Celtics Central

The Celtics are in training camp at Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island for the week.

While two Celtics (Glen Davis, Kendrick Perkins) have lost big time weight and one (Rajon Rondo) has gained some muscle, we fans are free to munch on whatever tidbits we want to. Except for the latest news on Bill Walker, here are some healthy munchies. Call them chicken soup for the Celtic fan’s soul. Slurp ‘em up but don’t get any on your chin. There will be plenty more from where these came from.

Latest updates:

Bill Walker

Walker out….Jeff Clark of Celticsblog.com had the report from the Globe and other reports.

Bill Walker will return to Boston and have an MRI on his right knee. That is the one he most recently had an operation on. Both knees have had anterior cruciate ligament tears and both have been surgically repaired. I will keep you updated.

Celtics.com: Tony Allen in…

Tony Allen, on the other hand, participated in his first practice of the camp today after sitting out Tuesday’s session.

“I’m not where I want to be, but I’m gonna get it together,” Allen said. “Today when I came in I stretched, started doing my individual stuff and I felt good, I didn’t feel any pulling in my ankle. The swelling felt like it was down, and I said, ‘Why not give it a shot?’”

Glen Davis

Note: Because Glen Davis played about 20 pounds heavier than what was listed (289 lbs.) last season, he lost about 20 pounds and his true weight will actually be around 290 now.

Glen Davis from Scott Souza at Wickedlocal.com.…

“I added on a lot of muscle. That was the point. My game is that I am a big guy. That’s what I do. So if I lose a lot of weight, I’m like the average player. So I kind of want to stay in my body frame, my weight, just be more conditioned, more toned. Just a comfortable weight where I can be me. Not some different person, different player.” …

I have to agree with that perception. That he’s transforming into a more muscular figure can’t be a bad thing. But, be yourself Glen. The serious intense player self, I mean.

Kendrick Perkins

Jessica Camerato of WEEI had the weight loss of Kendrick Perkins and his ’scary’ moment. I know he wasn’t afraid of Rasheed, no matter what he says….

Kendrick Perkins is heading into training camp 15 pounds lighter than last season and is down to 270 pounds, his lightest total in three years. Perkins did not have a weight-loss regimen but rather trimmed down during his workouts. … His shoulder, which he has dislocated in the past, feels better than it has “in a while.”

(Kendrick) has been impressed by Wallace on and off the court. Even though he did not know what to expect at first — “I didn’t know. I was just waiting to see. It was kind of like scary for a moment,” he said — Perkins praised Wallace’s versatile game and pointed out he is a great addition to the locker room.

Paul Pierce

Jessica also has Paul Pierce’s view of pacing himself this season and playing fewer minutes even if it means losing  a game or two…

Even though Doc Rivers would prefer to cut back on the veterans’ minutes this season, Pierce refuses to sacrifice playing time for wins. “I’m not willing to lose nothing. Next question. I don’t understand that, losing. No.”

Rajon Rondo

Keeping with the healthy tidbits theme, Jessica had this on Rondo….

Rondo, 23, gained 11 pounds this summer “because I’m growing up.” He trained with a new weight-lifting routine, ate three meals a day, and cut fast food from his diet. He also plans on hiring a chef.

It has been noted everywhere that the gain is muscle from some apparently serious summer weightlifting work outs. Rondo has also been working with Mark Price on his shooting form and has come back looking better. He is keeping his elbow in more and that should eventually pay off.

Kevin Garnett

There is so much stuff out there on Kevin Garnett and his recovering knee, that I’m going to let that one ride. Kevin is participating in practice, though Doc pulled him after 75% of the first day’s practice and scrimmages. KG said he tired. Doc said that he had to fight to pull Garnett out. We will watch this progress day by day.

KG says he can’t run all out yet, but he’s 85-90% there, especially on defense. Celtics.com again…

“85 percent, 90 percent would be pretty accurate.”

“Where I’m most excited and uplifted is on defense. I’m able to move laterally, and recover when a guy makes a strong move. I can respond to that and react to that.”

Glen Davis took KG’s place on the first team once he left. The second team of Rasheed Wallace, Eddie House, Marquis Daniels, Glen Davis and Brian Scalabrine, gave the first unit all they could handle, it was reported in a few places. Shelden Williams replaced Davis in the second unit on Davis’ promotion to the first unit.

