http://nbacanada.blogspot.com/2007/0...y-preview.html <div style="margin: 5px 20px 20px"> <div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom: 2px">Quote:</div> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="6" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td class="alt2" style="border: 1px inset "> 1. SG Paul Pierce Strategy: draft high; 1st/2nd round Pierce maintains his perennial value, even though he was pretty banged up all season long. Adding all-stars to his team will breathe the inpenetrable air of infallibility, indestructibility and invincibility to this already massively gifted basketball player. The stage is set for the entire NBA to witness first hand how good, how very very good, Paul Pierce actually is. Internationally broadcast games, Christmas with the Celtics, Playoffs... it's all there for Paul Pierce to take the ball and run with-- finally. Among the stars, it is extremely likely that, being new to the team and the city, both Garnett and Ray Allen will defer the media pressure and share of the basketball to the popular team captain. Pierce will play more games, he will score at will, dominate and be mentioned for MVP consideration. Rebounds down only slightly, but turnovers, steals, points, and especially FG %, games played and assists will all feel good this season. Take Pierce slightly over KG because of the 3's he hits. 2. PF Kevin Garnett Strategy: draft high; 1st / 2nd round It's really a fantasy toss up between Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. All of these players are proven veterans who offer GM's completely different needs. I feel as though it's always better to go Kevin Garnett over pretty much anyone in the league, but for some reason I'm getting this instinctual feel that, out of the 3 players, KG is the most likely to defer the scoring to the scorers. That said, expect Garnett's statistics to hit all time highs in assists, rebounds, blocks, FG%, steals and nasty stare downs. Overall, KG will still give you more than Ray Allen, but this depends on what you need. His body tends to be more reliable than either Pierce or Allen and he plays a crucial position for your roster, perhaps even filling the C category for the first time in his career. 3. SG Ray Allen Strategy: draft no higher than 3rd round Ray Allen's body is in question. Seattle seemed all too eager to dump him on Boston. A healthy Ray Allen is a top 5 player, but the preeminent Shooting Guard had nearly 30 DNP's last season because he was bothered by ankle, knee and back problems. Out of these three Celtics, he is the most likely to take a few days off here and there. Moreover, his scoring will not be as crucial as it was for Seattle. For now, the inside/outside game of Pierce is option 1, the outside game of Allen option 2 with Garnett the primary option on the inside. The slashing and penetrating that Allen would sometimes try with the Sonics may be eliminated from his game entirely in favour of perimeter spot up shots or bounce and shoots. While you shouldn't avoid Allen if he's there in the very late 2nd or early 3rd, don't use a higher pick than that on the 32 year old. 4. The rest of the team Strategy: Don't bother The Celtics are otherwise gutted. Players on this roster may have a good game here and there, but make no mistake about it; the team's stats are going to be swallowed whole by Pierce, Garnett and Allen. Even if one of them is injured, don't expect anyone else to pick up the slack. Have a look at Tony Allen and see if he's performing well in the preseason, because if anyone has a chance at giving you numbers it's him. Still, he massacred his knee last season to the tune of 5 months of cast wearing, and would have only started his rehabillitation over the summer. The Celtics are starting Kendrick Perkins at Center, which means he'll average about 1.5 blocks and 6 rebounds, with 4 points per game. James Posey, a defensive player, will see his averages stay the same or even drop slightly from last year. No, the Celtics have 3 fantasy players worth taking, all monsters, then nothing. </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </div>I disagree with this guy. First off, I'll still take KG over Pierce. He'll be available to play both forward positions and probably center this year as well, he's still an elite rebounder, he still puts up big defensive numbers, his assists probably will stay the same, and you can EASILY make up for the 3-4 PPG he'll drop. Also, Rondo is a very good fantasy player... very good. He fills the entire stat sheet, and while his scoring and percentages won't be great, he'll rack up some assists, <u>he'll be one of the league leaders in steals</u>, and he grabs rebounds. In deep/semi-deep leagues, Perk is a solid pickup as well. He grabs rebounds and blocks shots, every fantasy team needs help in those areas. Posey, TA, House, Scal, Pollard, Davis, Powe, Pruitt... yeah, forget about them fantasy-wise, but I think we have 3 fantasy studs and 2 good contributors. My Rankings 1. Kevin Garnett 2. Paul Pierce 3. Ray Allen 4. Rajon Rondo 5. Kendrick Perkins 6. Unless you're desperate in an extremely deep league, forget about the rest.
There's not a year that goes by without me having Perk on my team. I just love his five-block games. Rondo should also be nice. But both Perk and Rondo shouldn't be picked until very late rounds.Speaking of very late rounds, can't wait till Yahoo starts the fantasy leagues. We'll have to get a keepers league, and Prem, this time I'm thinking about stricking through it.
