fast break basketball. The first half also featured the electrifying Dwayne Wade who looked like a cross between an early nineties version of Penny (court vision) and Tim Hardaway (killer crossover). The Celtics tried 3 different people on Wade with the same results. At one point, it appeared that a helpless Jiri Welsch had donned a blond wig and changed his name to Ehlo. It was no coincidence that the Celtics climbed back in this game in the 4th quarter while Wade was on the bench.

The other story of this game was the play of Tony Allen. The statistics show that Allen finished with 14 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals in 23 minutes. He also had 3 costly turnovers down the stretch. However, there would not have been any stretch run if it was not for his performance. The highlight of the night was when he stole an entry lob to Shaquille O’Neal, tight-roped the baseline, and took the ball the length of the court for a slashing lay up and a 3-point play. It was no coincidence that Wade was held in check in the 4th quarter when Doc Rivers finally decided to put Allen on him. It is this type of performance that will accelerate Ricky Davis or Jiri Welsch’s departure from Boston.

As for the game itself, Miami came out of the locker room in the second half and went on a 13-0 run to go up 73-59. The lead was 10 with 2:30 to play in the 3rd when Doc Rivers went to his bench. Out of the game went Gary Payton, Raef LaFrentz and Mark Blount and into the game came Al Jefferson, Delonte West and Tony Allen. The Celtics then proceeded to start the 4th quarter on a 7-0 run, keyed by the play of Allen and also Ricky Davis. With 7 minutes remaining, the Celtics sparked by their young 2nd unit, trailed the Miami Heat by one point.

This was the type of play that Celtics coaches and fans were begging to receive from this unit. Defensive intensity? Check. Attacking the basket? Check. Poise? Check. This group managed to evaporate a 10-point lead in a half of a quarter.

This is the point where Doc Rivers made a critical coaching mistake. He decided not to put Gary Payton and Raef LaFrentz back into the game. Both had been sitting since the 2:30 mark of the 3rd quarter. LaFrentz was leading the team with 21 points on 7-14 shooting. This was probably his best game as a Celtic. Payton had 15 points and was the main reason the Celtics didn’t get blown out in the first quarter. I’m still searching for a reason for them not being in the game at this time. Payton ended up going into the game at the 5-minute mark, after Damon Toney, err Jones hit another crucial 3 pointer to put the Heat up 5. LaFrentz did not enter for another 2 minutes, which means that he sat for a full quarter before re-entering. Once in the game, LaFrentz drew a key charge that allowed the Celtics to stay in the game with 1:36 to go. Both players combined to take 2 shots (both missed by Payton) the rest of the game. The irony of this is that there have been plenty of instances where many of us have asked for the young guys to play. Plenty of instances where the veterans were not getting it done and it was time to give the kids a shot. This was not one of those instances. LaFrentz and Payton were both playing well and should have been inserted back into the game earlier.

There were many positives to take from this game. Delonte West decision-making was excellent. The Celtics managed to hold Miami to 1 field goal in the last 2:17. Al Jefferson made his 2-3 plays that make you daydream about his future. LaFrentz shot the ball like he was back at Kansas. Walter McCarty let 35 year old Christian Laettner blow by him for an easy lay-up. Okay, that last one is not a positive but I had to throw it in there (because it should be documented that Laettner blew past someone).

After 12 games, the Boston Celtics are 4-8. It could be argued that this team could be 7-5. But as a man (who sometimes gets bad information) once said, You are what your record is.

By Mark Rayburn
November 23, 2004
Pacers WIN 106-96

THESE GUYS ARE RIDICULOUS!!! OK, we didn’t hear that gem from Tommy last night, but perhaps we should have. The Celtics out-fouled the Pacers last night by 10. Both Jiri and Mark Blount fouled out of the game. I am pretty sure that on foul #3 or #4 Blount wasn’t in the same area code as the play. At one point in the game I thought Whitey Duvall from 8 Crazy Nights was working the game, with technical fouls being handed out like M&Ms.
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But the losscannot be blamed on the zebras alone. The Celtics continue to have problems with making crunch-time defensive stops. Now, I am not advocating a return to Harter-ball but if you want to be a contending team you HAVE to be able to make a defensive stop late in the 4th quarter. And by defensive stop, I don’t mean unintentionally fouling Scot Pollard.
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There were, however, some bright spots in this loss. Jiri Welsch started, with Ricky Davis becoming the 6th man. Jiri responded by going 5 of 11 in 31 minutes for 13 points. Ricky brought some solid intensity off the bench (he has the ability & tenacity to be a great 6th man for the Celtics. I never thought I would say that), going 6 of 11 for 15 points in 32 minutes.

Now, for the Pacers side of the tilt. Despite a starting 5 that included 2 guys that could well have been in the Witness Relocation Program before Friday (the Jones boys), the Pacers looked pretty good. Jamaal Tinsley lit up the C’s for 29 points (game high), 6 assists, and 4 steals. He was defensively on Payton like an undershirt, and really impeded GP from getting Pierce the ball cleanly for much of the night. How GP got 8 assists is anyone’s guess.

I was a fan of David Harrison pre-draft, despite some of the knocks on him by the draftniks (mostly about attitude). The kid plays with nice intensity, but looked confused and out of position for much of his 26 minutes. I like the guys we took, at this point. Harrison may turn into a player, but he is probably a longer term project than the C’s can take on now.

Austin Croshere had 14 points by going 2 for 11 from the floor. Let me repeat that: 14 points, 2 for 11. He went 10 for 11 from the line. I know what you’re thinking: how did Croshere go to the line 11 times?? On this issue, your guess is as good as mine. My working theory is that he had a whistle hidden somewhere on his body.

In summary, I like the way that the Celtics played for the most part. If the coaches can find a way to ramp up the defense for the 4th quarter, I think that this Celtics team can really go somewhere. The Ainge draftees all project a team attitude and play their butts off, when given the minutes. For all the negative response Ainge received for his rebuilding (a lot of it by me), this team appears to be headed in the right direction.

