I always buy all of the preview magazines out on the shelves to see what they have to say about the Celtics. This year especially, I was excited to see what they saw in store for the Celtics. Athlon Sports seems less than thrilled with the Celtics chances this season.
Athlon Sports
2007-2008 Predictions
Eastern Conference
Atlantic
New Jersey *
Boston *
Toronto *
New York
Philadelphia
Central
Chicago *
Cleveland *
Detroit *
Minwaukee
Indiana
Southeast
Washington *
Orlando *
Miami
Charlotte
Atlanta
Western Conference
Southwest
Dallas *
San Antonio *
Houston *
New Orleans *
Memphis
Northwest
Utah *
Denver *
Portland
Seattle
Minnesota
Pacific
Phoenix *
LA Lakers *
Golden State
LA Clippers
Sacramento
East: Chicago over New Jersey
West: Phoenix over Dallas
Finals: Phoenix over Chicago
They score each area on a 1 to 10 scale and here are Boston's scores with last year's in parentheses:
Scoring 6(2), Defense 3(4), Rebounding 6(5), Athleticism 3(3), Coaching 3(3), Intangibles 5(3)
When I got to where they gave last year's Celtics a higher score on defense than this year's team, they lost credibility in my book.
Here is their final analysis:
The last NBA team with three top 15 player on it - the '96-97 Rockets, who had Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, and Charles Barkley - may presage what awaits for the '07-08 Celtics. Those Rockets rolled all the way to the Conference Finals, only to lose to a more balanced, deeper Jazz squad. Even bearing in mind the combined star power and firepower of Garnett, Pierce, and Allen, Boston's lack of depth beyond the top three is as striking as that top three's excellence. The Celtics will win games - with three All Stars on their roster, they should - but how they come together as a team will ultimately determine the team's fate.
Here is what they say about the possibility of Boston winning the championship this season. The Celtics motto for next season is "Think Big, " and expectations have been raised such that an NBA Finals run is, if not quite expected... well, it's expected. And that's probably not fair: in mid-August, Boston had three great stars and ... a very young point guard, a shaking coach and a remaining roster of castoffs. A team with this much talent will make the playoffs, and no one will want to play them there. But the NBA finals? Maybe someday - it will have to be soon - but for the '07-08 season, thinking NBA Championship Big seems more tempting than reasonable.
And in the section where they discuss team changes this off season, they have this to say about the Celtics: In Boston, meanwhile, the Celtics too another tack, augmenting standout forward Paul Pierce with other glittery brethren, All Stars Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. Who cares if the two tranactions cost the Celtics seven players and four draft picks? They have gone from the worst team in the East to the short list of conference champion contenders. And while there could be problems with finding enough shots for the big time troika, and the supporting cast looks Nicole Richie thin, Boston has enough star power to hang with just about anybody it faces.
And in discussing the future of the Celtics, they add this: The Celts are going to play some extra dough for the privilege of seeing them in their green uniforms, thanks to a luxury tax penalty that will cause some real pains in the checkbook once Garnett's three year extension kicks in. By the time his contract is up, it's possible Boston could be so cap strapped - and old - that it's no longer a serious competitor in the East. By the time the '10-11 season kicks off, the warm glow of this summer's activity could turn into the cold reality of rebuilding again. Meanwhile, teams like the Blazers and the Sixers, who are choosing to build with an eye on the future, rather than affect a quick turnaround, might have zoomed past the Celtics. ... The Celtics can't rely on raising a 17th championship banner any time soon, no matter how impressive their summer haul appears. But you have to give them credit for trying.
They predict the Nets winning the Atlantic and see the continuity of their own big three as well as depth as factors. They also see Chicago over the Nets in the Conference and give the not to defense, rebounding and coaching as reasons for the Bulls' emergence. They won 49 games last season and they expect their young core to be even better this season. You can check out the magazine for their take on each of the positions and some other tidbits. Even though they are pretty underwhelmed by the Celtics, there are still some good features and info to check out in the magazine.
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