Rondo will be healthier
KO and Sully should be improved and more efficient
A healthy Fav is underrated
Zeller is a good offensive tool and can be used to exploit certain matchups
Smart is a better backup PG than anything they had last year
AB has yet to reach his ceiling
The 14/15 Cs will have FAR better depth at the 5 and in the backcourt and will put out far more balanced roster. Stevens is no longer a rookie and his players are now familiar with his schemes.
The Celtics shouldn't be tanking. They are now in position to create a culture of winning so as to attract FAs and/or convince stars to waive no-trade clauses.
Most fans lack the abstract thinking ability to predict improvement by young players. We're right in the mix for the 6-8 seeds in the playoffs, and we have 2-3 first round picks to trade up in the draft next year. Only clowns think we will tank next year or be awful as is.
No rim protector and no one who can create his own shot with the game on the line adds up to lots and lots of losses.
very valid points that have yet to be addressed. regardless of how much rondo's health improves next year, it will only improve the team just so much if he's passing to people who can't make shots.
what I'm looking forward to next year is seeing Rondo hit Sully and KO with passes around the basket where they've both shown they can finish really well.
I figure the C's will release almost everyone without a guaranteed deal and try to sign Jordan Hill to share the center spot with Zeller and Fav. (I honestly don't think Fav is going to make much of a difference this year).
Rondo/Smart/Pressey
AB/Thornton/Young
Green/Wallace
Sully/Bass/KO
Zeller/Fav/ (Hill maybe, can't imagine it would be Iverson at this point)
gives us 14 players figuring CJ, Babb and Bogans are all gone. No reason for Danny to clutter the roster with a 15th scrub. would take away some trading flexibility at the trade deadline. I think this is pretty much the team we take into the season and as a result, deep into lottery territory.