Boston preview

Preview. Boston Celtics. By George Wang. 99-00 Record : 35-47 Best Player : Antoine Walker, no matter what everybody says, 20.5ppg, 8rpg, 3.7apg, and 116stls speak for themselves. Worst Player : Pervis Ellison, another triumphant No.1 overall pick on display. He played 30 games in the season, if he didn't play these games, the Celtics would probably have a record of 65-17. Rising Star : Paul Pierce, well he already is a star, but next season he will become an even better player than his19.6ppg and 5.4rpg from last year. Key Acquisitions : Jerome Moiso. Key Losses : Danny Fortson ( sort of ) Rumors : Trade Antoine Walker for anyone.	Best move this off season : Not trading Antoine Walker. No matter what everyone is saying. Worst move this off season : Not trading Antoine Walker. The Keith Van Horn deal was really appealing for the Celtics. Tell me why? Rick Pitino obviously can't coach at the pro level. Then why is he still in charge of this team after 3 years of ineptitude?
ProjectedLineup	2001TeamRoster
C VitalyPotapenko. he isn't what the Celtics really wanted at this position, but he is serviceable until Jerome Moiso develops a little. PF AntoineWalker. ( If he is still here, if not anyone he is traded for ) Walker is probably the best forward in the East pure talent wise. He can do everything on the court a power and small forward can and some stuff that guards do. The only thing that he cannot do is make good decisions on the Floor. He must develop as a leader too or he will be gone soon. SF EricMinor. I know people are going to say what the @#$%? But this makes sense, it allows Pierce to move back to SG where he dominates and Minor is a very good all-round defender. That's what the team needs as there are already plenty of ball hogs. SG PaulPierce. With Minor manning the SF position, Pierce can finally move to his preferred spot at SG, moving Adrian Griffin to the bench where he belongs. Watch him to dominate other SGs in the league for years to come. He will be an All-star next year. PG KennyAnderson. Only because there is no one better for the moment. He really doesn't fit into Boston's plans or any other team's for that matter of fact. No one wants a PG. that can't shoot, can't pass and hogs the ball all the time. Look for Pitino to ship him in the first available offer. Maybe one involving Walker. 6thMan JeromeMoiso. He is tall, and skinny and weak. But he has a good feel for the game and nice low post moves. Wait for him to put on 20lbs of muscle and the starting C job will be his. WhatTheyHave. The Celtics have a team of bad individual players and two all-star players in Walker and Pierce. They have a fast team that can run all day and pressure all day on defense too. In Walker and Pierce, the Celtics have one of the most potent one-two punches in the entire league and they should start building around these two for future success. Look at the Lakers. The Celtics also have some totally useless salary cap hogs in Kenny Anderson and Tony Battie. Getting rid of these guys will make the team much better. WhatTheyNeed. With all the talentless players that the Celtics have, they need a legitimate shot blocking big man upfront. Moiso and Potapenko are both more finesse players rather than low post rocks. A Theo Ratliff or Ben Wallace would be nice here. I see an imminent return for the Chief, Robert Parish hehe. The Celtics also need a PG. that can distribute the ball, Anderson is a Iverson wannabe. And a bad one at that. New aquisitions Randy Brown and Robert pack will not challenge for the starting spot. A coach that could coach on the NBA level would also help. 2001Projection. Until Boston can find a pass first PG, they will remain a mediocre team as both Walker and Pierce need the rock in their hands to be productive. With the addition of Moiso, Boston certainly looks a little improved on paper. Their inability to sign mercer hurts though But looks can be deceiving, just check out the Nets. Expect Boston to be a below .500 team, maybe a little better, if things fall their way, they might challenge for the final two playoff spots in the East. But one thing is for sure, returning to the glory days of the past are still a long way off. More Teams.	Kenny Anderson G Way past his best, now just eats up salary cap room. Tony Battie F/C Unlike Anderson, was never good and still takes up heaps of salary cap room. Mark Blount F/C Impressed in summer leagues to get contract. Can he step up to the pro level? Randy Brown G Career backup, still will be. Chris Carr G Another poaching from the Bulls side of last year. Mr Pitino, that's one year too late I'm afraid. Calbert Cheaney G/F Continues the trend of wasted cap room on this team. Pervis Ellison C Biggest waste of salary out of them all. Why is he still on the payroll? Adrian Griffin G Hard worker with limited physical tools. Will do all the dirty work the glamour players won't. Walter McCarty F 6'10" and athletic, has great physical ability. No semblance of a brain though. Greg Minor F Hard working athletic defender with limited offensive ability. Jerome Moiso F/C Could be bust or a stroke of genious at number 10 in this year's draft. Doug Overton G Was star...........when he played for the Illawarra Hawks in the NBL. Robert Pack G Can only dunk. Before he got injured, now just can't do anything. Paul Pierce G/F Star potential. Can shoot, can pass, Just needs to stay healthy and improve his perimiter defense. Vitaly potapenko F/C Was traded for Andrew DeClerq bad move. Josip Sesar G Josip who? Antoine Walker F No matter what people say, the talent is still there. Eric Williams G More bench players. John Williams F/C 'Hot Rod' is now a bomb.