My prediction for 2003-2004

[Eric Albert <Eric.Albert@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Snoopy, please put me down for 50-32.

I think that, with Antoine gone, the Celtics will finally have the chance to play team basketball again.  It's too early to tell whether they'll actually do this, but I'm a fan, so I'm going to bet they do.  That alone should make them a much more formidable team.

I've watched almost every game that Antoine every played in a Celtics uniform, and I've loved his heart and competitiveness.  But his insistence on making the offense run through him has crippled this team for years.  I think a less talented but more generous team will win more games.

And I'm not sure this team is less talented.  Antoine's point production was meaningless because he took so many shots.  In fact, we'll now get those points much more efficiently.  It's no coincidence that the team's field goal percentage has immediately risen now that he's gone.

Even if the Celtics don't do so well this year, they will be much more fun to watch, so long as they remember to RUN.  But you know, if they remember to run, they'll do just fine.

Thanks for keeping track of the predictions, Snoopy.

-- Eric Albert