Ray Allen

It’s been reported that Ray Allen’s contract expiring contract will be dealt with later in the season. Ray has made good use of the new twittering phenomena in the off season. He has commented that he likes connecting with fans directly and giving motivating and uplifting responses to personal queries he receives on twitter. Ray has over 9,000 ‘followers.’

Of the Celtics, Ray appears to be the most well read. He usually has books in his locker that I, of course, assume he is reading. Besides a creature of steady, even obsessive habit, he appears to be the most thoughtful and intellectual. He always gives time to the media after games, even after tough losses.

Rasheed Wallace

Oh yeah, can’t leave you without at least one Rasheed Wallace quote. Here is his take on the replacement referees from Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald….

“Of course, I know that they’re going to come in all happy-go-lucky – oh, I gave Rasheed Wallace a tech tonight, ha, ha, ha, ha. I could care less about that,” he said. “I know there’s going to be a lot of stupid star calls like there was with the old refs. I don’t think there’s going to be too much change.”

I think it is going to be fun getting to know Rasheed. I’ve said it before. I’ve always kind of liked him, understanding that the bravado, hustling, fussing, and cussing is part of his on court persona.

I’ll have more stuff for you when I see it. Have a green day.

I was tooling around the NBA media site and came across what is known as the NBA’s boilerplate page.

This was the first paragraph…..

The NBA, founded in 1946, is a global sports and entertainment brand that features 30 teams in the United States and Canada.  During the 2008-09 season, NBA games will reach 215 countries and territories in 41 languages.  The league’s worldwide reach will be reflected in the 76 international players from 32 countries and territories on NBA rosters.  NBA merchandise is sold in more than 100,000 stores in 100 countries on six continents.  NBA.com averages more than five million daily visits, with more than 50 percent of the site’s visitors come from outside of North America.

I don’t know about you, but that is impressive to me, especially considering when and where it all started.

That 50% of the site’s visitors are from outside of North America is pretty incredible. Would baseball have that kind of reach? I don’t think the NFL does, but I could be wrong. More Americans seems to be fans of the NFL than the NBA , but I doubt most foreign countries have as many fans of American football as NBA basketball and just basketball generally.

I’ve always loved the game, though I played it poorly. You play it indoors and out and, comparatively speaking, it requires less room to play than most major sports. But I just think the combination of skills required, the high scoring, and the fast pace make it just about perfect. The worldwide growth seems to bare that out.

76 players from 32 other countries is pretty cool.

Along those lines….

The NBA with play an exhibition game on October 7th in London at the O2 Arena, between the Utah Jazz and the Chicago Bulls. Ben Gordon and Luol Deng have English ties (I don’t mean around their neck.)

The Jazz will play Real Madrid in Spain on October 8th.

The Denver Nuggets will play the Indiana Pacers in Taipei on October 8th.

The Nuggets and Pacers play again in Beijing on October 11th.

Celtic Trivia Question of the Day

Who led the Celtics in technical fouls in last year’s playoffs?

I bet you don’t guess it. I’ll put the answer up tomorrow.

Eddie House said it best when he was asked why he opted to come back to the Celtics this season (player option for $2.8 million)…

“Unfinished business.”

Jimmy Toscano of CelticsBlog.com shared the entire quote….

“Unfinished business. That nasty taste in my mouth. I didn’t want to leave like that. I had opportunities where I could have went other places, but I love it out here, I love playing out here, I love playing for this organization, I love my teammates, and we just have unfinished business.”

Eddie has just come off a record setting season. He broke Danny Ainge’s all time Celtic record for three point accuracy with 44.4%. He accomplished that while putting up a career high 4.2 per game.

Channeling the Spirit of Harry ‘Slug’ Heilman

A four time Al batting champ of the 1920s, Heilman won one title in 1925 by going 6 for 9 in a final day double header to beat out Tris Speaker .393 to .389.

Just call Eddie House “Slug”.

Embracing the spirit of ‘final day of the season’ baseball batting title winners like Heilman, Eddie needed to make a bunch of three pointers to overtake Danny Ainge’s all time Celtic record for three point shooting accuracy.

Like Harry Heilman, Eddie House ended up going 6 for 9 (in three pointers) on the final day against the Nets, and needed to make his last four straight to get the record.  It was quite a display and the ‘house’ was rockin’.

He also tied his career high with 81 games played and scored a career second best of 691 points total. It was a fine year.

Have Gun, Will Travel

This is the longest he’s ever been with one team since his first three years with the Miami Heat.  One year he was traded twice and played on three different NBA teams – Charlotte, Milwaukee, and Sacramento. Eat your heart out, Quentin Richardson.

