Chris Forsberg's Celtic Mailbag, Post Europe

The new-look Boston Celtics
haven't played an honest-to-goodness NBA opponent yet, but after a
two-game European appetizer, we're ripping open the mailbag for the
first time this season and tackling your camp questions:


Q: Is there too much hype behind Jared Sullinger right now or do you think he will have a huge impact this year? -- Dave (Dover, N.H.)






Roberto Serra/Iguana Press/Getty ImagesCeltics starter? Rookie of the year? MVP? Let's keep expectations for Jared Sullinger in check.


A: Before I dive into your question, Dave, let's take a quick look at a letter that came in mere seconds after yours …

Q: How long before Jared Sullinger takes Brandon Bass' starting job? -- Jack (South Bend, Ind.)

A: You were saying something about hype, Dave? Sullinger had two fantastic
games overseas, showcasing his ability to clean the offensive glass and
convert around the rim. What I'm more impressed with is that he just
looks like he belongs. That's no small feat for a 20-year-old rookie.
Let's remember how it took Avery Bradley
a season and a half to come out of his shell on a veteran squad (though
injuries didn't aid Bradley's case). If Sullinger can simply emerge as a
reliable option for Doc Rivers, then he'll have an impact this year --
regardless of how he's utilized -- simply given his skill set and
Boston's need for serviceable big men.

Q: As Doc Rivers mentioned, the Celtics might not have a backup point guard. Jason Terry
can do it, but that would limit his key contribution as a scorer/shooter. What is the likely scenario in your opinion: Terry and Courtney Lee share some point guard duties? Maybe Dionte Christmas plays some PG? Even when Avery Bradley comes back, he is not a point
guard either. It seems they have three shooting guards and Rondo. -- El
Roz (Hopedale, Mass.)

A: In the aftermath of Keyon Dooling's retirement, both Rivers and Danny Ainge
have maintained that the team's desire is to avoid signing a veteran
ball-handler. Two things have to happen for them to stick to that plan:
1) Rivers has to devise a way for the offense to avoid ball pressure
when Rondo is off the floor. That might also include having Paul Pierce
act as point forward with the reserves, and simply letting Terry and
Lee share ball-handling duties at times. Even when Bradley is healthy,
they need to keep him off the ball as much as possible. 2) The younger
players (Christmas, Kris Joseph and Jamar Smith)
have to prove they have more value than a veteran backup ball-handler
would provide. If those players don't distinguish themselves during
camp, it might lead Rivers and Ainge to alter their line of thinking,
particularly if the backup ball-handling is one of the team's few areas
of glaring weakness.

Q: Who do you see making the roster: Christmas, Joseph or Smith? -- Dustin (Sabbatus, Maine)

A: Christmas just carries himself like someone who believes he will make
the team, and the fact that half his minimum contract is guaranteed only
aids his cause. Of the three, I think he's the most likely to land on
the 15-man roster. I always thought Joseph's spot was pretty secure, but
I do think he has to prove he has long-term value and improve his
defense in order to stick around. (The fact that his contract is
unguaranteed leaves the Celtics able to cut ties cheaply if they desire a
veteran body.) As for Smith, he's always faced the longest odds and
shooting woes in game situations haven't helped his cause. He was given
the chance to operate as backup ball-handler in Europe and -- if he
shows an ability to balance scoring and distribution -- could make the
team think hard about him. My gut says Christmas and Joseph make the
team, and Smith ends up in Maine as an affiliated player. But that could
change if the C's determine they need a veteran ball-handler.






Brian Babineau/NBAE/Getty Images

Dionte Christmas, thanks in part to his partially guaranteed contract, seems to have an inside track to a roster spot.



Q: What do you think the future holds for Fab Melo? Will he get minutes or will he go down to the D-League? -- Kevin (Wilbraham, Mass.)

A: Melo's draft-day package from the Celtics likely included a map of
Interstate 95. We all knew his skills were incredibly raw and it seems
almost certain that he'll spend time with Maine in the D-League to get
game reps and develop his skills. Boston still will have the luxury of
being able to keep him around the big-league squad, particularly if and
when injuries deplete the frontcourt depth. But if the likes of Darko Milicic and Jason Collins can solidify the front line, then there's little reason to let Melo waste away in the inactive column.

