Another national writer catching on

This by Bill Ingram of Hoopsworld. What has me wondering, and worrying a bit, is the way he seems to be talking as if Darko will be our starting center. A Darko/KG/Pierce frontcourt doesn't sound too far from a Perk/KG/Pierce frontcourt, does it? Perk wasn't an offensive threat nor a good free throw shooter either. This is a possibility that has not been discussed on this board. Yet.

I like what he says about our 2nd unit vs the league's starters too. BIG smile here.


There was a time when the Boston Celtics were one of the deepest,
most talented teams in the NBA. The squad that featured Larry Bird,
Kevin McHale, Kevin Johnson and Robert Parish was, in fact, one of the
most dominant teams in NBA history. The more recent iteration, which
made it to the NBA Finals twice in the last five years, had some
impressive names, but starting point guard Rajon Rondo says this year’s
team is much deeper.

“This team is very unselfish. We have a lot of talented guys – the most talent we’ve had since I’ve been with the Celtics,” Rondo said via the Boston Celtics’ Twitter feed.

As much of a stir as Ray Allen’s departure to the Miami HEAT caused,
the fact is the Celtics rebounded nicely. Not only are they younger and
deeper in the back court, there is an argument to be made that they are
better, too. Courtney Lee is a better defender than Allen is at this
point in his career, and Jason Terry represents a threat off the bench
that Boston has not had since perhaps the days of Danny Ainge. Terry’s
toughness and his championship mentality will serve the Celtics well. It
doesn’t hurt that he has a flair for the dramatic that will instantly
make him a fan favorite in The Garden.

The Celtics would have liked to see Ray Allen compete for a
championship with the core group that won one in 2008, but since he
decided to move on, the team did, too . . .and in a big way.

The backcourt isn’t the only place where the Celtics will be much
deeper in 2012-13. Jared Sullinger played so well in his first preseason
game, recording 16 points, eight rebounds and a block, that head coach
Doc Rivers started him the second time out. Starting at center against
Milano, Sullinger recorded nine points, seven rebounds and a block, and
the Celtics were +14 in his 18 minutes of action.

They were +29 in Terry’s 28 minutes.

Darko Milicic will also see minutes at center, and while he is not a
major scoring threat, he is a reliable shotblocker and rebounder. Jason
Collins rounds out the center rotation, which will also include Kevin
Garnett at times and possibly rookie Fab Melo. Collins is a solid
veteran, and at the very least he can use up some fouls when facing the
likes of Andrew Bynum and Dwight Howard.

Returning to the team is Jeff Green, who will add scoring punch all
the way out to three-point land. He played 25 minutes against Milano,
scoring 17 points on 5-of-9 shooting. The Celtics have a forward
rotation that starts with All-Stars Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, but
with Green and Brandon Bass coming off the bench they’re in good hands
when the second unit takes the court.

In fact, when you consider a likely second unit rotation for Boston
includes Terry, Green, Avery Bradley, Bass and Sullinger, it seems
Boston has a second unit that could challenge most NBA starting fives.

The loss of Ray Allen was a blow, to be sure, but the Boston Celtics
are deeper, younger, and better. They might even be deep enough to throw
up a road block to Ray Allen’s championship hopes with the Miami HEAT.


bob



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