NBA Watchability Rankings: Celtics #21

I have no clue what "watchability" means.  I guess it assumes there's no such thing as a "die hard fan" who will watch regardless of our win-loss record or playoff seedings.  Kinda leaves us out, huh?  Nevertheless, here it is with only 15 days to go before camp.


http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2013/09/14/watchability-rankings-boston-celtics-rajon-rondo/2812737/



NBA Watchability Rankings: No. 21 Boston Celtics
Adi Joseph, USA TODAY Sports 7:10 p.m. EDT September 15, 2013



USA TODAY Sports' Adi Joseph and Sean Highkin will be counting down NBA teams based on watchability for the upcoming 2013-14 seasons. We'll go one team a day, from least-watchable to most, giving you an idea of what to keep an eye out for this season. Today, we arrive at the No. 21 Boston Celtics:

2012-13 record: 41-40, lost in first round of playoffs

Adi Joseph's 2013-14 record projection: 32-50, miss playoffs

Two best players (2012-13 stats): PG Rajon Rondo (13.7 points, 11.1 assists, 5.6 rebounds a game), SF Jeff Green (12.8 points, 3.9 rebounds a game).

Overview: Coach Doc Rivers, long-time superstar Paul Pierce, team leader and All-Star center Kevin Garnett and veteran sixth man Jason Terry are gone. Rondo's surgically repaired knee remains on the mend. So the Eastern Conference's greatest franchise will have an interesting season. But first-year coach Brad Stevens has a long leash, and Rondo's return, possibly in December, should keep them good enough to avoid the absolute cellar of the NBA. They'll need bigger contributions from Green and guard Avery Bradley, among others.

WHY YOU CAN'T MISS THEM

The Rondo takeover: The Celtics point guard is surly, cutthroat and one of the most gifted players in the NBA. Now he has his own team to return to when his knee is ready. It's unlikely he'll top 10 assists a game for the fourth consecutive year because his teammates aren't as talented as in past seasons, but he may showcase more of the talent that has led to so many triple-doubles and gaudy stat lines. And you know he'll be out to prove something. In the off chance that Rondo doesn't return this season, a la Derrick Rose last year, you can drop the Celtics at least five spots in these rankings.





Coach Baby Face:

Stevens, fresh off a historic run as Butler University's head coach, is 36. He has no NBA experience as a player or coach. He's only about 3½ years older than Celtics swingman Keith Bogans. But Stevens has ideas, and with time, he could be an elite-level coach. Celtics President Danny Ainge promised him just that.


Brad Stevens won a Division I-record 166 games in his first years at Butler. He lost only 49 games in six seasons. Brad Stevens won a Division I-record 166 games in his first years at Butler. He lost only 49 games in six seasons.  Mark Zerof, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen
Brad Stevens won a Division I-record 166 games in his first years at Butler. He lost only 49 games in six seasons. Stevens will now test his merits on the NBA stage as the coach of the Boston Celtics. Stevens will now take over for Doc Rivers, who left to coach the Los Angeles Clippers. Stevens coached Butler from for six seasons, starting in 2007. Stevens had been linked to numerous big-time college jobs over the past few years. Butler never won fewer than 22 games in a season under Stevens. Stevens led Butler to four conference regular season championships Stevens and Avery Jukes celebrate Butler's Elite 8 win in 2010. Stevens, 36, was the youngest coach to reach the Final Four since Bob Knight in 1973. Stevens led Butler to back-to-back national championship game appearances in 2010 and 2011.


The comeback completed:

Jeff Green went from No. 5 overall draft pick to good but not great NBA player to out a full season with a heart condition. He came back with a vengeance last season, coming off the Celtics' bench and playing all but one game while unleashing fierce dunks. This season, he should be the team's leading scorer. Celebrate with him.

JUST TRY TO IGNORE ...

The mass hysteria: The NBA's two greatest franchises, the Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers, will not be very good this season. The Lakers have some vague potential to surprise because they have three aging superstars who might have more left in the tank than many expect. But the Celtics are all about intrigue. The wins probably won't be coming this year. Bear with them, and ignore the frenzy about two great franchises in down years.

FOLLOW THE TWEETS

@KellyOlynyk: The Celtics drafted Gonzaga center Kelly Olynyk No. 13 overall this June to mixed reviews. But then Olynyk starred at summer league, earning bountiful praise. He also has a fun and engaging Twitter personality.




Nationally televised games (times p.m. Eastern):

Friday, Dec. 6 vs. Denver Nuggets, 7:30, ESPN
Monday, Dec. 16 vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, 7:30, NBATV
Sunday, Jan. 26 vs. Brooklyn Nets, 6:30, ESPN
Sunday, Feb. 9 vs. Dallas Mavericks, 6, NBATV
Friday, Feb. 21 at Los Angeles Lakers, 10:30, ESPN
Sunday, March 9 vs. Detroit Pistons, 6, NBATV
NBA watchability rankings:

30. Phoenix Suns
29. Utah Jazz
28. Charlotte Bobcats
27. Philadelphia 76ers
26. Orlando Magic
25. Milwaukee Bucks
24. Los Angeles Lakers
23. Sacramento Kings
22. Atlanta Hawks
21. Boston Celtics
20. (Coming tomorrow)



bob


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Amusing.. Must be rating based on the casual fan. But of course bandwagoners will LOVE watching the Heat and OKC on a nightly basis.


KJ

Bob,

I assume "watchability" refers to entertainment value. Interesting that the "intrigue" he mentions, along with the (hopeful) presence of Rondo apparently outweigh the fact that the Lakers have three (aging) stars back, because he puts the Celtics three slots higher than Los Angeles. Okay that's my quota of writing about stuff—especially subjective stuff—like this.

Sam