<font color="Green">Boston Celtics 05-06 Season Preview By: AA13 With all the trade rumors surrounding the trading of Pierce, Walker leaving and the drafting of Green and Gomes The Celtics are headed into a season of un-certanty. The Atlantic Division has become more powerful. With New Jersey and Philadelphia competing with Boston I don't think The Celtics will win the division to secure a top 3 playoff spot. The Celtics have tons of potential on this team. Right now Boston has a team filled with youth that needs experience. It will take a few years before Green is ready to log a startes minutes. I think Gomes will start at the Small Forward this season, so it will be interesting to see how he adapts to the pro game. I'm also looking forward to seeing how West performs as the starting point Guard. Davis will continue to come and add a spark off the bench and with a loose cannon like Pierce it is hard to tell what surprises this season will hold. Right now it doesn't look like the Celtics will compete in the playoffs much. Boston had an early exit last year and I'm expecting to see the same this year. Boston will do fairly well with this lineup: PG: Delonte West/ Marcus Banks SG: Paul Pierce/ Tony Allen/ Gerald Green SF: Ryan Gomes/ Rick Davis/ Gerald Green/ Qyntel Wood/ Justin Reed PF:Al Jefferson/ Brian Scalabrine/ Mark Blount/ Qyntel Woods C: Raef Lafrentz/ Kendrick Perkins/ Mark Blount Prediction: 45-37, 7th Seed, First Round Exit to The Pacers. </font> It's not much and I didn't want to go into to much detail given the fact that Boston could make a major move that would change the whole roster.
Gomes starting ahead of Davis? Or even Reed, for that matter? I don't think so. Burning up a Summer League doesn't count nearly enough to merit a starting job. If Davis and Reed were both over the hill, maybe, but they're still a long, long way from that. If we keep Pierce, Raef stays healthy, and Perkins improves the way I expect him to 45 wins is definitely doable.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Perk-a-Jeff:</div><div class="quote_post">Gomes starting ahead of Davis? Or even Reed, for that matter? I don't think so. Burning up a Summer League doesn't count nearly enough to merit a starting job. If Davis and Reed were both over the hill, maybe, but they're still a long, long way from that.</div> Ricky Davis creates a lot of energy off the bench for the Celtics and I think they want to keep it that way. Also I heard something like Doc wants to put Gomes at the 3 so Pierce can create mismatches at the 2.
Gomes is a great player, much more highly rated than reed, he was an all american in college and he is definite starting material in this league if given the opportunity, the only question would be starting him this soon but 4 year college players are about as ready as one can get without having actual nba experience. He's not proven but I'm willing to say the team already knows he's better than Justin Reed (who is in his own right a pleasant surprise, just not starting material.)
The prediction seems very accurate. 45-37 is doable. Hopefully we can win a couple of more games than that. 50-32 maybe a reach.
I'd love to see Gomes as a starter, but I don't think it's going to happen right away. We'll probably see Tony Allen or Ricky Davis in that role to start the season. Gomes will have to prove himself before he gets a chance at it. Now, Doc Rivers did say in an interview that he wanted to start Gomes because of all the mismatches it would cause for the defense. Teams would have to use their 3 to guard Gomes because of his size and that would leave their SG to get manhandled by Pierce. But before any of that happens, Gomes must prove himself in actual NBA games, something that may or may not happen early on in the year. As for a record projection, I'll say 42-40.
