The final preseason game for the Celtics will be in Boston on Friday night at 7:30 against last year’s Eastern Conference Champions. ESPN will be showing it.
The Celtics are 3-3 after starting the preseason 3-0. Early success has been somewhat sobered by 3 losses in which the team did not play as well as could be expected. The outside shooters are in a mini slump. Total team chemistry is just starting to be worked on. Doc Rivers
first wanted to get the three star lots of time to try to feel each other out.
This team is certainly a work-in-progress and in its early stages. But the preseason is short and the real season is long. So expect more erratic or awkward play and line-up adjustments as the Celts work to find the right combinations throughout the month of November.
Many Celtic players are not yet in a groove and they will only get there through more playing time together. That’s why team chemistry is so important to any team’s success. The first three games were almost too easy.
Overall, the Cs have been disappointing offensively, shooting just 30-114 from 3 ptland for .263% and .429 FG% from the floor. On the other hand, the defensive stats are better than expected, as they are holding opponents to 83.2 points per game and .382% from the field, ranking the team rather high comparatively for the preseason.
Rookie PF Glen Davis’ offense is emerging as an early bright spot for the coalescing Cs. He is making typical rookie mistakes especially on the defensive end, but his offense looks NBA ready. He has a nice touch passing and is finding the ability to put points on the board. He led the team with 21 points against the Nets. He is one nimble big man. If he can play effective defense, he will see minutes earlier rather than later.
The Pollard less Celtics lack height when center 6′ 10″ Perkins leaves the floor. Neither Davis, Brian Scalabrine nor Leon Powe really can handle decent NBA big men for any period of time. Kevin Garnett best fills those Perkins absences at the moment.
The Cavs
Many think that last year’s demolition (4-0) of the Cavaliers by the San Antonio Spurs in the League Championship Series vindicates the thought that Cleveland might not even have been the best team in the East.
The Lebron led Cavs want to disprove that theory this year. They will get an opportunity to convince us on Friday night.
