Boston Celtics
09-10 Record: 50-32 Beat Miami in 5, Beat Cleveland in 6, Beat Orlando in 6, Lost in 7 games to Lakers in NBA Finals.
Coach Doc Rivers in 7th season with Boston
Off Season Movements
Additions: Jermaine O'Neal, Shaquille O'Neal, Von Wafer, Delonte West
Draft: Avery Bradley, Luke Harangody
Losses: Rasheed Wallace, Tony Allen, Brian Scalabrine, Shelden Williams
Projected Rotation
C Shaquille O'Neal
PF Kevin Garnett
SF Paul Pierce
SG Ray Allen
PG Rajan Rondo
G Nate Robinson
F Glen Davis
C Jermaine O'Neal
G Delonte West
F Marquiese Dainels
C Kendrick Perkins
G Avery Bradley
G Von Wafer
F Luke Harangody
G Mario West
The Celtics pushed the Lakers to 7 games in the Finals but ultimatley came up just short of championship number 18. The veteran group returns intact for possibly their last hurrah as title contenders. The veteran Celtics must stay healthy to be able to take down Miami or Orlando in the East. The original big 3 is back with Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen who are all still capable but are close to entering the twilight of their NBA careers. Starting center Kendrick Perkins remains on the roster but will miss some of the early season recovering from the torn ACL he suffered in game 6 of the finals. The Celtics missed Perkins big body on the glass in game 7 as they fell to the Lakers. All league point Rajan Rondo became the man on the team last season. The Celtics often went as Rondo went and Pierce or Allen would close it out down the stretch. Glen Davis and Nate Robinson are back to provide the same spark off the bench they did all post season last year. The Celtics beefed up their front court by signing Shaquille O'Neal and Jermaine O'Neal. Both are still capable players but have become injury prone and both will be forced to become support players which is a role they haven't had to play in the past. The rest of the Celtics bench consists of Delonte West. Marquiese Daniels, Avery Bradley, Von Wafer, Luke Harangody, and Mario West. The Celtics will be one of the top contenders for the NBA title once again. If they can find away to be healthy come the postseason they should not be counted out no matter what their seed is thanks to their veteran leadership and recent post season experience. I expect the Celtics to win enough games to get a decent seed then put a focus on getting healthy for the playoffs before embarking on a quest for the franchise's 18th championship.
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