After the Trade: How Much Did the Celtics Improve?

August 2, 2007

Doc Rivers' maligned tenure as Celtics coach took a turn for the better with the arrival of Kevin Garnett on Tuesday.

Rotation talk was the bane of Rivers' existence before the blockbuster trade with Minnesota. His choices and decisions were more dissected and disrespected than a Paris Hilton mea culpa with Larry King.

This week, however, he was actually relieved to talk about the subject.

``All of a sudden, when you have the players, a rotation doesn't become such a big issue,'' said Rivers, who already envisions a nine-man rotation to start the season, and eight by crunch time.

Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen are accustomed to heavy minutes. No sensible coach would mess with that equation.

Although the Celtics have to add players - they took the first step by signing free agent guards Eddie House and Jackie Manuel yesterday - there probably won't be many issues regarding who fills in the blanks.

The following is a look at the current, pared-down lineup (with 2006-07 statistics):

** PAUL PIERCE (25 points per game, 5.9 rebounds per game, 4.1 assists per game)

BEFORE THE TRADE - The last two years were sheer agony for Pierce, although the Celtics captain generally kept his mouth shut and took on the extra load. When healthy, he was the C's best player in too many areas - scoring, rebounding, playmaking and leadership. His body, in the form of a stress reaction in his left foot, ultimately wore down.

HOW HE BENEFITS NOW - As efficient as he was during the last two years, Pierce could become even more unguardable on the offensive end with Garnett and Allen balancing the floor. Pierce had become extremely turnover prone as he attempted to do too much. Those turnover totals should now drop like excess weight. Also, expect to see less of those step-back jumpers - the result of fatigue and too many double teams, as much as choice - and a return to that slashing style that made him such a great player with Antoine Walker.

** KEVIN GARNETT (22.4 ppg, 12.8 rpg)

BEFORE THE TRADE - Garnett led the NBA in rebounding for the fourth straight season and also had the highest efficiency rating of anyone in the league. But he paid a price. His shooting percentage dropped to .476 - Garnett's lowest in six seasons, undoubtedly the result of carrying a mediocre team on his back for too long. He is here now because the Timberwolves have decided to go young and the losing simply ate at him. ``I'm a very passionate player, but the one thing that hurts me more than anything else is losing,'' he said this week. ``Knowing you're going into a game with only a slight chance of winning is painful.''

HOW HE BENEFITS NOW - His back gets a rest, for one thing. He'll have a great shooter (Allen) and a great scorer (Pierce) to clear out the floor. He could conceivably have his best scoring year yet, eclipsing the 24.2 points-per-game average he had when he was named MVP in 2003-04. Moreover, he no longer has to do it all. Garnett's also the best defensive big man the Celtics have seen since Robert Parish. But on a team not known for its ability to stop people, this is one area where Garnett may once again find himself carrying the load.

** RAY ALLEN (26.4 ppg, .372 3-point percentage)

BEFORE THE TRADE - Like Pierce and Garnett, Allen felt like he was alone on an island in Seattle, attempting to perform on an otherwise young team in desperate need of guidance. Allen always has been good at leading others, but he was also starting to feel the burden. And, like Pierce, his body broke down. Allen finally ended a frustrating year by having double ankle surgery. His mind also needed a rest. ``Everyone here wants to win, and the most important thing is that everyone is a good person,'' he said. ``We share the same philosophy. We all played on teams last year with young players that had to mature. It's such a great opportunity now to know what I'll get every night.''

HOW HE BENEFITS NOW - As he said, Allen knows what he will get every night, which should be a lot of open shots. He's one of the finest jump-shooters in basketball, provided that double ankle surgery did the trick. No one needs healthy ankles more than a jump-shooter. But if healthy, he will keep the entire league honest thanks to Garnett and Pierce.

** RAJON RONDO (6.4 ppg, 3.8 apg)

BEFORE THE TRADE - Without a doubt, he was the most electrifying player on the Celtics and perhaps the only one who could change a game simply on the power of his defense. But like any rookie with this kind of athleticism, he gambled too much. Offensively, he was fine, at least until opponents turned their backs and dared him to shoot; he rarely made them pay. But Rondo showed signs of becoming the most explosive penetrating Celtics guard since Tiny Archibald.

