Wow, the Boston Celtics are very bad. I mean very bad. As I watch the Celtics play on national TV for the first time in a while (only because of the return of Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett), I realize there is no hope for this roster. One of the few bright spots is the return of Rajon Rondo, who does not look comfortable throwing lobs to Vitor Faverani where Garnett used to be. Nor does he feel confident starting a fast break with Kris Humphries and Gerald Wallace running the floor. Nothing against either of those two, but they're not quite two future hall of famers. I think there are some strengths in this roster, however, and they're just hard to see on such a terrible team.
First there is the coach, Brad Stevens. Stevens was signed to a six year deal in the offseason, meaning the Celtics are truly investing in this coach for a stretch. Danny Ainge clearly sees something in Stevens, and why not? There is only upside to the 37 year old coach who coached Butler to back-to-back National Championship appearances, losing to two major programs in Duke and UConn. Stevens has done relatively well to this point in the season, but it is evident that there is just not enough talent on this team to win. Hopefully he will get a chance soon in the next couple of seasons.
The coach is not the only solid part of this team, strong young players besides Rondo include Jeff Green, Avery Bradley and Jared Sullinger.
Bradley is an elite perimeter defender who has an improved jump shot especially in the corner three spot. Bradley at the very least is a solid guard who can come off the bench, and has shown that he can potentially be a nice complementary starting shooting guard (think Thabo Sefolosha in Oklahoma City). He is a player I think the Celtics should keep around at least for next year.
Jeff Green is a player who seemed to be coming into his own late last season as Rondo went out with an injury. Green had huge games last season including a 43 point performance against LeBron James and the Heat. He has struggled being consistent, however, and in a year that he could step up and become that all-star type of player, he has not. Still leading the team in scoring at 16.2 ppg, Green just does not seem to be a go-to-guy for a franchise, he is made to be the third or forth option on a team.
Jared Sullinger is a strong power forward who has shown signs of being a dominant rebounder this year. Grabbing 15+ rebounds on multiple occasions. He has also displayed a solid jump shot that can extend to behind the three point line once in a while.
Those three guys, along with Rajon Rondo and coach Brad Stevens, are the core that the Celtics should keep around if they look to be successful soon, and in the long-run.
Looking ahead to beyond this season, it starts with the upcoming draft. Many players would fit in nicely here in Boston. Jabari Parker could come to the North East, and become a featured player on the offensive end. Parker has a decent handle as well as the ability to knock down shots from deep, along with the ability to finish above the rim. Speaking of finishing above the rim, Andrew Wiggins may be the very best at that in college. His unquestioned athleticism is why so many rave about him. Wiggins is also, perhaps, the best defender in the nation because of his quick feet, long arms, and jumping ability.
Another possible player is Oklahoma States Marcus Smart; a 6'4" guard with great strength and athleticism. Smart also has more experience than many of these players, as he is currently a Sophomore in college. Smart could work well with Rondo in the backcourt.
My favorite player is Joell Embiid. He is a 7'0" 250 lb center from Cameroon, who has only been playing basketball for two years. His ability to run the floor and finish with both hands makes him a very attractive asset, not to mention his shear size and athleticism. The activity on the defensive end is even more impressive as he controls games at that end.
A center could be perfect for the Celtics to build around, but it is important to just select the best player available. As we saw in last years draft, the Cavaliers selected a solid undersized power forward instead of just going with the best available player, and that resulted in one of the worst number picks of all time to this point.
The point here is that there is a lot to look forward to potentially if you are a Celtics fan like myself. With strong leaders in Stevens and Rondo, and a solid group of role players, Boston could be back in the thick of things by next year, and a championship contender perhaps sooner than one might think.
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