October 7, 2006

Celtics.com reports today that Delonte got his first taste of practice today. He went through 75 minutes of fast break and offensive drills before they shut him down for the day. He is expected to be able to go full out tomorrow. The article also mentions that Doc is starting to see the separation he has been talking about where players indicate that they deserve playing time. "Tony Allen is starting to show the separation that he belongs to be in games every day. He's been that good," said Rivers, who also mentioned Pierce, Wally Szczerbiak and Ryan Gomes as players who are standing out in camp. "Not having Tony last year really hurt us, more than I thought it would." Doc likes the spirit of the players and says that this is the best team he has had since he has been here. "It's phenomenal to me. They get along with each other, they get along with the staff, they listen." The site also mentions that the coaches are giving some hands on teaching. During a training camp drill on Saturday, Doc Rivers and four other coaches ran offense while the Celtics guarded the coaching staff. [More] source: Celtics.com Discuss this topic on the Celtics Green Forums!

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October 7, 2006

Just a week into training camp and Indiana has all kinds of problems. It gave Doc a change to give an object lesson to our kids, though. I agree with Doc that no good can come at 3 am. What were these guys doing at a strip club and drinking at 3 am during training camp when they should be taking care of themselves and getting ready for a tough practice the next day? I think back to the Celtics last championship team. Going into that season, each of the players agreed not to drink any alcohol until they won the championship. They made that pact for solidarity and to keep their senses about them to avoid any lapses. We need more of that kind of committment and great things will happen.

Doc is planning to play a lot of small ball this season. He mentions that we will need to substitute more to run a lot and that shouldn't be a problem for this team. We have a very deep team with a lot of young athletic players. I can't wait to see this team play. It is going to be an exciting season.

More on playing small ball. I worry that in all this talk about small ball and in all the lineups Doc is talking about that Perk is already getting shoved to the back. Doc has had a history of playing veterans over young players even when it isn't the smartest decision. Raef definitely didn't earn playing time over Perk last year. Doc played Wally into the ground last season even after he was injured. I am afraid that Doc is going to play Ratliff too much because he is a veteran and Perk will not get the playing time he needs and deserves and Ratliff will be on the shelf by the time the playoffs come around. The good news in this article is that Wally's knee is doing great!

Cheap Seats has a good article on the battles that are going on in camp at various positions. There is some great competition there but the great thing is that there is also some great chemistry. Our players have great attitudes along with their great work ethic. They are fighting for the starting spots but are also willing to take any role given to them and run with it.

There is a new rule being put in place to try to curb complaining to the refs. Hopefully this will end the displays of dismay we have seen from our Captain while the other team goes on to get a fast break basket. Pierce has been guilty of this in the past, although not quite as bad last season. They should call it the Antoine Walker rule as he was one of the worst at complaining about calls. It should be interesting to see how this rule plays out this season.

The Celtics have arrived. They have their very own scratch off lottery tickets this year. They feel that the better the season that the team has the better the tickets will sell and they expect the Celtics to have a very good season. I like it!!

CelticsBlog has a great piece that equates the fall TV Lineup to the Celtics. He's got some good ones including the Six Degrees of Rajon Rondo and the Nine - a search for that elusive rotation. A fun read.

3 days till the first preseason game. I can't wait!!!

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October 6, 2006

Rondo has been impressing people everywhere he goes. In Summer League we heard from several people singing his praises. This past week it was Tommy Heinsohn who had this to say about our rookie point guard: ``If I was playing right now, I wouldn't leave this guy's side because he passes," Heinsohn said. Doc also had good things to say about Rondo in a Herald article. ``He's going to be a very good basketball player. His speed is impressive to everybody, but he also has great feel. He makes great passes. He tends to want to run the club instead of trying to get Rajon Rondo [points]. That's also refreshing. That's nice to have." The latest addition to the Rajon Rondo fan club is Dana Barros. Shira's Blog tells us that he had this to say about him: ‘‘Rondo really impressed me a lot,’’ said Barros. ‘‘He has a great presence on the floor. I know it’s training camp and guys are a little sore and don’t have their full speed, but he’s on another speed right now from everybody else. I’m really impressed with his floor leadership out there, controlling the tempo of the game. It makes me want to dust my old self off. It reminds me that when you have that speed you take everybody’s morale away by running them to death. I see that in him. I see him breaking everybody down by being at that same level all the time.’’ The only knock on him was that he couldn't shoot. But after reports that he has worked on his shooting for almost 3 hours every day, I have to believe that he will make teams pay if they back off of him and give him a shot. I have said all along that Rondo is eventually going to be our starting point guard. It may not happen right away because he still needs to adjust completely to the NBA game but I believe it will happen. And with more and more people jumping on the Rondo band wagon, it seems more certain with every one. [More] source: Globe Discuss this topic on the Celtics Green Forums!

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October 6, 2006

Training camp is moving along well and we are getting more info in bits and pieces. Here are today's links.
The Herald has a good piece on the battle between Ratliff and Perk at the center position. They also have a piece that talks about the refs in practices calling it tight to prepare them for the season. Delonte still wants to return by Sunday.

Daily News Tribune tells us that Doc is working them over time in Training camp as it sets the foundation for the rest of the season. The Globe gives us another glimpse inside the practices. Familiarity of the players is giving the team a step up and Pierce and Wally get to do a little coaching.

Jeff over at CelticsBlog gives us a dose of realism. I much prefer the Koolaid.

perkisabeast.com has a short interview with Gerald Green. Gerald has a good attitude and he loves Perk too!

The Patriot Ledger has a piece on Delonte and his passion for the game. He is going to give us a spark this season whether he plays off the bench or starts and whether he plays the point or the 2 guard. Mike Fine also discusses the new game ball. Celts seem ok with it so far.

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October 6, 2006

So far, everything out of the Celtics training camp gives us reason to be optimistic.
Perk is healthy and ready to take that next step. No more excuses. I love this kid!

Al is in the best shape of his career and ready to prove his critics from last season wrong. He is healthy and moving better than he has since he was drafted. He has been working with Clifford Ray all off season and will be a much better player.

Gomes lost some weight and added some muscle and extended his shooting range. He should be effective from both the forward positions.

Pierce came into camp in great shape and excited about this season and the team. I believe that he will run this season and will provide the leadership that this team needs from him with no outside distractions about contracts or trades.

Ratliff provides us with a solid defensive presence in the middle with Perk will give us a tough center in at all times. The battles in training camp and practice will make both Ratliff and Perk better.

Telfair and Rondo give us the first true pass first point guards that we have had in years. We may actually run this season. I believe that we will finally have the running game that has been promised.