He was the first signee after the Celtics got Kevin Garnett. He signed a few days later. He helped talk James Posey into coming to the Celtics to help the new Big Three accomplish something special. His own signing and that critical move helped cement an NBA title.

He talks with his father regularly, receiving ‘after game’ advice, and his son can be seen around the Celtic locker room and games often.

His release is lightning quick. Sometimes the ball barely touches his hands…and hits nothing but net. He can put on a shooting show that boggles the mind and demoralizes the opposition. He score 25 points in 26 minutes against the Heat. He scored 28 points in 20 minutes against the Kings.

He saved his best for the playoffs. Eddie went 11-14 overall and 4-4 from the arc as he scored 31 points against the Magic in a game 2 Celtic win. He followed that up with 15 in the next game by going 6 for 7 overall and 3-4 from the arc.

Unfinished Business is right

After that, the clamps were put on Eddie. He was under ‘House arrest’. The Magic changed their game plan for House and he didn’t score another three pointer in the series. He scored just 16 points total over the last four games, getting shut out in game 4 and generating only two points in game 7 . The Magic didn’t allow him to even shoot a three pointer in games 4 and 6. That was the first time all season that House could not even get a three point shot off. That was some Magic trick.

“I didn’t want to leave like that.”

Eddie House remembers and that won’t be good for opponents.

House didn’t like being wrapped up like that and neither did the World Champion Celtics. It leaves a bad taste in your mouth.

Eddie loves it in Boston and with the Celtics and they love him back. Pass the green bottle of Scope. Call it the Scope Tour. There is some unfinished business to attend to.

There was a lot of expected answers and cliches as usual on Media Day. But it was still good to finally get things off the ground with the rejuvenated Boston Celtics.

A recap:

1) First and foremost, Kevin Garnett played 5 on 5 yesterday and is ready to increase his practice routine. Though the injury was more serious than expected (bigger bone spurs than was thought) , it is taken care of. It seems that he will be ready for the preseason schedule and opening day.

Kevin Garnett

A few quotes first from, then about Kevin Garnett….

Yahoo.com…KG

“I’m excited, man. I’m excited,” he said.

When Garnett was able to join his teammates on the practice floor for an informal 5-on-5 game last week, he turned another corner.

“No setbacks,” he said of his work coming back, adding he was “almost 100 percent and going forward.”

“Better than anything, I’m playing without any pain, which is something that I haven’t had for quite some time now, so I’m looking forward to it,” he said.

Playing without pain and he says it hasn’t been that way for a while. Maybe that explains his playing outside the lane more in the beginning of the year last season.

Here is an eye opener from Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald that suggests something similar. Steve was talking about Rasheed Wallace when this was mentioned about KG ….

The only question may be whether he’s willing and able to get inside on offense (something the Celts have begged Garnett to do, as well).

More on Garnett’s knee…

Danny Ainge from Toscano fron Celticsblog.com….

“He had one of those Hasheem Thabeet tape jobs on it. I never really understood what that was doing and I don’t know what it is, but it is some tape job, that is all I noticed.”

And this from Gary Felger of Comcast sports…..

I got a chance to talk exclusively with Celtics forward Kevin Garnett. KG told me that “the knee still gets sore” and that he is “working his way back into it”.

Ergo Ego

Steve Bulpett also mentioned an increased need by Doc Rivers to keep some mercurial egos focused on the prize….

…..more than at any other time in his tenure here, the coach needs to have a good year….

This year Doc has an excitable addition at forward, a point guard coming off a turbulent offseason of trade talk and contractual barbs and a rotation to rebuild beyond the first five.

Jimmy Toscano of Celtics Blog added this comment from Doc Rivers….

“Everybody is here for one purpose, and that is to win. And when you’re together that way, I don’t think egos are much of a problem. And if you’re not together in that way, then egos do become a problem.”

This is one of Doc’s strengths. But it will be pushed to new levels this season with a line up of extraordinarily strong personalities of extraordinarily high achieving players on one team.

Kevin Garnett made this observation in Yahoosports...

Said Garnett: “I think last year did one thing for us. If anything, it humbled us. It showed team is everything, not one or two players can get things done. I’m eager to see how we come in, our minds and how we all are, in camp.”

Will it be the return of ubuntu?

Tony Allen is Still Injured (Again)

Greg Dickerson of Comcast sports…..

