Re: CelticBalla32's very long and detailed Celtics 06-07 preview <div align="center"><span style="color:#009900">06-07 Boston Celtics: Let the Youth Be Told</span></div> The 2006-2007 Boston Celtics are going to be a very interesting team to watch. They got all of the bad locker room personalities out of town, they filled the hole at the PG spot, and of course all the young players have one extra year under their belt. The young guys have all worked extremely hard this summer (especially Gomes, Jefferson, and Allen), and for the most part this team is about 100% health wise. Let?s take a look at the key losses from the end of last year: - Raef LaFrentz (via trade to Portland) - Orien Greene (waived) - Dan Dickau (via trade to Portland) The losses are not anything to cry about. In fact, getting rid of Raef LaFrentz? hideous contract was a huge plus, especially for what we got in return. Raef is a good guy, a good locker room presence, and a veteran. But he?s soft, his production has declined a great deal even since the 04-05 season, and he doesn?t really fit in a run-and-gun offense. Now, let?s take a look at the key additions: - Sebastian Telfair (via trade from Portland) - Theo Ratliff (via trade from Portland) - Rajon Rondo (draft day trade with Phoenix) - Leon Powe (draft day trade with Denver) - Allan Ray (undrafted free agent signing) The additions to this team are awesome. Sebastian Telfair and Rajon Rondo are two up-tempo pass-first point guards, which is much needed. Telfair practically has eyes in the back of his head and he?s the best passer on the team, while Rondo provides solid playmaking skills and he is also a good defensive presence. Both of these young guards have a lot of potential, and the best part is that they both work very hard and they both have a good head on their shoulders. They bring a whole new look to this team, a look that will benefit this team: running, up-tempo basketball. Both of these guys thrive in the running game, and they definitely found the right home. Theo Ratliff is the most overlooked addition. When healthy, Theo is still one of the top shot blockers in the league. He is a true veteran presence, a professional, he?s willing to teach the young players, he provides more rebounding ability than Raef, and his contract also expires one year sooner than Raef?s. So not only does Ratliff help the team in the financial long haul, but the bottom line is that the Boston Celtics are simply a better basketball team with Theo Ratliff at the helm instead of Raef LaFrentz. Theo will provide leadership, shot blocking, some extra rebounding, and most importantly he will be a great mentor for Kendrick Perkins and Al Jefferson, especially Perkins. Now let?s talk about the young players that were on the roster last year. First of all, the most encouraging thing we have heard this summer is about Al Jefferson. Not only did he have minor surgery to remove bone chips in his ankle, but he has lost a jaw-dropping 30 lbs. and he is looking better than ever. He is at full-strength and he has been excellent in training camp. This is the year Al Jefferson really needs to buckle down and prove himself, and he knows that. He has certainly proved all the naysayers wrong about his work ethic, but now it?s time to show it on the court. No more excuses for Big Al, and no more potential excuse. It?s time to produce on the court, and he knows that. It will be very interesting to see how Big Al responds this year. In competition with Jefferson for the starting power forward role is Ryan Gomes. As of right now, he has the edge on Jefferson and he is the starter for now (possible subject to change). He is a player that every coach would love to have. He?s scrappy, he has excellent hands, he fights for rebounds, he?s an all-out hustler, and he can play two positions. One thing that was beneficial to Gomes last season was his ability to hit the open 15 foot jumper. This summer, he?s extended his range and he can now hit an 18-19 footer consistently, in addition to improving his ballhandling skills. Ryan Gomes is the definition of solid, plus more, and in order for Al Jefferson to hold the thrown, he has to get through Gomes first. Another sometimes forgotten young player on this team is Tony Allen, whom Doc Rivers has listed as one of the guys who have really separated themselves in camp (along with Ryan Gomes, Kendrick Perkins, etc). Tony Allen really started turning it on in the last two months of last season, after recovering from his knee troubles. When he first came back, he lost a step, his athleticism was not there, and he was getting frustrated at times. Then, during the last two months of the season, he started getting some spring back, he started getting quicker, and he started producing a lot more on the court. Now, even then, Tony Allen proclaimed that he was only at 67% then. He says he?s at about 85% now, which is remarkable considering how he played at the end of last year at ?67%.? Tony Allen is due for a good year, and he will contribute a lot off the bench this season. Watch out. Also, I will also add that Tony Allen said that when he?s 100% ?you are going to know about it.? Kendrick Perkins is rapidly developing into a leader on this team. He has publicly stated that this team means business now. No more youth excuses, no more potential talk, and no more smiley faces while getting introduced to the NBA. Perk and the Celtics mean business this year, and Kendrick has expressed that in every recent interview. He provides not only strong words, but a strong presence inside and he is a great guy for the young guys to look up to when it comes to work ethic. Perkins has apparently rubbed off on some players, seeing how Delonte West backed him up on ?no more smiles.? Ryan Gomes, Tony