Boston Celtics Season Preview – NBA Predictions
The Grizzlies have turned around their franchise from also ran to making the playoffs but you have to wonder if this group can really expect to make the next step.
Boston Celtics
Eastern Conference
2011-12 Record: 39-27
Odds to win title: 15 to 1
Odds to win conference: 6 to 1 from Bovada
Key losses:
Ray Allen – The Hall of Fame shooter really struggled at times last year and jumped ship to the Miami Heat…that’s cold.
Top Newcomers:
Jason Terry – An instant offense two guard who can play a little point guard with second unit from time to time.
Leandro Barbosa – Another guard who can put up points in a hurry. They don’t call him the Brazilian Blur for nothing.
Fab Melo/Jason Collins – One rookie and one veteran who provide size in the middle and plenty of fouls when they need them late in games and in the playoffs.
Top Players:
Rajon Rondo – Has had back to back season averaging better than 10 points and 10 assists. His game is different from other point guards but he makes the team go.
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Kevin Garnett – When he is right physically he can still be a very effective player at both ends of the court. He is the emotional leader of this team too.
Paul Pierce – I have always been a big fan of “The Truth”. When it comes to scoring the basketball it ain’t always pretty but few are better.
Since they put the original Big Three together the Boston Celtics have been in the conversation for the NBA Championship. They won one and have come close a couple of other times but are now retooling a little bit. Rajon Rondo has grown into one of the best point guards in the league and I like the way other players have adapted their games to his. I also like the infusion of supporting talent brought in this offseason. No superstars but I think they are better than they were last season.
Most peg the Celtics as the top threat to Miami in the Eastern Conference and I agree with that opinion. This is a very good team with great leadership and continuity. Sure they are going to get slagged for the fact that they have two aging superstars but the moves they have made in support should infuse the team with more energy and enable them to create more lineup combinations and take advantage of mismatches.
Strengths
The Celtics may not be the most gifted team in the league but they are well coached and prepared for every situation. It is a treat to watch experienced players like Garnett, Pierce and Rondo perform in the clutch and in Terry they are adding another player who has thrived in the tightest of situations. That experience will show a few night in terms of lack of fresh legs but more often than not it is a huge benefit. [ad-6571516]
Weaknesses
The Celtics have lots of good scorers but with Allen gone they are lacking that pure shooting presence, especially from deep. It will be interesting to see what lineup winds up being the most effective for them as their best three point shooter and post player might be Pierce. Rondo scares no one with his shot and Terry and Barbosa like to slash through the court using all the tricks and angles that are out there to put the ball in the hoop.
Prediction
I imagine this Celtics team will look to position itself for the playoffs throughout the season so there will probably be some ugly games this year where they get down early and then just pack it in. They should capture the Atlantic Division giving them one of the top spots in the Eastern Conference and are lucky to have lots of games against teams like the Raptors. Come playoffs this team should be fully formed and ready to rock with more speed and pop than in recent years. I really like the mix.
Situations to watch for…
Rest is and will continue to be a key for Boston, or at least betting on Boston. Their ATS record with no rest last year was 8-13 while playing with 1 days rest it was 30-22. This is a proud team but one that has shown signs of being tired in the past. I wouldn’t bet blindly against them on back to backs because they are the type of team that finds motivation against certain other squads – but be mindful of their history.
