2011 Celtics’ Outlook On the Offseason: Summer Preview
Bringing Doc Rivers back was without a doubt the most important move to make this offseason.
For the Boston Celtics, the 2011 NBA season came to a close without much of a climax.
They fell to the Miami Heat in five games and once again turned to an offseason of uncertainty.
Doc Rivers contract was set to expire, as well as the majority of the Celtics roster set for free agency during the offseason. With no hesitation, Rivers made a huge impact on where his allegiances lie by signing a five-year deal, to guarantee his talents through the Big 3’s current contract requirements. Rivers has now given the Boston basketball organization the flexibility to worry about their players, with a solid coaching staff.
Throughout the season, the Celtics bench was plagued with inconsistency and head-shaking play. Their inability to mesh, mostly due to injuries and call-ups from the D-League, showed on the court as even in blowouts, the starters were forced to play bigger minutes. Boston has an opportunity to correct their mistakes from the previous offseason, as most of their roster are slated to be free agents.
The only two “starters” from the previous season that are scheduled to be free agents are Ray Allen and Shaquille O’Neal. O’Neal played key minutes early on but is in question to return after an Achilles injury ruined the end of the season and allowed him to play minimal minutes throughout the playoffs. Key bench players Glen Davis, Delonte West, and Nenad Krstic will be free agents as well. Davis was a Sixth Man of the Year candidate, while the seven-foot Krstic played key interior minutes with Shaq and Jermaine O’Neal injured most of the regular season. West played key minutes behind all star point guard, Rajon Rondo, but was hindered by a broken wrist early on in the season. Von Wafer, Carlos Arroyo, Troy Murphy, and Sasha Pavlovic are all slated to become free agents as well. The only player that had a significant contribution was Von Wafer, who filled in nicely once Delonte West suffered the wrist injury.
The only restricted free agent on the C’s roster is Jeff Green. Green was the key player involved in the Kendrick Perkins trade. The young forward was thrust into the veteran Celtics lineup and didn’t acclimate as some in green town had hoped.
As the Celtics enter the dreaded offseason, questions regarding which veterans will return, what the new Collective Bargaining Agreement will mean, and what this aging team can do to compete with the likes of the athletic Miami Heat and the young Chicago Bulls will be answered as we draw closer to October, and another shot at Banner 18.
What do you want to see happen in Boston this summer? Comment below and share your thoughts.
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