Let the Games, and Breakdowns, Begin
By Kevin Henkin
Now that the roster appears to be finalized, let the games begin. Please. As you’ve no doubt heard, the majority of players are in Waltham already, dribbling, shooting, waiting to play some ball against people not wearing Celtics uniforms. In the meantime, we’re left to continue wondering how it will play out when they finally take the court as a reborn roster. While we wait, let’s engage in some idle speculation of how the new roster compares to that of the doomed 2006-07 squad. Full Court Press intends to tackle the roster three spots at a time, beginning (of course) with the new Big Three:
Paul Pierce 2007 vs. Paul Pierce 2006
On the court, Paul Pierce is surly. This notion isn’t anything new. It’s the type of Paul Pierce’s surliness, however, that will change. Gone will be the “I’m sick of having to shoulder all this load for a team that won’t even sniff the playoffs while my prime is slipping away” snarl. In its place will be a “I’ve finally got some serious seasoned talent surrounding me so y’all better get the hell out of my way” defiant swagger. Honestly, I can’t wait to see Pierce unveil the new scowl. Another factor to consider is Pierce’s dedication to defense. No one will ever confuse Pierce for Kobe Bryant on the other side of the ball but when he’s dedicated, he’s not bad. Historically, his efforts on defense have varied widely, depending upon his surrounding cast and the coaching staff’s approach. During the 2002 playoff drive, for example, a dedicated effort from Pierce was clearly there. Expect it to be there again. Strong defense tends to be contagious and with the positive influence of committed players like Kevin Garnett, James Posey, Kendrick Perkins and Rajon Rondo, Pierce will likely fall in line. Knowing that he no longer has to save his energy to plow into three defenders on every play down the stretch helps as well.
Kevin Garnett vs. Al Jefferson
What’s left to say? Losing Big Al certainly hurts, but from a forward-thinking perspective only. Living in the now, however, it’s not even close. Garnett is a killer. He’s what Jefferson can at this point only aspire to be some day further down the road. The biggest immediate upgrade areas here are defense, leadership and consistency.
Ray Allen vs. Wally Szczerbiak
Imagine the sensation of seeing a stack of hundred dollar bills blowing down an empty street in your direction. That’s how Danny Ainge must have felt when he realized he could trade his life-sized Wally Szczerbiak doll, Delonte West and a draft pick that he didn’t particularly want anyway for Ray Allen. Okay, that’s a bit unfair. A doll would have more mobility on defense than the actual Wally Szczerbiak. If you think I’m exaggerating, perhaps you need an illustrative example. I recall a game when the Bulls ran a hard pick on Delonte West that forced Szczerbiak to switch coverage to Kirk Hinrich, who subsequently blew poor Wally out of his sneakers on the way to the basket. The Bulls ran the same exact play at least two more times in a row until Doc Rivers was forced to pull Szczerbiak in favor of someone who could at least stay within proximity of their defensive assignment. In essence, Wally Szczerbiak represented a really poor man’s version of Ray Allen. If Allen presents a risk of injury, Szczerbiak is infinitely worse. The same goes for Allen’s defensive deficiencies. In the matter of shooting, Wally’s primary bright spot, Allen remains far superior. It’s not even close. Forget about the lost draft pick because this exchange represents another immediate upgrade for the Celtics, another decision based on “Now” versus “The Future”.
Stay tuned for further breakdowns forthcoming.
