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NLL Insider - Team by Team: Boston Celtics

by vt, updated on Tuesday, July 10 2007, 01:46 pm EST

Team by Team: Boston Celtics
2006-2007 Finish: 32-50

What went well

Like the Atlanta Hawks, the Boston Celtics fielded a team that made the NLL playoffs in the first two years of its existence. Hard times have struck Boston and the team has struggled over the past few years. Stars like Paul Pierce have been traded away and the once proud Celts have yet to find a groove again.

Also like the Hawks, the Celtics have been controlled by unreliable management. Many GMs have come to Boston and failed, leaving more turmoil for a team already in trouble. About a year and a half ago, a Spanish GM named Amago45 took over the team and under his guidance the team has definitely been improving.

Though the team did not make the playoffs again and ended up 32 games behind the second place Nets, the Celtics did finish with a better record than the year before. Rookie Andrea Bargnani finished sixth in the rookie of the year poll. Eddy Curry stayed healthy and put up some significant numbers.

Perhaps what Gm Amago45 did best was prime the team for the future by picking up some young men full of potential. To complement Bargnani, he acquired Danny Granger and Randy Foye during his tenure. Both of these players could turn into big names in the league.

The Celtics may be another year or two off from making the playoffs, but at least the team is under a reliable GM and he has made some moves to bring in guys that will aid this team to get better.

What didn't

The Celtics still have a long way to go before they once again become the powerhouse of the Larry Bird days. Perhaps GM Amago45's biggest gaffe was dropping most of his salary cap on Raja Bell. Though Bell is a solid shooting guard, he is far from a star. This season he is set to make $11 million, a far cry from the $4 million he is making in real life. With that additional $7mil, GM Amago45 could have signed two players to help shore up his weak bench. Versatile John Salmons may be the perfect candidate for the 6th man position but he is no starting point guard. Faster guards blew right by him. Finally, GM Amago45 may kick himself soon for trading away Walter Herrmann, who bloomed late in the season into something special.

Stars

- Eddy Curry, C -

In a season where all the media attention went to the point guards, Eddy Curry proved that centers still do matter in the NLL. He knocked down an average of 16.5 points and hauled in 10.7 boards. Like Bell, Curry makes more than his NBA counterpart, but the difference isn't as vast. Finally, Curry seems to have settled into the role as team leader and with his fearsome frame he should be charging down the court again next season for the Celts.

- Danny Granger, SF –

Note to GM Amago45: Forget Bruce Bowen and start this youngster! After completing his first full season in Boston, where Granger came over last year in a trade with Utah, he has proven he is the real deal. He averaged 8.3 points and hit almost 40% of his three-pointers. A player's third season is usually his breakout year, so Boston should really give this kid as much playing time as he possibly can.

Goat

- Primoz Brezec, C –

Finding a goat on Boston wasn't as cut-and-dry as Speedy Claxton. But when Brezec came over in a trade mid-season from Washington, his competition for Curry's back-up wasn't very tough (Jake Tsakalidis). But unlike his play in DC, Brezec pretty much stunk-it-up in Beantown. We can't blame him entirely since he was injured at the beginning of the season, but his shooting % flagged once he hit New England. With such a force as Curry starting in center, Celtics fans expect the same kind of quality off the bench. Perhaps there was too much grooming, but Brezec really needs to perform well in practices or he may find himself losing his job.

Looking to the future

The Celtics sit right below the salary cap line going into the offseason. This is not a place a team that is still rebuilding wants to find itself. With the $10 million extra going to Curry and Bell, the Celtics could have grabbed some quality free agents. Now they will have to look for help with trades and minimum contract players.

The place the Celts need most help is point guard. Salmons won't cut it and Foye isn't ready to start. It is with this knowledge that they drafted power forward Jason Smith. Smith, a junior from Colorado State, is athletic and shoots the ball well. Though he needs to polish his game, Smith should be able to compete immediately. But the biggest head-scratcher is how does he fit into the team? Bargnani should be the power forward for years to come and Robert Horry is still doing a quality job as back-up. With Jarvis Crittenton on the board still, why did the Celtics take Smith? The Celtics also drafted Sammy Mejia, a swingman from DePaul. It is unsure whether he will make the squad.

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