Powe has added 3 inches to his vertical leap since the draft and is determined to prove that he can make it in the league.

Doc is talking about playing tough defense and making other teams adjust to us. We have added another defensive stopper in Rondo and Tony is almost back to his pre-injury form.

Gerald Green worked very hard over the summer and should begin to show some defense and team play. He also should win the Slam Dunk Contest this season. I can't wait.

Wally is healthy and should help the team quite a bit and should mesh with Pierce to supply a reliable second option. Having a healthy Wally from training camp on will be a big plus.

The chemistry on this team is great. I just love the way they all get along and are anxious to each fill their roles.

Training camps have been very competitive and productive. I love all the talk about defense coming out of the camp. Doc is finally going to let his centers play in the middle instead of out on the perimeter.

There is so much to be optimistic about this season. I can't wait for this team to prove itself. It should be an exciting year!

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October 5, 2006

Shira has some good news on Tony Allen in her blog entry today. So, when Allen received a perfect pass from Rajon Rondo during practice yesterday at the team training facility, dunked forcefully and hung onto the rim long enough to earn a technical from the rent-a-refs present, it was an encouraging sight. Allen looks a lot like his old self, though he promises bigger and better play as training camp progresses. We didn't hear much about Tony all summer but now we are getting little pieces about him in the news. Pierce has been there to encourage and help him. He has worked out all summer to get in better shape and strengthen his knee. He still faces a trial on criminal battery charges that will interfere with the season and we don't know the outcome of that, but it is very good news that he is getting his athleticism and confidence back. "I just want to help my team whether it's picking up Gatorades, hand claps, motivation, whatever it is." The attitudes on this team are the best I have ever seen on a team. Almost every one has said that they don't care what their role is and that they just want to help the team win. That is so refreshing!! [More] source:Globe Discuss this topic on the Celtics Green Forums!

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October 5, 2006

Training Camp is in full tilt now. Reports are coming out of great chemistry and we are getting articles on individual players stepping up and the work they put in this off season to come into camp in their best shape. Some exciting stuff if you are a Celtics fan.

Finally some news from Tony Allen. All summer, we would get reports from players who were in Boston working out but not much from Tony, even though reportedly he was in Boston all summer as well. It is no secret that Tony in good shape would really help us with his athleticism and his defense. Allen's trial date should be set later this month after a long delay reportedly due to the judge's illness. The good news is that his confidence and hops are back this season and he has worked hard to get back in shape. It is also good to read that Pierce is being a big brother to Tony and trying to keep his spirits up. I love the chemistry on this team.

Shira reports that Rondo is impressing people in camp, including Tommy Heinsohn.

``If I was playing right now, I wouldn't leave this guy's side because he passes," Heinsohn said.

I really like this kid and believe that he will be the starting point guard eventually as his defense will set him apart from Telfair. Shira mentions Telfair helping Rondo adjust to the NBA game. Another instance of the great chemistry on this team. Doc likes what he sees in Rondo as well.

``He's going to be a very good basketball player. His speed is impressive to everybody, but he also has great feel. He makes great passes. He tends to want to run the club instead of trying to get Rajon Rondo [points]. That's also refreshing. That's nice to have. Rajon and Sebastian do the same thing and that's why you like them."

Much has been made of Rondo's inability to score, but after working very hard on his shooting this summer, I don't expect that to be the case any longer.

In another piece from Shira on her blog, she details how the young players are all being more vocal and speaking up. This is very good. We have a young team, but we no longer have a very inexperienced team. Even though Perk is only 22, he is entering his 4th season. Others are entering their 2nd or 3rd season. I like the fact that Gomes, Al, West, Rondo, Telfair et al are speaking up and taking a leadership role.

Jim Fenton has a good piece on Gerald Green that gives us an idea of his training regimen this summer. He is coming into camp much more relaxed and knows more now what to expect with some playing time under his belt last season.

"I worked out extremely hard with John Lucas (the former NBA player and coach),'' said Green, who returned to Houston. “It was kind of tough. He pushed me through a lot of things that I didn't think a human being could even do, but I got through it and it helped me out this summer.
“I was running hills, running when it was 105 degrees outside and just doing a lot of drills. I was working out three times a day. It was a lot of hard stuff that he put me through.
“My ballhandling is pretty good now. It wasn't really all that (good) last year. My court awareness is pretty good. My passing is a whole lot better. My defense, I'm more aware and active on defense. I think I got a little better than last year.''

Last year, along with all of the basketball stuff he had to learn, he had to learn to be on his own for the first time and I believe missing his family may have made the basketball part of it rather overwhelming. But we have a very confident Gerald Green coming in this season and it should mean more playing time for him and some good things for the Celtics as well.

Projo gives us an insight into Gomes' summer workouts and tells us that he is setting the pace in training camp early.

"For me, it was just impressive to watch how hard he worked. I thought he worked harder than anyone this summer," said Rivers. "I didn't see everyone but I saw Ryan almost every day in our gym with our coaches all summer. Every day."

I expect Gomes to improve this season and play at both the 3 and the 4. I just love the attitude and work ethic on this team from the top all the way to the bottom.

It isn't just the kids who are excited about this season and working hard in camp. Mike Fine tells us that Ratliff is happy to be in Boston and happy to help the young players learn.

After several weeks of informal workouts and one official practice, Ratliff has already made an impression. ‘‘He’s a veteran who understands the game of basketball,’’ Paul Pierce said. ‘‘He does so many things well out there that coaches are trying to teach, especially on the defensive end.’’
Pierce said that on several defensive drills, the coaching staff was frequently pointing out how Ratliff was doing things.

I love players who play tough defense. Perk and Ratliff in the middle are going to make the Celtics very tough in the paint. He also is a great guy and fits with the team chemistry very well.

In another piece by Mike Fine, Pierce shows that he is in the best shape. As I said in another piece here on Loy's Place I expect Pierce to be willing and able to run with the point guards in a fast break offense.

Most players came through the drills exhausted but standing. Others, especially the newly svelte Al Jefferson, had trouble standing. Captain Paul Pierce finished up by running parts of the final couple of laps backwards and smiling. When he finished he exerted his captain’s influence and told his teammates to stand up.
‘‘I was feeling good. Hard work in the summer paid off,’’ Pierce said, noting that all the players were aware of the drills after getting together for a team dinner Monday night. ‘‘I put myself through worse workouts during the summer. I was prepared for this. It feels good to get this done, the running test. It’s really hard to prepare yourself mentally for this.’’

The entire team has worked hard on their conditioning all summer and should be ready to run this season. After many seasons of promising to run, I believe that we finally are going to do it this season.

