NESO'S TAKE ON SPORTS

With the Boston Celtics now 3-0 and a strong victory opening night against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team has answered many questions. However, just three games into the season, many remain yet to be answered.

Answered:

1. Will Rasheed Wallace be a cancerous player? Will he affect the chemistry which has become 2004 Red Sox’ like between the Celtics’ players? No. He has only been beneficial as a PF/C. He has hit seven three pointers, and is almost shooting an incredible 50% from beyond the arc. Kevin Garnett and Doc Rivers are clearly making a concerted effort to keep the hot head cool, and his presence is stretching opposing defenses and making other players ever more threatening. For instance, playing the Cavs, there may be a situation where big man Anderson Varejao needs to step out on Sheed, giving a guy like Rajon Rondo or Paul Pierce an open lane to the basket with one less person to divert the shot attempt. Good move Ainge, Rasheed was a great acquisition.
2. Marquis Daniels will really help this team. Another great move by Danny Ainge. Marquis Daniels is not the same player that James Posey was, but he gives Pierce an opportunity not to guard the oppositions’ best player like LeBron for an entire game. Tony Allen was supposed to be like Daniels, a defensive presence with slashing abilities on offense, but injuries held him back. Daniels is a threat offensively and is a solid defender.
3. Kevin Garnett is fine. There are still questions about the long haul, but he has reacted well to the surgery and is playing with the same intensity that he always had.
4. The playoff performances by Rajon Rondo were not flukish. Rondo has continued to produce at a high level. Against the Bulls and one of the most hyped young point guards in the league (Derrick Rose), Rondo had 16 assists.
5. Kendrick Perkins is still improving. Perk is in his 7th season, but is improving like it’s his 3rd year. He continues to block all kinds of shots, and his offensive game is a threat, especially down low. He’s a mammoth of a man, and really does a great job clogging lanes, but his growth and development have given him abilities to be in good position to block shots.
6. Eddie House is going to be huge. Down the stretch, the Celtics will need to win games when their starting five aren’t playing up to their full potential. Eddie House will prove to be a huge spark, as his shooting abilities will be amplified with defenses having to worry about Rasheed Wallace and now Marquis Daniels.

Questions:

1. While Garnett has showed signs of health and success early on, will his knee be able to survive a full, 82 game season? If the Celtics continue to win games that they should enabling KG to get some rest, then yes. Plus, Doc Rivers is being cautious with Garnett, so if he ever feels KG needs a day off to recover, we shouldn’t worry about Rivers being afraid to give Kevin a day off. I think KG will be fine, but there will certainly be times when he was not as effective as last year.
2. Will Rondo hit his jump shots? Rondo has not had many shot attempts, just two against the Bulls, but he did hit a few jumpers against the Cavaliers and Bobcats. This is always a question with the Celtics, because teams know that Rajon will not hurt them with his mid-range shot. If he can develop that shot and continue to improve upon it (it already looks a little better) then opposing teams will have yet another item to worry about.
3. How will Glen Davis’s return affect Boston? He should only help the team. Despite his questionable decision making, he was seen smiling with Danny Ainge and joking around with teammates. He is still a part of the C’s, and when he returns the Celtics will have a sensational four man rotation of Kevin Garnett, Kendrick Perkins, Rasheed Wallace and Big Baby. Throw in Brian Scalabrine and the strong rebounding and athletic Shelden Williams, and the C’s should be dominant down low.

So, while questions remain, the C’s have showed early season dominance, and at this point, there’s no reason that shouldn’t continue.