| Pre-Draft Summit: Boston Celtics Authored by Andrew Perna & The RGM Celtics Forum - June 23, 2008 - 1:28 pm
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The Boston Celtics:
2007-08 Record: 66-16
Difference From 2006-07: Forty-Two More Wins
Playoff Result: 2008 NBA Champions
Restricted Free Agents: Tony Allen
Unrestricted Free Agents: P.J. Brown, Sam Cassell, Eddie House, Scot Pollard, James Posey (P)
The Verdicts
1. What do the Celtics need to do in order to repeat next year?
sully00: They need to stay healthy, retain James Posey and find an effective back up at both point guard and center.
TheSheriff: Keep Posey, have Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins continue to improve and not have a substantial drop-off from the big three.
SonicYouth34: If Posey leaves, a replacement for him and a younger big man with length (like P.J. Brown brought this season).
DelMonte West: Maintain (or more likely bolster) the bench support, while continuing to manage minutes efficiently for Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett.
KyleCleric: The Celtics need to re-sign Posey and Eddie House, or add another point guard possibly via the draft, and add some length and strength inside which could mean the return of P.J. Brown or Scot Pollard.
Datruth345: We need to return with the same focus and desire to win as they showed this season. From the very first preseason game they were the hungriest team in the league. They didn't let up for 116 games.
billfromBoston: Health is a given. The key is retaining the coaching staff and adding an infusion of a couple of key players at positions of need. Center, wing and point need to be addressed with title-hungry players that will push the incumbents.
Ghost of the Garden: Keep Posey. I'd almost be willing to do whatever it takes. House would be nice too.
U2larkin04: I think they need to keep a strong bench, by definitely trying to re-sign Posey.
2. Where were the team’s biggest strengths?
sully00: The effort and focus on the defensive end, sharing the ball on offensive and the overall level of intensity they played with game-in and game-out.
TheSheriff: Defense, chemistry and leadership.
SonicYouth34: D-FENCE!
DelMonte West: Focus, unselfishness, defense and perhaps the best team unity I've ever seen.
KyleCleric: The biggest strength was obviously defense. The team’s personalities meshed perfectly this season and, of course, the team was talented throughout.
Datruth345: Defense, unity, and head coaching.
billfromBoston: Star power, pure and simple. A lot was made of the depth vs. top-end talent argument during pre-season. While defense was a huge factor in the team’s success, it was the overwhelming talent of the superstar trio that allowed the team to learn on the job and still bring home a title.
Ghost of the Garden: Team defense. Even notoriously weak defenders like Allen bought into the system.
U2larkin04: Defense, without a doubt.
3. Who had a surprisingly effective season?
sully00: Rondo. I was a huge fan of his coming into the season, but I was really surprised at how he elevated his game alongside his All-Star teammates. By the end of the Finals, he was a true asset to the team as opposed to a possible weak link.
TheSheriff: Rondo.
SonicYouth34: Posey. He was better than I ever though he could be and was one of the main reasons we won the title.
DelMonte West: I don't want to say Rondo since I thought he was showing signs of potential as early as last preseason, so I’d probably say either Leon Powe or Big Baby.
KyleCleric: Rondo was absolutely terrific this season and in the playoffs. He improved so much over last year that I can’t wait to see how he has improved again in the fall.
Datruth345: A lot of people will say Rondo, so I will go in another direction. Powe had a great season. He was buried on the end of the bench at the start of the season, but stepped into the rotation when KG went down and flat-out produced. This season in games which Powe got twenty-five or more minutes, he put up a gaudy stat line of 17 points and 8.7 boards on 58% shooting, averaging 7.5 trips to the free throw line.
billfromBoston: Rondo and Perkins. Kendrick was expected and capable of defending and rebounding and Rondo capable of ball-handling, penetration and defense. What was unexpected was their ability to dominate at times during the postseason.
Ghost of the Garden: Aside from some bonehead plays and obvious weaknesses, Rondo.
U2larkin04: I think everyone else answered this question pretty dang good already, so I'm just going to be different and say Brown. He didn't really play in the regular season (wasn't signed until near the end), but once the playoffs came around he was gold for us.
4. Who had a surprisingly ineffective season?
sully00: Sam Cassell. I didn't expect as much as some did when he came here, but the tires are bald, and not just his head.
TheSheriff: Almost everyone was great, so Cassell.
SonicYouth34: Everyone was good, in my opinion.
DelMonte West: Cassell, but given his age I wasn't too surprised.