Celtics17 has a very entertaining article on a subject very dear to my heart: Defense. Theo Ratliff should bring some good toughness and defense to the center position on the Celtics. Perk is already one of the toughest players in the league and should break out this season and take his game to another level, especially with Ratliff and Ray to guide him. I am very excited about the return of defense to Boston.

Today finishes up the Atlantic Division Previews in the 30 Teams in 30 Days series. So far we have had 3 Celtics Previews from CelticsBlog, Celtics 17, and here at Loy's Place. There have also been previews of The Nets, the Knicks, The Raptors, and the Sixers. You can see the schedule and other previews here.

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October 5, 2006

Just last week we were wondering whether Paul would be willing to run with our lightning quick point guards. One scout that was quoted on preview had this to say: I think everyone wants to run more with Phoenix and Dallas showing that you can win that way, but I'm not sure Paul Pierce is a get-up-and-down-the-court kind of guy. I don't believe that scout had read the reports out of training camp. We got the reports from day 1 of training camp of Pierce's run in the sprints and that he did the last few yards backwards. This bodes well for the Captain's willingness and ability to run the floor. I believe the answer is yes, Pierce will be willing and able to run in a fast break offense. He will find out very quickly that if he runs with our new PG's he will be rewarded with an easy shot. Pierce came into camp in excellent shape and is obviously willing and ready to run. He was even getting on guys after the run to stand up. Along with a bit of taunting, I think his run was showing his teammates that he is indeed willing to run this season. And, if Pierce is willing to run, then the rest of the team will fall in behind him and run as well. This is a very good sign. I am beginning to believe that we are really going to be a running team this season. Every one coming into camp is in great shape. Every player (other than Telfair, Gomes and West, who were ailing) passed the running test the first time. I can see this team running the other teams into the ground and coming back for more. Pierce came in and made a statement on his first day. “He’s in good shape, man,” teammate Wally Szczerbiak said of Pierce’s showboating. “He came in ready to go.” If Pierce is willing to run and to set the pace for his teammates, the rest of the team will follow and put in the extra effort to keep up. I was skeptical before training camp that Pierce would be willing or able to run up and down in a fast break offense, but after reports from "the run," I am very optimistic that he will. See Paul run... Run Paul run!!! Discuss this topic on the Celtics Green Forums!

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October 4, 2006

Reviews are mixed on the new game ball. Shaq has spoken out very loudly against the new ball and feels that it will make shooting percentages drop and turnovers increase. He reiterated the concerns of players earlier in the summer that when it gets wet, you can't control it. “I think the new ball is terrible,” O’Neal said. “It’s the worst decision some expert, whoever did it, made. . . . The NBA’s been around how long? A hundred years? Fifty years? So to change it now, whoever that person is needs his college degree revoked. It’s a terrible decision.” Two members of the Dallas Mavericks also have negative feedback on the new ball. "They stink," guard Jason Terry said of the new ball. "I've worked out with it all summer long, and I've grown accustomed to losing the ball out of bounds a couple times. It's going to happen." The ball has the look and feel of an indoor-outdoor ball, Terry said. And he's not the only one who has had trouble holding onto it. "Dirk [Nowitzki] had two or three layups [in practice] and they just popped right out of his hands," Terry said. Nowitzki, one of the NBA's biggest stars, gave a succinct impression of the new ball: a thumb's-down signal. Steve Nash, who probably handles the basketball more than most players also is not a fan of the new ball. "It's very difficult for us," Nash said. "It's almost like you have to relearn how to make your plays because this ball sticks to your hand whereas the old ball slid in your hand nicely and it had a nice little touch off the floor and the backboard. This ball just grips the floor and grips the backboard so you have to change your game. "You make moves in traffic and the ball gets stuck in parts of your hands and your wrist where normally it slides and you get it back the way you want it. Now, even if it's in your hand, it sticks and you can't get rid of it sometimes. It's a really difficult ball to play with." By most accounts, when dry, the ball is sticky, but when it gets wet, it is very slippery. So, whether your hands are wet or dry, there are issues with the new ball. Two of Nash's teammates, Bell and Marion both chimed in with less than happy feedback on the new ball. It sucks," Suns guard Raja Bell said. "This ball isn't even a cousin of the one we played with. In every way, the ball is totally different. It is round and we've got to put it out of our minds. It's proven to be a streaky ball." "Everybody hates that ball," Shawn Marion said. "It seems like it's more for an outdoor ball than indoor. It doesn't even feel like a NBA ball." However, not everyone hates the new ball. The Suns' Boris Diaw likes it and the first reports from the Celtics are a bit more positive. Pierce worked with the new balls over the summer and doesn't feel it will be that big a problem. "I think the players are going to have to make an adjustment," said Pierce, who noted that the synthetic ball has a different grip than the traditional leather game balls the league has used in the past. "I've been playing with it all summer and at first you're kind of hesitant, you've been playing with [one ball] for so long, but that's the way it is and that's the way it's going to be. I've made the adjustment over the summer and I'm fine with it." Another Celtic chiming in his opinion on the new ball is Delonte West. As would be expected from Delonte, he had a rather unusual comment. "I've played with balls covered in mud that didn't have air in them," said West. "If it's got air in it, and you've got a rim, you should be able to shoot a basketball." It should be interesting to see how the new ball works out as the season opens. I expect that if a player has a shooting slump or if they turn the ball over, it will be blamed on the new ball. We should see more players drying their hands between plays if indeed the ball is slicker when it gets wet. I am sure the League will be watching how it unfolds as the season begins. Discuss this topic on the Celtics Green Forums!

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October 4, 2006

There have been a few interviews posted as a result of the beginning of Training Camp along with Media day.

First and best is Perkisabeast's interview with Perk. I love this kid. He definitely knows his role and is going to break out this season to become one of the top centers in the league. Here is a little taste of this interview.

PIAB: You have said that you wanted to be a beast for this team. What is your definition of what a beast is?
PERK: Anybody who can control the paint, boards, blocked shots… Just the paint is mine, and that’s just how I just gotta go into the game, every game. I own the paint, no layups or none of that, that’s the definition of a beast.

PIAB:What is the role of the center in today’s NBA? Are you a true center? What are your best abilities?
PERK: Blocking shots, rebounding, like I said controlling the paint… Just finishing shots that you get. Really, a center is just supposed to be, I think the best defensive player on the court and your best rebounder on the court.

