It has taken me this long to post my year end Celtic review because it took this amount of time to arrive at a relative calm following the game seven melt down. We might as well get the negative stuff out of the way by simply saying this was a debacle in which the better team managed to lose the last three home games and snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. The Celtics were in order, deeper on the bench, more athletic, and healthier yet they lacked one key ingredient in crunch time and that was maturity. Pierce's game six ejection, the game seven technical fouls and the overall trash talking antics wear very thin when you get knocked out of the playoffs.
Despite the bitter disappointment of game seven there are still a lot of positives to be taken away from this season. Certainly we all were shocked that they managed to win the division. As shocking as that was, the emergence of Ricky Davis as an all around team player was even more so. Bearing a reputation as a showboat and a mal content before arriving here, he seemed to flourish in Coach River's system and played a fast paced athletic running game that was enjoyable to watch.
Other positive developments was the showing of the rookies, Al Jefferson, Delonte West, Tony Allen, Justin Reed and the continuing progress of second year men Kendrick Perkins and Marcus Banks. Danny Ainge was true to his word when he said he wanted to remake the team into something that could play traditional Celtic basketball. This group could form the nucleus of a contending club in years to come.
The question for Ainge is how and how soon does he make room for them to get more minutes per game next year. The point guard slot should be easy as West and Banks should split the minutes left by Gary Payton who probably should be moving on. Payton was a good soldier this year and contributed greatly but he was a veteran set in his ways and the decks have to be cleared for Rivers to coach the team without veteran resistance. Antoine Walker is another question mark. Although he has said all the right things about wanting to play here his contract is up and he will go with the money. Even though he contributed greatly down the stretch run for the playoffs in the end he settled into his old ways and was unable to carry the day in game seven. The club stood around trying to do things one on one while Indiana played like a team. With Walker moving on, the door will be left open for Jefferson to earn his stripes with 30 plus minutes a game in the power forward slot. Jefferson showed more than enough to warrant a big role for next year. Although not as polished as Walker now he certainly has more up side as a rebounder and as a potent force on the blocks. The team must have a strong go to post up man and Jefferson is the real thing down low.
The center spot looks set with Raef Lafrentz returning with an 11 million dollar contract that is impossible to unload. Raef had a decent year and with another year of healing from his knee surgery he should contribute at a higher level next year. Kendrick Perkins is more than a serviceable back up as a rebounder and defensive play maker. Mark Blount put in complete no show most of the year and should be unloaded as quickly as possible. Some one will see some hope of redemption in a seven footer who can run the floor. Why Blount refused to perform at a level we know he can is a complete mystery.
The real question mark is Paul Pierce. He is a player of renown which no one can doubt. His points and rebounds and assist totals rank him up near the top three in the league in total production. The knock on him from the average fans perspective is that he doesn't seem to get that fact that he is a better player in a system that Rivers and Ainge want to run. As a defender would you rather cover Pierce one on one while he tries to back you down or cover him out on the wing as he slashes to the basket? Ainge has said that Pierce is not on the block but given the fact that Ainge seems committed to Rivers and Pierce at times is uncoachable we may see Paul in another uniform if the right deal comes along.
All in all it was a Hell of a season for the green and there was a lot more excitement in the building than we have seen in quite a while. The faithful are actually excited about any off season developments and are eager to see how next season shapes up. Things are definitely looking up!