Allen, Al Jefferson, Kendrick Perkins, Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair, Rajon Rondo. Wait, there?s something missing? the thing missing is Delonte West. People are getting so caught up with other guys and especially the new point guards that they are totally forgetting about the very best one on the team. Delonte has experienced some recent back troubles, but being the warrior that he is, when he?s asked about it he looks at you and says ?what back problem?? Delonte isn?t worried, and you shouldn?t be either because he is back in the gym and he has been practicing at half speed. When Delonte is healthy, he is going to let everybody that is forgetting about him to start cheering his name. I?ll start: D-West for president! There is one guy on this roster that you can still talk potential about: Gerald Green. But don?t get it misinterpreted, Gerald Green is working himself to the bone. Not only is his all around game improving daily, but he is maturing (as you can tell just by listening to him talk in interviews), and his body has come a long way. He came into the league at 193 lbs., but he is already up around 215. Not only does he work hard though, but he actually ?gets it!? Every time people ask him about his role this year, he expresses that he knows he can score, but he understands that he will not play without defense. That?s not as common a quality as you would think, especially for a 20 year old kid one year removed from high school. Now, ?G-Money? might not get a whole lot of minutes right off the bat, but when he is in there you should expect a much better, new and improved Gerald Green. And should someone go down with an injury (god forbid), he will be there to produce. He is on his way, be on the lookout. Let?s wrap up talking about the players, and what better way to end it than to talk about the two best players on the team: Paul Pierce and Wally Szczerbiak. Now, I could step in and drool all over Paul Pierce?s play, but it?s not necessary. ?The Truth? will come in and tell itself, just like it has year in and year out. The focus here is Wally Szczerbiak, who is at 100% right now. His knee?s are feeling good, and he?s going full speed. How long will this last, that?s unknown. But what is known is that when Wally is healthy, he puts up great scoring numbers and shoots the lights out. Also, having a full training camp and being involved in the repetition with the team and his teammates will benefit him greatly. It?s going to be very interesting and exciting to see how Wally plays this season after having a whole summer to get adjusted and used to his new team. What to look out for: - The point guard play. If newcomers Sebastian Telfair and Rajon Rondo can come in and play well, this team is going to be scary. We have a great amount of offensive weapons on this team, if these guys play the right way, run the team, and get our scorers the ball in the right spots, that is going to be the #1 key to this team?s success. - Who takes the leap? This is the year Al Jefferson needs to come in and really turn it on. His ankle is fixed and he?s put the work in. If he can come in and provide his god-given offensive talents, this Boston Celtics team is going to be very scary. He is the only real post scoring threat on this team, he need to produce. We?ll see how he responds. Maybe it?s Gerald Green. Maybe it?s Sebastian Telfair, etc. Who knows? It is something to look out for. - Health. Will Wally Szczerbiak?s knees hold up throughout the whole grueling 82 game schedule? Will Theo Ratliff stay healthy? Will Perk?s shoulder hold him back? Will Al Jefferson tweak his ankle again? Will Delonte West?s back be alright? Will Tony Allen?s knee?s hold up? If these guys can stay healthy, this team WILL make the playoffs. However, if a major injury occurs, that could turn things around. - Pick n? Choose: By the end of this season at the very latest, Danny Ainge and Doc Rivers should have a good idea of which young players they want to keep around for the long haul, and which ones will be used for trade bait. All of these young talents can?t develop in one place. It will be interesting to see if Ainge does make that big deal everyone is talking about at the trade deadline, and even if that doesn?t happen it?s going to be interesting to see which guys are sticking around long term. CelticBalla32?s Predictions 42-40, 2nd in Atlantic Division and 8th seed in the East.
Re: CelticBalla32's very long and detailed Celtics 06-07 preview Wow. Mine isnt near as detailed, but I will be adding stuff as I go along...Good job, I'm more of a Celtic fan now... starting to like them more.
Re: CelticBalla32's very long and detailed Celtics 06-07 preview great write up. must've taken a while. I agree with just about all of it, of course. people are overlooking the addition of Ratliff. Perk mentioned something about how last year, Blount was trying to make it a competition, while Ratliff is actually teaching him a thing or two. I'm loving it!
Re: CelticBalla32's very long and detailed Celtics 06-07 preview Great write man. Its very thorough and detailed.
Re: CelticBalla32's very long and detailed Celtics 06-07 preview I really like the Celtics this year. They could surprise alot of teams. There's only one thing I would like to see happen. I hope they get rid of Wally so that Gerald Green can get more experience. But I love their additions. I'm very surprise that Allan Ray wasn't drafted. Telfair and Rondo will be great point guards in the NBA one day and Ratliff will be a great mentor for the younger posts such as Leon Powe, Kendrick Perkins and Al Jefferson. They got rid of the players they didn't need which is good and brought in players that will fit in their youth movement. Excited to see how they do this year.
