The Boston Celtics begin a highly anticipated campaign after remaking the roster to drive for a title now.
They will unveil league stars Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen alongside Paul Pierce at TDBankNorth Garden against the Gilbert Arenas led Washington Wizards.
It will be a moment filled with excitement, emotion and every Celtic fan’s hopes for the coming year. It has been 20 years since they have enjoyed a championship caliber team. Could this be the year? Many think they have a real chance.
Tonight the talk and predictions stop and play begins. Doc Rivers says his players are ready to get it on. Peter Stringer on Celtics.com reports…..
(Doc Rivers)-
“I can’t wait. I don’t know if excitement is the word, but I just want to get it started. I know this is a long journey we’re going to have to go through,” Rivers. “[The players] are ready. That’s why I ended practice [early]. As a coach, you have to have a feel sometimes, and they wanted to play. They’d like to play right now.”
The Celtics will be without James Posey who will serve a one game suspension tonight for a previous off court incident. Brian Scalabrine is 50-50 with a severe toe sprain, as well. Scot Pollard will see limited minutes as he is just now returning from a sprained ankle.
The rest of the team should be ready to rumble. Little used Brandon Wallace may see daylight due to Posey’s absence.
The Wizard’s Gilbert Arenas has a dislike for the Celtics particularly and has used the off season to talk a little trash – at one point guaranteeing a win tonight. He also has said that he would love to score 100 points against the Cs sometime. Gilbert is a great talent, with a mouth to match, and is coming off of a 34 point game against the Pacers in their opening night game.
The Wizard’s lost in OT (119-110) to that Pacer team, one many expect to be inferior to them. The Wizards have a potent offense, but are not known for solid defense. They attempted to address that area by hiring Jeff Van Gundy protege, Tom Thibodeau, in the off season. Tom stayed all of one day in Washington before backing out. Where did he land? That’s right. Right here in Boston as Doc’s defensive specialist. And the Celtics are the better for it. Preseason indications are that this team will impact games on the defensive end of the floor – for the first time in years.
The starting line-ups are:
Celtics:
PG – Rajon Rondo
SG – Ray Allen
SF – Paul Pierce
PF – Kevin Garnett
C- Kendrick Perkins
Wizards:
PG – Gilbert Arenas
SG – Deshawn Stevenson
SF- Caron Butler
PF – Antawn Jamison
C – Brendon Heywood
Key match ups will pit defensive specialist Rajon Rondo against high scoring Gilbert Arenas, while Washington defensive specialist Stevenson will try to handle Ray Allen. Butler vs Pierce should be interesting as well.
Jamison will not be expected to handle Garnett as I think you will see Haywood help on KG often.
So the real thing finally begins for the new look, star powered Celtics. I’ll be at the game to give you a complete rundown of the action tomorrow morning.
T
