The Boston Celtics are one of the NBA’s landmark teams, a cornerstone in terms of brand and performance record.
With 17 NBA Championships – the most of any team in the league – the Celtics are a universally respected organisation.
But the 2013/14 season is shaping as a challenging one.
The C’s are entering the definition of a rebuilding phase. The departure of superstar duo Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to the Brooklyn Nets this past off-season has left a dint.
Let’s not talk about Ray Allen taking his talents to South Beach last season. The Boston Big Three are now just a fond memory for Celtics Nation.
Rajon Rondo remains, but there’s still no date for his return from a serious knee injury. A pass-first maverick at the point, he’ll add an instant and much needed injection of proven class and experience.
With all of that said, I want to be very clear – this season won’t be all doom and gloom for those who bleed green.
Despite a zip-and-four start, these young Celtics outfit are not easy beats. They’ll make opposing teams earn the ‘W’.
The general lack of expectation surrounding the 2013/14 Celtics could be a blessing. They are young, athletic and ready to play.
First-year head coach Brad Stevens brings ‘college style’ energy to Beantown, not unlike Seattle Seahawks evergreen Pete Carroll in the NFL.
Stevens almost looks like he could pull on the green and white and step onto the floor himself.
It’s not just a fresh-faced coach for C’s fans to get excited about. There’s plenty to look for on the court as the season progresses.
Pre-season was all about first-round Gonzaga pick Kelly Olynyk, an athletic seven-foot scorer with great athleticism and length.
The big surprise has been rookie center Vitor Faverani. The 25-year-old Brazilian was scouted from the Spanish Leagues and has played pro ball since he was 15.
His early season performances have pundits asking how he slipped through the system until now. Blocking shots and snaring rebounds are his game, but the big man has a mean stroke from outside the perimeter.
He ranks first among rookies for blocks (2.8 per game) and rebounds (7.3 per game) and fourth in points (9.5 per game).
But Olynyk is there and thereabouts. He’s only 22 and is coming off the bench, unlike Faverani, who has started the first four games in the middle. Give Kelly time, sports fans.
Second-year power forward Jared Sullinger was raw in the early days, but is quickly becoming a strong performer off the pine. His big body makes him a menace on the boards even against taller opposition.
Of the Celtics’ established talent, this is the year for Jeff Green to prove himself as an elite player in the league.
Having played second fiddle to the likes of Kevin Durant and Pierce in his career, it’s time for him to be number one – physically, through consistently high-level performance, and mentally.
He’s started the year inconsistently, but he’s working into a new role as team leader. Having managed just seven points against the Pistons at the weekend, he’s learned a lesson.
You won’t see him score less than 10 points in a game for the rest of the season. I’m calling that now.
Avery Bradley has provided a more than acceptable option at guard in the absence of Rondo. His defensive prowess and ability to create turnovers have and will continue to be invaluable.
Former Washington Wizard Jordan Crawford is an aggressive scoring machine. Be it a pull-up jumper from three feet outside the arc or a running three-on-one circus shot, the man can get it in the hoop and that’s cool to watch.
My tip for unlikeliest hero through this tough season is Phil Pressey. The 5’11” guard has been backing up Bradley for a few minutes here and there, but he’ll get more time as we get deeper into the schedule.
Pressey was solid in the pre-season, coming heartbreakingly close to single-handedly leading the Celtics to a come from behind win over the Knicks.
Keep an eye out for the 22-year-old out of Missouri; at the very least he’s got an awesome name.
Yes, it’s going to be a long year and yes, Celtics fans may need to prepare themselves for a smaller number in the ‘W’ column. C’s Nation may as well find some positives.
The above are just some of the things the Celtics faithful can look forward to. Remember that farm of high draft picks you guys are sitting on?
Sam Macey
Roar Rookie
I'm not sure if Avery Bradley has been 'more than acceptable' as a starting PG. There are few who shoot worse than him either from the floor as a whole, or from deep, and he's arguably coughed it up more than he's actually forced. Any PG who turns it over more than he assists, is not a good PG - that's just not his game. That being said, you put him in the second unit as 6th man and he could be the perimeter defender they've lacked since Tony Allen packed his bags. Green needs someone to set him up - he's not a good dribbler and isn't that creative unless he's isolated against a bigger, slower PF, but I agree he has to step it up and be a 20pt scorer. Until Rondo's back I agree with astro, it's feast or famine depending how hot he gets and who he matches up with. He'd be perfect as a legit second option, cos when the D collapses on him he hasn't got the skill-set to either make a play for teammates (who? haha) or take over the game himself. Ainge is going to have his hands full trying to move pieces that are arguably on the worst contracts in the league - Wallace 'crashed' and burned last season and his body is completely shot. Courtney Lee was a very solid rotation player until he became an overpriced solid rotation player - guys like him are fine as a 7th/8th man off the bench, but not when you need 30-32 mins from him. Bass is useful enough but would be traded as soon as anyone offered a 2nd rounder for him - he'd be ideal on a contender like the Spurs or Thunder who could use a vet wide body to bang and knock down open 15-18 footers. Agree with Olynyk and Sully, those guys have some nice skills...but are they both starter quality? Not so sure... Is Rondo going to play this year? And if he does, will he finish the season as a Celtic?