Allen, entering his 6th season with Boston, had arthroscopic surgery on June 3rd with a torn tendon in his ankle. His status for the preseason is questionable.

Toscano of Celticsblog added this from Doc Rivers….

“[Tony's] health is an issue right now, and we’re not sure how much he is going to do in camp, so that is a concern and we will wait and see. Over the last couple weeks he wasn’t able to do a lot so we’ll see.”

Rajon Rondo concentrating on rings, not talk about contracts….

Toscano of Celticsblog….

“Hopefully I’ll get more contracts before I’m done playing, this one may be the biggest one I get, but I don’t think about it like that. The more wins I get I’m sure the more chances I have to play for a long time. I have the opportunity right now to get a couple rings while I’m still young…”

There is more. But that covers the highlights from Health Point Center. The team leaves for Newport Rhode Island where they will prepare for their pre-season games next.

Time to get down to work.

It is finally starting.

Many players have been in camp for a while now.

Today is NBA Media Day for every team.  It kicks off a new season with much hope, lots of promise and great expectations for the Boston Celtics.

Last year was the year of ‘what if’…as in what if KG was healthy.

The Celtics were up 3-2 in the Conference semi finals against Orlando and were leading by 10 in the second half in game 6. Then the roof caved in and Orlando won the game and beat the depleted Celtics handily (101-82) in game 7.  That is now history. The days of ‘what iffing’ are over.

While there are rumors surrounding Garnett’s knee once again, most expect him to be healthy going into opening day on Oct. 27th in Cleveland against the Cavaliers.

The Celtics landed perhaps the best and most dangerous free agent available in Rasheed Wallace. He fills many of the holes that the Celtics needed filled. For the first time in the KG era, the Celtics have a superb back up at center and power forward who brings shot blocking and depth in interior defense that neither Leon Powe nor Glen Davis could.

Wallace won an NBA championship with the Pistons and went deep in the playoffs with them annually. He called off all other team visits after the Celtics sent the big artillery (Owner Wyc Grousbeck, Pres. of Basketball Ops Danny Ainge, Coach Glen Rivers, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett)  to court him at his home.

The other big acquisition was a long delayed signing of versatile swingman MarquisDaniels. Daniels option was declined by the Pacers and he quickly committed to playing for the Celtics, even if they could only offer the Bi Annual Exception ($1.99 mil).

Daniels has an ‘in between’ game that should compliment the Celtics offense. As a sometimes starter, Marquis also bring solid relief off the bench for both Ray Allen and Paul Pierce.

Getting 4/5 Glen Davis back in the fold, was a big move as well. With the signing of former lottery pick Sheldon Williams, the Celtics have excellent depth in the frontline.

The issues to debate with this team heading into pre-season are fewer than last season.

Here are most of the questions:

1) Back up at point guard is adequate with Eddie House and Marquis Daniels, but a true back up point guard with NBA PG ball handling abilities is still an unfilled need.

2) Who actually starts between Kendrick Perkins and Rasheed Wallace is not known at this point. I’m not assuming it is a given that Perkins starts.

3) Exactly how Wallace will be used between the 4 and 5 is yet to be worked out.

4) Glen Davis’ role – will be it be increased, reduced, or stay about the same?

5) Rajon Rondo took some off season heat from management for the weaknesses in his game and attitude. Will that jump shot improve? How about foul shooting? Consistency on defense? Watching him grow will be fun.

6) As mentioned, Kevin Garnett is coming off his first big surgery. How will he be treated going forward? Will there be limits to his minutes early on, until he feels completely back?

7) Will there be any new twists with Ray Allen?  There have been times in each of the past two years in the playoffs when opponents seemed to be able to contain him for long periods. I think that Doc and his asst. coaches might be looking at that. Some new thinking on getting Ray going might be in order.

The Celtics didn’t land that long small forward that can play big time defense against Lebron, Kobe, Carmelo, etc. How they attempt to minimize that will be interesting to watch.

9) Will the Celtics become the most T’ed up team in the league? Wallace, Perkins, and Garnett all like to engage in verbalocity. Will that become a factor that refs will use to keep them under control – especially with replacement refs being used?

This team is a well balanced team that can play both half court and uptempo ball. They are a match up problem for most teams. Defense will still determine how far they go and this team’s defense will be excellent once again.

Today, some of those questions will be addressed by media there, I am sure.

