Does anyone believe Boston will be even more dangerous ....

[JordansBulls]

Does anyone believe Boston will be even more dangerous next year now that they won?


ESPN

Q: Will Boston repeat?



A: You have to like the Celtics' chances better than any team since the three-peating Lakers of 2000, 2001 and 2002.

For a couple of reasons.

1. Ray Allen turns 33 in July, Kevin Garnett turned 32 in May and
Paul Pierce turns 31 in October. So let's be realistic.

It's not a young three-man core, but it's not exactly ancient. Especially with the youth and promise of Rajon Rondo, Kendrick Perkins and Leon Powe going nowhere.

Looking at that, they seem to have at least 2 more years in them.
Even next summer Allen would be 34, Garnett 33 and Pierce 32.

They're more likely to start the '09 postseason with an intimidating swagger like the one that didn't begin to manifest itself this year until Boston's two road wins over Detroit in the conference finals.

Now with some success I can agree with the notion that they can play with a swagger knowing they can win it all. I think it is tougher to do so when you haven't won it all yet.

[BROWN]

Definetly still going to be scary..
this team isn't a One Hit Wonder.

[NetsForce]

As long as the Acting Amigos are together and Posey is retained you can't completely dismiss Boston's chance to repeat, but a lot depends on what they do with the MLE. The Celtics are going to have to upgrade at the point guard position as well as get another quality big man since ET and PJ Brown aren't going to cut it next year.

[The Main Event]

If by dangerous you mean a good chance to take another title then yes. I don't think there is going to b any adjustments to their lineup that make peoples eyes pop out of their heads though. Their confidence will be through the roof, the intelligence is there and the teams cohesiveness will be that much stronger.
I see them taking down a couple more titles or at the very least making several more finals appearances.

[tracey_nice]

Right now I don't see anyone in the east stopping them from repeating as EC, unless the Cavs or Pistons make some moves, which looks possible right now. But, its hard to look past the Lakers right now, and I am completely unbiased regarding the Lakers, with Bynum coming back; I think starting the regular season next year they will be the favorites.

[celticfan42487]

It's possible. Depends if Posey is retained [might not want to make the mistake of overpaying for a roleplayer here] and if Rondo improves.

If Rondo can make teams actually pay for not playing him on the offense that changes the complexion of the game entirely. That would be another drastic improvement in his mid range shot though.

If Bos can re-sign Posey with just the 20% increase in salary and not use their MLE they could get a real Center to back-up Perkins and maybe pick up another one night stand PG in Darrell Armstrong.

Or use the MLE on Jacque Vaugne, Damon Stoud, Duhon and get a rotational center like Foyle to plug the holes.

But I have a feeling Posey may not be coming back with now his second show in the playoffs for a championship team.

[Paydro70]

Well, while we might expect some further improvement from Rondo and the bench (Powe, Davis), Ray Allen is going to be even older, and therefore we might rightfully be concerned about scoring punch. This team didn't exactly annihilate the East, so while they're surely the favorite, I don't think they're going to be any better, or their odds any higher, than this year.

[Curmudgeon]

Of course they will be more dangerous, assuming Posey is back and Tom Thobodeau is back. Thery have a full year of experience playing together. Of course, the "x" factor is injury. But if they stay healthy, I expect them to repeat.

[NetsForce]

Whoops there was an error on my part, the Celtics don't have Posey's bird rights so they would have to use the MLE to resign him...

That makes things pretty interesting IMHO...

[magicfan4life05]

How come they do not have this bird rights?

thanks

[tms386]

How come they do not have this bird rights?

thanks

Not 100% sure, but i think you can only acquire bird rights if the player is with you for three years. It's so teams don't sign a superstar for cheap (ie, the minimum when they don't have the cap space) and then sign him to a max, 20 mill deal the next season.

[KB20]

Depends on what they do with the MLE.

They will definitely want to keep Posey but the most they can sign him for without using the MLE is a deal starting at $4.4 million totaling $27.2 million over 5 years. For the MLE he can get a 5 year deal totaling just over $35 million. Other teams can offer the MLE for 5 years totaling just over $33 million. After his great playoff run, I'm sure he'll be looking for no less than the MLE. He already has 2 rings and got his 2nd on a contract way below his value and he knows that. Contenders like Dallas, San Antonio, Detroit, Cleveland, and hopefully the Lakers will be calling him this summer and offering him the full MLE. If he does resign for the MLE, the Celtics will have to look for other ways to fill up the roster and not spend too much as they already have a pretty high payroll.

[kdot99]

How come they do not have this bird rights?

thanks

He was acquired as a free agent and has only been with them for only 1 year. If you're acquired through free agency you need to be on the team for atleast 3 seasons for them to obtain your bird rights.

I think they will be a powerhouse again next year. Remember after they acquired KG they had little time to add players to their roster because it was so deep in the off-season and they gave up 5, 6 players? Though they did get a very good rotation player for cheap in James Posey, who will definitely be seeking atleast the full MLE. If the C's do give him that money, then there goes their spending money...

[_BBIB_]

I don't know about "more" dangerous but I certainly don't think they are one and done like the Miami Heat.

But more dangerous is a stretch with the core of that team not exactly on the upswing.

[greenbeans]

This team didn't exactly annihilate the East.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/standings

#3 team in the East was 14 games back

[NetsForce]

Yeah looks like I was wrong again =D... They don't have to use the MLE to resign Posey, they could use the non-bird exception... Although Posey would be taking a paycut if he agreed to resign with the Celtics this way.

[Zerostatic]

To be more dangerous means that you will have to improve somewhat and I don't really see them being that much better. I mean KG, Pierce, and Ray Allen definitely are still great players but they are getting 1 year older and 1 more year removed fro their primes. Rondo will probably improve and Perkins might but this is the NBA and in the NBA you are as strong as your strongest link so I think any improvement in overall team chemistry and improvements in their youngsters will be easily counter-acted by the aging of their big 3. In other words, I think the Celtics will still be a contender but no I do not believe they will be anymore dangerous. If anything, they'll probably win a few less games during the regular season however they probably won't struggle as much early in the playoffs next season.

[bujabra]

Solid post Zerostatic.

I too think that the Celtics won't win as much in the regular season but will pick it up early through the playoffs. Chemistry can't be taught and thats what made the Celtics tough as nails throughout the shaky early rounds of playoffs. They will only get tighter as a group next year and that bodes well for another chance at the title.

Posey is crucial too.

[Curmudgeon]

Posey would not be taking a pay cut if he were signed using the non-Bird exception. He has a player option for next year at 3.2 million which he will decline. The Celtics could pay him 3.8 million to start with 8% raises using the non-bird exception.

The most Posey is going to get is the MLE unless he wants to go to a 30-win team, because none of the good teams have cap space. The Celtics can offer him more than any other contender if they so choose (same MLE to start, but bigger raises). But that means they would not have the money for other veteran FAs who might boster their bench.

The real question is how long will his deal be? Posey is 32. I doubt if other teams will offer more than 3 years (or something like 5 years with a team option after year 3, which amounts to the same thing). If the Celtics offer him less money to start but with the security of a full 5 year deal, he may be satisfied.

[snaquille oatmeal]

Boston is gonna have be smart during the regular season like the Spurs. all teams will bring their A game every time and that is gonna affect them more for the playoffs.