Next, on WBZ1030's website, you can listen to several short interviews if you scroll down to about the middle of the page. There is Doc Rivers Upbeat for 2006-07 Season, Doc Rivers on Sebastian Telfair, Gerald Green on Youth of Team, Gerald Green on Sebastian Telfair, and Paul Pierce looking forward to new season.

Inside Hoops has a short interview with Gerald Green. Here is a question from this interview:

InsideHoops.com: What are some of those parts of your game that you worked on the most?
Gerald Green: Dribbling, defense, strength. I'm trying to get into a whole lot better shape than I was. IQ of the game. Every aspect of my game.

InsideHoops.com: Who were you working out with? Any known trainers, teammates, other NBA players?
Gerald Green: I was with other NBA players, working out with John Lucas, Kendrick Perkins

Perkisabeast was busy on Media day and they have two other interviews posted including one with Allan Ray and one with Wally. Here is a question from each of these two interviews

PIAB: What do you have to say about Kendrick Perkins?
Allan: Oh, he’s a BEAST. I remember I played against him in high school and in ABCD camp and he killed us there. He’s a big strong guy a very funny guy, and somebody great to get along with. He’s a good friend also.

PIAB: What was the difference between Minnesota and working with Kevin Garnett there, and Boston and working with Paul Pierce?
Wally: Oh, they’re two superstar players that play different positions and do different things. So, Paul (Pierce) has his strengths and Kevin (Garnett) has his strengths and Paul (Pierce) is a big time clutch player down the stretch at the end of games and that’s what he really brings to our team.

The feeling I have after listening to and reading these interviews is excitement for the new season, the feeling that though young, we will be a deep and much improved team, and the chemistry on this team is great. The players have put in the work in the off season and are ready to play.

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October 4, 2006

The previews of the Celtics have been pretty negative for the most part. John Hollinger is the one bright ray amongst all the negative previews. This one may be the most negative so far.
Sean Deveney of the Sporting News predicts the Celtics to finish 25th this season. That is even worse than last year. Here is what he had to say:

25. Boston. If I'm Paul Pierce, I simply shrug my shoulders, order some fried clams and resign myself to the fact that I will play out the last seven or eight years of my career in Boston with only the occasional whiff of the postseason. Danny Ainge's push to get Allen Iverson was nice, but it failed. The Celtics had a lottery pick, which was used on Randy Foye but transformed into Brandon Roy, but Ainge mysteriously decided Sebastian Telfair was more valuable. Again, my gut speaks, this time saying Telfair is not and never will be as good as Foye or Roy. Ainge's impulse to get veteran help for Pierce was thoughtful, but Telfair is 21 and is now the third-youngest Celtic. The Boston roster currently has 17 players besides Pierce, and two of them (Michael Olowokandi and Briant Grant) probably will never play for the green. Of the remaining 15 players, 12 are 24 years old or younger. Not all will make the team, but clearly, this Celtics youth movement has gone haywire. Pierce will have to continue to carry the team -- all the way to the lottery each May.

I believe that Telfair can help us with his speed and court vision. We also have Rondo at the point that I feel will be even better than Telfair because of his defense and long arms. Ratliff is going to help us. From all reports, he is healthy and playing well. In Ratliff and Perk we have an inside presence like we haven't had since The Chief roamed the Parquet. We may be young, but obviously this guy hasn't seen the work ethic of these kids. And even though they are young, most have 1, 2 or 3 years experience under their belts and that makes a big difference. I hope Hollinger is keeping track so he can send out his I Told You So's

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October 4, 2006

It is only 6 days until the first Preseason game and again today, there is a lot of media coverage of the first full day of training camp.

There are several articles that focus on Al and his weight loss and his resolve for this season. Mark Murphy discusses Al's need to separate himself from the others this season. The Lowell Sun urges Al to take the diapers off and take the next step. The Patriot Ledger lets us know that Al is out to prove his critics wrong.

There are a few peeks into training camp. In another Herald article, Pierce came into training camp in great shape and backs up his taunts with a great effort. Clifford Ray my be our best move this summer. The Globe notebook gives a good report from the first day. Everyone passed the first day run other than those who didn't participate due to injuries (Gomes, Telfair and West). West gives a good pep talk and I think he will be a spark plug for this team. Doc wants to pare down the roster sooner than later.

The Cheap Seats gives us a statistical look at the Atlantic. I agree with John Hollinger that the Celtics have a very good chance to win the division.

TenaciousT takes exception to Sam Amico's prediction that one of our PG's will be gone by the end of the season. I don't think Danny will trade or cut any of them. Having 3 PG's is a good protection against injury and West will spend time at the 2 this season.

Worcester Telegram lets us know that Powe is ready to do whatever it takes to make it in this league. He has a great attitude and work ethic and I believe he will be a surprise this season and possibly the steal of the draft.

The Patriot Ledger has a piece that tells us that Pierce is very happy with the team this season and Doc vows to make the other teams adjust their games to us. I hope so because last season far too many times, we had to play catch up and had to adjust our game to everyone else's.

This article gives us a hint of the excellent chemistry that this team has this season. Pierce is getting to know the new players and everyone seems to get along.

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October 4, 2006

Leon Powe has battled the odds all his life. The story is familiar by now: When Powe was 2, his father left home for good. When he was 7, his 5-year-old brother accidentally set their Oakland duplex afire while playing with matches, and their family lost everything. His mother worked such long hours to try to support her seven children that Powe had to repeat the fifth grade after staying home for most of the previous year to take care of his younger siblings. For several years, the Powes bounced around from homeless shelters to drug-infested tenements to motel rooms to foster homes. Powe’s mother got involved with drugs, was convicted of shoplifting and twice arrested for collecting food stamps without informing her temp agency employer. She did jail time. Powe’s ordeal was not over. While attempting a dunk that spring, he tore the ACL in his left knee. He decided against surgery and while wearing a knee brace he led his team back to the state title game as a senior. In April 2004, he underwent bone graft surgery to prepare for major reconstructive knee surgery the following September. He sat out the 2004-2005 season. You can't help but pull for a kid who has been through so much and has come out still fighting. All of the setbacks in his life has made him work even harder. “The best part,” Powe said, “was it taught me to cherish anything you have, always work hard and don’t take anything for granted. He’s different,” Rivers said. “You tell him he’s not good enough at something, and he’ll go work at it. You tell another guy he’s not good enough at something, and he’ll go pout and call his agent.” “I’ve got a special place for what he’s gone through,” Rivers said. “He’s a survivor. That’s a characteristic that I think every coach wants on his team.” I wouldn't count Powe out. Even on a team that is loaded with young players ahead of him in the rotation, his work ethic and determination will win him playing time. I expect him to make the most of any time he gets and, similar to Gomes last season, will be the surprise of this year's draft. He worked so hard this summer that he added 3 inches to his vertical leap since the draft. I love his attitude and his work ethic. He asked for Number 0 for his jersey because people give him zero chance to play. He is determined to prove them wrong. I, for one, believe that he will. [More] source:Worcester Telegram Discuss this topic on the Celtics Green Forums!

