Team Expert/Cool Guy: Jeff Clark of the very popular and influential Celtics Blog.
Questions and Answers:
1. How big will Paul Pierce's shoulders have to be for this upcoming season? Will a full year of Wally Szczerbiak lighten the load?
Pierce is still a man among boys, but the load is getting lighter by the day. I see steady growth by many of the young players and the addition of two point guards that know how to dish should keep the offense moving fluidly. Wally is probably a better fit for this team than Ricky Davis was, but he'll have to stay healthy all year to be a real asset. Don't bet against him leaving via trade this year either.
2. Will a new city, and escaping from the chaos of Portland, help get the most out of Sebastian Telfair? Will he keep the PG position for the whole season, or will his bad decision making and inconsistent
shot going to have Delonte West back at the point?
The Celtics want to run and they want to turn Telfair loose, so that bodes well for him. He's got the talent, he just needs to be consistent and I think the team's commitment to him will pay dividends. The guy to watch right now is Rajon Rondo who has won the backup point position, allowing Delonte to focus on moving back to the shooting guard spot. Having Delonte on the court with either point guard could also add stability to the position.
3. Does Al Jefferson finally breakout this season? And how good can Kendrick Perkins be?
I think Al is poised to do some great things this year. He has so much natural talent that if he's just healthy enough to stay on the court, you can expect him to score and rebound. He will need to improve the other areas of his game, in particular defense, but I have high hopes.
Perkins can be a poor man's Ben Wallace. He really has that type of mentality. He craves instruction and he's already shown leadership characteristics. He'll never score consistently, but he's already a strong defender and should keep improving over time.
4. Anything else you want to say about the Celtics?
This year is going to be all about evaluation. Which young guys separate themselves from the pack? Which ones still struggle to keep up? Once the staff knows what it has, I think a 2 for 1 or 3 for 1 trade will happen either mid year or after the season. Don't be surprised to see the Celtics and Bulls brought up in every major trade rumor this year.
5. Who wins the NBA Finals this coming season (besides your team, that is)? Just give me a team name at least.
Phoenix Suns.
Jeff, I know you're a busy guy, so thanks for taking the time out to answer the quest-e-yons! Now let's get to what I think the Celtics will need to do to regain the Celtic magic, as well as what not to do.
MY TAKE - Things Go Right If These Three Things Happen:
1. Sebastian Telfair, acquired during the offseason, lives up to the hype that surrounded him during his prep career and doing well in a new setting.
2. Al Jefferson and Kendrick Perkins step up their development and become forces down low on both sides of the ball.
3. Delonte West wins the Sixth Man of the Year award or at least contends heavily for the hardware.
MY TAKE - Things Go Wrong If These Three Things Happen:
1. Paul Pierce goes down to injury, which would leave the Celtics without their best player.
2. Wally Szczerbiak also succumbs to injury or isn't able to carry a team, something he's never done in his pro career.
3. The Celtics don't find significant playing time for a very good Ryan Gomes.