Stay tuned. I’ll bring you updates as I see them.

LeBron James has been in the neighborhood of a title for 3 years. He is entering his 7th season and will only be 25 on December 30th.

Michael Jordan won his first NBA Championship in his 7th season. He was 27.  Will LeBron break through finally after getting into the right zip code for three straight years?

James’ Cavs reached the finals once, only to get blown out 4-0 by the Spurs. They were eliminated by Boston in the EFC in a thrilling 7th game two years ago. In last year’s ECF they were tripped up by the surprising Orlando Magic in what was finally supposed to be the Cavaliers’ year.

After an unbelievably dominant season as measured by most major statistics, especially defense (1st in points allowed), average point differential (1st), and most important – wins (1st), they succumbed to the same criticism that has plagued the team since the beginning…it’s a one man team.

Every year Ferry increases the depth around James, but never lands the true heavyweight star. It all comes back to bite them at playoff time.

Searching for Scottie Pippin

Like Jordan, James has improved his game each year. Like Jordan, James has improved his three point shooting. He has the exact same 3 pt. career average as Jordan right now. Unlike Jordan, he hasn’t found his Pippin.

But Cleveland did add a heavyweight star in any sense that you want to take it. It is more of a falling star, though. One of the game’s biggest stars, Shaquille O’Neal, will man the middle in this year’s regrouped assault. Over the hill? Shaq is the hill. He will defend the paint as well as or better than Ilgauskas and will command a double team at times in the box, something Z does not. Is he that full blown compliment that Jordan finally got from Scottie Pippin? Not quite.

Gone: Ben Wallace, Joe Smith, Shasha Pavlovic, Wally Szczerbiak, Lorenzen Wright
Added: Shaquille O’Neal, Anthony Parker, Jamario Moon, Leon Powe, Danny Green

The Shaq Factor

Shaq will help with toughness and interior defense. It will be hard for him to slow down the 5th slowest team in the NBA (pace factor), but he might.  His defense can be countered by getting up the floor quickly. He doesn’t do’help’ defense like he used to either. It has been suggested that, on the offensive end, he will be in James’ way around the hoop.

Now, more than ever, Shaq must be closer to the hoop to be an effective scorer. The question is whether you see Shaq and LeBron attacking the hoop together as a positive or a negative. That is one huge handful to hold off the rim, even if you have a crowd of defenders there – which you will if you have any sanity at all.

Do you think they will really rely on non-guaranteed ‘stretch forward’ Rob Kurz to help keep those defenses honest?

Shaq will be 38 when the playoffs start. Common sense says that he isn’t going to be able to make an ‘immense’ contribution anymore.

Depth

With Ben Wallace gone, Verajeo has to pick up those assignments, and he will. Ferry has ratcheted up depth once again with versatile Anthony Parker and energetic defender and long ball shooter Jamario Moon. Parker makes the eccentric and puzzling warrior, Delonte West less critical. That the fearless Delonte West had equal or better stats in the playoffs than Mo Williams says something about both players. Leon Powe is a non-issue until I see him play.

One of the league’s best defenses just got better at the 2 and 3. Anthony Parker will play an important part in any improvement this team has. Moon is raw, but athletic and expected to improve himself.

The team is still missing that dangerous offensive threat when LeBron is resting, but they are more capable this season with Wallace gone, and Parker and Moon added.

Darnell Jackson is on a non-guaranteed contract going into camp, after playing fairly well last season. J.J. Hickson has shown a bit when healthy as well. It would be nice if one steps up.

Can Mo Williams become a bigger factor?  He will be 27 on December 19. Is this ‘all he can be’? Signs point to ‘yes, this is all he can be’.

After that unexpected breakdown against the Magic, this should be the last year of the Jordan model of winning a title, if they don’t finally break through.

With Shaq and Ilgauskas coming off the books after this season, they should look for a Danny Ainge style makeover. Add a bonifide star or two through free agency or even trade, if they can put together a package of players that will land a big one. I know. It is easier said than done. The Cavs don’t have that young jewel like Al Jefferson that everyone would want.

But remember, Ainge also got Ray Allen for much less. That is something that Cleveland management should be investigating as we speak. There are ‘gettable’ stars out there. Start laying the groundwork now for a major shift in game plan, just in case.

And the Nets become a factor with Jay-Z and the Russian Rockefeller in the LeBron Sweepstakes. If the Cavs can pre-empt any suitors by getting a title now or making a huge acquisition shortly after, it will make it more difficult for James to leave.

