HoopsHype - NBA Season Previews

STRENGTHS: Rajon Rondo has become one of the top five point guards in the NBA ... Led by Rondo, the Celtics are an excellent defensive team ... Ray Allen remains a top perimeter threat, although not as consistent as in the past as evidenced in the playoffs... Paul Pierce is a consistent scorer, capable of averaging close to 20 points per game... Pierce was a better three-point shooter last season than Allen and he’s also dangerous driving to the basket ... Doc Rivers is a quality coach who is able to deal with superstar egos as well as anybody in the NBA ... As he showed last year, Rivers won’t run his team in the ground during the regular season and knows how to apportion minutes ... While nowhere near the player he was in his prime, Shaquille O’Neal will give the Celtics a solid low-post option ... Kevin Garnett is a solid defensive presence and while no longer a superstar, he’s still capable of averaging 15 points and 8-10 rebounds ... Jermaine O’Neal is a good frontcourt addition, providing he can stay healthy ... Nate Robinson can provide instant offense off the bench as he did on a few occasions in the postseason ... Glen Davis is an energy player off the bench.

WEAKNESSES: Age. Other than Rondo, the other four projected starters will all be 33 or older when the season begins ... Garnett must show that he can stay healthy and not wear down ... Glen Davis, while showing flashes of brilliance, must become more consistent ... The Celtics will miss the defensive presence of Kendrick Perkins while he recovers from his knee surgery and isn’t expected back until sometime in 2011 ... One wonders how much better Rondo would be if he could be a more consistent outside shooter ... Marquis Daniels had an injury-plagued season and must show he can bounce back to provide depth off the bench ... Teams could exploit Shaq’s deficiency in defending the pick and roll.

PROJECTION: (54-28) 1st in the Atlantic Division / 3rd in the Eastern Conference

.PROJECTED STARTERS
	Point guard Rajon Rondo	Shooting guard Ray Allen	Small Forward Paul Pierce
	May be the best defensive point guard in the NBA. Excellent playmaker. It's hard to keep him away from the rim. Outside shot still an issue.	Had his worst scoring average since his rookie year last season. Still an outstanding shooter that will win the Celtics some games.	One of the best scorers in the recent history of the NBA. Tough defender when he's into it. Saves his best basketball for the playoffs.
	Power Forward Kevin Garnett	Center Jermaine O'Neal	Sixth Man Shaquille O'Neal
	Will play his heart out and every night, which will make up for his diminishing athleticism. How healthy will Garnett be?	Yet another defensive presence. Will have to compete for minutes with the other quality big men of Boston's crowded interior rotation.	Should still be quite effective in limited minutes. Will come off the bench often for the first time in his career. How will he cope with that?

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