I would like to offer best wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving to the entire Celtics organization, and to everyone out there reading this (all 3 of you!).No, seriously thanks. It’s an honor to be able to ramble on about hoop andhave someone actually care.Next up, Sixers and Cavs. Enjoy!

By Jon Duke
November 21, 2004

Ladies and Gentleman. Let us please stand up in our cubicles, basements, or college dorm rooms to congratulate the Boston Celtics for holding a fourth quarter lead and defeating the “best team in basketball”, Seattle Supersonics. The 9-1 Sonics were winners of their last nine, but I think Dakota in the Morning has more listeners than those who believe that Seattle team can win 60 games. Through 8 games, the Sonics were shooting 60 percent from 3 point land. Now under Jim O’Brien, that long distance proficiency might mean a trip to the All Star Game for Walter McCarty, but like Obie Ball, all statistical anomalies come to an end.

After a complete 48 minute defeat of the Sonics 102-83; your Boston Celtics did what they did could do against the Spurs… or Washington… or Philly… or Indiana. RUN RUN RUN!!! Or more appopriately, keep running in the the 4th quarter. Where on Friday night Gary Payton was to blame for slowing the tempo in the final stanza, this evening Payton looked to push the ball. On GP’s first trip up the court in the 4th quarter, he made a pass ahead of the retreating defense that caught Ricky Davis at the arc, where he buried a 22 foot jumper. That set the tone for the rest of the quarter. There would be easing off the gas pedal as this game neared an end, and the quickened tempo allowed the C’s to build on their lead as the final quarter progressed.

Celtics at the Point:
Payton started this game very slowly (4 turnovers in the 1st half), but his poise and command of the tempo put the Celtics in position to put this game away. Payton did everything that he didn’t do on Friday night, and the difference was a “W”. By February and March, one would hope the entire team would understand the need to push the tempo, but for now Payton is the “Straw that Stirs the Drink” for this roster. In more depressing news: Marcus Banks was unimpressive yet again, which makes us all ask the eternal question: So, Delonte, how’s the thumb?

Celtics on the Wings:
Ok, I was wrong. I am man enough to admit that I was wrong about Jiri Welsch. While Welsch was showing signs of emerging from a Bootsy Collins sized funk, I was diametrically opposed to putting him in the lineup until he proved he could perform. This evening, “Havli-Czech” proved that the best role for him is in the starting line up. His passing, rebounding, and defense complement Pierce’s game well, and this allows Ricky to take a leadership position with the 2nd unit, not to mention providing that unit’s scoring.

Pierce was all over the place (17pts, 6-12FG, 10 rebounds, 7asts/3TO, 3 steals, 2 blocks), and Tony Allen showed at the end why I am excited about him. Some players know how to finish at the hoop (Allen), while others do not (Banks). I can’t believe that Allen will be 4th on the depth chart for very long.

Celtics at the Post:
Blount and LaFrentz were fairly average against a team whose inside presence features Danny Fortson and Vlad Radmanovich. Not to mention cameo appearence by Vitaly “The Ukraine Train” Potapenko. Hardly the Big Three there, but Blount could only muster 12 pts and 4 rebounds while the Fragile Frenchman garnered 11 pts with 7 rebounds. In another rotation change, it appears that Googs has slid down the rotation and was supplanted by Walter McCarty. Anything that involves giving McCarty more time is never a good thing, but Googs has not played well in his last few games. I don’t think Googs is done, but I also wanted to believe that Dominique Wilkins had something left in the tank for the ‘95 season.

Lastly, I am afraid I need to agree with Peter May. Wait, did I just write that!? Dear god! Either I’ve been zapped with 1 million jigawatts or I’ve fallen into somekind of wormhole. Nevertheless this development is scary deserves medication and consultation with a physician. Al Jefferson needs, deserves, and has rightly earned to play more than 20 minutes a game. Right now, Jefferson is the third best post player on the team, and may rate higher than that, but I am afraid of believing the hype too early on. If Blount were playing on par with his performance from his Contract Drive 2004 season, maybe I wouldn’t be so hasty with using Jefferson but he isn’t. Raef has been adequate, but you can’t be sure what to expect from someone who missed 60 plus games the previous season. And while Jefferson’s defense leaves much to be desired, his hustle on the boards and low post scoring are areas where the Celtics have deep deficiencies. Therefore…

Celtics on the Bench:
Doc Rivers should be lauded for finally getting his team to keep running in the 4th quarter, but Al Jefferson should be getting more than 15 minutes against a team with Vlad Radmanovich as its primary power forward. Wheezie can absolutely dominate that matchup on the low blocks, as he could with Nick Collison. I am tired of reading about giving Jefferson more minutes, Doc just needs to do it.

Doc also deserves kudos for mixing up the line up and moving Jiri into the starting role. Nothing that I saw over the past 7 games proved to me that switching Jiri and Ricky’s roles would benefit the team. That is why I am sitting here typing this on my laptop, and Doc is making the big bucks in the nice suits.

In review, the C’s RAN RAN RAN!!! While the Sonics luck from 3 point range seemingly ran out. The Celtics will have a day off on Monday, and then return with two in a row on Tuesday against Clubber Lang’s Indiana Pacers and then on Wednesday in Philadelphia.

By Jon Duke
November 19, 2004

Back in the glory days of the great Celtics teams of the 1980’s it was a routine occurrence to see a pregame stat like The Jazz Have Not Beat The Boston Celtics Since November 1981. Remember that? Well after finding out that “Success” was not a choice (Thanks Rick!)prior to this evening’s game the Celtics had not beaten the San Antonio Spurs in their last 13 games. Or, in other words, before Rick Pitino returned on his golden chariot, and kicked Red and Larry to the curb. Now it would be easy to see that the Boston Celtics would be a much different team had the ping pong balls fallen their way in the spring of 1997, but most red blooded Americans would agree that seven years is more than enough time to find a way to defeat the San Antonio Spurs.

