2008 Boston Celtics Predictions & Preview

The Boston Celtics won their 17th NBA Title last season and return the Big Three that made the dream a reality. Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen (dubbed the Big Three) are expected to lead the Celtics to their second straight title, but the Eastern Conference has begun to come into its own around Boston. With James Posey gone and Danny Ainge’s inability to sign Corey Maggette, the Celtics enter the season this year with more question than last year’s intrigue. They are an older team that must make due with the Big Three, Rajon Rondo, and Kendrick Perkins. Keep reading our NBA predictions to see if we’ve got the Celtics repeating, or if we even have them returning to the Eastern Conference Championship. Check out BetUS where the Boston Celtics are +120 to win a second straight Eastern Conference Final and -170 to reach the Eastern Conference Championship.

Rajon Rondo is the present and future point guard of this Boston Celtics team. He played like a game-breaker at home while struggling on the road, but he showed a willingness to go up against the veterans and has an unprecedented ability to disrupt an opponent’s offense. No doubt about it, Rajon Rondo will become the best defensive point guard in the league soon enough. He can help defend then get back to his own man so well that it is reminiscent of Scottie Pippen with the Bulls. Either Sam Cassell or Gabe Pruitt will back Rondo up. Pruitt is a better defender than any other option the Celtics have and is a much purer fit for the job.

Ray Allen showed his age in the playoffs last season, but he is still a shot-maker. He also showed his skills in Game 4 of the Finals when he drove past Sasha Vujacic for the game-sealing basket. That play will stick in our mind for awhile, especially whenever we start to think that Ray Allen is too old to play in the NBA. He isn’t; he is still a solid shooting guard as long as he can endure the length of the season. Streak-shooting Eddie House will backup Allen. House is not a great ball handler, but he can make big shots. Tony Allen and rookie J.R. Giddens should also get some minutes, as Giddens has some defensive talents worthy of early minutes.

Paul Pierce has been one of the best players in the nation for several years now, but after Boston’s success last season, everyone in the Eastern (and Western) Conference knows it. Pierce was the Finals MVP. He can score with the best of them, but he is also one of the best defenders at his position in the league. Rookie Bill Walker will relieve Pierce since Posey departed for New Orleans. Walker had his third knee surgery, but was a second round pick, which could be the biggest steal of the NBA Draft if he recovers from it. Losing Posey hurts, but Bill Walker’s recovery could make up for it and then some.

Kevin Garnett playing a true power forward position is probably the most dangerous proposition in all of professional basketball. If center Kendrick Perkins stays healthy, Garnett can stay out of the middle and he will continue to be the best power forward in the NBA. Garnett prefers a perimeter offense, as he is not a post player, and the Celtics don’t need him to be. Leon Powe will now be the new heart and soul of the bench. He plays a little big man game and he will replace Posey as the team’s 6th Man.

Kendrick Perkins must stay healthy. His shoulder problems hurt Boston for reasons beyond Perkins’ skills as a player. He has now had his third shoulder surgery, and the Celtics need this to be his last. If Perkins can’t stay healthy, Boston may go small and throw Glen “Big Baby” Davis into the mix in the middle to allow Garnett to continue to play the perimeter. Doc Rivers and company would prefer to throw out a bigger lineup, but if Perkins goes down they could go smaller.

Final Analysis

The Big Three are back and Doc Rivers is still at the helm so there is no reason to doubt the potential of this Boston Celtics team. Most readily admit that Doc Rivers outcoached Phil Jackson in last season’s Final, and he loses only his 6th Man in James Posey in his attempt to repeat. This team has too much talent to be thrown aside as too old. Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen will once again headline a Celtics’ squad that we have competing for an Eastern Conference Championship and an NBA Title. We think the Celtics have a great chance to repeat in the Eastern Conference and making a second straight appearance in the NBA Finals. We have them taking 1st in the Atlantic Division ahead of the Nets, Knicks, Sixers, and Raptors. BetUS has the Boston Celtics at +300 odds to win a second straight NBA Championship this season.

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