The goal is to repeat.
I’ve predicted that they would/could.
But that is based on a few holes being plugged by unknown players (in the sense that we only know what preseason has shown us about them). It could mean Danny might need to find ‘leak stoppers’ in the NBA supermarket, if they can’t.
The obvious question is…does Tony Allen, Bill Walker, and Patrick O’Bryant give them enough to go the distance against 29 teams that would like nothing more than clawing, pushing, pulling, beating the new NBA champs around when they play them?
And then…..are those the guys that will show up, mix it up, do it up, and make excellent play-off opponents give it up over a very tough, potentially 7 game series?
If we are being honest, we don’t really know, do we?
In fact, if rumors are true, Danny already feels he will need strong defensive help in the middle. I can’t say he is wrong….or right.
Patrick O’Bryant has definitely shown some skill in the preseason. But he is slightly built and will need to bulk up a bit to be able to hold his ground against the league’s stronger centers and power forwards. Not that he will be playing power forward, but he will trying to rebound against them every night. Can he take NBA-size abuse every night? Do we see POB holding his ground and wrestling rebounds away from aggressive, muscular rivals in the trenches in the heat of play-off battle?
We keep saying (myself included) that we can replace James Posey. But most agree that it would be through a couple of players, because neither the Celtics (nor anyone else) has a player quite like James Posey. Doesn’t that mean something will be missing whenever the Celtics’ player who is “not quite Posey” takes off his warm-ups and enters the game? We don’t seem to want to deal with that reality. It will magically clear itself up.
Is Doc, Danny and the team expecting Bill Walker to fill veteran shoes…as a rookie…on a championship team? He does a lot of huffing at league stars and has shown some nice athletic ability around the hoop. But can he deliver the type of defense and smarts the team needs against a wide variety of talented NBA players throughout the season? We simply don’t know for sure.
The Posey ‘clutch’ factor. Some will argue with me, but I maintain that…while Posey reached another level in the play-offs, he was quite often clutch during the long season as well. Some concentrated on what he didn’t do, instead of what he was doing. That was hitting threes, making steals, and defending tighter at the absolute right times for most of the year.
Would we even fair to expect similar from Tony Allen?
Most assuredly, Tony’s game is quite different from James Posey’s game. Something will be lost. Something will be gained. Tony will give the team something new and put his own stamp on a game. We might not see that crushing three pointer drained at exactly the right time. But we might see a drive to the hoop that dissects the defense for the lay-up or dunk, or a big rebound out of nowhere and the put back. Tony can be relentless in his own way.
But only time will tell what we can expect out of Tony Allen on a nightly basis. Just remember, Posey wasn’t great every night either.
Gabe Pruitt has played his way into the edge of the Celtic point guard picture. Will any of that translate into minutes during the season?
Eddie House looks better than last season, and he is working on his weaker points. Can he and Pruitt keep Sam Cassell in street clothes?
Rajon Rondo will improve just from experiencing last year’s trial by fire. Kendrick Perkins has established his role and only needs to continue to do what he has done – only a bit better. The Celtics are often a lesser team with unsung Perkins on the bench.
Leon Powe might be asked to do a bit more at both ends of the floor. His featured role in the offense against the Knicks recently did not go unnoticed. Glen Davis must come to grips with his role on this team and play to that end – the very best he can.
Brian Scalabrine had a tough offensive preseason. But he will be there if a big man falters, or they need some energy, or someone to make some hard fouls.
The biggest questions are answered. It is the little questions that remain. But sometimes little questions can be big.
