Are the Celtics now a power-house in basketball?

They may get to the finals (unless Doc Rivers really is that bad a coach)...but then there's that big wall known as the Western Conference.

Overall, I see them going to the playoffs and bowing out to the Pistons in either the second round or conference finals.

Of course, the real issue here is now the media (read: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, etc.) won't stop talking about THREE Boston teams now.

Joy.

They won't be a powerhouse because they have a very inexperiences 2nd year PG starting, their center (Perkins) is very shaky on the offensive end, and their bench is somewhat lacking, although Tony Allen and Scalabrine will be helpful. They have a lot of question marks, but the roster is still good enough on paper to be a 2 or 3 seed in a woefully inept Eastern Conference, where a team like Cleveland got to the NBA Finals with only one superstar, let alone three as Boston has.

I think they're a top 10 NBA team for sure, and they should make a run in the playoffs with three legit superstars who are all hungry for a title and would give their left nut for a chance to play in June. If they do happen to reach the NBA Finals, though, I don't see them topping a team like San Antonio. Not unless they manage to find themselves an experienced PG that can withstand pressure.



Pierce plays SF, Allen is a SG. They don't play the same position at all. Allen will sit out on the perimeter and shoot jumpers, Pierce will find his way inside to score in the paint. Should either Pierce or KG get double teamed, Allen will just knock down 3s all day.

And there won't be any struggle over the ball. These are three extremely unselfish players who put the team ahead of themselves, and they know that this is their best chance to get to the NBA Finals. They'll do whatever it takes to play in June.

And the bench will improve. I guarantee you that there will be veterans out there who still haven't won a title that will see the situation in Boston and want to go play there. Unlike ever before in the last 15 years or so, players will want to play in Boston. They can probably get themselves one or two vets hungry for a ring that they'll be able to give a handful of minutes to, considering the bench is lacking ATM.

Deadpool, I still never quite understood the Hornets ownership. Screw 'em!

Are the Celtics now a powerhouse? Their division is the Atlantic Division:

Celtics
Raptors
Nets
Knicks
76ers

With such a sorry-ass division, if the Celtics can't own it, then the answer is NO.

Besides, regular season doesn't matter. You just got to get your foot in the playoffs, then go from there....where Celtics get creamed.

Celtics got two problems.

1. They practically traded away their entire future (Jefferson, Green, 5th overall pick in 2007 draft, Ratliff's expiring contract) for two players over the age of 30 whose skills will be diminishing.

2. The NBA still enforces the rule that you can only use one basketball on the court at all times, which is bad news for Pierce and Allen who are primarily known as offensive-minded players.

That being said, they should make the playoffs. I still think New Jersey is better than them.

They didn't have a future with the majority of the players they traded away. Telfair is a "Shoot First" PG who can't shoot and can't play defense. Gerald Green may be a good scorer in time, but his defense is terrible. Ryan Gomes is a decent bench player but I don't see him being more than that in his career. Jefferson and the 5th pick (Brewer or Green) would've been nice, but they aren't winning a title with those two guys leading the way in the near future.

The entire team was loaded with young guys who people kept saying would get better in the future. The Celtics have been rebuilding for 15 years, and what has it gotten them? One trip to the Eastern Finals. At some point, you have to just pull the trigger and go for it. They have a chance to win a title now, and in a crappy East, they have a legit show of getting to the NBA Finals. And once they get there, their opponent will likely be a better team, but anything can happen in a 7-game series.

As for Pierce and Allen being offensive-minded, it will work. These are two completely unselfish players who get a chance to be on a team with a legit chance of going somewhere. Don't you think they'd do whatever it takes to make this work? All these guys have been in the league for 10+ years and have never even gotten a sniff of a ring. I think it's easy to say they'll surrender a couple shots a game to make the situation work.

I really don't care anymore if they gave away their "future" to try to win now. You know what? It's been 21 years since they won a title and they haven't been relevant since Bird retired. Now people will notice them, now they'll be a team to reckon with in the East. If the Cavs can get to the NBA Finals with LeBron James and 11 other random guys off the street, then surely the Celtics have just as good a chance with 3 legitimate superstars.

I still say the Celtics aren't done making moves just yet. They have very little cap space left, but they can still get some kind of veteran PG to probably start, have Rondo as a backup, and make it work with Perkins as a center.

My only worry is that Doc Rivers is still coaching. He's never had a good team to work with while with the Celtics, so this is his chance to prove people wrong. For once in his time here, he'll have a set rotation to work with and won't have to worry about juggling minutes between 9 young players who the team is still trying to develop.

It all depends on two things. Coaching and Chemistry. If you have bad coaching, or your players can't get along, then you could have 5 all stars, but you won't be winning any finals, where as a team with no real stars can.

Pierce and KG have three years, Allen maybe has 2 years left playing at a starter level. after that, he's going to have to cut back on time or he won't be effective. he's just too injured to continue to play that position. but they can probably find another SG to replace him by then anyway either on the market or in the draft so it's not a huge issue.