Though the Spurs have always had nice role players, their success begins and ends with Tim Duncan. Duncan’s consistently dominant effort on the high, and low, post give great freedom to San Antonio’s deep shooting wing players like Manu Ginobili, old friend Bruce Bowen, and the newest Spur, Brent Barry. Now I’m sure the Peter May-ites out there are screaming WHAT ABOUT TONY PARKER? HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A CELTIC! Uhh right… Of course that draft was four years ago, but guys like Peter have barely let go of Red selecting Michael Smith over Tim Hardaway in the 1989 Draft. Yumpin’ Yiminee!

How did this game shake out, you ask? Well, let’s just say we’ve rented this movie before and we should have returned it claiming the disc was scratched.

Celtics Post Players:
You can best describe why a fan can walk away from these games optimistic with one word: Wheezie. Al Jefferson in 23 minutes had 13 points and 6 rebounds. In the aftermath of the loss in Washington, Doc had commented that he would give Al more minutes against San Antonio, and Wheezie certainly did not disappoint. Jefferson was active under the boards to the point where he is embarrassing others on the floor because he doesn’t “know” enough to give up on plays easily as most NBA players do. A few of his fouls on Duncan could fall into this category.

Overall, I thought The Fragile Frenchman did a nice job against Duncan defensively, and had 10 points and 7 rebounds in 25 foul plagued minutes. On the other side of the ledger, Mark Blount while a solid defender on Duncan in LaFrentz’s absence, was thoroughly unimpressive in 34 minutes. There were several opportunities for Blount to do more offensively and declined. But, while Blount’s game was hot and cold, Tom Gugliotta’s night was horrid. Googs had 0 rebounds and 0 points in 11 minutes of action. Of which, probably only 2 minutes were not embarassing. Googs alone had only 3 less minutes than Tony Allen and Marcus Banks combined. In which time Banks and Allen grabbed 8 caroms.

Celtics on the wings:
Yet again Paul Pierce has a fabulous shooting night, but the Celtics aren’t able to seal the deal in the 4th Quarter. Pierce (8/12 FG, 8/9 FT, 25 pts.) was deadly all evening, but it seemed that even some of the shots he made should have been passes. Now in the freewheeling, Summer of Love days of Jim O’Brien and Antoine Walker, a good shot was any shot. Not anymore. With this team attempting to build an unselfish, uptempo style of play, making bad decisions is not acceptable. Not making that extra pass causes players to stop moving without the basketball or making the extra pass themselves. When you need guys like Ricky Davis ready to bail you out, it behooves Pierce to keep them interested and happy. At this point… he doesn’t get it, and he’s losing his wingmen because he isn’t keeping them engaged in the game with his passing.

Ricky Davis had 35 largely forgettable minutes (2/7 FG, 3 TO) and gave up 21 points to Manu Ginobili who was open far too often at the arc (4/5 3pt FG). Things were so bad for Ricky that Doc pulled him from the lineup down the stretch in favor of Jiri Welsch, who while not in Doc’s doghouse, was certainly sleeping on the couch. Though there are a number of promising signs from Welsch that his early cold streak is thawing, as Welsch hit a number of jumpers that looked like the Jiri of last year.

As with the post players, the most promising effort amongst this group came from a rookie, this time it was Tony Allen. Obviously, Allen gets a lot of attention because of his highlight reel dunks and dribble drives, but Tony Allen is becoming much more of a solid basketball player than we were led to believe. In the preseason and summer league, Allen showed a propensity to gamble and seemed to get burned in the first few games of the year. In his last 2-3 games, Allen has played much more stay at home defense, but it says here that Tony is only biding his time until he understands NBA offenses to the point where he can gamble and win. Nevertheless, Allen had 5 solid rebounds and 2 points, even if he has not been fully integrated into the second unit’s offense, despite an explosive first step and great ability to finish.

Celtics at the Point:
Gary Payton was great for 3 quarters, but disappeared after Banks replaced him at the start of the 4th Quarter. Payton was incredibly effective posting up Parker, scoring many of his 16 points either on the block or at the free throw line from Parker’s inability to stop him. Given the struggles the Celtics had in the 4th quarter, one would think placing Payton on the block would have been an excellent idea to break a Spurs defense that held the C’s without a basket for 8:30 in the 4th Quarter. These are the type of calls a veteran point guard should be making, but alas, no one called Payton’s number, not even Payton himself.

As for the back up, well Marcus Banks has returned to his frustratingly inconsistent ways. After two fabulous games last week against New York and Charlotte; Banks returned this week with a pair of transparent performances. Though it would be easy to blame Banks ineffective play tonight as an outgrowth of facing a top flight point like Tony Parker, Banks’ weakness has always been his decision making. As an illustration of Banks’ difficulty with decision making, Banks received an offensive rebound at the free throw line with no Spur defender within 8 feet of him, and no other Celtics players closer to the hoop that were open. So, what does Banks do? I’ll give you a hint… he didn’t shoot. And, THAT my friends could be the beginning of the end for Marcus Banks in a Boston Celtics uniform.

Celtics Coaching:
Doc Rivers knows how to talk, which was a significant reason why Wyc and The Boys wanted him as their coach. In the days following the Celtics’ loss to Washington, Rivers relayed to the press the need for his team to not fall into the stagnant offense that ultimately spelled their doom on Wednesday. Doc did not focus on the nearly 2 to 1 rebounding edge the Wizards held over Boston, despite facing a Spurs team with great low post play. Yet, this evening, the Celtics won the battle of the boards 41 to 28, but failed to address what truly was their undoing, boring offense.

Now it could be argued the fault lies with the coaching staff, but that truly lets the players on the court off of the hook, particularly Payton and Pierce. It is far too early in the season to begin trashing coaching staff that sits only 7 games into their first season in town. But, someone is on the bench calling plays into the game, and if even they aren’t being executed, the coach can always change his personnel. For now, Pierce, Payton, and Rivers must share blame for this loss, but the fans must keep their expectations in check. This Celtics team probably won’t enter the New Year much above .500, but if we still see consistent 4th Quarter stagnation in February, the critics won’t be so kind.