with the team we have now i dont see us making the playoffs or even having a winning record.....the line up will most likely be delonte pierce gomes al and lafrentz.....not a winning lineup yet....my guess is if we dont make any moves and go into the season with this line up our record will be 34-48 and no playoffs
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting celtsfan2589:</div><div class="quote_post">with the team we have now i dont see us making the playoffs or even having a winning record.....the line up will most likely be delonte pierce gomes al and lafrentz.....not a winning lineup yet....my guess is if we dont make any moves and go into the season with this line up our record will be 34-48 and no playoffs</div>To me, that makes no sense at all. We won 45 games last year. What happened to the team that's going to make us win 11 less games? All of the young players that we count on for so much are one year older and one year better. We're only losing GP (who probably slowed us down more than helped) and Antoine (whose 24 games with the team are the most overrated 24 games in history). Delonte and Marcus will do a better job of running the point this year than Payton did last year. For one, we'll actually have defense on the floor at the PG spot. GP isn't what he used to be on D and got burned all year long. GP also couldn't keep up on the break and cost us quick points because he was physically unable to play at the speed of Ricky, Tony, Delonte, and co.. Losing him will not lose us any extra games. On to Toine...we only had him for 24 games last year. Now, I know people get confused because all of a sudden we won a lot of games when he came back, but it you take a look at the games themselves, then they are easily downplayed in significance. First off, we were beating crappy teams during that streak. Lets take a look: Jazz- (26-56) Lakers- (34-48) Charlotte- (18-64) (beat them twice during the stretch) Hawks- (13-69) Raptors- (33-49) Hornets- (18-64) Suns w/o Nash- (2-5) Those are all games that we should have won, with or without Walker. That leaves us with a total of 3 games during "the stretch" that were actually impressive. None of which did Antoine Walker finish as the leading scorer, rebounder, or assistman. That was Pierce who had 38 & 12, willing us to an OT win against Detroit. And against Houston, it was Mark Blount who stepped up and scored 22 points and grabbed 6 boards in the win. After "the stretch", we finished the rest of the season 7-8. Not all that impressive. That's why I don't understand why so many people thought that Antoine made the team so much better. Losing him meant almost nothing. Same with Gary Payton. We don't need either of them to compete in the same capacity as we did last year. We might lack some experience, but that'll only keep us from a few games. Our rotation is deeper, our players are older, and Doc has a much better feel for the team.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting 44Thrilla:</div><div class="quote_post">To me, that makes no sense at all. We won 45 games last year. What happened to the team that's going to make us win 11 less games? All of the young players that we count on for so much are one year older and one year better. We're only losing GP (who probably slowed us down more than helped) and Antoine (whose 24 games with the team are the most overrated 24 games in history). Delonte and Marcus will do a better job of running the point this year than Payton did last year. For one, we'll actually have defense on the floor at the PG spot. GP isn't what he used to be on D and got burned all year long. GP also couldn't keep up on the break and cost us quick points because he was physically unable to play at the speed of Ricky, Tony, Delonte, and co.. Losing him will not lose us any extra games. On to Toine...we only had him for 24 games last year. Now, I know people get confused because all of a sudden we won a lot of games when he came back, but it you take a look at the games themselves, then they are easily downplayed in significance. First off, we were beating crappy teams during that streak. Lets take a look: Jazz- (26-56) Lakers- (34-48) Charlotte- (18-64) (beat them twice during the stretch) Hawks- (13-69) Raptors- (33-49) Hornets- (18-64) Suns w/o Nash- (2-5) Those are all games that we should have won, with or without Walker. That leaves us with a total of 3 games during "the stretch" that were actually impressive. None of which did Antoine Walker finish as the leading scorer, rebounder, or assistman. That was Pierce who had 38 & 12, willing us to an OT win against Detroit. And against Houston, it was Mark Blount who stepped up and scored 22 points and grabbed 6 boards in the win. After "the stretch", we finished the rest of the season 7-8. Not all that impressive. That's why I don't understand why so many people thought that Antoine made the team so much better. Losing him meant almost nothing. Same with Gary Payton. We don't need either of them to compete in the same capacity as we did last year. We might lack some experience, but that'll only keep us from a few games. Our rotation is deeper, our players are older, and Doc has a much better feel for the team.</div> if you remeber correctly we went on an 11 game winning streak when we got tione and hes no longe ron our team is he? so that is one reason that we will lose 11 more games....another reason is we dont have leadership...when we got toine he sparked the team sparked pierce and made it alot easier for him...paul pierce isnt a leader and we all know that.....our playoff expirience is much less now too....and this year we are going to have to ask alot of the younger guys and thats going to put pressure on them....i love the celtics more then any team in the nba....but there is no way will have the year we did last year and win the atlantic with t he roster we havenow....just wont happen....under 500 and no playoffs is what we should be expecting