HOW HE BENEFITS NOW - Rondo gets the keys and firm instructions not to drive this limited-series sports car off the road. In short, don't try to do too much. Decisions shouldn't be hard. If Garnett posts up, get him the ball. If Allen is in the corner, drive and kick out the ball. If Pierce is open, he already knows what to do. There should be a lot of assists to give with this group. Now, if only he can develop that jump shot.

** KENDRICK PERKINS (4.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg)

BEFORE THE TRADE - Plantar fasciitis, an inflamed tendon on the bottom of the foot that makes movement painful, slowed Perkins' season until playing was pure agony. Rest, which he received once the season ended, is the only way to cure the condition. But Perkins should not be judged by last season. His mobility, while not the best in healthy times, was cut in half.

HOW HE BENEFITS NOW - Garnett's presence alone should make the foul-prone center a better defender. Al Jefferson's mistakes often led to Perkins fouls last season. Now, he shouldn't be stuck in the position of picking up someone else's man quite so often. Garnett should come to appreciate Perkins' mean streak, as well. The ``Big Ticket'' might find that a willing enforcer comes in handy.

** BRIAN SCALABRINE (4.0 ppg, .403 shooting percentage)

BEFORE THE TRADE - Scalabrine never found a groove last year, though he is a better shooter than the player who often looked so ill at ease, double-clutching on open jumpers. All of last season's turmoil considered, he generally looked like an ill-fitting part, although he was one of the few players who produced consistently on the defensive end.

HOW HE BENEFITS NOW - Scalabrine, by definition, is a role player, and with the rest of this lineup considered, he should accomplish a lot by simply doing the little things. That should build confidence, which, in turn, has been known to help a player hit open shots.

** TONY ALLEN (11.5 ppg, .514 shooting percentage)

BEFORE THE TRADE - He was on a roll before tearing ligaments in his knee last January.

HOW HE BENEFITS NOW - He's already one of the best defenders on the team, and as the prime backup for Pierce and Allen, that should continue. The minutes could be there for Allen. Bench scoring is still a huge need for this team, and Allen, based on last season, could be on the verge of becoming a furious microwave scorer. However, that's a big if for someone who is recovering from his second major knee surgery.

** EDDIE HOUSE (8.4 ppg, .429 3-point percentage)

BEFORE THE TRADE - He was a high-energy reserve guard for the Nets last season.

HOW HE BENEFITS NOW - He'll be an important scorer with the second unit, while also playing some point guard behind Rajon Rondo. As evidenced by his 3-point shooting percentage, he can be deadly.

** LEON POWE (4.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg)

BEFORE THE TRADE - Another energizer bunny who, thanks to last year's injury plague throughout the rest of the team, was able to develop his game during the second half of the season. He was relentless, but as an undersized (6-foot-8) power forward, getting his shot off could be a problem.

HOW HE BENEFITS NOW - The minutes won't be as available, unless Powe can make his presence felt on the second unit as a hustling garbage man. He certainly has the will.

** BRANDON WALLACE

BEFORE THE TRADE - He played out of position as a center at the University of South Carolina.

HOW HE BENEFITS NOW - By watching and learning. He was a summer league revelation, but then again, so are a lot of guys who land in the D-League.

** GLEN DAVIS

BEFORE THE TRADE - ``Big Baby'' was fighting the battle with his weight as much as a tough SEC schedule at LSU.

HOW HE BENEFITS NOW - See Brandon Wallace.

** GABE PRUITT

BEFORE THE TRADE - Had an impressive, if somewhat overlooked, career at USC.

HOW HE BENEFITS NOW - With the second-year Rondo starting at the point, there is actually room for Pruitt to earn some playing time.

** JACKIE MANUEL

BEFORE THE TRADE - Built his reputation as a defensive specialist in the D-League.

HOW HE BENEFITS NOW - See Brandon Wallace and Glen Davis.