Grading Each Position Going into Boston Celtics 2014 Training Camp
The closer the Boston Celtics get to training camp and the 2014-15 NBA season, the more apparent it is becoming that they will be starting the year with this roster.
From top to bottom, there have been some minor changes and additions to various positions. The center spot got a likely upgrade with the Tyler Zeller trade, and the point guard position is worlds better with a healthy Rajon Rondo back.
Training camp will answer a lot of the lingering questions for Celtics fans, as Brad Stevens hopes to hammer down a rotation and name one or two questionable starting spots. Heading into October, Boston doesn't look like much of a team to be reckoned with, but there is potential to be slightly frisky and possibly quite entertaining.
So let's clap off those chalkboard erasers and get back to Bleacher Report school, grading each position prior to training camp.
Starting Point Guard
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Pre-training camp grade: A
What we saw from Rajon Rondo in 30 games last season definitely points toward him making a full recovery from the ACL tear that snatched two seasons from him.
As he worked his conditioning back up, there was the same vintage creativity in his passing game, and he was getting to the free-throw line at nearly the rate he was when the injury occurred. His shooting clip was way down, but that is common with rusty players (and he was shooting a boatload more threes than normal).
Rondo is a four-time All-Star and the Celtics' captain. With a healthy Avery Bradley next to him in the backcourt, the C's may finally get a large dose of the duo they've been itching to see for years. WEEI's Ben Rohrbach hit on a fairly incredible number recently, discovering that in four years as teammates on the Celtics, Rondo and Bradley have played just 63 games together.
Disregarding what could be epic three-point-shooting struggles, the Celtics have been trying to balance their asset acquisition with building a young, fast team around Rondo. While Boston will struggle to space the floor in the half-court, they will hopefully be running a ton of transition plays led by their star distributor.
Starting Shooting Guard
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Pre-training camp grade: B
We saw a bit of an offensive maturity from Avery Bradley last season. He was much more involved on that side of the ball after spending three years developing a reputation as a bit of a designated hitter on the defensive end.
This wasn't just Bradley's doing, however, as Brad Stevens used him almost exclusively at the off-guard position, even starting Phil Pressey alongside him a handful of times. This allowed Bradley to not worry about point guard duties, a spot at which Doc Rivers seemed content to experiment with him. Instead, he focused on becoming competent and reliable on the offensive end.
That resulted in career highs in all three categories of shot attempts, as well as points (14.9) and rebounds (3.8). Bradley developed a reliable three-point shot, hitting on 39.5 percent of his 200 attempts. That is something he will have to prove wasn't a fluke in training camp and throughout the early part of this season. The Celtics and Rondo are very different entities if Bradley is hitting threes.
Boston knows what it will get from Bradley in a vacuum: solid man-to-man defense and the occasional scoring outburst. In training camp the Celtics will have to figure out what they don't know. They will look to see how good he can be with Rondo at point guard and whether that shot will still fall with teams noticing it a bit more.
Starting Small Forward
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Pre-training camp grade: C+
Last year was a nightmare scenario for Jeff Green. Fans were already souring on him for not being able to add much to their contending team or step up in a year when the Celtics' stars were aging rapidly.
Then the heavy criticisms for not being a leader or top-of-the-line scorer were heaped on top. Green was thrust even more into the spotlight with the Paul Pierce-Kevin Garnett trade and the absence of Rondo for 52 games in 2013-14.
Green was dissected a lot more than he had been in the past last year, and the results weren't great. There were brilliant flashes, but there have always been those. What wasn't there was the consistency that can help lead a team to a winning season. Instead, Green had up-and-down games and months, going for 30 points one night and four the next.
As a reserve wing, Green may be close to getting an A, but as a starter he is counted on to do more than go off for 30 points once in a while. Given the situation that presented itself last season, maybe Green deserves the benefit of the doubt.
Training camp is nearly here, though, and everyone is healthy. Green has a lot to prove this season, especially if he wants to opt out of his contract's final year and look for long-term security.
Starting Power Forward
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Pre-training camp grade: B
Jared Sullinger started 44 of the 74 games he played last season and appears to have made the necessary and hoped-for strides that will make him a heavy favorite to open the season as the starting power forward. However, don't forget Brandon Bass started 73 games last season, played in all 82 and often started alongside Sullinger.
In Sullinger, the Celtics have a young and growing inside presence on the offensive end. The three-point shooting experiment (56-of-208 last season), was an interesting wrinkle that I'm still questioning, but I say that having a lot of faith in Brad Stevens.
Even with just two years in the league and dealing with the shortened rookie season, Sullinger has actually had decent experience playing with Rondo at point guard. According to NBA.com, Rondo has assisted on 70 of Sullinger's made baskets, a great deal more than No. 2 on that list, Jordan Crawford (38).
If both stay healthy this year, it could be a breakout one for Sullinger, given his expanding offensive arsenal, rebounding ability and rapidly maturing defensive sense.