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October 4, 2006

The Sporting News Pro Basketball projects the Celtics to finish 9th in the Eastern Conference. Here are bits and pieces from the article by Shira Springer.

Style: Rivers is at his best when motivating his players, but he struggles with game management. Too often, he makes puzzling substitutions and questionable strategic calls in the fourth quarter. Grade C

Guards: What the Celtics lack in quality, they more than make up for in quantity. Even though Rivers has a plethora of guards to choose from, Telfair will matter most. With the acquisition of Rondo, West becomes the odd man out but that may not be bad because he can give the Celtics an efficient 12-15 ppg at shooting guard. Rondo won't put up 20 ppg but will get minutes because he hustles on defense. Grade B-

The parting comment is one I like: "Everyone talks about Al Jefferson but Kendrick Perkins is a guy who is going to be a very good scorer inside. He warrants some playing time.
Forwards: This likely will be a breakout year for Al Jefferson, after a disappointing second season. When healthy Szczerbiak brings scoring, experience and athletic ability to the small forward spot. He complements Pierce well because he likes to post up and looks for high percentage shots inside. The Celtics relied on Gomes more than they thought they would have to last season. He possesses court savvy that Rivers cannot afford to keep on the bench. Gerald Green emerged as a potential big time scorer at the end of his rookie season, but he must improve his defense before he'll get serious minutes. Given his toughness and competitiveness, rookie Leon Powe will get minutes by sheer will. Grade C

Centers: The Celtics will feature a combination of youth and experience, starting with Perkins. Perkins has improved his offensive game since entering the league, but it is not a strength. It is unknown how much Ratliff has left. At the very least Ratliff can show the younger Celtics what it means to defend inside. Grade C-

Bottom Line: If Pierce and younger players such as Jefferson, Perkins and Telfair continue to improve, the Celtics will be better than they were last season. But not by much. Boston is an average team that will fight for a playoff berth. Any loftier goals will be foolhardy.

Another expert who doesn't expect much from our team this season. I expect Jefferson and Perk to not only improve over last season, but to break out. I expect the team as a whole to have an entirely new tempo and attitude due to the presence of a pure point who can run and find the open man. I can't wait for the collective "I was wrong" from the media when the Celtics surprise everyone this season.

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October 3, 2006

Shira posts some thoughts on the first day of Training Camp. There were a couple of minor health issues during practice. Telfair felt his back stiffen during practice and Gomes had a strained groin muscle and so both didn't participate in the wind sprints at the end of practice. And then there was Delonte who is still resting his sore back. Both Telfair and Gomes expect to participate in tomorrow's practice.

Some intriguing highlights from all the mixing and matching included Tony Allen taking on rookie Rajon Rondo. Undrafted free agent Akin Akingbala impressed those in the gym by taking a hard charge from center Dwayne Jones. Near the end of practice, the Green team consisted of Paul Pierce, Wally Szczerbiak, Sebastian Telfair, Theo Ratliff and Ryan Gomes in what could be a glimpse of the starting lineup Doc Rivers hopes to use opening night. That version of the Green team scrimmaged in the halfcourt against a White team comprised of Rondo, Allen, Kendrick Perkins, Gerald Green and Al Jefferson, perhaps the players Rivers hopes will separate from the pack and become the rest of the rotation.

Of the big men doing sprints, Michael Olowokandi and Brian Scalabrine looked impressive, leading the pack for a couple sets. Meanwhile, Pierce found running up and down so easy he finished running backwards.

I guess Kandi is serious about working hard to try to win a spot. Scalabrine is surprising although I heard that he has slimmed down quite a bit this summer.

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October 3, 2006

John Hollinger has his Celtics' Preview out and has some good things to say about the team. I have tired of all of the pundits who love to put the Celtics down and won't even give us a chance. Most base it on our 33 win season last year and we all know that the team was much better than that record but because of injuries, early chemistry problems, and the midseason trade, they didn't quite put it together. We are young and many blame their dire predictions on our youth, but we have talented youth that are now veteran youth and many will be taking a big step forward this season.

Anyway, back to Hollinger. He first takes a very analytical look at last year's team and the reasons for their failures.

The Celtics' problem was possessions. They made the shots they got, but because they couldn't rebound and made too many turnovers they didn't get nearly enough attempts. Boston turned the ball over on 17.3 percent of its possessions -- only the Knicks were worse. That was one problem with playing West, a converted shooting guard, at the point, although Greene (who had the worst Turnover Ratio among point guards) was nearly as big a factor.

I can't argue with that in the least. We were a poor defensive team, we didn't rebound well, and we turned the ball over way too many times. But that was last season and we have done many things to turn those deficiencies around this off season.

After looking at last season, he goes on to look at our Off Season Moves. Waiving Greene was a key move.

Actually, this is a good lesson on the dangers of going gaga over a player's potential before he's proven he actually can play. Who knows, maybe Greene will eventually become a player. But in 2005-06, he was in completely over his head.

Danny traded a future first round pick for Rondo and Grant. I wouldn't be so quick to say that Rondo can't shoot. He spent almost 3 hours a day this summer working on his shooting and from all accounts he has good form and just needed confidence in his shot. He should have gotten if from all that work this summer. At this point Grant is good for his expiring contract to facilitate a trade.

The pick Boston traded belongs to Cleveland so it's probably going to be a very late one, while Grant is so battle-weary that he might not be able to suit up this year. Rondo might pay more dividends a year or two from now -- he can't shoot but is a natural at the point and really can defend.

The key off season move was the trade of Dickau and Raef for Telfair and Ratliff.

I thought Telfair made some solid improvements last year, despite losing his starting job, so this could work, but if you're trading a pick this high you really want to know you're getting a good player out of it -- for instance, Houston traded the pick immediately after this one and got Shane Battier. The deal's eventual success will hinge on Telfair learning how to shoot.

Following the analysis of the trades, he moves on to assess our biggest strength which he lists as wing depth. With Pierce, Wally, Tony, West Gomes and Green, we have some great depth here.

Boston has six wing players who could be quality contributors on most teams, but at least one of them might be squeezed out of the rotation because the Celtics have so much talent here.

