Boston Celtics Off Season
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Many Boston Celtics fans were hoping that the 2007 NBA Draft would net them one of the next generation superstar players, Kevin Durant or Greg Oden. When the ping-pong balls bounced the way of the Portland Trailblazers and Seattle Supersonics, ownership and management apparently decided to forget about the future and focus on the present.
The plans began in earnest, with a draft day deal which sent the Celtics #5 draft pick to Seattle along with Delonte West and Wally Szczerbiak, in exchange for Ray Allen. Allen has been a premier scorer in the league, and his deft shooting touch was expected to complement Paul Pierce's scoring. He was also coming off a year where he scored 26 plus points per game, and shot free throws at approximately 90%. However, he is also 32 years old, and had both of his ankles surgically repaired. On the surface, the move appeared to be more of a updated Pierce/Antoine Walker tandem. Celts fans began to talk themselves into Pierce, Allen, and Al Jefferson as a possible playoff trio.
A few weeks later, the Celtics front office was able to pull off the second piece of their plan. After months of speculation, and a potential deal which fell apart the the early stages, Boston was able to swing a trade for Kevin Garnett. Boston gave up a large chunk of their roster: Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes, guard Sebastian Telfair and center Theo Ratliff (which is essentially an expiring contract), two first-round draft picks and cash. In return, they received one of the premier players of our generation. KG is a statistical monster, who has toiled in Minnesota as the lone superstar on a team often loaded with also-rans. Now he was headed to a team with a proud championship history and joining two players in Pierce and Allen who were also tired of individual numbers and hungry for an elusive ring.
From a talent stand point, the Celtics now have a trio that is unmatched in the Eastern Conference, and compares favorably to anything the West has to offer. What they then needed to do was to fill out their roster, as the Allen and Garnett trades had stripped the team of mostly every other serviceable player on the team. Holdover Kendrick Perkins, and new addition Scot Pollard, will be the options at center. Eddie House will compete with second year player Rajon Rondo for the starting PG duties. The Big Three figure to log big minutes.
So with all the changes made to a team that was unwatchable and in full tank mode last year, where do the Celtics stand? With three superstars who are also prolific scorers, Ray Allen will not average 26 ppg, and Paul Pierce will not average 25 ppg. Each will see shots which formerly went exclusively to them now going to the other. KG is a 7 foot monster in the East, and should not lose more than a point or two. The unproved point guards will have to show the ability to get everyone their shots and run a team with such skilled players. It remains to be seen if these moves will result in playoff success.
I do believe that the Celtics should make the playoffs next year. But in what spot? Cleveland is still a strong squad, even if they should not have been in the Finals. The Bulls are LOADED, and run 12 deep with skilled players. Detroit may have one more go-round in them, and bolstered all their key starters with youth and athleticism on the bench. New Jersey resigned Vince, and with Carter, Kidd, Jefferson and Kristic have a strong core. Miami has Shaq, D-Wade, and whats left of Penny. Orlando signed Rashard Lewis to a team which made the playoffs last year on the back on Dwight Howard. The Knicks added Zack Randolph to a team which is getting better and better. Toronto is flying under the radar with a very good team that is a tough matchup. So who is not invited to the party?
If everyone stays healthy, the Celtics are a 6-seed in my opinion. LeBron proved the East is wide-open, so anything can happen in the playoffs. I think that without strong or proven options in the middle and especially at the point, there are still too many holes for the Celtics to achieve more than a big win-loss swing, and a playoff birth with a possible first round win. Necessary improvements were made for sure, and I think they will be a fun team to watch.