Q: Boston has made some key additions this past offseason. Why does the
rest of the league act like they all came from the Shady Pines
Retirement Home? -- Leonard (Philadelphia)

A: We've become so conditioned to thinking of the Celtics as an old team
that it's hard for even close observers to recognize that they've
quietly assembled a young core. On the surface, you swap out Terry for Ray Allen,
so the Celtics don't get younger there. What that overlooks is the fact
that Boston has a group of young, starter-caliber players in Rajon Rondo (26), Bass (27), Bradley (21), Jeff Green
(26) and Lee (27). Now add Sullinger (20) and Milicic (27) -- that's
more than half the potential 2012-13 rotation under 27. Put another way:
Lee was quick to point out last week how, in signing a four-year deal
with Boston this offseason, he's not only excited about the chance to
win with the veteran core that exists now with Kevin Garnett and Pierce, but sees Boston as a sustained contender with the young core growing together.

Q: What do you think will be the lineup at the end of the games for the Celtics? -- Faizan (Albany, N.Y.)

A: Rivers has the luxury of figuring that out as the season goes along.
Again, this is what Rivers keeps talking about, he's got options at
virtually every spot on the floor. If the Celtics need offense, they can
lean on a lineup of Rondo-Terry-Pierce-Green-KG, or if they prefer
defense they can trot out Rondo-Bradley-Pierce-Bass-KG -- or maybe run
with a 3-point grouping like Rondo-Terry-Lee-Pierce-KG. There's
flexibility to go big, go small or match up with any look an opponent
offers. That's a luxury that simply hasn't existed before for this team.

Q: Is there a chance that we could see the Celtics go big with some
lineups? I didn't realize how good Jeff Green is at creating off the
dribble, so maybe a lineup featuring Rondo, Pierce, Green, Bass and KG
could work for some spot minutes? Or maybe even replace Bass with
Milicic and slip KG over to the 4? -- Lucas (Columbia Mo.)

A: Why not? This is why I picture Doc Rivers sitting in a room just
picking names out of hat to concoct lineups, laughing like a hyena as he
writes them all down.


More on the Celtics





Q: Over/Under: 6.5 Celtics will average 10 points per game this season? -- Jim (Nashua, N.H.)

A: All right, let's think this through: Last year the entire starting
five was in double digits, ranging from Rondo (11.9) to Pierce (19.4).
Ray Allen's gone, but Lee averaged 11.4 points over 30.3 minutes per
game in Houston. The question is whether he'll get enough floor time
here to stay in double digits (and whether he can maintain that
production if his minutes dip a bit when Bradley returns). It seems like
a strong bet that Terry and Green will be in double digits. So we're at
… about 6.5. Let's go under. I think the overall depth leaves the likes
of Lee and Bradley -- and maybe someone like Sullinger if he develops
fast enough -- knocking on the double-digit door, but the balanced
scoring ultimately keeps the number at six players.

Q: Once the season begins, what kind of rotation is Doc going to go with?
Is he going to play 10 guys? Which guys will see the floor on a routine
basis? -- Eric (Cincinnati, Ohio)

A: I see the rotation leaning heavy on 11 guys (12 when Bradley is healthy), then
tightening up later in the year. The healthy starting five (Rondo,
Bradley, Pierce, KG, Bass) will have capable reserves (Terry, Lee,
Green, Sullinger/Wilcox, Milicic/Collins), then it's on the rest of the
roster players -- young guys like Melo, Christmas and Joseph (or Smith)
-- to provide emergency depth and develop their talents.

Q: Can Fab Melo be as good a Celtic as Acie Earl? -- Justin (Carlisle, Mass.)

A: I'm guessing Boston hopes to get more than two season and 104 games out
of the first-round pick. Melo should be a better defender than Earl
ever was, but might take more time to be NBA ready. Then again, the
Celtics were 32-50 in Earl's first year in 1993, so he didn't have the
luxury of being brought along slowly.

Q: The team seems to be jelling well after 10 days of training camp and individual player
expectations have either been met or exceeded so far. What's our biggest
weakness at this point? How do we address it? -- Dean (Glendale,
Calif.)

A: Find the injury bug that's been
lingering around this team for the past few years and swat it. Despite
the improved depth, this team can ill afford to have the likes of
Pierce, Garnett or Rondo dinged up when the playoffs roll around. Other
than that, it's a bit too early to pinpoint trouble spots. In their loss
in Turkey, the Celtics struggled with pick-and-roll defense and
turnovers (two familiar woes last season). They tightened up both areas
in Milan, but they have to be better than they were last year in both
departments.




bob




.

I thought this answer was the best:

Q: Is there a chance that we could see the Celtics go big with some
lineups? I didn't realize how good Jeff Green is at creating off the
dribble, so maybe a lineup featuring Rondo, Pierce, Green, Bass and KG
could work for some spot minutes? Or maybe even replace Bass with
Milicic and slip KG over to the 4? -- Lucas (Columbia Mo.)

A: Why not? This is why I picture Doc Rivers sitting in a room just
picking names out of hat to concoct lineups, laughing like a hyena as he
writes them all down.