Overall a very disappointing effort, particularly in the manner in which the game was lost. Repeating the key mistakes from previous losses and leading the first three quarters of the game make this an incredibly bitter pill to swallow. Now the Celtics will have to face the 9-1 Seattle Supersonics on Sunday, and hope they can actually put action behind words that to this point ring quite hollow.

After two plus heart pounding weeks of National Basketball Association action, your Boston Celtics have completed 5 games. Cinco. V. Not a whole lot to analyze when the biggest question surrounding the team is when Jiri Welsch will return to form, but nevertheless there are no conclusions that can be drawn from such a small sampling of games. However, we do know that the potential contribution of the young players on this roster brings great promise for this team by the time March and April roll around.

In this edition of the Full Court Press, we take a look at the rookies on the Celtics roster, as well as where the second year players rank after one year in the league.

Dan:
Al Jefferson
When I watch Al Jefferson play the game on a nightly basis, I see the potential for an NBA star. There is a real chance that in Jefferson, we are seeing a player who will be the best big man to roam the parquet for the Celts since the days of Parish and McHale.

Jefferson has size, and strength. Even more than that, he seems to possess a real acumen for the game. When you watch a big man in the NBA, one of the easiest ways to see if they “get it” is to watch them work the floor in the half court game. This is the part of Jefferson’s game that stands out to me. He is adept at running the pick and roll, not just in setting a solid pick, but in timing his move to the hoop. When he makes his move, he always has his hands up ready for the ball. When he is not the focal point of the play, he works the baseline nicely and understands the nuances of getting himself open on the weak-side if there is penetration. Most of his hoops have been on lay ins and dunks, but they have not been luck. In almost each instance, it’s been because he has followed the flow of the play nicely, and shown an innate skill to anticipate when he will be open as a play develops. Thus, he is expecting the ball. I am still scarred from the years Vitaly Potapenko would drift towards the hoop as someone penetrated and yet go into a near seizure when the ball came his way, so I greatly appreciate this development.

On defense, Jefferson is smooth. It is easy to see he will be an exceptional shot blocker in this league. He has great timing, and knows how to block shots while avoiding contact. He still is learning the rotations common in NBA defense. It’s obvious right now that he has been used to roaming the middle of a 2-3 zone during his high school career, so that is a piece of his game that still needs some work.

All in all, I would say the Celtics got a bona fide stud in this guy. I think we will see his minutes gradually increase as the year goes on.He has the potential to be a real difference maker come playoff time.

Tom
Delonte West
Obviously, this was not my first choice of Celtics rookies to write about. But “odds” was chosen and “evens” it was, so here we are. A few thoughts came to mind when considering the prospects of Delonte West (at least he is not Justin Reed, was not one of those thoughts.) For starters, West has passed the first test towards becoming an NBA player which requires one to dress like an adult when they sit on the bench. An example of a late first round pick to fail this test is Joseph Forte who once wore a Scooby Doo shirt with brown jeans during a regular season game. He followed this up later in the year by showing up in a Magic Johnson throwback to a playoff game. Forte was shipped C.O.D. to Seattle shortly after.

Attire aside, West appears to carry himself in a mature manner on the court during the preseason. A shooting guard in college, the Celtics have asked West to convert to point guard. There have been many shooting guards that have been asked to make this transformation. Forte and JR Bremer are recent examples of failed attempts while Chauncey Billups is an example of a successful transformation (albeit 5 teams later). So what should we expect from Delonte West this year? Well, after recovering from injury, we should expect that West will struggle to get minutes behind Gary Payton and the emerging Marcus Banks. He might even end up with a case of whooping cough which will land him on the IR again. He will eventually obtain playing time because he is a decent shooter and he possesses solid fundamentals. The big question is will he be able to run offense effectively enough to become a starting point guard? At this point, there is no way to tell and it’s possible that we will not know this answer until this time next year. Best case scenario for Delonte West is that he becomes a more complete version of Cuttino Mobley. Worst case scenario is that he starts wearing Captain Caveman tee shirts while rotting away on the taxi squad.

Mark
Tony Allen
Tommy Heinsohn really hit the nail on the head Friday night when he brought up that Tony Allen plays like a 6′8″ guy, he just has a 6′4″ body. Through 5 games, Allen has played for 53 minutes which is significant for a rookie. Friday night against the Bobcats he played 17 minutes for 9 points (4 for 10), 1 rebound, 1 assist and 2 steals.
 
I was reluctant to anoint this kid a draft day steal (hello Bill Simmons), but I will say that the last 3 rookies I felt this way about were Pierce, Joe Johnson and Kedrick Brown (2 out of 3 ain’t bad!).  The thing that impresses me the most about TA is his energy.  He makes his 9 minutes into 30, and plays all out at each end of the court.  True, he makes rookie mistakes and will need to pace himself to make the most of the NBA season, but you can’t coach enthusiasm. 
 
Another thing that impresses me about Allen (and a lot of the Celtics’ youth) is that he plays heads-up.  The most important thing about playing up-tempo is to maintain awareness, make sure you see the play develop.  These kids, while they still need to adapt to the speed that Payton can lay down, are ahead of the game by their awareness.  I was a huge Ainge critic in the past but if the youth of this team, Allen included, continues to develop; the future is going to be very bright for the green.

Kevin
Justin Reed
Hearsay. When it comes to rookie forward Justin Reed, I’m afraid that hearsay is all we have to go on. You see, Reed has yet to play a minute in the NBA due to his placement on the injury list supposedly due a left hip pointer (otherwise known as the Hellenic flu). Here is the little that we do know about Reed: He stands at 6 foot 8. He played all four years at Ole Miss. During his senior year, he averaged 18.5 points and 7.5 rebounds a game. He was taken in the second round by the Celtics this year, drafted 40th overall. He participated in the Summer League where by all accounts he played unevenly. In the eight preseason games, he averaged 2 points and 1 rebound in 8 minutes, with one DNP-CD. Not exactly lighting the world on fire, but then again who places much stock in Summer League and preseason games anyway? Which leads us back to the conclusion that we don’t seem to know much about Reed’s ability to play in the NBA, hence the reliance on hearsay.

