Ten Things I Just Noticed About the Celtics

[Jammer]

Borrowing from the erudite and entertaining Gant in terms of format
(whose original Top Ten Format is a David Letterman innovation),

Here are my Top Ten Things that I Just Noticed About the Celtics

1. Paul Pierce is an outstanding Leader.
Paul has really matured and grown into a role he may not have sought.

2. Paul Pierce has become a statesman for the Celtics and NBA.

3. Kevin Garnett is like a coach in the lockeroom and on the bench.
Last year, I thought that other than Doc Rivers,
I felt that Chris Paul was the only other Coach of the Year candidate.
This year, I again think that Doc should win the award,
but Kevin Garnett is a true treasure for his teammates.

4. Big Baby is starting to look like an NBA player.
I originally thought that Glen Davis might go the way of Mike Sweetney,
and eat himself out of the league.
Glen has managed to stay in shape,
and listened to Tommy Heinsohn's advice to develop that elbow jumper,
and Glen is starting to contribute more than just in garbage time or
just against second stringers.

5. Gabe Pruitt is finally starting to look like a point guard on offense,
he always defended well.
I am glad that the Celtics have an alternative for this year's playoffs.

6. The team seems spent. This year's Celtics were never deep,
with 4 projects in Giddens, Walker, Pruitt, and the departed O'Bryant.
Last year Posey provided depth at SF and PF,
and PJ gave the front line a break heading into the stretch.
The injuries to Kevin Garnett, Tony Allen and Brian Scalabrine
have only exasperated an already teetering situation.

7. The arrival of Steph and Mikki Moore is like the calvary saving the settlers,
they were sorely needed, despite what Danny and Doc may publicly say.
I think Rajon may get somewhat of a break going down the stretch,
Eddie will continue to get his 17 mpg,
and Steph will fill in at PG when Rondo is out and SG when Ray is in at SF.
Plus, Mikki Moore should be a better matchup against Pau Gasol than Davis or Powe.

8. Having a scorer like Steph on the team means Paul Pierce can actually rest more,
Ray can be moved over to SF (where he excels),
and the team will have another big time scorer with Steph in at either PG or SG.

9. The small ball lineup will be very interesting at the end of games.
I wonder which of the following 5 lineup combinations
will finish THE MOST playoff games:

Steph-Eddie-Ray-Paul-KG
Steph-Ray-Paul-Leon-KG
Rajon-Steph-Ray-Paul-KG
Rajon-Ray-Paul-Leon-KG
Rajon-Ray-Paul-Baby-KG

10. Doc Rivers deserves Coach of the Year.
I actually felt this way during pre-season, but I'm posting it again.
Doc deserved it last year,
but really deserves it this year.
And I was a fan of Doc Rivers when he won his first COY in Orlando during the 2000 season.

11. Billy Walker and J. R. Giddens look like players.

Well, that's 11, but Celtic fans deserve a bonus.

-- Jammer

[I love heinsohn]

9. The small ball lineup will be very interesting at the end of games.
I wonder which of the following 5 lineup combinations
will finish THE MOST playoff games:

Steph-Eddie-Ray-Paul-KG
Steph-Ray-Paul-Leon-KG
Rajon-Steph-Ray-Paul-KG
Rajon-Ray-Paul-Leon-KG
Rajon-Ray-Paul-Baby-KG

Where is Perk?

[Bcustom28k]

[quote="Jammer"]Borrowing from the erudite and entertaining Gant in terms of format
(whose original Top Ten Format is a David Letterman innovation),

Here are my Top Ten Things that I Just Noticed About the Celtics


5. Gabe Pruitt is finally starting to look like a point guard on offense,
he always defended well.
I am glad that the Celtics have an alternative for this year's playoffs.


8. Having a scorer like Steph on the team means Paul Pierce can actually rest more,
Ray can be moved over to SF (where he excels),
and the team will have another big time scorer with Steph in at either PG or SG.


Ray allen excels at SF? since when. dude is thin. im sure he could knock down shots at any position

[OBisHalJordan]

it should be eleven and you're not gant

[Harison]

Nice post Jammer, and IMO the best small line-up (if needed) will be Rajon-Steph-Ray-Paul-KG

[Prophet_C]

Gant, your turn please.

[Jammer]

9. The small ball lineup will be very interesting at the end of games.
I wonder which of the following 5 lineup combinations
will finish THE MOST playoff games:

Steph-Eddie-Ray-Paul-KG
Steph-Ray-Paul-Leon-KG
Rajon-Steph-Ray-Paul-KG
Rajon-Ray-Paul-Leon-KG
Rajon-Ray-Paul-Baby-KG

Where is Perk?

Honorable I Love Heinsohn
(and I think that Tommy is fantastic, insightful, and a great coach);
#9 is titled small ball lineup.

That means, a lineup without Kendrick Perkins at C and KG at PF.
Since KG is obviously on for end of game situations,
these are lineups where Kendricks size is not a necessity,
or offense is enhanced (Steph or Eddie are superior to Kendrick at the offensive end).