Celtics Central

Team Name: Boston Celtics

Last Year’s Record: 50-32

Key Losses: Tony Allen, Rasheed Wallace, Kendrick Perkins (injury)
Key Additions: Jermaine O’Neal, Shaquille O’Neal, Delonte West, Avery Bradley, Von Wafer

1. What Significant Moves were made during the off-season?
The signings of the two O’Neals, West, and Wafer and the re-signing of guards Ray Allen, Nate Robinson, swingman Marquis Daniels and Paul Pierce combine to give the Celtics a big off season. With the money that Ainge had to work with it is a solid off season effort. That is called leveraging your money.

The signing of Jermaine O’Neal at the full MLE can be questioned. You can wonder whether that all important defensive small forward could have been gotten with a part or all of that money. Players like Matt Barnes and Raja Bell, among others, went elsewhere. But there is time to address that need during the season.

With the O’Neals, the Celtics addressed the need for height, shot blocking and rebounding in a big way. They also address the need for bench depth and more shooting in West and Wafer. With Robinson back in the fold and a solid draft pick-up in Avery Bradley, the Celtics now have some back-up options for Rajon Rondo to groom throughout the season.

And Delonte may be the best pick up of them all in the guard category. He plays energetic defense, has a versatile game, plays tough and clutch. Only his emotional well being makes this a risk.

The most significant move they made was to get Doc Rivers to return and re-sign Ray Allen and Paul Pierce and not blow it all up. Doc Rivers was the key that started the star laden dominos tumbling back to Boston for 2 more years of title hunting.

2. What are the team’s biggest strengths?
Defense was and is the team’s calling card. Even with Tom Thibodeau gone that should remain so.

The team’s combined mental toughness is one of its biggest strengths. They broke with convention by substituting a run for wins during the season to be as playoff ready and as healthy as possible and it paid off. It seems like they bent ubuntu a bit along the way. Yet they regrouped at just the right time. That is mental toughness.

And depth looks like a strength this season. There was a lot of talk last off season of having a second starting 5 that could play well by itself. I was never one who shared that thought. This season’s bench has me more excited with the addition of Shaq, West, Wafer and even Bradley. Glen Davis will be a year further along. Like Doc, I expect bigger things from Glen this season.

I liked Marquis last year and still do with the usual reservations about his ability to stay healthy. If he doesn’t, there is a big hole to fill as Tony Allen is gone now. And that leads to….

3. What are the team’s biggest weaknesses?
Rebounding, age, and a solid defender at the small forward were off season concerns. Rebounding should get somewhat better with Shaq, Jermaine and a healthier Garnett. Age only continues its ascent (or is it descent?)  with the main stars. And Ainge’s antennas are still up in search of that long defender to give solid minutes against Kobe, Lebron, Carmelo, etc.

As mentioned in a previous article on Celtics Blog, the offense will need a shot in the arm, but should get that shot with the incoming players.

Of most importance is the continuing growth of Rajon Rondo’s game. He does so many other things well that his lack of outside shooting and poor foul shooting don’t really become an issue until it really counts – playoff time. But it is his energy that drives the Celtics now. And that is when any season long growth in his game will come into play.

4. What are the goals for this team?
Obviously another NBA title is the goal. But there are other goals along the way. Incorporating the newer players to get the most out of them, finding the right team chemistry, limiting minutes, limiting injuries, and getting the most out of the bench players will be among the goals.

For Doc (and the players), moving forward without Thibodeau and with Lawrence Frank without moving backwards defensively should be a goal. Redefining or is it just ‘refining’ the offense as a goal? Subtle changes might have big effects.

5. What is the single biggest factor to watch this season?
That answer is simple. It is the improvement in Kevin Garnett…or the lack of it. That alone will have the single biggest impact on this team. All are hopeful that his recovery is nearly complete and he can return to 90-95% of what he was. If so, it makes everything else easier. If not, the team must work around whatever Kevin has left to give.

The second biggest factor is seeing how much Doc will try supplement what he knows the starting 5 can give him. He has a number of intriguing possibilities this season.

The third biggest factor is the improvement of Rajon Rondo’s shooting and/or foul shooting. If either improve significantly, it makes things that much harder for the other teams’ defenses.

Prediction: 58 wins. I want to say 60-62 wins. It is very possible. But I don’t expect it. If they come in much less than that and it isn’t due to injuries to key players, then it could be because they really miss unsung Kendrick Perkins more than some might think. Or they are again saving themselves for the playoffs. They wouldn’t do that again……would they?

6 minutes and 5 points from a championship and they appear to have gotten deeper and better in most areas.  But they needed to in light of their demise and the off season changes in Miami.

I went through an entire preview without even mentioning Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. Curious, isn’t it? I assume they remain largely in the same roles they have had, wouldn’t you? I don’t foresee any major tinkering with the starters.