Generally speaking, anonymous (but highly respected) NBA scouts had this to say about Reed: A good rebounder, not afraid of contact, scored the majority of his points in college down on the post yet he is too small to be an NBA power forward. Therefore, we will most likely see him at the 3 spot. His perimeter shooting is suspect, with a range limited to about 20 feet. He is a bit slow footed and, although he has long arms and works hard, is not considered above average on defense.  Following the draft, Celtics GM Danny Ainge compared Reed to Corliss Williamson, which at first made me optimistic. Then I read that the aforementioned highly respected NBA scouts compared him to Jumaine Jones instead, which pretty much quelled my optimism. Ainge also went out of his way to cite the strength of Reed’s defense, which directly contradicted the opinions of the scouts as well. Regardless of these idle speculations, until a roster spot opens up from Reed and instantly cures that pesky phantom hip pointer injury, we will remain in the dark in terms of what he can bring to the table.

As for the second year guys….

Sam
Marcus Banks
The fact that Marcus Banks is still with the team is a credit to Ainge and his negotiating skills, or maybe the fact that Mitch Kupchak is just an awful GM. Payton also has a role in this because if he shows up for the physical then the Celtics don’t get Banks back. When Banks began the season with a dud no one was surprised. Then, Jiri Welsch continued to flounder in his on again off again role as a point guard, expectations were such that Delonte West would be a big contributing factor as the back up point guard. Alas, West broke the thumb on his non shooting hand and in the interim, Marcus Banks (according to the various sports hacks in town) has suffered from a barrage of verbal abuse at the hands of Gary Payton the result of which has apparently Banks has turned a corner. Banks has made some significant strides forward and if I had to pick one play that says Delonte maybe on the IR for a bit longer it would be Marcus slicing to the basket against Portland, turning his body and using the rim to shield a leaping Theo Ratliff, which is no easy feat. A great physical play but also a great play in that he recognized the situation in front of him, something he rarely did last year.

Banks has also handled the tempo and rhythm of the offense a lot better in the last week and a half. There have been a few moments when Banks looks out of control and has made horrible decisions because of poor court vision and maybe because he plays at too fast a speed. Speed is Banks’ game though, and you never want to hinder his use of his best weapon. If the mistakes are a result of him just blowing by everyone else on the court then so be it.

Banks’ play in the last few games point to him maturing rapidly and gaining the ability to slow the game down around him. This most likely is because of Payton’s tutelage, but might also be because the Celtics’ depth is a lot faster and more mobile which helps Banks’ own game. Currently, Marcus’ assists to turnovers are at 2 to 1 ratio, he is shooting .571, which won’t last but is a good sign. Wednesday’s game with the Wizards should provide the first test to see if Banks has indeed reached another level. Banks will have to chase down Gilbert Arenas, Juan Dixon and Anthony Peeler and spell Payton for longer stretches than in any of the first 5 games. Banks can be a defensive stopper if he puts his mind to it, as he is both extremely fast and very strong so it will be interesting to see him matched up against the Washington back court and then Tony Parker and the Spurs on Friday night.

Jon
Kendrick Perkins
The first high school player ever drafted by the Boston Celtics spent much of his first year in the pros being snuck into bars by his teammates and building chemistry with Doo and Norton. Who are Doo and Norton you ask? Only the two most important members of the Celtics franchise that no one knows. Bryan Doo and Walter Norton are the guys who turned Kendrick Perkins from an overweight, weak 19 year old kid to a bruising physical specimen that can compete with any big man on the roster. This initial phase in Kendrick’s development should be considered a stunning success, to the point that Perkins was nearly unrecognizable in Summer League play this summer compared to Kendrick Perkins of 2003.

Now that Kendrick has the body to compete at the NBA level, the question is when will his game catch up? Obviously this is the million dollar question, or perhaps the $726,000 question given his salary level. But, with the arrival of player development Kevin Eastman and big man coach Jim Brewer, Perkins is receiving all the help he could ask for in developing his game. Will he use this tutoring into improving himself on the court? After the phenomenal work ethic displayed in creating his body, I think it is safe to say that Perkins will be better a month from today and even better three months from today.

Though some don’t share this sentiment, Kendrick Perkins is ready to play consistent minutes in the Celtics rotation now. Add to this this the sometimes frightening inability to rebound, Kendrick Perkins should have a role Doc Rivers rotation. Tom Gugliotta has had a disappointing start to the season, and with only Mark Blount and The Fragile Frenchman ahead of him at the center position, Perkins deserves more time on the court. I won’t even mention Walter McCarty, for the sheer fact that his presence on the court causes my wife to run to grab the wooden spoon in fear I will swallow my own tongue after Waltah’s rebounding induced seizures.

Walter McCarty’s name also brings to mind another team weakness, and I’m not referring to a lack of quality vocals in the team’s barbershop quartet. This Celtics team, while better than last year, still lacks a basic toughness that has been missing since Chief chopped Laimbeer down Daniel San when… oh nevermind, you get the point. Kendrick Perkins is not the type of kid to let anyone push him around, and certainly Perk will challenge anyone who enters the lane. A key reason the Walker-Pierce Celtics could not beat the Jason Kidd Nets was the ease with which the Nets wing players were able to get to the rim. Had Kendrick Perkins served on the 2002 Celtics, I can picture Kerry Kittles writhing on the floor, in a pool of his own blood and whiz, after an unsuccessful meeting with The Perk-o-lator. Think Jefferson and Slay would think twice about hurling themselves toward the rim, without abandon, if they were meeting Kendrick Perkins instead of the venerable Tony Battie.