Of course, if you talk about the biggest strength, you know that next comes the biggest weakness which Hollinger lists as our Point Guard position

Boston spent the offseason cornering the market on point guards who can't shoot, adding Telfair and Rondo before deciding that having Greene too would be overkill. Telfair is good enough now to be a decent backup, but whether he'll ever be more than that depends on him adding some shooting skill to all those slick ballhandling moves. Ditto for Rondo, though he'll at least contribute immediately at the defensive end.

Again, I wouldn't be so quick to write off Rondo's shooting. I believe that all his work in the off season is going to make him a decent shooter.

Now comes the good part.

If you asked me to pick my surprise team for 2006-07, this would be the one. I don't think the Celtics are going to be that much better than they were a year ago, but it will superficially appear to be much greater if they end up winning the division -- something they have a far greater chance to do than most people realize.

He gives us a chance to win the division. Finally a writer who takes a realistic look at the Celtics and their kiddie corps and doesn't condemn them to the basement.

It's always hard to predict how young talent will develop, but Boston has so much of it that you have to figure a couple of these guys will take fairly large steps forward. If so, it's easy to picture a win total in the low-40s and a division title; and if the steps are large enough, they could perhaps be much better.

I expect several of our kids to take a huge step this year and because of that, I expect us to do very well and I am happy to find an expert who finally agrees with me.

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October3, 2006

Wow! No shortage of stories today! There are articles all over the place. Many of the stories say the same things : The players are ready and excited for the start of the season. But, there are quite a few things of interest so take a look.

The Nashua Telegraph hopes that our patience will pay off this season. There are 2 quotes in this article that I just love and that bodes well for this season.

“It’s time to make something happen. We should take the challenge and grow up,” said guard Delonte West, entering his third year. “We have to show that we’re not (young). Last year, there were too many smiles. We need to have some more frowns. Too many guys were just too happy to be with the Boston Celtics.”

Delonte is very serious about wanting to make this team better and with his work ethic and competitive nature, I can see him doing it.

“You can only be young for so long,” center Kendrick Perkins said. “This is my fourth year, and a couple of young guys’ third, its about time we start making things happen. There’s no more room for excuses.”

I love Perk. I make no secret about it. This kid is so earnest and such a hard worker, you can't help it. This year he is going to break out and will be recognized as one of the top centers in the NBA. I have seen 3 lists of the top 20 Centers in the NBA this off season and they have included the likes of Bogut, Kristic, Chandler, Frye, Darko, and Blount and none of them has included Perk. Well, after this season, there is no way Perk will be left off of those lists.

The Herald has several articles today. Mark Murphy focuses on Pierce and his bright outlook on the season.

“I just want to be on the same page with the coach and push these guys,” he said. “I like these guys’ spirit and attitude.”

Steve Bulpett focuses on Delonte's questionable status due to his back. True to form, Delonte is ready to go full out right now and Doc wants to hold him back a little to be safe. He also mentions that the Celtics uniforms will have a slight alteration this season: a small shamrock on the back above the players' names. After seeing the Bucks new uniforms, I am very thankful for the good taste of the Celtics' uniforms. Another Bulpett article talks about Bassy's guarantee of the playoffs and the support his teammates are giving him by backing up his prediction.

“But you hear what Sebastian said and that’s great. Confidence is what you ask for from any player at any position, but especially the leader of your team and your point guard. The point guard has the ball in his hands a lot, and he’s got to run the team. He’s got to have that confidence and swagger about him, and Sebastian sure does.”

Mark Murphy talks about Kandi's bid to return to the Celtics.

“It’s up to him,” said Rivers. “We know he’s talented. It’s always been a question of his consistency. Teams have always tried to get it out of him. but if we do that, I’d be surprised if he didn’t play.”

Scott Souza, who has done a great job of keeping us informed all summer, tells us about Bassy's role as a vocal leader on this team.

A few feet away, Rivers was all smiles during the declaration, though many coaches in pro sports frown on the guarantee game.
"That's because a lot of coaches are worried about their jobs," said Rivers, coming off a 33-49 season in his second year in Boston. "They are always worried that, if you raise expectations, then it will come back and haunt you. The bottom line is (winning) is what we are in this business to do. So I think you should stick your neck out for it.
"If he believes that," Rivers concluded, "and he can get other guys to believe it, then it will happen."

Lenny Megliola tells us that Pierce's goal is to be on the same page as Doc. He is also looking to take his own game up a notch this season.

In the Globe, Bob Ryan looks for Green to take the next step and be able to contribute this season. Green spent the summer working hard on his game, especially on defense.

That's why Green's surprisingly strong work ethic is such an important part of his story. His coach can trust him to keep improving without being prodded. He doesn't have to be some sort of major project. He'll be taking care of his own business under the watchful eye of such Big Brothers as Pierce and fellow Texan Kendrick Perkins

I expect to see Green as one of the players who sets himself apart and takes his game to the next level.

Everyone's favorite negative writer, Peter May, talks about Kandi's return in his Celtics Notebook. Pierce looks to the Celtics to fight for the 7th or 8th playoff spot. Al is a candidate for "The Biggest Loser" and the every quotable Delonte West give us this to think about:

``Once you've checked into the NBA, it's man-up time," said West, who has two years under his belt. ``That's the conversation we have to have. Who needs to have their hand held? Who needs to be in the `young' category? If that's the case, go get in the kiddie pool. It's adult swim, you know what I mean?"

The Worcester Telegram lets us know that Little Big Al is ready to let his inner beast out. He plans to tape his ankles and wear a brace to avoid another costly ankle sprain. He has changed his eating habits and has gotten himself into the best shape of his life and how can one not expect Al to break out this season. Plus, working with Clifford Ray all summer has got to pay dividends. His ankles are 100% and he is ready to take the NBA by storm.

Talk of including Jefferson in a deal for Allen Iverson has died down and Jefferson is looking forward to learning from new teammate Theo Ratliff and new big man coach Clifford Ray. Ray has told Jefferson to become a beast down low, to stop playing soft, and he has responded. He hopes his teammates will as well.

Projo has another piece on the difference in Big Al and his hard work to prepare for this season. It also mentions Gomes and his off season work and his great showing in Summer League. Gomes has spent nearly every day this off season working on his outside shooting and his game. Expect to see Gomes playing both forward spots this season. Doc said yesterday that Gomes has the potential to be a starter.

Southcoast today states the obvious that Kandi is in control of his own career right now. He has a chance but needs to grab the bull by the horns and take advantage of the opportunity as this may be his last chance.

Celtics17 makes the case for our players all playing like it is a contract year. For many, it is one. I don't think we will have a problem with any of the player we have now as most are gym rats and every one of them seems to be self motivated and very hard workers. Do you think Perk would approach a season any different if it was a contract year? How about Delonte? Even our veterans are hard workers and still work ceaselessly to improve.

