Celts to answer questions

["Stephen Beauregard" <sb@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

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Celts to answer questions
By Steve Bulpett/The NBA
Tuesday, October 28, 2003

'Twas the day before the season and all through this feeble mind, notes and
opinions were racing on the upcoming grind. There is concern all over town
that changes made are blind, but relax and let it play out - and enjoy the
fact that Grady wasn't re-signed.

     Sharing some thoughts before the switch is flipped for the amusement park
ride that is the NBA:


a.. Sorry for the cheap baseball reference in the lead, but, hey, isn't it
interesting to note that the guy now running the Celtics has more major league
playing experience than the deposed Red Sox manager?


a.. When it comes to gauging how the Celts will do this season, it might help
to recall that last year's crew was the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference
playoffs and wouldn't have gotten past the first round if someone other than
Isiah Thomas was coaching Indiana.

     The 4-0 sweep by New Jersey in the second round speaks for itself.


a.. People think the pressure is on Paul Pierce [news] with Antoine Walker
[news] gone, but with the new setup the key may well be Vin Baker. When I
mentioned to one of his teammates this week that Baker had to get around 10
rebounds every night to make things work, the player jumped in: ``Not around
10. He has to get at least 10 for us to be successful. And he can do it.''

     That isn't as crazy a notion as it may have once seemed. The Celtics were
an awful rebounding team last year, but with their power forward (Baker) now
playing closer to the basket, the strength in numbers concept should improve
the overall yield greatly.


a.. The position of greatest concern heading into the season is point guard.
Marcus Banks [news] will dazzle at times, but he's a rookie and should be
allowed his growing pains. Mike James [news] is able, but the club still lacks
a point who looks instinctive when things break down.


a.. While most talk surrounding last week's trade was about Walker, it might
surprise you to know that the Mavericks don't do the deal without Tony Delk.
They like his ability to interject offense and, even more, the fact he is a
long and strong defender on the perimeter.


a.. I honestly think Pierce will be better this season. He wasn't happy with
his shot selection last year to begin with, but he could be a looser player
now that he's the unquestioned focus.

     Pierce denies it, but mates say there was a sense of competition between
the co-captains that didn't always manifest itself in the most productive ways
for the team. Even if it's subconsciously, Pierce should now be more willing
to give the ball up knowing there's a better chance he will get it back if he
moves well without the ball.


a.. Kedrick Brown [news] will now have a chance to prove all his supporters
(Pierce among them) correct. It's good for him that Jim O'Brien is offering
regular testimonials, but it's helpful also that Ainge will be there to work
on his confidence if a jumper or two doesn't fall.


a.. Not to put any undue expectation on a kid who's still very much a project,
but Kendrick Perkins [news] is showing things in practice that make me think
he might actually be able to contribute a bit later in the season if injuries
so warrant. Anyway, it's fun to watch him beat the heck out of people in
practice.


a.. OK, bottom line. I think the Celtics will be better in the regular season
than expected because they'll be able to throw some heavy depth at people.
(Detroit did that the last couple of years but faltered in the playoffs
because there are tighter rotations with more rest between games and people
like Jon Barry went back to being people like Jon Barry.) Therefore, the
critical factor for whether the Celts truly improve and can make a dent in the
postseason will be how well they can develop people.

     Pierce will get his numbers and the team will be better both on the break
and defending it (44 wins - same as last year - will be the median). But if
they want to hang around next May, the Celtics must find good shots for Raef
LaFrentz, Jumaine Jones and even Baker in a halfcourt set - and Banks must be
able to provide quality minutes, limited or many.
Thanks,

Steve
sb@xxxxxxxxxxxx

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