I thought so.

It has been a week since opening night, but were it not for the 16 championship banners in the rafters, I am not sure the captive television audience knew that in fact the 2004-2005 Celtics season had begun. Not only did the somber crowd seem as if it Xanax Night at the Fleet, but the scores of empty seats made this game seem much more like just another exhibition game. Unfortunately, our Boston Celtics played as if they were still scrimmaging in Burlington, only without the breathtaking foliage or Howard Dean’s absurd yelps.

After that frustrating opening night loss to Jim O’Brien Sixers, the hometown team laid yet another egg on Friday night against Indiana. Finally on Saturday, the Celtics team many of us had been looking forward to since the June draft, appeared and dominated a fraudulent Knicks team from start to finish. Now while this is a great sign, it makes the job of analyzing this team much more difficult. Nevertheless, the gang at the Full Court Press have put together our thoughts on the battles for playing time at each position, and we hope to offer some measure of insight on what, at this point, is a Jekyll and Hyde team. So, without further ado…

Kevin
Point Guard: Obviously, Gary Payton is the main man at the point this season, with Jiri Welsch and Marcus Banks (in that order) providing some brief spots of relief while he rests his 36-year-old legs on the bench. Thus far, Payton has dispelled legitimate concerns surrounding his age and commitment to this seemingly non-contending team. Although three games is far too small a sample to conclude much of anything, Payton has most definitely looked the part of a man who has built an exceptional career runrunning NBA offenses (his disappointing performance last year under the point guard unfriendly triangle offense notwithstanding). Right now, I知 thinking we値l see 12 points and 8 assists from Payton on a regular basis. If that痴 what happens, then call me a happy Celtics fan. Unfortunately, when Payton sits on the bench, the Celticsoffense seems to falter. Although Jiri Welsch is generally a nice passer, he lacks the ability to push the fast break. Also, on his watch you can see the plays in a half-court offense visibly slow down, which allows the opposing team to dig in on defense. Marcus Banks, on the other hand, is a one-trick pony. His game revolves around his considerable speed and not much else besides. Every time I see Banks hurl himself into three-man coverage on the break, I think of Jeff Goldblum describing Chaos Theory in Jurassic Park. As for solutions, some out there profess to see great potential in current injury list resident Delonte West as a quality backup to Payton. Although I remain skeptical, let痴 hope they池e right.

Tom
Shooting Guard: The 2nd and 3rd quarters of all three games so far has brought out the best of this group.

Ricky Davis has been playing well so far. He seems to be the one that is benefiting the most from the Payton acquisition. This could change at any time, especially considering that the odds of GP coming to blows with Ricky this season are roughly the same as Kevin Millar granting another interview request from the Best Damn Sport Show Period. So far he has done a good job on both ends of the floor and has been consistent with his mid range game.

Jiri Welsch has struggled with his jumper. He is getting good looks but has struggled with his release point. To his credit, he has not let this affect the rest of his game. He still digs in on the defensive end and is making good decisions with the ball. The big question with this position is who will still be here playing the bulk of the minutes in March. Welsch is a more attractive prospect but Davis is the better scorer. The bet here is that it is Jiri that stays and Ricky will be sent out of town (with Yogi Stewart once again getting stuffed in his suitcase).

Tony Allen will then rotate between small forward and shooting guard depending on matchups. This is of course assuming that he does not come down with the Stacey Augmon Syndrome which would prohibit him from being able to shoot past 8 feet.

Bob
Small Forward
When you talk about the small forward spot, it really begins and ends with the tremendous play thus far of Paul Pierce. First of all, he is no longer trying to force the ball into double and triple teams. This could be for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that he has some better perimeter shooters to distribute the ball too. I thought the greatest shortcoming of this team in close games last year was what will forever be known as the Jim O’Brien/John Carroll filibuster. IE, the stubborn insistence on running iso plays for Pierce at the end of game even though the entire building knew he would end up trying to spin into the lane. The result was least likely to be a hoop, and more likely to be an offensive foul or a 20 foot off balance jumper from Brandon Hunter as the shot clock expired. Thus far, Pierce has far greater confidence in his teammates’ offensive capabilities, and it is showing in his decision making.

The second part of his game that has been off the charts this year is his rebounding. He has been flat out TENACIOUS on the boards. He seems to have come up with every big rebound (and their have been precious few of them) the team needs, and it’s because he is following the age old key to rebounding of wanting the *&%$& ball more than anyone else does.

Walter McCarty has followed his seven year habit of making me want to smash him over the head with one of his smooth-sounding CD’s until he hits a big three or forces a key turnover, and then I remember why he’s on the team. Walter is what he is at this point, and I will be more confident in the Celts long term success this year if his role is a limited one. As for Tony Allen, I am laying in wait to make him my binky. I mailed in a write in vote for the Hall of Fame the other night when he blocked a Ron Artest jump shot and managed to secure the ball to start a fast break. As soon as he finds a way to fit into the offensive flow, he will probably start spending more time swinging between forward and guard and make someone in that log jam expendable (just in time for the trading deadline according to my crystal ball…).

Mark
Power Forward As the slowest white 6-foot power forward ever to come off the playgrounds of the Adams Street School, I am uniquely qualified to write the piece on the Celtics Power Forwards. We’re three games in, and to be frank it’s not looking great. LaFrentz is shooting OK (8PPG) but his rebounding is weak. Googs appears confused and out of position a lot. Jefferson is playing with great energy, but that has yet to translate into meaningful rebounding (2.3 RPG).

That said it is clear to this observer that LaFrentz needs to start, and that Jefferson needs to be the 1st PF off the bench. The dynamic of the team changes when he comes in. Energy and effort are infectous, and Jefferson brings that in spades. He’s tenacious, and seems destined to be a consistent Tommy Award winner. Now, will that translate into wins any time soon?

