A Cautious Look down the Road as My 61st Celtics Season Looms

The stimulus for this post was occasioned by early indications that the "new guard" may well be the same as the "old guard" for the Celtics in the coming season (with some reinforcements). I've already seen conjecture as to whether Paul and Ray should come off the bench rather than to start the games. And that started me thinking about the pleasant prospect of the October launch of yet another season. It's certainly too early to be thinking that far ahead, but perhaps it helps get the recent taste of defeat out of one's mouth.

I agree that, if Pierce and Ray stay, they start the games. I'm well aware of the saying, credited to Red, that what matters more is who finishes. But I believe there's at least one exception.

One function of starters is to get the initial feel of the game and hopefully to grab control of the pace at the outset. We need go back no further than the recent playoffs to recognize the importance of getting out of the gate quickly.

The starters are the baromenter...the guys who have to absorb any initial assault by the enemy and give Doc advance intelligence of what adjustments may be required. In some ways, I look at them as advance scouts for the team during the first few minutes. The more cohesive and experienced that starting unit is, the more reliable they will be as a yardstick for the opponent's strategies, how the game is going to be paced, and how it's going to be refereed.

We'll already have a replacement for Perk among the starters. I'd prefer to see the remaining starting four remain intact to retain as much experience as possible at the outset of each game. My dream is to see today's equivalent of the Jones Boys replace Ray and Paul around the seven-minute mark of both the first and third quarters and to stay in the game as the rest of the starters are gradually replaced by bench players later in the quarter. How long the bench would then stay on the floor after the quarter break and into the second and fourth quarters would depend on how the game's going.

The primary function of the Jones Boys clones would be defensive disruption and, in conjunction with Rondo (and maybe Nate or Avery Bradley for a few minutes), an increase of the transition pace at just the time when the opposing team's starters are starting to tire a bit.

One candidate for my Jones Boys clones would be Tony Allen. The other would probably be a free agent addition that we can get for the veteran's minimum—perhaps someone like Wright of Toronto, depending on how much of a defensive-minded athlete he is, whether he can also stick the jumper from mid-range or longer, and what he can realistically command monetarily in free agency.

If this year's edition of the Celtics is going to contend with the Three Amigos intact, I believe Doc will have to incorporate some nontraditional rotation patterns (keeping those older legs as fresh as possible ) and a strong counter-punching capability (to cause some chaos among the opponent while those older legs are resting). At this point, I'd like to see Danny use both the MLE and Sheed's presumably expiring contract to get two bigs (through free agency and trade respectively) and fill out the main rotation with someone like Wright (hopefully with the veteran's minimium).

My "pre-Perk" rotation would then be:

Starters Bench
C New big through free agency C New big through trade
PF KG PF Davis
SF Pierce SF Veteran's minimum SF/SG
SG Ray SG Tony
PG Rondo PG Nate or Bradley

Spares
Scal
Bradley or Nate
Possibly Harangody
Possibly S. Williams or a vet minimum guy
Other vet minimum guy or summer league guy as appropriate

I believe the need for resting players is more important than the conventional wisdom of shortening the rotation come playoff time. My theory is that you begin the first and third quarters with experience, wrap around the ends of both of those quarters with youthful, disruptive athleticism (which was compromised on last year's bench by Sheed and the necessity of having Paul or Ray out there for extended minutes with the bench), and let the chips fall where they may during crunch time.

IF things go in the direction that's starting to take shape, this is going to be a season in which mutual trust will have to become the order of the day. It will probably take at least half the season for the new "pieces" to fall into place and assume their optimally productive roles. If and when Perk returns, there will be the added discontinuity of yet another transition period depending on (1) what he's capable of and (2) where, and how quickly, he will fit in the rotation. And we've learned how other injuries along the way can complicate continuity even further.

One thing I hope the Celtics do not have to do in February (unless the wheels are falling off the cart) is a dramatic midseason alteration of the composition of this team. Hopefully the depth of this free agent class can ensure that things will be pretty much in place by the preseason, because this team will need every bit of the continuity it can muster in order to be approaching its peak come playoff time.

Probably the single best insurance we have in this regard is the health plan known as "Doc." He understands the players, the rhythms, the motivations, the needs. He realizes the value of planning for the long haul and not panicking in the meantime.

So my advice to everyone is (1) to enjoy the developments and the glimmers as they unfold next season, and (2) once again to start locking in on the true potential of this team only when you turn your calendar to the month of April. Last season could well be the template for fans in terms of psychologically approaching this coming season (and very likely next season as well).

And, in case memories prove short, something tells me reminders will be available on this board. Watch for "The Official Reminder Thread" coming to your neighborhood forum at some point if people begin prematurely posturing to jump off the ship.

And, if Danny should happen to trade away the entire starting team in the next month, I reserve the right to amend this post.

Go Celtics!

Sam

Not bad, Sam. I don't think amending will be necessary. The Three Amigo's are here for the duration, along with Rondo. Whoever takes Perks's place at the start of the season is in for a real awakening. He (or they) will realize what it is like to be on the receiving end of the adulation of the Boston Fans. It may take a while, but, they will come to realize why people who come here want to stay.

My point in having Ray come off the bench was simply that he is such a stabilizer for that second unit. He takes control, makes the point guard become more accountable, and, if it is Nate, he sometimes opens things up for him and his shot starts falling.

I do see what you mean about keeping the starters together, but, at some time we have to throw something different out there at opposing teams.
As far as Tony Allen is concerned, he has proved that he is the defensive specialist that Danny and Doc have been saying he is for the last few years.
My problem with him is that on the offensive end, he is just so out of control at times that it drives me nuts!!!

You won't have to worry about reminders of who we are and what we can accomplish, I will always be here with my "positive thinking". I still can't believe they lost game 7. I was so sure I was going to be celebrating that night!! I find this time now exciting, waiting for the next shoe to fall and a
new player to join our club. The fall can' come quick enough for me!

GO CELTICS!! SIGN RAY ALLEN!!!

Rosalie

Rosalie,

You will never need a reminder to be a positive fan.

You could very well be right. Doc seems obsessed with having a starter playing with the bench, and it's usually Ray or Paul or Rondo—but mostly Ray. We'll have to see how that works out.

Among other things I'm hoping to see this season is some way other than the curl to free up Ray from the perimeter. He runs a long way just to get a clear shot—and even then, half the time, the opportunity's not there. Other teams free guys up all the time, and there must be other avenues available to the Celtics.

Here's hoping Danny can strike quickly and get the roster set as soon as possible. Let all the other teams and all the rock-star-players worry about who's going to be where. Personally, I couldn't give a rat's behind.

I could envision a scenario where the Celtics have a veteran unit and a young unit that's being groomed for better things (just as Sam and K.C. were years ago). History repeated itself in many ways this past season, and it could continue to do so.

I really appreciate your brand of loyalty to the team, and I hope to meet you at the upcoming party at the end of this month.

Sam

Rosalie, one commentator during the playoffs said Tony was one of the 4 best perimeter defenders in the league, and I agree. I also agree that he drives us crazy at times with his out of control offense, but he has been getting better.