Another Boston Celtics Topic

1. 71

   LakeShow Tposted 14 years ago

   I think the Celtics have done a great job this off season. Once the Finals were over, some were expecting them to rebuild amidst rumors Doc Rivers was going to retire. If that would have happened, Ray Allen would have been gone and they would not have resigned Pierce. Instead, Rivers decides to give it one more shot and now things have fallen into place quite nicely. They kept the big 3+1 ((or 1+3,Big 4, big 3 plus KG (LoL) or whatever you want to call it)) in tact. Let's face it, Rajon Rondo is their best player. Back to my point though. They also signed Shaquille O'Neal, Jermaine O'Neal, and just picked up Delonte West, who is a nice player when his head is on straight.
   
   From their top player down to the last man who will make the team, the Celtics have the best roster in the league. Arguably, they also play "team basketball"  better than any other team in the league. Finally, imagine the Celtics with a starting lineup composed of 5 potential future Hall of Famers. Rondo, Allen, Pierce, KG, ShaQ. That is amazing to think about. Although I know they currently have Jermaine O'Neal starting ahead of ShaQ, I am sure we will see ShaQ in that starting 5 in no time, considering Jermaine O'Neal's history of injuries.
   
   What does all of this mean? I'm not sure. I think they will obviously contend for a title one more year as they have pushed all of their chips into the middle of the table. I just may make them my favorites to win the East once again. We'll see what happens.

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2. 71

   Cagsilposted 14 years ago

   I live in Mass and I am not a basketball fan. However, the Celtics before any acquiring of anyone, already had a formidable team and could contend. I think what they have added, if they get along, then will remain contenders and possibly win their division.
   
   Another however, I'm still not interested in whether or not they do.
   
   I make no apologies- I'm a Boston RedSox fan and a Dallas Cowboy Fan. Baseball and Football, the only two professional sports I follow.

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3. 84

   Mike Lickteigposted 14 years ago

   A big key for the Celtics will be the health of Kendrick Perkins, who will be out at least until January or February.  Jermaine O'Neal and Shaq were nice acquisitions, but their game differs from Perkins and the now-retired Rasheed Wallace.  Wallace was primarily a perimeter player and Perkins doesn't need the ball.  Shaq and Jermaine both like to score.
   
   Having said that, I think O'Neal and O'Neal are good acquisitions.  They will help Boston a great deal.  Delonte West is a good pick-up also.  They still lack a back-up on the wing to sub for Paul Pierce and Ray Allen.  The loss of Tony Allen still needs to be addressed.
   
   I would love to see Boston make its way back to the Finals and one last showdown with the Lakers.  Shaquille O'Neal in a Celtics uniform would add considerable drama to the series.

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   1. 71

      LakeShow Tposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I agree that Kendrick Perkins is very important to the Celtics, as he is one of the best defensive centers in the league. However, I do not think they plan to get much out of him when he comes back and that is why they picked up the two O'Neals. Either that, or they are going to limit KG even more in the regular season than they have the last two years.
      
      Once again, what the Celtics did was very smart. Now they will have Jermaine O'Neal, ShaQ, and Kendrick Perkins to match up with Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic. Perhaps more importantly, I think it gives them a huge match-up advantage with the Miami Heat. Who on the Miami Heat would be able to defend Shaq? I don't think anyone. Chicago also has a formidable team and I am interested to see where they will fall into the hierarchy in the East. 
      
      Ultimately, I would love to see the Lakers and Celtics once again as well. Although I am a Laker fan, I think the Celtics blew them away in terms of offseason improvements, which is important, considering how closely matched the teams were in the finals.

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      1. 60

         Godwin Nwandoposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Interesting how you see the Boston celtics, however, they still have age and although that will not affect them in the playoffs, It will hurt in the regular season when determining playoff seeding and home field. I like the celtics moves as well, still, wil they be enough to match the Miami Heat moves, we will see.

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         1. 71

            LakeShow Tposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            I do agree that the Celtics will not have a "great" regular season and they will probably be the #4 or 5 seed in the Eastern Conference. They did the same thing last season when they were a #4 seed. They were counted out by many as they had a record around .500 after the all-star break. That's the thing with experienced/championship teams though. The regular season is not that important. The main objective is to have players rested and injury-free going into the playoffs for those teams. The LA Lakers were the same way in the beginning of the decade. They would get a #4-6 seed in the West and then march to the finals. The same thing is also true of the Houston Rockets in the mid-90's. Home-court advantage is nice, but it is far more important for those teams who do not yet have the championship heart and experience to win on the road.
            
            As for them matching up with Miami, that is a tough call. Nobody knows how great the Heat will be, as there really has never been a team with the sort of dynamic they being to the table. One thing I do believe though is that when that team is on the ropes or facing adversity, it will be Dwayne Wade who carries them. Very few have shown the kind of Championship heart and desire that he showed in the NBA Finals against the Mavs. He is the one guy for them who has that experience, heart, and no fear of failure.

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4. 63

   prettydarkhorseposted 14 years ago

   Perkins is a big help as well, West is an addition, good shooting guard (sp. when R Allen can't seem to score his 3 points)
   
   All in all, they are still the team to beat same with the Lakers of course
   
   Let us see what Wade can do with LBJ, he can be the lead of the team -- Miami Heat

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5. 54

   ocbillposted 14 years ago

   All these signings but what they lacked all year long was - OFFENSE. if pierce went cold or Rondo disappeared they were done for. Allen is washed up. His 8 3s in the finals were an anomaly.  Hey, I am not a Laker fan, but not a hater either. I was rootin' for the Cs. yeah, Perkins would've lessened the offensive rebounding somewhat in game 7. They lost by 4 with really no offense, no rebounding.
   I think they should've went for a perimeter defender like LA did with Matt Barnes and get one more offensive threat. Both O'neals do neither of these things.

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