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting celtsfan2589:</div><div class="quote_post">if you remeber correctly we went on an 11 game winning streak when we got tione and hes no longe ron our team is he? so that is one reason that we will lose 11 more games</div>How can I remember things that didn't actually happen?? We did not go on an 11 game winning streak at any point last season. When Walker came aboard, we won 11 out of 12. But, I just explained how that streak was not a result of Antoine. The teams we beat on that stretch were CRAPPY. I just mapped that out pretty clearly for you. If you're going to ignore the facts then I'm not going to waste time arguing with you.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting 44Thrilla:</div><div class="quote_post">How can I remember things that didn't actually happen?? We did not go on an 11 game winning streak at any point last season. When Walker came aboard, we won 11 out of 12. But, I just explained how that streak was not a result of Antoine. The teams we beat on that stretch were CRAPPY. I just mapped that out pretty clearly for you. If you're going to ignore the facts then I'm not going to waste time arguing with you.</div> hahah so antione had no impact in us going 11 out of 12 huh?...we would have done that any way with out him?.....everyone on the team said that by getting antione they got chmeistry and leadership and it gave paul pierce some motivation.....when we got toine we got the old peirce back the leadership we need and a vet with playoff expirience...if you think for one second losing toine and gp one of the greatest pgs of all time wont cause for losing 11 more games i dont respect your basketball knowledge...as of right now mark blount is the oldest person on our team...that sickens me we have no vet with expirience besides pierce....and that wont take us into the playoffs...ESPECIALLy with two young players who are gunan be asked to run the floor next year....banks and delonte....i dont feel to comfortable with them running our team next year at there age...maybe in liek 2 years yea but not yet....we have no leadership and we are to young to break 500 and make the playoffs especially with the way the east is growing...new jersey miami detroit philly pacers....bottom line is we wont win the division i doubt we will be over 500 and if we do not by much and we wont make the playoffs....i hope im wrong but the roster doesnt impress me yet...give it another year or two then we will see
I understand your point 44 but you can go on about couldas and wouldas all you want but the fact is there were PLENTY of crappy or crappier teams that the celtics lost to untill they got walker. Was there any other time in the season when they won 11 out of 12 or close to it no matter how bad their schedual was? You catn deny the spark Walker gave him when he came back and it is an unsafe assumption that the absence of his skill, experience and leadership will not have any impact on the team. I'm not really expecting them to have a record like they did last year but it will be interesting to see how many of the young bucks can take a step or two forward and as long as they have the "loose cannon" and hes healthy (and when is he not?) than you can be sure they at least wont be out of playoff contention.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting olskoolFunktitude:</div><div class="quote_post">I understand your point 44 but you can go on about couldas and wouldas all you want but the fact is there were PLENTY of crappy or crappier teams that the celtics lost to untill they got walker. Was there any other time in the season when they won 11 out of 12 or close to it no matter how bad their schedual was? You catn deny the spark Walker gave him when he came back and it is an unsafe assumption that the absence of his skill, experience and leadership will not have any impact on the team. I'm not really expecting them to have a record like they did last year but it will be interesting to see how many of the young bucks can take a step or two forward and as long as they have the "loose cannon" and hes healthy (and when is he not?) than you can be sure they at least wont be out of playoff contention.</div> ^^^^
yeah u agree now that philly and new jersy r doing good boston dosen't stand a chance against these teams in a division race sry all yall boson fans PHILLY ALL THE WAy
I don't see the arguement here. 'Toine meant nothing, he was a nice figurehead for a streaking team that didn't deserve as many wins as it got. I love this team, I love what it has in store for us, and I can't wait to see what happens next, but last year's team wasn't that great. They were fun to watch because of all that athleticism on the floor (no thanks to GP), and all the young guns showing us what they were made of. Antoine joined during a stretch that any one of us would assume they would do as well as they did on. Obviously, you don't win every one against any team, unless your team is made of up individuals that just transcend the game itself (we're talking '98 Bulls here, a team that truly dominated, ironically, one of their nine losses that year came to the C's). We beat the Bobcats twice on that stretch, but earlier in the year, they gave us a run for our money, that is NO indicator of how we performed with Antoine. And by the way, where did you read anywhere that the entire team said it was nice having Antoine around? Three quarters of that team never played with Antoine before last season, so that just doesn't make any sense at all. They had no chemistry, none whatsoever. He had never played under Doc, he had never even met three quarters of the team, and he certainly didn't get to work under Ainge or anyone else in the front office (save Chris Wallace), so that arguement is moot. There is no real reason why the C's would lose 11 more games this year than they did last year, and it isn't going to happen. Will they win the Atlantic? I wouldn't bet the farm. Will they finish over .500? No question, and there's no reason to believe they won't. Will they be legitimate contenders in 3 years? Again, no reason to believe that they won't. Experience and leadership are all well and good, but those are supposed to come from a head coach, not from Antoine Walker. Doc Rivers has as much of a handle on this team's chemistry than anyone has in ten years, and I respect him for that. He also is a total buffoon in big games, and that certainly takes its toll. Either way, the leadership and management on this team have done as capable a job as anyone in the last few years and I'm sure they will continue to.