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[CeltsSteve@AOL.com]

NBA team preview


Boston Celtics b ranked No. 15

By Mark Rich, Senior editor
Oct. 15, 2001


Jim ObBrienbs first full year at the Celticsb helm begins with plenty of
optimism. After all, Boston battled down to the last week of the season for
the eighth and final playoff berth in the East last season, which might not
seem like much until you remember that the Celtics havenbt been in the
postseason since 1995.

But ObBrien has to get his team to play together offensively, not just rely
on the scoring of Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker. Those two combined for 48.7
of the Celticsb 94.6 points a game last season. That lack of balance will
kill Bostonbs chances this year, especially with zone defenses making it
harder for individuals.

The draft brought help with Joe Johnson, Joseph Forte and Kedrick Brown, but
it will be veterans like Kenny Anderson, Vitaly Potapenko and Eric Williams
who need to step up their games and take some of the load off the big two.

Backcourt: Anderson came into camp in possibly the best shape of his career,
an obvious sign that hebs ready to be the full-time point man once again.
There was talk by ObBrien of putting Walker at the point, but that seems to
have gone by the wayside. Forte, a shooting guard in college, will likely
find himself handling the ball a lot since therebs such a logjam at the 2
guard spot. Pierce will get the lionbs share of the time at shooting guard,
and he looks as though hebs ready for his first All-Star appearance this
season. Johnson will get a chance to play, though, especially if ObBrien
wants to go big and put Pierce at the point.

Frontcourt: Walker has been great as a scorer the past few years, but he
needs to be more consistent with his outside shooting, especially from
three-point range, where he led the league in attempts last year but hit just
36.7% from beyond the arc. Hebll also be a workhorse for the Celtics,
playing
close to last yearbs 41.9 minutes a game. Johnson will be learning on the
job, although Eric Williams will likely be the starter in the early going.
Brown is also going to have to pick things up quickly, or hebll be lost in
the frontcourt shuffle. Potapenko provides some girth in the pivot, but Tony
Battie is the Celticsb best shot-blocker, so hebll get plenty of chances
to
shine.

Celtics at a glance

Significant subtractions: Forward Adrian Griffin (free agency),
forward/center Jerome Moiso (trade), guard Bryant Stith (free agency).

Significant additions: Forward Kedrick Brown (draft), guard Joseph Forte
(draft), guard/forward Joe Johnson (draft), forward Roshown McLeod (trade).

Strengths: Scoring at the 2 and 4 spots; depth in the backcourt; athleticism.

Weaknesses: No dominant low-post scorer; lots of youth; too much reliance on
Pierce and Walker offensively.

Projected starting five

G b Kenny Anderson
Ready to take over the job again after the Celts played point-by-committee a
year ago.
G b Paul Pierce
Has the look of a superstar after a summer filled with hard work.
F b Eric Williams
Celts would love to get more offense out of the veteran forward.
F b Antoine Walker
Must keep himself in the paint more often.
C b Vitaly Potapenko
Wonbt contribute a lot offensively, but he could stand to improve his board
work.

Key reserves

G b Joseph Forte
Must make the adjustment to the point guard role.
G b Milt Palacio
A quick guard who always seems to make plays.
G/F b Joe Johnson
In the same mold as Pierce but quicker to the hoop.
F b Kedrick Brown
Could be a rough first year while he learns the NBA.
F b Roshown McLeod
Playing for his third team in less than a year.
C b Tony Battie
Strong shot-blocker but needs to bulk up a bit more.

Outlook

Things are going right if b& Pierce and Walker are playing well while getting
support, Anderson is running the show and the team gets decent play from the
center combo.

Things are going wrong if b& the teambs dynamic duo has to do it all, the
rookies show their inexperience, and point guard and center continue to be
problem areas.

BN.combs prediction: 44-38, third place in Atlantic Division


CeltsSteve

Comedian Argus Hamilton says Jordan made his decision to return out of
patriotism. "President Bush asked Americans to start traveling again, and
Michael never takes less than three steps with the ball."