Boston Celtics 2008 Season Preview

With Kevin Garnett leading the way, the Boston Celtics are the kings of the Eastern Conference & favorites to win the NBA title once again in 2008-09.

Boston Celtics: 2007-08 Overview

In the 2007-08 NBA season, the Boston Celtics got a facelift, welcoming a cast of new players in Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, among others, to join Paul Pierce in Beantown. With their highly touted power trio at the reins, the Boston Celtics enjoyed a fast, history-making 30-4 start, which many critics credited to a “cupcake” schedule early on. As the season progressed and the Boston Celtics racked up wins even against the best in the West, the Boston Celtics proved that they were a legitimate contender for the NBA Championship. The Boston Celtics finished the season with an impressive 66-16 record, good for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.

In the first round of the playoffs, the Boston Celtics unexpectedly had their hands full with the hungry, athletic Atlanta Hawks. The Boston Celtics escaped an upset by winning Game 7 over the Atlanta Hawks. In the second round, the Boston Celtics faced yet another dangerous team in the Cleveland Cavaliers and eked by in seven games. The Boston Celtics met the battle-tested Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals and prevailed 4-2 after snagging their first two road victories in the playoffs. The NBA Finals pitted the Boston Celtics against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Boston Celtics needed six games, winning 4-2, to lock up the NBA title.

Boston Celtics: Offseason

The reigning champion Boston Celtics kept their roster largely intact over the offseason. The Boston Celtics lost swingman James Posey to free agency, while veterans P.J. Brown and Sam Cassell are on the free-agent market as well. The Cs made moves to re-sign role players Tony Allen and Eddie House and adding Patrick O’Bryant and Darius Miles to bolster their suddenly weakened bench. In the NBA draft, the Boston Celtics scooped up J.R. Giddens, Bill Walker, and Semih Erden. It will be interesting to see how the Boston Celtics fare this season after not addressing their bench in the offseason, while other teams in the Atlantic Division added game-changing players to their respective rosters.  

Boston Celtics: Offense

The Boston Celtics have a wealth of scoring options, as any of the Big Three – Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, or Ray Allen – can step up and lead the Celtics in scoring. Paul Pierce edged out Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett as the Celtics’ leading scorer with an average of 19.6 PPG. The Big Ticket averaged 18.8 PPG and Ray Allen’s 17.4 PPG was good for third on the team. Ray Allen and Paul Pierce can always be counted on to come through in the clutch. Despite a scoring drought throughout the early rounds of the playoffs, Ray Allen is a consistent threat from beyond the arc and from the charity stripe as well. The Boston Celtics Boston Three Party could start showing their age and will need to count on Celtics young gunners, such as 22-year-old Rajon Rondo, who is coming into his own as a burgeoning point guard.

Boston Celtics: Defense

Led by the reigning Defensive Player of the Year in Kevin Garnett, the Boston Celtics are one of the top defensive teams in the NBA once again. KG is the Celtics’ toughest defender and his intensity and focus on the defensive end rubs off on his teammates, whether it’s in practice or during the game, against a cellar-dwelling team or a championship contender. KG attacks the boards and dominates in the paint and proves that defense truly does win championships. Assistant Coach Tom Thibadeau transformed the Boston Celtics into a defensive force in just a year’s time.

Boston Celtics: Lineup

Point Guard: Rajon Rondo, Gabe Pruitt
Shooting Guard: Ray Allen, Eddie House
Small Forward: Paul Pierce, Bill Walker
Power Forward: Kevin Garnett, Leon Powe
Center: Kendrick Perkins, Glen Davis

Boston Celtics: Outlook

The Boston Celtics are competing in a much-improved Atlantic Division against the Toronto Raptors, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, and New York Knicks. During the offseason, the Sixers and Raptors made drastic improvements, bringing in the likes of Elton Brand and Jermaine O’Neal, respectively. With that said, the Boston Celtics are not the runaway favorites to win the Atlantic Division, especially with a weakened, less experienced reserve corps. However, if the Boston Celtics can continue to play team defense, keep their power trio healthy, and get production from their cast of role players – i.e. Kendrick Perkins, Leon Powe, and Rajon Rondo – and focus on a “we-not-me” mentality, then the defending NBA Champions can easily tally 60-plus wins and are still the team to beat in the East and the NBA at large.