CelticsStuff Live takes a look at Ank-Al's Come Back. The Duke makes a comparison between Al and Elton Brand and says that Al's new physique is in line with the league's newer, more mobile breed of power forward. Al has put in the work in the off season and now it is time for him to put it all to the test and produce like we have all expected him to since he was selected with the 15th overall pick.

The Blog Previews continue today with the Knicks at Bench Renaldo See all the previews including the Celtics here.

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October 3, 2006

Once again Derren over at CG came up with a good piece. Don't underestimate the value of a good pass first point guard. I agree that the point guard can make a huge difference in how a team plays. We haven't had a true pass first PG in years. We had Payton, Chucky Atkins, and Kenny Anderson, but they were all at the tail end of their careers and couldn't effectively run the fast break. But they gave us a taste of how a team can play when led by a true floor general. I am excited to see how this season unfolds.

Look at the difference Chris Paul has made in New Orleans. For a good portion of the season, they were in contention for the playoffs. This is a big turnaround from where they were the year before, and their roster did not change much from the year before. It can simply be attributed to a playmaking PG who runs the team well. Chris Paul could be the new generation's best PG, a perennial All-Star starting PG and All-NBA 1st teamer. I don't want to confuse anyone into thinking that I think Telfair is going to be Paul's equal. I don't think its probable that Telfair is going to be Paul's equal. But we've seen the difference of what a pass first PG who directs the offense and creates plays for his teammates can do. And we've got much better players on our team than New Orleans. Telfair won't have to play at Chris Paul's level because he'll have solid players around him who can pick up some slack. Last season, we weren't totally void of isolations plays and we went through dry spells when the ball stopped moving. Also we weren't a good fastbreaking team. Having a playmaking PG who can push the tempo, and who can use picks and screens to open up plays for himself and for his teammates is going to open up our team offensive game immensly. Last year, we did not have a real PG running the show, so we relied on a lot of players being able to see the court and pass to open players. This caused us to be one of the worst turnover teams (29 out of 30). Ricky, Blount and Pierce all committed way too many costly turnovers and it just killed us. We couldn't hold many momentums and our comebacks would come up short because we'd give away precious possessions. A real PG who has real court vision and has real passing ability and has real floor leadership will be a difference maker on a team who lacked a true pass first PG. Once we are in midseason form (and it may not take until the midseason to reach this form), Telfair will be controlling the ball (in a good way) and he'll be directing the action. Gomes will be one of the bigger benefactors of Telfair running the show. He's good at sliding into open spots on the floor and Telfair will find him quite frequently. Gomes is also a good trailer on the breaks, and he will get a lot of chances to finish plays. Jefferson is also a guy who Telfair will find a lot, especially under the basket. As a penetrating PG, Telfair is going to pull defenses toward him when he gets into the paint, and Al will find slivers in the defense where he can receive passes and score easy layups. Jefferson is good at rolling after the pick and he'll give us a nice two man option with Bassy. Pierce's game will continue to go through morphs. He'll now learn how to be more of a catch and shoot guy and will go away from creating his own shots. Wally seems like a natural fit to play alongside of a passing PG. He can use pick and rolls on the perimeter to get open 20 footers. And we must not forget our athletes who thrive in the open court. Gerald Green and Tony Allen will certainly find themselves on SportsCenter highlights when they run with Telfair. Sebastian may not be a great PG, but with the talent he has around him, we won't need him to be a great PG for us to reach the promised land. [More] source:Derrenmatts - Celtics Green Discuss this topic on the Celtics Green Forums!

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October 2, 2006

Today was Media day and Celtics.com has posted some photos and an article. Here is part of what they had to say: Perhaps the biggest question mark entering this camp is the point guard position. With Telfar and Rajon Rondo coming to Boston on draft day, Delonte West finds himself in a three-way competition for the starting job. Asked about it on several occasions, West joked that Al Jefferson should watch his back, because he plans on competing for the power forward gig. Competition will be the name of the game across the roster in October. Aside from Paul Pierce and Wally Szczerbiak, Doc Rivers and his staff don’t know what to expect from several players who are either returning from injury or are just two young and inexperienced to be considered consistent. And undrafted free agents Kevin Pittsnogle and Akin Akingbala know that with 18 guys currently under contract, they'll have to really make a convincing impression to make it to November when the roster is paired down to 15. Meanwhile, Michael Olowokandi made a surprise appearance. A free agent entering the season, he's hoping to extend his stay in Boston by working out for the Celtics in training camp, and while he's not sure what he has left in the proverbial tank, he enjoyed his stay in Boston after the trade last season and wouldn’t mind continuing his career with the Celtics. You just have to love Delonte... I can just see him trying to play the 4. Pierce is excited about playing with Telfair. Telfair is excited about playing in Boston. Interesting that Kandi showed up. I thought he was set on getting a spot on the Suns. [More of the Article] [More Photos] source:Celtics.com Discuss this topic on the Celtics Green Forums!

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October 2, 2006

Not much going on in the news today. But that isn't all that surprising. After all, how many ways can you say the team has great potential but a lot of quesions? Today is Media day so hopefully we will get reports from all the media outlets either later today or tomorrow. The season is finally upon us and I couldn't be more excited!!

The Herald is the only paper with an article today and they list out the questions that we have with each of the players going into training camp. Lots of questions and hopefully we will start to get answers with the official opening of training camp tomorrow.

The Globe doesn't have an article but have a photo gallery of Doc at home that goes with their article about Doc and his devotion to his family that they printed yesterday.

CelticsStuff Live brings our attention to a thread on Real GM
that gives us a bit more info from the season ticket holders' picnic. This quote caught my attention:

Calder wrote:
Do you think this is the year that everything comes together on the defensive end? I mean, you’ve got some young guys, but also good perimeter defenders and rebounding bigs
Tony Brown wrote:
yes our defensive strength is out on the perimeter
Calder wrote:
so does that mean you’ll be doing a lot of switching and trapping (he started nodding his head before I could finish) or will you be playing any man-to-man?
Tony Brown wrote:
We’ll be switching and trapping and using pressure defense

Be still my heart. They are talking about playing defense. And not just playing defense but trapping and pressure defense. Now, if they can do it and not just talk about it, that would be excellent. Check out the Real GM thread for some good pictures as well.

The Season Previews continue today with the New Jersey Nets You can still catch the Celtics' previews on CelticsBlog, Celtics 17, and Loy's Preview below. You can check out all the previews here.