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Ignignot:</div><div class="quote_post">And by the way, where did you read anywhere that the entire team said it was nice having Antoine around? Three quarters of that team never played with Antoine before last season, so that just doesn't make any sense at all. They had no chemistry, none whatsoever. He had never played under Doc, he had never even met three quarters of the team, and he certainly didn't get to work under Ainge or anyone else in the front office (save Chris Wallace), so that arguement is moot.</div> ever hear of a sports show called FSN NEW ENGLAND?....they inteviwed nearly half the team after antiones second game back and they all said he provided the team with energy and it is great to have someone with his talent and leadership on the team....losing antoine for people who wont make the team next year and to lose gp for nothing at all is good enough reason to lose 11 more games...i love our young guys but they arnt expirienced enough to get us to the playoffs...they still need another year or two to grow....i cant wait for the season to see how they hadle it but with this roster we have right now it doesnt seem to promising yet...maybe in a year or to like i said before ...but delonte and banks are not ready to have to get out there and lead the team...in a few years i see great things with this team...but next yeari see 500 or under and no playoffs
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting celtsfan2589:</div><div class="quote_post">ever hear of a sports show called FSN NEW ENGLAND?....they inteviwed nearly half the team after antiones second game back and they all said he provided the team with energy and it is great to have someone with his talent and leadership on the team....losing antoine for people who wont make the team next year and to lose gp for nothing at all is good enough reason to lose 11 more games...i love our young guys but they arnt expirienced enough to get us to the playoffs...they still need another year or two to grow....i cant wait for the season to see how they hadle it but with this roster we have right now it doesnt seem to promising yet...maybe in a year or to like i said before ...but delonte and banks are not ready to have to get out there and lead the team...in a few years i see great things with this team...but next yeari see 500 or under and no playoffs</div> Fair enough, but when they finish this season in the playoffs, be man enough to be the first to admit you were wrong. The rest of us here have owned up to it now and again, just be prepared. And on the Antoine point, of course that's what everybody said to FSN New England, it's the press, you have to put your best foot forward, you wouldn't see Delonte West go out there and say, "well, I don't really know the guy, and he isn't in the best physical condition, so I'm kinda skeptical about his abilities these days." Which is what I was thinking all the end of last year, and the playoffs proved my point. Court leadership gets you so far, and then the coach has to foot the bill on the rest, and he didn't, oh well, there's always next year.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Ignignot:</div><div class="quote_post">Fair enough, but when they finish this season in the playoffs, be man enough to be the first to admit you were wrong. The rest of us here have owned up to it now and again, just be prepared. And on the Antoine point, of course that's what everybody said to FSN New England, it's the press, you have to put your best foot forward, you wouldn't see Delonte West go out there and say, "well, I don't really know the guy, and he isn't in the best physical condition, so I'm kinda skeptical about his abilities these days." Which is what I was thinking all the end of last year, and the playoffs proved my point. Court leadership gets you so far, and then the coach has to foot the bill on the rest, and he didn't, oh well, there's always next year.</div> i will absolutely be man enough to say i was wrong...as a matter of fact i hope i am wrong...i would liek nothin gmore then to see the celts hold a winning record take the atlantic and make the playoffs....i just don tthink i can see it happening with our younge guys and piperce being the only vet...but only time will tell
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting celtsfan2589:</div><div class="quote_post">i will absolutely be man enough to say i was wrong...as a matter of fact i hope i am wrong...i would liek nothin gmore then to see the celts hold a winning record take the atlantic and make the playoffs....i just don tthink i can see it happening with our younge guys and piperce being the only vet...but only time will tell</div> I hear you on that one, I know I've talked a mean line about letting Pierce go now, but you know, I really don't ever want him gone. The sentimental side of me says he should settle down here for good, and I wish I could be wrong about Ainge dealing him, but I just don't see it from a business sense.
You can gab and gab all you want about how you think they would have won just as many games without antoine. maybe youre right. maybe your some kind of mystical gypsy mutant who can view alternate realitys. thats all well and good. but if you think their overall play and TEAM CHEMISTRY did NOT take a noticeable step up when the celtics traded for Walker than you are HALLUCINATING! im not going to into an arguement about it but you can talk to any of the thousands of people who can tell you the same thing.
