The newest edition of the Celtics is about to be unveiled, and it's one unlike anything we've seen yet. Deeper bench. More ambiguous backup roles. More big men. More mature young starters at the point and in the paint.
These are the new Celtics, and they're different from the first two teams in Boston to include Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. They're older and more mature — but are they better?
You're not allowed to ask the players that question. It's the wrong time of year.
"I really don't even judge," Ray Allen said last week to ESPN's Chris Forsberg. "I don't compare. Even if it were the same team, it could be better or it could be worse. The league changes. That conversation can only really be had after the championship is decided and we hoist that banner. Then that decision could be made about which team is better."
Maybe in June, Allen will be more willing to talk about who's better than whom. But in the meantime, we'll have to tackle that issue ourselves.
Is this year's Celtics team better? Yes, there's a very good chance that it is. There are a few reasons:
1. Rasheed Wallace
Let's start with the obvious. The Celtics were in need of another active big man with Kevin Garnett getting on in years — and in Rasheed, they've got another one a lot like KG. He's tall, he's long, he can disrupt passing lanes, he can guard just about anyone and he can shoot from anywhere on the floor.
Rasheed Wallace will bring the Celtics energy and intensity on both ends of the floor. On defense, he can get stops. And on offense, he can knock down the big jumper when the C's need it. At under $6 million a year, he's a steal.
2. Depth
The Celtics did a lot more than just add Rasheed this offseason. They tacked on a great deal of extra bench depth behind their top six guys — they retained Eddie House, giving them a knock-down jump shooter for their backcourt, and they locked up a backup swingman in Marquis Daniels and a pair of additional big men in Shelden Williams and the returning Glen Davis. Plus they drafted Lester Hudson, the team's backup point guard of the future.
The only two significant losses from the team of two years ago? Leon Powe, who only played 56 games that season, and James Posey, who was a significant liability on offense. Call it revisionist if you must, but Posey was a 6-foot-8 forward who didn't play like one — he simply hung out on the perimeter and chucked up jumpers. In Daniels, the Celtics have a slashing, driving, scoring wing who gives this team the explosiveness it needs on offense.
As for big men, the team will be much better off now. Instead of just Powe and a rookie in Davis coming off the bench, the C's have an older, improved Davis alongside Wallace and Williams. They have more options, which will behoove them if injuries should be a problem again.
3. Maturity
Instead of a second-year point guard, the Celtics now have the new Rajon Rondo — he's bigger, stronger and more mature. He makes better decisions with the basketball. He's more dedicated on the defensive end. He's ready to be an All-Star.
Instead of a 23-year-old Kendrick Perkins at center, the C's have the more confident Perk now. He's not afraid to muscle up against any center in the NBA — whether it's Dwight Howard, Shaquille O'Neal, you name it, he's ready. Perk can play D, he can rebound — and he might even be developing some game offensively. The rest of the NBA should look out.
4. Flexibility
Unlike some Celtics teams from years past, these C's are prepared for whatever comes their way. No matter what injuries should arise, contingency plans are in place. Whether it's Hudson waiting in the wings behind Rondo, House ready to back up Allen, Daniels or the wealth of big men in place on the team's bench, these Celtics are stacked.
This team is deeper, wiser and more versatile than ever before. They'll prove it in June.