Phil Coorey
Roar Pro
They have a free reign to totally tank the season. Big Papi and Jon Lester took care of that...
Silver_Sovereign
Guest
The Boston who?? never heard of them
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Such a valid option haha, I feel you. I'm just a natural optimist. Finding the good things is pretty essential to helping me maintain my interest.
Plainsman
Guest
Hi Kit This IMHO was always going to be rebuilding year for us Celtic tragics. I am maintaining low expectations in order to be pleasantly surprised when we win.
Cleveland Steamer
Guest
They ends to build the team around Rondo. He's a franchise player (and sells a lot of jerseys)
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
But the Celtics will fight back, as they always do.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Haha, enjoyed that.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
I'll be finding the positives and finding ways to enjoy watching the Celtics play. I bleed/cry green.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Johnno the Celtics have had a great run the last 6 years. A title in 2007/08 and should have won in 2009/10. They also came within a whisker of going to the Finals two years ago. The rebuilding project was delayed a year or two. No doubt us Celtic fans are in for a few years of pain.
astro
Guest
Well Kit, I admire your dedication. The Celts currently run 30th in scoring and assists per game, 28th in rebounding and give up the 2nd most amount of points. They're shooting 28% from 3, and have 4 players above the league average PER so far. Bottom line, you are in for a long year if you're watching the Celtics...Olynyk and Sully will develop, but that will happen in between a stack of Gerald Wallace air balls, Avery Bradley turnovers, Jordan Crawford pull up 3's which will miss and Jeff Green scoring 35pts one game and 6pts the next.
Johnno
Guest
The Celtics are not the same since Bird left.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
I agree with some of your points. What I'm saying is that even in a season where the C's won't win many games, there's still some cool stuff to look at for fans. It's not the end of the world, patience is required. I don't think there's any doubt that Ainge and co. know what they're doing. Sure, there's some seriously middle of the road players, but there has to be some good basketball played for any of those bargaining chips to be worth anything (exception of Rondo, he has star value regardless).
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
I really hope he stays and the team can be built around him. He's such a good passer. Pass-first point guards are my favourite style of player in the NBA.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Faverani has a huge frame. He's 6'11" to Olynyk's 7'0", but so much thicker through the hips and upper body. He's a great blocker.
astro
Guest
The Celts are rebuilding...clearly. Why would they want to build a team that would do anything but be terrible? Why blow up your roster and then try to not get as high a draft pick as possible in the most loaded draft in decades? If "assembled to stick" is too harsh and this team is all about fostering young players, my question is who exactly are they fostering? Take a look at how many guys who are picked outside the top 10 (in Olynyk's case), or top 20 (in Sully's case), or are undrafted (Pressey) actually wind up being contributors over the long term in the NBA? The answer is very few...And even then, that's a cosy 3 players (all with serious question marks) who are being "brought on for the long term" this year. I agree that maybe I was too harsh in saying Olynyk is a solid back-up at best (which actually isn't an insult)...but by the same logic, you can't pencil him in as a starting centre waiting to happen without having an eraser nearby. If I were a Celtics fan, I wouldn't be looking for silver linings this year. That will come in the draft. What I would like to see is the Celts use Rondo, Green, Lee, Humpries etc as potential trade chips to find either more picks, or more young players who could actually wind up being contributors. The Celts are a long way behind the other 'rebuilders/tankers'...Utah has Favors, Kanter, Burke, Haywood and Philly has MCW, Turner, Young and The Suns have Bledsoe, Len and the Morris twins. The fact is this Celts roster is very thin, and evene with a high draft pick next year, they'll be bad for a while unless they work their trades.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Yeah my best mate is a mad celts fan so he was stoked. Olynyk will be awesome, I like how they have started Faverani so there isn't much pressure on Olynyk, fair sure Faverani has a bigger body too?
Red Kev
Guest
It'll depend on Rondo returning to form I think - Ainge will want too much for him (as he should - guy is a hell of a passer) for any club to pay up without seeing him back from the ACL injury.
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
"Assembled to stink" is a bit of an overstatement in my opinion. It's an environment specifically designed to help bring on the Celtics' younger players for the longer term - guys like Olynyk and Sullinger. Yes, there are some guys on the roster who are short term guys. Incredibly short term in some cases. The stats are based on four games and if it's too early for me to say Vitor slipped through the system, it's way to early to call Olynyk a solid back-up centre. Sully's numbers are based on limited minutes (injury, being behind the big stars last year).
Kit Harvey
Roar Guru
Ainge loves a big move, you're right. Let's wait and see. So happy the Celtics got off the 0!