Jon
Center: In my mind, Robert Parish is the gold standard of centers. Players who have the desire of Cowens or the otherworldly ability of Russell are once in a lifetime players. Chief, on the other hand, busted his bong to become a top flight center in the NBA. Now I am not going to say that Mark Blount is the second coming of Parish, but the similarities are remarkable right down to the intense conditioning. That said, Blount has the hands of Jeter (notice I didn’t say the eyes), and he rebounds at a below average clip for a center of his caliber. Still, Blount is a top 10 center in the NBA, and one that can be counted on for 38 minutes a night. Where does that leave the other 10 minutes?

Raef “The Fragile Frenchman” fills much of this void when either Googs or Wheezie fill the power forward slot, but this switch hurts the team defense tremendously and also gives a hit to toughness needed on the boards. Now there are also times that Doc prefers to go with Googs and Jefferson, in a “dual 4″ front court, but if a cat had kittens in the oven, you don’t call them biscuits. Googs and Al are power forwards who may guard centers, nothing more.

Now we come to the biggest beef I have with Doc’s rotation through 3 games, Kendrick Perkins. I’ll openly admit that Perk is weak on D, and doesn’t have the wheels that Blount posesses. That said, Kendrick can bang the boards with the best of them and has a mean streak that won’t quit. Now when your team is outrebounded by 20+ boards, I’d start to think about getting players in who can clean the glass and start our fast break. Apparently this didn’t occur to the Good Doctor, but Perk’s appearance in Saturday’s game may signal an awakening to this blatant fact by Rivers. Kendrick is the future center of this franchise, you need to play him at some point. Particularly when his strengths are the team’s weakness.

Last, and certainly least, is Stojko Vrankovic Memorial Award winner Yogi Stewart. The “Vranky” is given to the Celtics big man who best showcases a healthy amount of rigor mortis and a complete lack of basketball skill. That said, Yogi could have some value as an expiring contract, which is the only reason Ainge has not cut him loose in favor of a player like Marcus Fizer, Marcus Haislip or Troy Bell. Though it still may happen, as Yogi is incredibly deserving of this year’s “Vranky”.

Welcome to the initial edition of the Full Court Press. The other contributors and I hope you might be to gain more information from our little part of the “internets” then you’ll ever hear on certain sports radio stations who struggle to discuss sports through an entire four hour shift. For this first edition, four contributors have given their thoughts on the Celtics upcoming season and how they feel the Celtics stand in respect to their division rivals.

Tom:
Flashback to October 29, 2003…

The Celtics open up the season by absolutely destroying the Miami Heat. It was one of the better performances of the year for the Celtics in all areas: ball movement, rebounding, shot selection, defense. Not even the debut of the worst mascot in the history of the Boston sports scene since Broom Girl at Fenway could put a damper on this night. I still remember taking the green line home that night and chatting with the officials who were sitting directly across from me. I remember telling them how awful Miami was. They agreed with my assessment by stating Pat Riley obviously knew what he was doing by stepping down. I was convinced after that night that Emeka Okafor was going to South Beach.

I bring this up for two reasons. First, I like to give myself a false sense of self importance by mentioning any interaction with a pseudo celebrity. You will find this out later this year when I devote 12 pages to a boxing discussion I had with Willie Maye two years ago. Second, those that follow basketball know how things ended for the Miami Heat. After a dreadful start, they turned things around and ended up with home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

This is not to say that the Celtics will duplicate the efforts of the Miami Heat of 2003-04. It is brought to the surface for one purpose and that is to stress patience. Patience is the key word with the 2004-05 Celtics.

Consider:
•This is essentially a brand new team with a new coach, point guard and bench. Hard to have instant success in a scenario like this unless you have a seven footer that averages 20 and 10 a night.

•Two veteran power forwards that have played an average of 36 Games last year with a 19 year old back up in the wings.

•16 of first 29 games are on the road, including 5 games in 8 days out west. They also will end December with the dreaded Texas road trip. It is possible for this team to be anywhere between 5-8 games under .500 by January 1.

So why on earth am I excited about this team? Because this team stands to be one of the most athletic, energetic and entertaining basketball teams to watch in Boston in a long time. Energetic and entertaining doesn’t necessarily win basketball games. It does help rebuild a fan base which will in turn motivate management to go over the luxury tax. And combined with the right coaching, it can provide a solid foundation to build on.

This most likely won’t be the year for Banner 17 but it could shape up to this franchise’s version of the 1994 Patriots.

Kevin:
Heading into the 2004-05 campaign, the Celtics begin yet another season with more question marks than answers. First and foremost, what can we expect from Gary Payton, both in terms of playing ability and locker room attitude? Will The Glove return somewhat to the form that made him a Hall of Fame candidate in Seattle or will he continue the shocking slide that began a year ago on that dysfunctional Lakers team? For what it’s worth, assuming he can stay healthy, I foresee a solid contribution from Payton this year. For the first time since Dennis Johnson hung up his sneakers, the Celtics will begin the season with a bona fide floor general manning the point. I expect, after a period of transition (i.e. 20-30 games) while these players figure each other out and reach a level of comfort, the offense will stabilize under Payton and take a step away from dependence on the three pointer.

On another front, is this the year that Ricky Davis finally “gets it” or is he destined to remain one of those guys with eye-popping talent that never translates into actually making his team any better? While we’re on the topic of Ricky Davis, I’ve just been informed by the media powers-that-be that his name cannot be mentioned without at least once reminding readers that earlier in his career he shot at his own basket in an attempt to secure a triple double.
As for my best guess, I think Coach Doc Rivers will give Davis a chance to shine for perhaps the first quarter of the season before tossing his clipboard away in disgust. Much like a cookie, Ricky’s playing time will crumble and the results will be disappointing as he loses the majority of his minutes to Jiri Welsch. Unless Davis had an unlikely epiphany during the off-season that the goal of the game is helping your team to win on both sides of the court rather than showcasing nifty dunks, I expect more of Ricky being Ricky. Plus, as I think I may have mentioned, he did once shoot at his own basket.