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October 2, 2006

Doc's quote in the Herald the other day got me thinking about chemistry again.

“The other stuff going on was tough,” he said. “It was more directed from player to player, and that affects chemistry, and that has to be cleared up. Players have to pull for each other.”

Chemistry is one of the most important but underrated pieces to building a championship team. The Pistons team that recently won championships had great chemistry and because of that they were able to win without a superstar.

On the other hand, I think back to the Laker team that had 4 future Hall of Famers on it in Shaq, Kobe, Payton and Malone on it. They even had a future Hall of Fame coach and should have been able to win the championship that year. On paper, they were a lock to win it all. But, they didn't have any chemistry. There was in-fighting and bickering the entire year and I believe that is what kept that team from winning it all. They had the talent but didn't have any chemistry.

I believe that the reason that our USA teams have fallen from prominence is that they aren't together long enough to build any chemistry between the players. You throw together a group of players used to playing against each other and let them practice for a few weeks and expect them to develop chemistry. They can win against the weaker teams but when they face the top teams, they just don't have what it takes. I believe that they are taking a better approach to building the team but they still won't have the kind of chemistry that many of the international teams have built by playing together day in and out for years.

Last season, we knew that we had chemistry problems with Blount and Banks from the beginning. We thought that Ricky was a team player and never knew that there was a problem there. I guess we still don't know because it could be spin from the organization, but if he was undermining Paul's authority as captain and was causing problems, it is no wonder the team wasn't winning. Even after the trade, there were some problems. Twice, Raef complained to the press about Doc's rotations and about his playing time, but for the most part, the team seemed to get along very well.

This season we have a great group of players. All want to be here and all are hard workers and I just don't see any of them not working together for the good of the team. They get along on and off the court. Most of the team has been together for 2 or 3 years now and are learning each other's tendencies. One of the keys to winning will be whether our very young students can pass Chemistry this season.

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Team Name: Boston Celtics
Last Years Record: 33-49
Key Losses: Ricky Davis,
Key Additions: Wally Szczerbiak, Sebastian Telfair, Rajon Rondo

1. What significant moves were made during the offseason?
Ainge and Co. did the best they could this offseason. In fact, we really got something for nothing. It's safe to say this is not a championship team...yet. But with Telfair and Wally we should have a backcourt that will razzle and dazzle us to the playoffs. The addition of Telfair provides us with a PG that we have not seen, dare I say *gulp*, since Kenny Anderson. Not comparing the two as we have not had a PG like Telfair since I can recall, maybe even ever.

Along with Telfair came packaged Theo Ratliffe. Theo would have been nice to have 6 years ago when he was at his peak. Unfortunately for us, we have Theo on the tail end of his career. All his numbers are down, but he is still and will be the best force to grace Boston in terms of hustle and rebounding in along time. I would think Theo and Perk will put us atop the rebounding and shot blocking. I hope.

The biggest moves we did were in the draft. I'm sure a lot of C's fans were baffled by Ainge giving up our pick. But the chain of events led us to selecting Rojon, Powe, and Ray. All solid picks, however, I would be surprised if any made it All-Star. Role players is my projection, but solid role players nonetheless.

2. What are the team’s biggest strengths?
Right now I think we will be strongest in athletecism. We have young and hungry youths waiting to draw our awe. Offense will obviously most benefit from this. I will expect to see higher scoring numbers. Then, I feel rebounding/shotblocking will be the most improved. The addtion of Theo with Perk and Jefferson adds tons of beef and size. Powe and Ray also will get their share. This could be the biggest (most powerful) lineup we've had since the Big Three.

3. What are the team’s biggest weaknesses?
Some say we should have better defense now, but I am not so sure. Telfair is not The Glove or anything close and I am not expecting much from Green. However, with Perk, Theo, West, and Gomes, we should see better D than previous seasons. Also with addition of Rojon, we should at least have a defensive presence off the bench. Still I would think the better teams will be able to find a way to break us down due to the inexperience. Lets face it we have a ton of Rooks and 2nd, 3rd year players.

So, then, inexperience will be our other achillies.

4. What are the goals for this team?
I think our biggest goal this year should be our bigs, specifically Jefferson, making an impact on offense and defense. We will need to improve our record to at least .500 and to make the playoffs. These are things that are to be expected. Doc and even Ainge's reputation are at stake. I mean we've all been waiting patiently now and we need to see a marked improvement in order to not become what the Bulls/Magic were/are.

The only other important goal will be to have a team that works as a team. I think some of this may be hard as we will need to break some selfish habits. Gerald for instance will need to play within a team or he may end up another Ricky Davis. All hops and no chops.

Predicted Record: 40-42
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October 1, 2006

Just 2 days until Training Camp begins and I can't wait!!

Starting off our Odds and Ends today is the 30 Teams in 30 Days kick off. Starting with the Celtics as it should be, See Loy's preview above and other Celtics Previews can be found at
CelticsBlog Preview
Celtics17 Preview
See More Previews coming Soon


The Herald starts off with an article about Doc looking for toughness. We have some tough players and I believe with Ratliff and Perk in the center, that will set the tone. I mean, how tough can a team be with Blount and Raef in the center? We have a lot of tough players and I think that toughness will result in wins this season.

Another Herald piece talks about our kids having a lot of motivation. Most have been in Boston working about as hard as they can all summer and I believe that it is building chemistry and will result in several of them breaking out this season. The fact that the PGs are there and they are getting used to each other is a big plus. I can't wait for the preseason games to begin.

The Globe has a piece about Doc and his attempts to keep his family in Orlando and be there for them while working in Boston. I admire his dedication to family and feel that those who put work before family will be sorry they did when they are older and there is nothing left but family. I am hoping that Doc develops a desire to play defense and better in game decisions, and then, the travel to be with family won't even be a consideration with the fans. I don't think family had anything to do with Doc's shortcomings and we can only hope that he worked on his game this summer as hard as his players have been working.

The Pioneer Press reports that the Wolves will be giving Vin Baker yet another chance to make it in the NBA. How many chances can one player get before he finally takes advantage of one of them? I believe that this is the last year we have to pay him for the chance we gave him. Such a shame... so much talent wasted.

Finally, don't miss CelticsStuff Live tonight 7-9 eastern time as Justin, JB and the Duke welcome Eric Weiss on the show as a special guest. Word is that they have upgraded their phone equipment and so tonight's show should be one of the best yet. They always just seem to get better and better. If you haven't already made your prediction in their Guess the Season Record Contest, call yours in tonight. Join us in the chat room for a fun time and a lot of good Celtics chat tonight. See you there!

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