KyleCleric: Tony Allen was slightly disappointing I guess. He has all the talent in the world, but just does not have the confidence to use it.
Datruth345: Cassell.
billfromBoston: Allen. Tony's two-way ability and propensity for explosive scoring bursts would have made him a key sixth man-type off the bench. The bench didn't get consistent scoring from a single player until Powe's emergence late. Allen dropped the ball.
Ghost of the Garden: Cassell, although it wasn't that surprising. However, I expected him to have at least something left in the tank.
U2larkin04: I want to say Allen, but given the injury, I wasn't expecting too much out of him. I guess I will have to say Cassell. Despite his age, a lot more was definitely expected and it seems all we got were a couple good games (when he was shooting well, he played great).
5. How confident are you in the front office heading into the offseason?
sully00: Supremely.
TheSheriff: Very confident, for obvious reasons.
SonicYouth34: Extremely, In Danny I Trust.
DelMonte West: Very!
KyleCleric: Danny Ainge is absolutely terrific. He will do what this team needs to put the Celtics back in contention for another NBA championship.
Datruth345: Extremely, I have no doubt in my mind about this front office and its abilities.
billfromBoston: Highly confident. Title success should give the Celtics their choice of available veteran free agents and the 30th pick, (in Ainge's hands) should yield a quality asset. Many are focused on the now, but Celtics management has continually shown an eye for planning for the future.
Ghost of the Garden: On a scale of 1 to 10, a 9.
U2larkin04: I'm pretty confident with the front office. I think they'll do what they need to do and re-sign Posey and find some good replacements (assuming they leave) for Brown and Cassell.
6. What are the team’s biggest needs in the draft?
sully00: With the age on the roster, they could use help almost anywhere except power forward. Because of the inability to find even a decent backup center in free agency, that should to be a focus.
TheSheriff: A backup center.
SonicYouth34: A big man and a backup swingman.
DelMonte West: There's actually quite a few, despite our success. I'd personally like to see some height and athleticism brought aboard, but which team wouldn't? It really depends on how things are looking with regards to Posey as well. I doubt House and Cassell return, so point could be a need as well.
KyleCleric: The Celtics don’t have any real needs in the draft, as they likely will not rely on this rookie. I expect them to add a project-type player or strong college performer that can perhaps add depth, but more likely help the team into the future.
Datruth345: The two biggest needs are a backup point and height in the frontcourt. In addition, Allen's deal is expiring and Posey could seek a big payday elsewhere. So a lock down perimeter defender would be desperately needed if one or both do not return.
billfromBoston: Best talent available. Since 2000 players drafted in the late first round statistically have a 14% chance of starting in their first year. The team will be drafting for a future contributor in all likelihood.
Ghost of the Garden: The biggest team need is a backup center or a backup guard. Not sure if the Celtics need it from this draft. I'd go with the consensus best player available if I had to make the pick.
U2larkin04: I'd say our biggest needs are either a good backup center or guard.
7. Who would you like your team to select?
sully00: Devon Hardin, Courtney Lee or Bill Walker.
TheSheriff: Hardin or Roy Hibbert
SonicYouth34: Walker would be great if he fell, but a big man like Hardin would be good as well.
DelMonte West: I'll be honest, I haven't really followed this crop of players at all since the focus on the draft has decreased so much since last offseason (for obvious reasons). I liked Brandon Rush all along, but never thought there was any way he'd be available after #15 (still don't). I'd love to pick up Robin Lopez, but he'll likely be gone by #19. I'd be happier selecting either a reasonably athletic big or a slashing wing with our pick than a jump-shooter, undersized power, point, or combo guard.
KyleCleric: If Hibbert or Lopez drops, I’d be ecstatic. I doubt they’ll fall that far so probably Davon Jefferson, Walker, or Chris Douglas-Roberts.
Datruth345: Alexis Ajinca, Walker or Hardin.
billfromBoston: Wing talent historically has the highest ceiling that deep in the draft. The team coincidentally needs a high-end talent to groom behind Pierce/Allen. Shan Foster, Malik Hairston, J.R. Giddens and Walker all have quality upside.
Ghost of the Garden: Trade the pick.
U2larkin04: I should've probably read this question before answering the previous one. But like I said, I think Hardin and Walker are great, so I'd love Danny to get one of the two.
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Andrew Perna is a Senior Writer for RealGM. If you’d like to contact Andrew, shoot him an e-mail at Andrew.Perna@RealGM.com |
