Eastern Conference Ranking: 14"Their star can do it all--except lead the team into the playoffs by himself" Let's get one thing straight: The Celtics' failure to make the playoffs for the first time in five years had nothing to do with Paul Pierce. In 2005-06 Pierce had career highs in scoring (26.8 points per game) and field goal percentage (47.1%), and tied Larry Bird for the most 2,000 point seasons (four) in team history. For all his effort, Boston's 6'6'' franchise player got 33 wins, a bum left elbow (he had surgery in August) and his name tossed around in trade rumors. Still, he accepted a three year, $59.4 million extension to remain a Celtic through '10-11. "By making this commitment to me," says Pierce, "I think they're making a commitment to be a contending team in these next five years." More than the millions, Pierce needs a little help; he accounted for 26.3% of his team's offense last season, sixth in the league. "You always want more veteran presence," says Pierce. "It helps you do your job better." So in the deal for point guard Sebastian Telfiar, Boston also picked up center Theo Ratliff in the hopes that the 33-year-old, still a feared shot blocker, can stabilize one of the league's youngest rosters. The Celtics also hope Pierce gets support from returning players. Third-year power forward Al Jefferson reported to the camp injury-free and 30 pounds lighter, while sharpshooter Wally Szczerbiak is healthy after off-season left knee surgery. "I'm excited," says Pierce. "We have a couple of good additions and a lot of young talent and depth. I like our potential." That's Paul Pierce: just trying to get by with a little help from his friends. - C.M.Projected Starting 5 -C: Theo RatliffPF: Al JeffersonSF: Wally SzczerbiakSG: Paul PiercePG: Sebastian TelfairBench - G: Delonte WestC: Kendrick PerkinsF: Ryan GomesF: Gerald GreenG: Rajon RondoEnemy Lines: An opposing team's scout sizes up on the Celtics - (basically the negative points)As an offensive coach, Doc Rivers is very, very good. But if the Celtics think they're going to win by outscoring and outrunning teams, then that will be the death of them....Sebastian Telfair and Rajon Rondo are small point guards who can't shoot a lick, which means defenses will ignore them in the half-court. Paul Pierce is going to be frusterated with Telfair because he isn't a pass-first point guard--he gets to the lane, and then if he can't score, he dishes it out. He still hasn't proved that he's capable of finishing, so it's not like he's going to force the defense to collapse and create open shots for Pierce....They're putting too much faith in young guys like Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Kendrick perkins and Delonte West. The latter two are career backups on a good team. Green may turn out to be a starter, but I don't see him as a future All-Star. Jefferson needs to overcome inability to play with some pain, which is a huge detriment for a big man....Their failed attempts to trade for Allen Iverson showed me that they are panicking.Fast Fact: Paul Pierce and Allen Ivertson were the only players to score 15 or more points in every game last year. The last time Pierce failed to score 15 in the regular season was on April 19, 2005.I got this right out of the new Sports Illustrated magazine and typed it out..
Haha, you could have just copied and pasted the article from online..Anyways I think they're underrating us a bunch. 2nd worst? Hell no.
yeah, second to last in the conference after improving is just ridiculous. I hope the team sees this as motivation.