Moving on, what can we expect from the kids? This question matters now more than ever with four rookies on the roster and seven players with under three years of experience in t he NBA. To me, the progress of the youngsters will be the driver between making the Celtics respectable and making them dangerous enough to do some damage. I have no insights here. Let’s see these kids play an actual NBA game before predicting glory or making ridiculous comparisons to established All-Stars.

Lastly, can Captain Paul Pierce elevate his game to another level? If it’s ever going to happen, it will be this year. Think about it. He finally has a legitimate point guard to run his offense, a legitimate NBA center roaming the paint down low and a bunch of young legs to run the floor with him. For a guy like Pierce, this is the best it’s ever going to get in a Celtics uniform. I think we’ll find out one way or another by mid season, but I think this is the year that Paul Pierce establishes himself as a guy who carries his team to victory rather than just a prolific scorer.

Questions? Predictions? At this point, it matters not a whit. Let the games begin.

Dan:
I have many thoughts on this year… Where to start? Will they be wearing the white sneaks on opening night again? What in God’s name is the rotation going to be? Can anyone on this teamplay defense, or more to the point, do any of them care about defense?I am actually feeling extremely optimistic. I don’t recall a point inthe past 10+ seasons where the team has seemed to be stocked with somuch young athleticism and talent. No, not even the Derek Strong era. My only concern is how cohesively they will play together. As we allk now, the NBA’s game is an extremely regimented one which sometimes drowns out athleticism and freelancing. So I am concerned as to the fundamental skills of this team (outside of the veterans). I do believe that the young guys like Allen and West will benefit from being in college all four years, and that Jefferson has raw skills in the one area that they are most crucial: rebounding. I believe in Lafrentz more than most people out there, and Googs has been far more impressive in the pre-season than I anticipated. So my outlook is very positive. Even if they don’t win as many games as two or three years ago, I feel we will see a far more enjoyable brand ofbasketball.

Mark:
I may have just finished a tankard of the Celtics Kool-Aid, or fallen under some sort of Bill Simmons mind-meld, but I look at the Celtics of the cream of the Atlantic Division crop (the new Atlantic Division, that is). I know you think I am crazy, so let’s break it down Dr. Jack Ramsey style shall we:

Philly: Iverson, and a trip to Dr. Frankenstein’s lab for spare parts. Glenn Robinson was a nice player, but last season had a low for PPG, RPG and MPG. Here’s hoping that old friend Kedrick Brown gets it going though. The O’Brien/Harter system will help them win some games though, boring as it may be.

Knicks: What can you say? Isiah’s streak of successes rolls on. (tongue firmly in cheek) Honestly, I find it hard even to try and break down this roster. Watch out for Bruno Sundov.

Nets: No Kittles, No KMart, No Lucious Harris, more playing time for Brian Scalabrine, a healthy (????) Mourning + an unbelievably surly and injured Kidd = way too much fun to be ignored. A train wreck. My lock solid bet of the season is that one of the players to attack Lawrence Frank. I am also going on record as saying there is less than a 0% chance that Kidd is there at the end of the season.

Toronto: This roster makes the Knicks look like the mid-60’s Celtics. Bosh is a great young player, in my opinion. I look for him to build on last year, and become a real force for them. Will we see the 43 start VC (2 years ago) or the 73 start VC (2003). I have no data to support this, pure conjecture but I see a pissed off VC starting no more than 41 games, and yet the team will challenge for the playoffs. The results will be delicious. I am begging ESPN to put a camera on these guys 24/7.

Jon:
Who knows what will happen this year? Not me. Not Danny Ainge, nor Doc Rivers. The only thing that is certain is that nothing is certain. But, a lot of Celtics fans are bullish on this team, and who can blame them? The best of last year’s team, which admittedly isn’t much, was held intact, and an incredible amount of young talent infused the roster in much the same way that Nikki Ziering and Traci Bingham were greeted as new Barker’s Beauties on the Price is Right.

How soon the kids “get it” will be the difference between a repeat of last year, and a Miami-like surge in the 2nd half of the season. Last year, great things were expected from Marcus Banks, and despite a coaching change (as well as Ainge paying off the new coach to play Banks) Banks couldn’t produce a consistent effort from night to night. Whoever is to blame for this is debatable, but one thing is sure… Doc Rivers needs to get more from his rookies than Banks and Perkins brought to the court.

The player most likely to make an immediate impact is the man who one noted Internet scribe is due to play All-Rookie level ball, supplant Welsch and Davis from the starting lineup, and find a cure for the Ebola virus. (ok, he said influenza, but you get the point) Tony Allen has been impressive in the preseason, to the point where Doc has publicly said that Allen earned a spot in rotation. Which becomes more noteworthy by the day, as Welsch and Davis turn in one solid effort after another. If Tony Allen can consistently hit shots of 19 feet and out, either Welsch or Davis are trade bait. Write. It. Down.

There is excitement. There is spastic arousal. And, then there is the “losing control of your bodily functions” wonder that is Al Jefferson. Tommy may love Walter, but I LOVE WHEEZIE! This kid just knows how to play the game, even if his game doesn’t yet include defense. But give him time, and it isn’t a leap to foresee Jefferson as the best power forward since Kevin McHale’s broken foot patrolled the paint. With a Kendrick Perkins-type conditioning effort, one on one work with the new development coaches, and spot time on the court facing the pros could put Wheezie in position to not only contribute this spring, but possibly start next fall.

While Jefferson and Allen have the luxury of playing well behind a number of veteran players, the point guard position does not provide such depth. For lack of a better candidate, Jiri Welsch will start the season as the backup point guard, but every opportunity will be given to Delonte West and Marcus Banks to claim that title so Rivers can slide Welsch back to the wing. Unless Banks can miraculously learn how to be consistent at the NBA level, look for West to supplant Banks spot on the active roster.

So in the end, still more questions, but much more to be optimistic about than ever. To see how these questions are answered through this season, check back with the Full Court Press next week.