What Player Are You Most Excited to Watch Tonight?

[jgod213]

We will no doubt be witnessing some sloppy and frenetic basketball tonight; nevertheless, we will all get a chance to take our first hard look at our respective binkies.

Obviously, DA took a chance on a bunch of guys on this year's roster, so i'm asking all of you celticbloggers to pick out the ONE guy you will be eyeing-down the most tonight, and why.

It's an extremely tough choice.  However, i'll be focusing on Tony Allen tonight.  I'm sure that he won't be a very popular choice in this poll, but i'll explain my decision.

Honestly, I don't really expect a whole heck of a lot out of O'Bryant and Miles in particular tonight.  Sure, i'll be watching them, but i feel that they both have a long way to go from now before they can display their full skill-set to us.  The choice for me was between Walker and Allen, Billy Walker has obviously stolen many of the headlines this offseason, but TA has been very good as well and does have the edge on Walker defensively.  Tonight is his chance to prove he can play smart basketball and really impose his will on the game on both sides of the court.  A good start tonight for TA could do wonders for his already soaring confidence.

[Redz]

I don't know if "excited" is the word, but I'm most "intrigued" by seeing what Miles can bring.

[silvershamrocker]

This is tough. I'm looking forward to seeing all of them, but if I had to pick, I'd say Miles. I like his height and his versatility. I want to see how healthy he looks.  I'm hoping he can play a big role for us off the bench at small forward.

But really, I just want to see some basketball. I can't wait!

[mahonedog88]

I have it down to two.

Darius Miles obviously...cause this signing went really under the radar in my opinion.  No one's talking about it.  If Darius Miles can return close to what he was before the injuries, people will be talking about it haha.

Second is Bill Walker.  I keep hearing that it was a steal to get him where we got him in the draft.  The footage of him in practice on FSN sports tonight is very impressive.

[adam8]

This is a great question and im excited to see so many of them play. I went with Bill Walker because he was a beast in college and he is also coming back from an injury. I think with his freakish athletic ability if he can learn to really play the game he could be a stud

[wdleehi]

I want to see Rondo tonight.

[Who]

Tony Allen
Bill Walker
Patrick O Bryant - well more curiosity than excitement

Those three in that order.

[Emperor Young]

Bill Walker and POB. walker is probably going to have Ryan Gomes like rookie season or perhaps even better. POB i think can be great on defense, not sure what he can do on offense but im curious to find out..

[nickagneta]

I guess I'm most excited about just being able to watch the 2008 NBA Champions play basketball again and it doesn't matter who the players on the court are. "2008 NBA Champions"!! Has a nice ring to it. It's going to be good hearing that every single time I turn on the channel to watch them, whether it be on CSN or a national feed.

But in particular, this is what I am most excited to see:

- The rookies and unknowns. I hope Walker, Giddens, O'Bryant and Miles get lots of playing time. I haven't exactly been a proponent with huge expectations of these guys this year. But man, I would love to be 100% wrong. I hope I am.

- Glen Davis. I want to see if he has done anything to his body this offseason. He doesn't necessarily need to be small, just less pudgy and more muscular. The transition from fat to muscle is the most important thing for me because I think he will need his size as he's going to be playing a lot of center this year.

- Gabe Pruitt. I like this kid's game, I have since he was at USC. Like Bill Walker I think he is going to eventually big a real good NBA player some day. I want to see some command of the offense and some confidence on Doc's part in being able to use him.

- Tony Allen. After not getting any PT during the playoffs Tony surprised with some serious hops in a couple of those last games. I would love nothing better than to see Tony actually become the player he was just before his last knee injury. I want to see that he is now 100% over the injury, both physically and mentally, and that he is able to contribute significantly. Again, I hope I'm all wrong in my assessment of Tony and he has something more to bring to the table than what we saw last year.

Other than that, in my mind, everything else is pretty much a constant. I know what to expect out of KG, Pierce, Ray, House, Powe, and Scal. I know Perk isn't playing and I expect bigger and better things from future All-Star Rondo. Overall though, I am stoked!! Celtics basketball is here again!!

[footey]

POB leads my interest the most, but also want to see Walker, Miles, and Tony Allen. And Pruitt. Very exciting time, I love the pre-season!!

[Brickowski]

Elton Brand.  It will be very interesting to see how he fits in with the Sixers, who ought to be much improved.

The Celtics are pretty much a known quantity to me except for Giddens, so I'll be watching him, along with O'Bryant to see if Clifford Ray has been able to teach him anything. 

[johnnymost]

Paddy O'. I want to see what he can do. I want to see what his level of intensity is. I want to see if he could stop Gasol if necessary. I see his role as trying to stop the tall finesse players. The bangers can be handled by BBD and Powe.

Tony Allen - does he have the composure and athleticism to make a difference this year. I want to see him dunk. I want to see him steal dribbles and anticipate passing lanes.

All the other youngsters have time to grow. The other starters have earned the right to sit and observe, from a coach's perspective.

[Donoghus]

Walker, POB, and Miles.

[Chris]

I am most excited to see Walker, because I love his style of play (power game...but with tremendous athletic ability).

However, I am most interested in seeing Miles and POB.  They are probably the biggest question-marks on the team this year, and I really want to see what they can bring to the table...Miles physically, and POB, just in general.

[Birdbrain]

Gabe Pruitt for my sanity alone.  Please be able to play the 3rd PG.