Starting Center
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Pre-training camp grade: C
This is the one spot in Boston's starting lineup that is very much up for grabs. It very well could be occupied by Tyler Zeller, Vitor Faverani, Kelly Olynyk or Brandon Bass/Jared Sullinger by the end of training camp.
The choice right now is Olynyk. He is the one with the best blend of experience under the current system and future potential. The former lottery pick spent his rookie season gaining footing in the league and did a solid job. Now he has a lot more to prove in Year 2.
In training camp, coaches will be looking to see if he can improve defensively with both his reaction speed and general basketball IQ. Offensively, we know what Boston can get from Olynyk. He has the potential to spread the floor and take guys off the dribble, a dangerous asset for a 7-footer. With a potentially weak outside-shooting backcourt, Olynyk's shooting may be an important part of Boston's starting lineup.
Tyler Zeller is likely the next favorite. He is the best traditional center on the roster. While not incredibly imposing, he brings an inside presence and size that Boston is lacking elsewhere. He is also a young player with room for growth. There is also the factor of his ability to get up and down the floor. He is a smoother runner than Olynyk and might be better suited if Brad Stevens is looking to implement a fast-paced scheme.
No options are going to be perfect, especially heading into training camp. This is just Year 2 for Olynyk and Year 3 for Zeller, but Year 1 on a new team. Bass and Sullinger were really undersized for the role, and Faverani was benched last year. Coming out of October fans might feel better about this spot, but right now it is still a problem.
Reserve Backcourt
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Pre-training camp grade: C+
Boston's reserve corps in the backcourt could vary wildly in terms of an overall rating.
Obviously, there is a lot of excitement surrounding No. 6 overall pick Marcus Smart and what he can immediately bring to the table as a combo guard off the bench. However, all the positive stories about Smart's summer practicing with Team USA don't totally jibe with some very real struggles we witnessed in summer league play.
Another newcomer to the group is shooting guard Marcus Thornton. Acquired in an offseason trade, Thornton had a solid half-year coming off the bench for the Brooklyn Nets. He has a reliable outside shot, which should earn him a fair amount of minutes on its own.
Unfortunately, Smart is unproven as an NBA player, and Thornton may not be much more than a shooter at this point. Beyond them, things are pretty thin.
Phil Pressey will serve as a backup point guard but also isn't much of a shooter, which won't help his case for minutes. James Young could see some time at shooting guard, but we haven't seen anything from him yet, and he might need some D-League seasoning first.
Evan Turner will hopefully be joining the Celtics at training camp once his contract is fully figured out. There is some potential there, especially if Brad Stevens can focus on the good stuff and eliminate the bad in limited minutes off the bench. Turner is also fighting for his NBA career, which is a good thing for the Celtics.
Beyond that, guys like Tim Frazier, Rodney McGruder and Chris Babb will fill out the roster for training camp but likely won't be playing regular-season games for Boston.
Until we see what Smart is like for real, both playing against true NBA competition and with his new teammates, we won't know for sure what this second unit will be able to accomplish.
Reserve Wings
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Pre-training camp grade: D
A serious hole in the Celtics' depth chart resides in the role of Jeff Green's backup.
Right now, nothing has changed from last season, and Gerald Wallace is likely going to start the year in that role. He is a tough piece to move in a trade yet likely still talented enough to win the job over rookie James Young and fringe player Chris Johnson.
Wallace played in 58 games last season before being sidelined with an injury the final two months. In 24.4 minutes per game, he averaged just 5.1 points and 3.7 rebounds. He will bring passable and occasionally excellent defense but won't be doing much scoring to help out a second unit that may struggle to put points on the board.
One hope is for Evan Turner to slide into this role. Listed primarily as a shooting guard, Turner has the size and slashing ability to play small forward and could provide a bit more of an offensive push from the wing. However, after a rough end of the season with the Indiana Pacers, he has a lot to prove before Brad Stevens entrusts a crucial spot to him.
Reserve Frontcourt
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Pre-training camp grade: C+
One positive to come out of the Celtics' questions at the starting center spot is a very deep rotation in their reserve frontcourt.
Should Sullinger and Olynyk be named regular starters, that leaves a very reliable Brandon Bass as the first big off the bench. We touched on how many games Bass started last season, and that experience only adds to all the time he spent with Kevin Garnett in prior years. This makes him a sturdy option no matter how or where he is used. Bass is going to get 10-11 points and six rebounds whether he is starting or coming off the bench.
Boston would also have Tyler Zeller as a reserve in this situation, giving them reliable and competent size off the bench. Zeller runs the floor very well should the second unit present more of a run-and-gun style. He is also useful as a physical defender in the paint, having a bigger and stronger body than the appointed starters.
Things get filled out here by deep reserves Vitor Faverani and Joel Anthony. Christian Watford was also invited to participate at training camp. The undrafted free agent played at Indiana University and professionally last season in Israel.
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