NBA 2006-2007 Preview: Boston Celtics

Boston Celtics
Coach: Doc Rivers, 3rd Season (78-86)
General Manager: Danny Ainge
’05-’06 Record: 33-49; 3rd in Atlantic Division


Projected Starting Lineup (’05-’06 Stats)

PG – Sebastian Telfair (w/POR: 9.5 ppg., 1.8 rpg., 3.6 apg.)
SG – Paul Pierce (26.8 ppg., 6.7 rpg., 4.7 rpg.)
SF – Wally Szczerbiak (32 gms w/BOS: 17.5 ppg., 3.9 rpg., 3.2 apg.)
PF – Al Jefferson (7.9 ppg., 5.1 rpg., 0.5 apg.)
C – Kendrick Perkins (5.2 ppg., 5.9 rpg., 1.0 apg.)


Key Additions: PG Sebastian Telfair (trade – POR); C/F Theo Ratliff (trade – POR)

Key Subtractions: PG Dan Dickau (trade – POR); C Raef LaFrentz (trade – POR); C Michael Olowokandi (UFA)


2006 NBA Draft
Round 1 – PG Rajon Rondo (21st overall); University of Kentucky (from PHO)
Round 2 – F Leon Powe (49th overall); University of California – Berkeley (from DEN)


Positional Breakdowns

Guards
The Boston Celtics have made another move in order to try and match perennial All-Pro Paul Pierce with a good supporting cast. It begun with an off-season trade involving Portland where the Celtics acquired PG Sebastian Telfair and C/F Theo Ratliff from Portland for G Dan Dickau and F/C Raef LaFrentz. The Celtics were immediately happy that they were able to get Telfair to run the offense with Pierce. In Telfair, they get a guard who is amazingly quick with the ball in his hands and can get into the lane and penetrate. Nor is he afraid to do just that, regardless of his smaller frame. Telfair was known as a scorer out of Lincoln High in New York, but he had the hype of being the ‘next big New York point guard’ behind him. The pressure seemed too much for him in Portland. Most importantly, I don’t believe he was 100% ready for the rigors of the NBA season. You go from playing 20-30 games in high school against mostly inferior players to the world’s best every night. Look for Telfair to settle into a comfort zone with the Celtics, and this could definitely be his breakout year.