With the Celtics opening their season tonight at the Garden against Larry Brown and the New York Knicks, Mark Murphy takes a look at the roster, noting that it is awfully…green. Mike Fine says that the young and restless Celtics roster is eager to make their mark in the NBA this season. Shalise Manza Young notes that at the moment Paul Pierce and Ricky Davis are the only definite pluses on the squad, everything else is really an unknown right now. Paul Doyle says that the Celtics need to come of age quickly, as right now it is Paul Pierce and bunch of kids. Lenny Megliola also looks at this Celtics squad on opening night and where they go from here. He claims that the Celtics are fourth in terms of popularity in Boston, even behind the Bruins. I don’t agree with that at all. The Celtics are ahead of the Bruins.
Steve Bulpett says that the growing pains for the Celtics this year could be ugly at times. Bulpett also breaks down the good, the bad, and the ugly in the NBA for this season. Mike Fine says that Ricky Davis is more than just flash, he has grown up and matured during his time with the Celtics. Scott Souza looks at Delonte West’s determination to make the point guard position his own this year.
Mark Murphy examines the road that high school players face in trying to make the transition to the NBA. Bulpett looks at the three Celtics on the roster who joined the club out of high school. They don’t regret their choice, though Doc Rivers and Paul Pierce wish they had spent some time in college. Murphy looks at the struggles of a few of the recent 18 and under picks in the league. Bulpett looks at Ryan Gomes, who is a dinosaur is some ways as he actually went to four years of college.
Peter May has an article on Knicks coach Larry Brown this morning, who is taking on his latest and perhaps greatest challenge in coach in his home city of New York. Paul Doyle examines whether this will be a dream job or nightmare for Brown. Shira Springer’s notebook reports that the Celtics want to spend more time this season practicing on the Garden floor. Bulpett’s notebook also has the Celtics wanting to have a tough home court advantage this season.