Weaknesses:
1) Lack of a true difference maker to partner up with LeBron.
2) Lack of a solid shooting power forward.
3) There is not too much more that LeBron James can do on his own. They need a smarter or stronger offensive system, with and without James on the floor.  While it might help for James to take on more of a facilitator role, I don’t see the ‘other scary guy’ offensively that the Cavaliers really need to keep the pressure on the opposing team.
4) Their vaunted defense could not stop the Orlando Magic. It looked intimidating until then. Dwight Howard had his best series against Cleveland. Shaq was obtained with the playoffs in mind. He said that he would have made the difference for the Cavs last season. He will help in the middle, and Parker and Moon will improve perimeter defense. Have they plugged the holes? It seems like it. Defense remains Mike Brown’s forte. It is ironic that it was part of the team’s downfall.

I certainly don’t count the Cavs out. They are better as a team than last season. They could win it all. Yet, I don’t put them first as the most likely team to win it all.

Were the Magic an illusion last season?

When writers write about the Magic the natural (and predictable) thing to do is make a play on the word ‘Magic’. Spells, tricks, illusions, etc.

After seeing what people think about this team after last season, it might be appropriate to go with the illusion analogy.

Some say the Orlando Magic are absolutely for real. But there is a strong core of doubters. Legit title contender or trickery?

Van Gundy’s team certainly cast a spell on every opponent, save their last one, and made a number of new fans. Were the new fans hypnotized into imagining that a team was there…that wasn’t?

Stan Van Gundy, the ‘master of panic’, according to a large center that now plays for Cleveland, had a team that didn’t …..panic throughout a strong playoff run. So much for the label.

After losing to L.A. 4 games to 1 the Magic are suffering a bit of the same doubt that the Cavaliers did, the year they were ousted 4-0 by the Spurs. Is this really a potential title team? In keeping with my contenders theme…..What are the team weaknesses?

There are two theories in play….

1) They are absolutely legit. They just rose to unexpected heady heights and couldn’t quite finish against a team that was more determined. That was even with Rafer Alston, not Jameer Nelson running the show. This year they will be more prepared mentally to go all the way. They have a stronger overall roster this season.

2) They are pretenders to the throne. Paul Pierce tweeted that they were poodles in the Finals. The Celtics being without Leon Powe and Kevin Garnett are the only reason they made it that far. Vince Carter is not better for this team than Turkoglu.

Defense

Basketball-Reference rated them #1 with their defensive rating (101.9).  That defensive rating was the team’s best since the 99-00 season when some guy who supposedly doesn’t know anything about defense was the team’s coach (Doc Rivers). It was the 3rd best in team history.

Comparatively, they finished 6th in points allowed (94.4), a big leap from the 99 ‘points per’ of the year before.

For a team that boasts the league’s best rebounder, they were only the 9th  best (+1.2) rebounding team in differential (how much they out rebounded their opponent).  They moved up a bit to 7th best on the critical defensive rebound list (+1.7).

Their inside-outside offense has been criticized by a few. Their lack of a strong rebounding classic power forward was noted.

Changes:

Gone: Hedo Turkoglu, Courtney Lee, Rafer Alston, Tony Battie, Tyronn Lue,

Added: Vince Carter, Ryan Anderson, Brandon Bass, Matt Barnes, Jason Williams, Linton Johnson, Morris Almond

Analysis:
They lost 2/5ths of their starting five with ‘Mr. Versatile’ Hedo Turkoglu, and a young talented guard in Courtney Lee.

But they have added a much stronger group of role players. This team should be a team to reckon with. Others may wonder, but there is little question in my mind that they got stronger.

32 year old, 6’ 6” Vince Carter is the key acquisition. They gave up the future for the present. He can create his own shot at any time, will draw double teams and isn’t afraid to take the big 4th quarter shots. He gives them a dangerous offensive player they didn’t have before, and I don’t even like VC. How they use him in the 4th quarter will help determine how much better this team got. He will get team mates open. Will he pass to them?

6’ 8” Brandon Bass will help Howard rebound and inside, and gives the team a more physical dimension.

6’ 10” Ryan Anderson is a sleeper throw in. The kid has talent and had some solid moments, though I have to see how they handle him here. Not sure where he gets his minutes, with Lewis and Bass playing the same position. More offense than defense, but a defense stretcher with the long ball.

