The Good News- What is the best thing about this off-season?

[durpman]

With all of the disheartening news this off-season there is a lot of concerned fans complaining (I admit I am one of them). There are several bad things that happened it is true. James Posey is gone and he was wishy-washy and waited till all of the good replacements were signed. PJ Brown retired and I cannot say how important he was in the post season. It looks like Cassell is gone. The Celtics bring in the underperforming jerk Darius Miles and his bad attitude (he is a gimpy version Rick Davis something no team needs,especially  the Celtics). Worst of all the big three are going to be 31, 32, and 33 years old.

Still, I am trying to stay positive there actually are a few positive things to take comfort in this off-season. Scott Pollard is gone that’s good. Playing another season in the starting five Rondo will only get better by becoming a better shooter, becoming more confident, and being a better decision maker. Leon Powe and Glen Davis are both ready to carry more of the load and look capable of stepping up (remember Perkins and Rondo were big question marks last year for no experience and they grew up a lot). Even with all if negativity O Bryant, remember he will at least be no worse than Pollard was.  The Celtics have now won it all and know what it takes to win a title now. Eddie House is back and his energy and chemistry returns. Bill Walker was a steal in the Draft. The biggest three reasons to be happy is Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett are still here!

It probably will still be hard for the Celtics to repeat but with the big three they are still right there with the Pistons, Cavs, Hornets, Rockets, and Lakers in contention for the NBA Championship.

[hwangjini_1]

all the choices were good. but i voted for giddens and walker.

i think they both will be good nba players....i just wish they could become good nba players THIS SEASON since the celtics bench can use the help.

hey guys!!! hurry it up!

[Roy Hobbs]

I'm very happy we drafted Bill Walker, and I like Giddens' physical tools a lot.  For our draft position, I'm psyched to come away with two players of that caliber.

[jay_jay54]

The best news ive heard this offseason so far is the resigning of House.the only player i can say i have any idea of what to really expect.All the rest(new additions)are yet to be seen or proven.

[JR Giddens]

Bill Walker and JR Giddens dunking at the Mullins center at my school October 8th at Umass 

[Vermont Green]

I am not as worried as many on this board.  I like that we got younger on the bench.  Posey, Cassell, Pollard, and PJ Brown all have been replaced with younger players.  I also like the draft picks considering our position.  I am actually skeptical of Miles, he might not even make it through camp but I like Patty O.  I am somewhere in the middle on Pruitt but I do like him and am probably a little more optimistic than pessimistic that he will contribute.

Repeating is hard no matter what you do in the offseason.  Perhaps one of my biggest concerns is Perk's shoulder.  All in all, if we are healthy, we will compete for another championship (a big if and the same if that all the top teams have).  Unless all of our question marks are flops, which is unlikely, we will be fine and it will be another fun season (although probably not as good as last season).

[wdleehi]

That we are fans of the defending champs. 

[Jon]

In terms of pure upside, I picked Miles.  In terms of talent and freakish skills, he has the ability to replace Posey in everything but three point shooting, but he has skills to make up for that in terms of shot blocking, rebounding, and passing.  Plus, at the minimum, he could be the steal of the year. 

That said, while I like Walker, I'm also eager to see Giddens play.  While I've seen little of him, the scouting report makes him seem tailor made to replace Posey: he can shoot the three, he exerts effort defensively, and he has super long arms.  The knock on him seems to be more along the lines of his ability to take people of the dribble and create for himself; however, that is of little consequence on a team with Garnett, Allen, and Pierce.  If anything, we don't need players like that, who need plays run for them to score. 

While I was certainly hoping for more established players to come knocking down the C's door for a roster spot, I will say I'm cautiously optimistic about this year.  It would've been great to see a little more certainty on the roster, but with the Big Three plus Rondo, this team can withstand some growing pains and still win it all. 

[footey]

I think your poll shows that there are alot of little things that went right: The re-signing of Tony and House, the drafting of two guys who could be a steal for different reasons, the signing of O'Bryant, Thibodeau remaining as the defensive coach. Sometimes, it is just the little things that you need in order to stay at the top.  It would have been really nice to re-sign Posey, but I think we will be fine without him.  Our biggest competition for best record in the East, Detroit, did nothing to improve itself in any dramatic way either, so I think it is very likely, barring an injury, that we will wind up with the best record in the East again.  If the D stays intense like last season, and Ray does not regress (I don't think any of us are worried about Paul or KG regressing for another couple of years; jump shooters are the first to go), I would say our chances of repeating are very, very good.

[bolvbball]

In terms of pure upside, I picked Miles.  In terms of talent and freakish skills, he has the ability to replace Posey in everything but three point shooting, but he has skills to make up for that in terms of shot blocking, rebounding, and passing.  Plus, at the minimum, he could be the steal of the year. 

That said, while I like Walker, I'm also eager to see Giddens play.  While I've seen little of him, the scouting report makes him seem tailor made to replace Posey: he can shoot the three, he exerts effort defensively, and he has super long arms.  The knock on him seems to be more along the lines of his ability to take people of the dribble and create for himself; however, that is of little consequence on a team with Garnett, Allen, and Pierce.  If anything, we don't need players like that, who need plays run for them to score. 

While I was certainly hoping for more established players to come knocking down the C's door for a roster spot, I will say I'm cautiously optimistic about this year.  It would've been great to see a little more certainty on the roster, but with the Big Three plus Rondo, this team can withstand some growing pains and still win it all. 

Same feeling goes here as i was expecting more established players to come knocking on the door this off-

season.The vets that were any good got snatched up while mainly we were waiting the Posey deal that never

happened go down.I have a question for you Jon.Did you omit Perkins name from the list you stated in your

last statement about still winning it all with the Big 3 and Rondo?If you did tell us why he wasn't included?

Maybe im feeling you and the same ideas are in my mind.

[Silas]

That we are fans of the defending champs. 

Agree 100%. TP for thinking the same thing I was thinking....

[Reyquila]

Perks' shoulder will be Damocles'sword swinging above our heads all season long until it connects; and it will connect.

[Redz]

Perks' shoulder will be Damocles'sword swinging above our heads all season long until it connects; and it will connect.

The sword or the dislocation?

[bucknersrevenge]

I am extremely excited to see Giddens and Walker play. I hear Walker's name  all the time as the guy with the star potential but for me personally J.R. Giddens was actually the guy I wanted in the draft next to Rush at the wing. I think he has the traits and the skillset to make a very "Rondo-like" impact at the defensive end for us and his offensive game is terrific too. I can't wait to see what a season or 2 learning from GPA will do to the learning curve of these kids. It's gonna speed it up tremendously I think. We did lose Posey but in getting these 2 and when you add in Pruitt and recharged Tony Allen, I'm excited to see what a team that will not have to depend so much on jumpshots to score will do. More layups and dunks on the breaks. More attacking the rim. Less scoring droughts when the bench comes in.

[LarBrd33]

I said it already.  People on this board scoff at Patrick O'Bryant right now, but wait until some random blowout mid-season when O'Bryant gets 10 minutes of garbage time and pulls down 8 rebounds... someone will start an 8 page thread about he's the next *insert former legendary center here*.   My money is on Patrick Ewing...