This has been a very eventful season for the Boston Celtics thus far. Coach Doc Rivers is in his first season with the team. Joining Rivers are rookies Al Jefferson, Delonte West, Tony Allen and Justin Reed who were brought in along with veterans Gary Payton and Tom Gugliotta. The results to this point have been mixed, but there have been some optimistic developments that could point to a brighter future for the Celtics.
The Celtics play in the NBA's weakest division, the Atlantic. Despite their 23-24 record, they are actually leading the division entitling them to the third seed in the playoffs. Boston's strength is, without question, its backcourt.
Shooting guard Paul Pierce, the team's best player, leads the Celts with 22.1 points per game, and is second on the team in both rebounds and assists. Starting alongside Pierce at point guard is Payton, who has proven to all his doubters that he still has some gas left in the tank. While "The Glove" may not be the same player who was an All-Star fixture and a shutdown defender in his prime, he is still a reliable leader and floor general. He leads the team with 6.3 assists per game, to go along with 12.2 points per game. Jiri Welsch usually starts at small forward, but only averages a modest 8.1 points per game.
The frontcourt players, on the other hand, have been a liability all season. In a move the Celts may end up regretting for years to come, they signed forward Mark Blount to a six-year, $42 million contract extension after the 2003-2004 season, in which he averaged a pedestrian 10.3 points and 7.2 rebounds a game. So far this season, his rebounds per game, field-goal percentage and blocks per game have all declined, while his turnovers per game have risen significantly. For a player who hadn't averaged more than five points and four rebounds per game before last season, the reward he received for one decent season seemed to be especially high.
At center, Raef LaFrentz has been far from a sure bet for the Celtics since he joined the team. His chronic knee problems have limited his playing time in the past, but this year he's been healthy and is fourth on the team in scoring. However, despite his shooting range, LaFrentz lacks a serious low-post scoring game and is not a particularly good defender either. With at least three years and $30 million left on his bloated contract, it's doubtful that the Celtics will be able to get rid of him any time soon.
Boston's bench has been a relatively bright spot for the team. Ricky Davis has been explosive off the bench, and while he rarely starts, he still logs significant minutes night in and night out. He is second on the team in scoring with 14.9 points per game and gives the team a serious scoring threat alongside Pierce.
Jefferson, Allen and West have all shown promise for a bright future for the team. Jefferson, the team's first draft pick this year, skipped college and came directly to the pros. He has averaged 7 points and almost 5 rebounds in only 16 minutes a contest, and looks like a young Kevin Garnett. If he sees more playing time and continues to develop at this rate, he will be a legitimate star in the league down the road. He was recently placed on the injured list after hurting his ankle against the Pacers, which will be a significant blow for the team. Allen is a reliable option at shooting guard and has immediately become the team's best shutdown defender. He mirrors Davis' fast-paced play, but is a more complete player because of his superior defense. West, despite being slightly undersized and injured throughout December and most of January, is an excellent pure shooter who is deadly from long range if he is open. These three players, more than any others, represent the future of the Celtics.
Another player who could figure into Boston's future is second-year point guard Marcus Banks, a small but speedy player who gives the Celts another spark off the bench. Boston hopes that Payton's tutelage will pave the way for a more productive Banks.
The Celtics have four of their final six games at home before the All-Star Break, and have the potential to hold onto their Atlantic Division lead. However, the division is still wide open as there is only a 4.5 game gap between the Celtics and the last-place New York Knicks. If the Celtics can play more consistently, and Jefferson comes back soon, then Boston will be playing in the postseason. However, whether or not they fulfill that remains to be seen.
