When it comes to the Boston Celtics I am always optimistic. Over the last 20 years of non championship futility, it usually takes a good chunk of the season before I throw in the towel.
Well after watching this year's edition go 1 and 4 over the first five games it is hard to get very enthusiastic about this club. Quite frankly so far the only thing worse than their play has been Doc Rivers coaching. These guys came out of training camp flat as a pancake and have gone down hill since.
This is another year where we seem to have an abundance of young talent but good old Doc can't seem to settle on a steady rotation. This has been his hallmark to date in his Celtic tenure. No one knows from night to night who is going to be marched out on the court.
The team despite its over all youth and athleticism does not do well in the running game. The half court offense boils down to watching Paul Pierce or Wally Scerbiak. The transition defense is plain and simply very bad.
New addition point guard Sebastian Telfair is a bust so far. He is a clay statue on defense and he does not look like much of an assist man. The team over all has fifty percent more turnovers than their opponents. In their one win of the young season, Paul Pierce scored 35 points and had an astounding 12 turnovers.
The frontline other than Ryan Gomes is a collection of under achievers. It was hoped that this would be break out years for Kendrick Perkins and Al Jefferson, but hard luck Al is down for a month plus because of an appendectomy and Perkins starts fouling when he gets to the scorers table.
Michael Olowokandi is a surprise even making the team and Theo Ratliff can be a defensive force but did anyone think that these two would fit into the plans at all?
Other disappointments are Tony Allen who at times looks completely lost on the floor. Nothing could illustrate this more than the fact that in 80 minutes of play he has managed to make 4 of 15 field goal attempts. The free throw shooting has been abominable. Pierce is shooting 65%, Gomes 60% and rookie Rajon Rondo at 54%. Unbelievably, Perkins has played a total of 90 minutes this season and has managed to get to the free throw line twice missing both.
The only potential bright spots seem to be that Rondo can bring some speed and excitement when he gets in and that maybe Gerald Green won't get buried on the bench. Other than that it seems like it is going to be a long and wholly un-entertaining season.
