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Question marks. More or less?

Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 10:22 pm
by ddb
I ask you all this question...Will the Boston Celtics head into the 08-09 season with more or less question marks then the 07-08 squad? Please share what you think and elaborate why you feel a certain way.

Personally, I think there are fewer question marks heading into the 08-09 season. Obviously, the first issue that comes to mind is replacing Posey. But I'm sure you all remember questioning our entire bench at this time last year. At least now we have a good idea of what to expect from guys like Powe, Davis, House, and Allen. Last season we were questioning whether the big 3 could co-exist. Obviously winning a champtionship answered that question.
I'm fully confident that our starting 5 can be even better this year if healthy. Rondo all of a sudden is a veteran PG. He naturally should take a giant step forward in his progress. Perk understands his role and should be a better player this year as well. Off the bench I expect a big year from Leon Powe. Powe turned the corner in the playoffs and should play an enormous role on this years squad.

Obviously there are still question marks. Can Walker and Giddens contribute. Can Pruit contribute. Can Tony Allen stay healthy and become our lock-down defender? Can O'Bryant give us 10-15 solid mins per night off the bench? What else?????

I think we're good to win another 60 games this year. And if something needs to be addressed I'm confident that Ainge will do whatever needs to be done to help this team repeat.

Re: Question marks. More or less?

Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 5:40 pm
by SonicYouth34
Less questions.

Perk and Rondo (two of the biggest concerns last year for most people) got so much better because of the 100+ games of experience last year. Perk will come in with more offensive moves and he'll have much more confidence being that big bruising center. Rondo will be even better, with more range on the jumper and his team mates will have more confidence in him.

House, after playing so much point guard through the year, will be much better. Tony Allen will continue to return to his pre-injury form, which was very apparent with that alley-oop in game 6 of the finals.

Big Baby and Powe will get more minuets and are both playing for a contract so we'll get a good year out of them both. I expect big things from Powe and so for he never disappoints me.

With the influx of young blood in Giddens and POB, we'll be much more versatile than last year.

Re: Question marks. More or less?

Posted: Thu Aug 21, 2008 7:12 pm
by Dave_From_NB
In addition to what previous posters added, I'll include Doc Rivers as one less major question mark. Last season, lots of question whether he would be out-coached by veterans in the playoffs. How did that one go, Mr Jackson?

We had injury/durability questions about Ray Allen and Pierce with both coming off significant injuries.

Our bench is still a big question mark, as it was last year. We hadn't signed Posey by this time last year, which is a reminder to not consider the off-season done yet. Although I regret Posey not being here, every other bench player/position is improved starting this year than last IMO. House, TA, Powe, Davis will all be at least as good, if not better. Pruitt can hardly have lesser contribution, same as Scal. O'Bryant is an upgrade over Pollard (simply because he is healthy enough to get in uniform). Giddens/Walker are improved athleticism, and can't provide less than Wallace plus the extra empty roster spot they replace. Cassell/Brown don't count in the bench comparison given they were late season additions, and similar (but different) options will probably be available this year.