6’ 7” Matt Barnes gets thrown into the mix with Mickael Pietrus for SF minutes. In addition to being a nice hustle player, the Magic have doubled the fouls to throw at Kobe, Lebron, and Paul Pierce.

6’ 1”   Jason Williams (34 years old in November, and a  retired for a year) is a question mark at this point, while 35 year old Anthony Johnson is the back up for Jameer Nelson. So back up point guard is a concern for the Magic, if Nelson goes down.

Otherwise, this team has solid depth at every other position. Even returning Marcin Gortat can do well for a short period if Howard goes out.

Weaknesses/questions:

Funny to say this but…Dwight Howard’s weaknesses got exposed in the playoffs. His lack of a go-to move and fairly raw offensive game hurts the team and his growth. Push him a few feet out and he is rendered quite ineffective. Whatever Clifford Ray did for him hasn’t progressed as much since Ray left for Greener pastures.

Howard is a force of nature on defense. But he is more athleticism than smarts. Defensively, certain teams like the Lakers (and Celtics) have figured out to neutralize him just enough to minimize his fantastic natural ability.

Carter will replace Hedo’s shot making, but what about ball movement, defense and chemistry? Will Van Gundy get a ‘bought in’ Vinsanity?

Can a team have too many good-but-not-great players? Will everyone be kept happy with their minutes?

While Jameer Nelson finally looked like the leader he had been saying he was, we still don’t know how he will respond to leading his team in the playoffs (though he did comeback to play in the Finals).

Summary
Though Dwight Howard will only be 24 in December, and Jameer Nelson is only 27, they went for VC and experience, to go ‘all in’ now, after coming so close last season.

Other teams power forwards will still hate to guard Rashard Lewis at the three point line, and they have other long ballers. Carter can penetrate, or drill it long. As Ray Allen did, he will have to learn to dribble less, and make quicker decisions with the ball.

They have a bunch of shooters, Pietrus proved to be remarkably clutch as well as a good defender, and Howard is starting to hit free throws. If Nelson and Lewis can become cold blooded shot makers in the 4th quarter, this team is right there.

My feeling is that they are not quite there, but….

If Van Gundy can get the additions to fit in a smart way, the difference is measured in inches now, not feet.

I’m working on a few things.

In the meantime, I thought I’d comment on a few things that are in the Hoopshype.com line up for Tuesday.

1) Bobcat point guard Raymond Felton signs Charlotte’s qualifying offer of $5.5 million. The restricted free agent found out what restricted stands for. Both sides were far apart on his value. Raymond didn’t want it affecting his mind set for the season and took the qualifier…for now.

He actually likes playing for Larry Brown and is getting instruction from him on how to be a real point guard, that he wasn’t able to previously. He will battle second year player D.J. Augustin for minutes at PG.

If nothing else, that should make Glen Davis happy…or at least realize it wasn’t just him.

2) Gritty (meaning plays above his actual skills – in this case) Matt Harpring is apparently retiring from the Jazz. The ‘football tough’ small forward is calling it quits after many years of injuries. He was a nice player to watch, but had a hard time staying on the floor with all his injuries

3) Former Celtic point guard Chucky Atkins is being let go from the Minnesota Timberwolves. At his request, he will take a small buy out and be waived. Will the Celtics be interested as the 15th player on the roster and insurance at PG? While his defense is terrible, his offense isn’t too bad and he isn’t afraid to take a shot.

4) Rajon Rondo does an interview with Sports Illustrated that seems rather predictable to me, but has garnered the excitement of many in Celtic Nation. A little humbleness, contriteness and the correct outlook, but nothing really earthshaking there. I did notice that he has gained weight (190) and strength (around 5% body fat).  Good move.

5) The Miami Heat extend the contract of head coach Erik Spoelstra. He has earned it as one of the youngest coaches in the league. He did a fine job getting the confidence of Dwyane Wade and creating the rest of the team. Hard to tell where this team is going long term. They need to land a big fish (or two) to go with Wade, in order to keep in Miami.

6) Veteran Jerry Stackhouse may make the Atlanta Hawks team. He is impressing in TC. I don’t know how much he has left, but his experience might play a role on a team like the Hawks. He used to be a big time scorer. If he is a good clubhouse guy, it is a good pick up.

7) Defensive specialist, shooting guard Keith Bogans has just signed with San Antonio. I guess he takes Ime Udoka’s place. Not a bad pick up, IMO.

That is it for now. I might add more later.

Have a great day!