Optimism

[R Howe]

Steve - Great season opening primer -

GO Celts!!!

Steve Ouellette <bosox18 at charter.net> wrote: Lot of negative vibes on the list heading into the opener tonight, so I thought I would list some reasons for optimism:

-- Ryan Gomes has mastered the 18-footer and will get a full season's worth of playing time to show his variety of underrated skills.

-- Rajon Rondo! The steal of this year's draft. A playmaker, defender, finisher, disruptor and the quickest guy this side of Tony Parker.

-- Sebastian Telfair seems to have developed some maturity (on the court) and his jump shot doesn't appear to be a liability anymore. Telfair and Rondo replace every single negative second played by Orien Greene, and then some.

-- Gerald Green has developed the body of a man and should be able to contribute energy and points off the bench.

-- Kendrick Perkins will finally get his chance to start. Can be an 8 ppg, 10 rpg, 2.5 bpg guy if he concentrates on the glass and doesn't fret about his offense.

-- Al Jefferson seemed, to me, that he was starting to get it at the end of preseason, scoring, rebounding and blocking shots in the minutes he was given. He is definitely in the best shape of his career. He just needs to use his natural scoring instincts rather than settling for the jump hook every time. Last year was a waste, but this year will be better than his rookie year, no question.

-- Delonte West is unfortunately losing some playing time, but he'll be taking more shots this year, my biggest complaint with his game last year. 

-- Wally Szczerbiak is healthy this year. He's not cat quick, but he's 100 percent more mobile than he was during the last two months of last season.

-- Brian Scalabrine will play less than ever.

-- Michael Olowokandi is the best 12th man in the league.

-- Leon Powe has shown the potential to do dirty work underneath when necessary.

-- Paul Pierce is coming off his best season, he's still in his prime and he's signed an extension.

-- The Celtics will run more than they have at any time during the Doc Rivers years.

-- The Cs have as much depth as anyone they'll face. Fewer minutes for crappy players this year.

-- Losses: Raef Lafrentz, Dwayne Jones and Orien Greene. Newcomers: Rondo, Theo Ratliff (injured), Telfair, Powe. That's a net plus.

The young players will be a year better, and a year more in synch with each other. Wally has had a full training camp to mesh with Paul Pierce. Rondo is a revelation. The division stinks. The team is faster and more explosive. The season is dedicated to the spirit of Red.

Championship material? Not yet. But I'm with Hollinger -- the only ESPN guy worth anything -- the Celts will be challenging the Nets for the division crown.

Season's about to start. No time for negative thoughts.

Steve O

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