Every Tuesday this offseason, two of our NBA experts will go at it on a topic. We came up with the catchy title, Debate in the Paint. This week: Which team has had the best offseason?There are certainly teams that have been busier than the Boston Celtics this offseason. But nobody's had a better one.
The Orlando Magic were so active the past couple of months that it's not easy remembering the dozen or so players going in and out; the San Antonio Spurs made a big splash by signing Richard Jefferson; and the Lakers made a lot of noise by going out and getting Ron Artest.
Obviously, there's the Cleveland Cavaliers, who went out and got Shaquille O'Neal.
Still, no team upgraded more this offseason than the Celtics, who added the perfect complementary piece in Rasheed Wallace. Boston also mitigated the damage of losing Leon Powe by re-signing Glen Davis and acquiring Shelden Williams.
What makes the Wallace acquisition so good is that it was more a tweak than a revamp, which was perfectly appropriate considering the Celtics made it to the Eastern Conference semifinals last season with Kevin Garnett injured.
Those other teams – Orlando, San Antonio, the L.A. Lakers and Cleveland – did some significant rearranging. Who really knows if the Magic, with Vince Carter but without Hedo Turkoglu, are going to be better than last season?
Jefferson looks like a nice addition for the Spurs, but how will he handle higher stakes and less of a role? We know Artest isn't a sure thing in L.A. And Shaq? Hey, he changes the dynamic of any team simply by being on it.
Each of those four teams will have significant adjustments to make when it comes to incorporating their new players. The Celtics don't have that concern because Wallace is the kind of player who fits in. The Celtics won't have to change anything they do because of Wallace. They'll only add to what they already do.
On defense, Wallace gives Boston another big, long body up front. Not only is he a shot-blocker -- averaging 1.5 blocks per game or more in each of the past seven seasons -- but he's a good one-on-one defender, and a terrific team defender.
Wallace and Garnett are virtually interchangeable, with either playing the power forward or center positions. Coach Doc Rivers could play Wallace and Garnett together, even, along with Kendrick Perkins, to form a ridiculously big front line.
At the offensive end, Wallace gives the Celtics another dimension and yet he doesn't really mess with the team's pecking order. Wallace can be productive on offense without needing the ball to go through him. Over his career, Wallace has had the most impact when he doesn't have to bear the brunt of the offensive responsibility. As a go-to guy in Portland, he came up short, and in fact, didn't really show any kind of inclination to want to carry a team.
It's as though Wallace understands his own game so well that he knows he's not quite good enough to be a No. 1 or even No. 2 option. So he willingly takes less of a role, which is not inconsequential when you're talking about one of the more talented players in the league.
It's the old ... "If Wallace is your best player, you're not very good; but if Wallace is your third or fourth best player, then you really have something."
Well, Wallace will be the Celtics' third- or fourth-best player in 2009-10. Which means the Celtics are going to be pretty darn good, and possibly the best.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
If you think anyone other than the Spurs is the "offseason champion," you're mentally retarded. They got younger, deeper, faster, and meaner. If they can stay REASONABLY healthy, I don't see anyone taking them past 6 games en route to Timmy's 5th title.
By adding Roscoe, the Celtics have officially become the '97 Rockets-- a ridiculously old squad whose best players are not only past their prime, but WAAAAY past their prime. Trust me, Celtics Fans, after a couple weeks of watching Roscoe jack contested 3's, play defense when he wants to, and avoid the post like it has herpes, you'll want him gone as bad as us Pistons fans have the last 3 years.
Steinmetz, Artest wants a title and he will fit in; Lakers barring Kobe getting injured have more than enough firepower for the Spurs, Cavs, Celtics and Nuggets. Artest will be all over Pierce and James when the volume goes up in big games and in the playoffs. What's that thug Garnett going to do Artest. Anthony Peeler showed what a punk Garnett can be; Ronnie will clean his clock.
Ridiculous article. Boston didn't win-the Spurs won. Every player they brought in is a "Pop" (meaning) Spurs kind of guy. The Big 3 will be back and healthy. RJ has been his most valuable when he's NOT asked to carry a team. He will fit in perfectly as a complimentary player because he's on an absolutely unselfish team. Duncan will start doing what Robinson did when the torch was being passed off to him: Timmy will play great D-scoring will go down, rebounds about the same, assists will go up. He's HAPPY to share the load. Same with Ginobili and Parker. McDyess-100% a Spurs kind of guy. The young guns they have: DeJuan Blair, Ian Mahinmi, James Haislip, Malik Hairston-all unselfish, all tough and athletic. This is the best Spurs team ever. If they stay healthy, they punk the league. They got younger, tougher, stronger, faster and Pop has the pieces together now to get back to the philosophy that won 4 rings-sick defense and selfless offense. There aren't enough balls to go around in Boston. By midseason Celtic fan is going to be tired of watching Sheed (all 7 feet of him) drift around the 3 point line. Pierce is going to want his points and so is Garnett and let's not forget Rondo. Bad chemistry and a bunch of combustible egos waiting to go off. This will be another classic Spurs championship season-flying under the radar, winning ugly games by playing great D and just wearing teams down.
Rasheed is a has been who was let go by Detroit for that reason. He only has to beat out Mikki Moore to make second string, so he may, but that is about it for vets who may be impact players of any sort. Cleveland added a current all star, a former has been, in Shaq. Of the two tall guys with Islamic names, the Cavs easily got the better of that. And they also added The Other Tony Parker, the one with the sister, not the actress, the non all star. He may come off the bench, but ought to start for tactical reasons unless Jamaro Moon, whom they also added, does, in his weight class, as a 6`8, 200 pound wing guard. Delonte West is a better shooter, but at 6`3 is a bit small to play wing. And yes, the Spurs are likewise the most improved team in the west. Not as good as when the had Robinson and Purdue start with Duncan, three starting centers, but good, probably better than Denver now, which lost a couple of guys, Dahntay Jones and Linas Kleizas, who might have been solid reserves this year for them, Jones started some last year and so did Kleiza at the same position, Jones for defense, Kleiza for offense. If the Spurs are serious about trying to compete for the championship, they will add a big back up center. Duncan is their only guy over 6`10, and he is very good, but only 6`11, though has put on some weight, up to 260 now. 6`10 guys are aswful small for center, even though the nba has been shrinking lately. But the offseason isn`t over yet, maybe it`ll pick up for the most recent pair of nba champs, and even if it doesn`t, Boston should win its division and the Lakers should win the west, probably losing to the Cavs in the Championship. But that is a long way off, a lot can change the way things look now.
The Orlando Magic are clearly the winners. They have improved at point guard,Jammeer is back. They improved at SG with Vince. They have improved their bench with Bass and Anderson and they kept their back-up center Marcin. They may get off a little slow but as Boston proved as long as they gel they will win it ALL!!!
The Cavs will dominate the East, Boston will slow down as the season goes on and Orlando's picking up of Peirce may be more of a negative if he continues his selfish play. The odds are Lakers-Cavs final in one of the greatest series ever (atleast the hype will be)
You are the best, Pierce will be the difference for the Magic! Just hope he doesn't have to share time with Vince.
SHUT THE F**K UP IDIOTS, LAKERS ARE BY FAR THE BEST TEAM AND I MEAN BY FAR, KOBE BEST PLAYER IN THE NBA BY FAR JAMES WADE NO F*8KIN WAY, PAU/BYNUM BEST POWER FORWARD/CENTER TANDEM IN THE NBA BY FAR WHO GARNETT/WALLACE NO WHERE CLOSE, NOT TO MENTION ARTEST EASILY THE BEST DEFENSE IN THE NBA , ALSO FISHER, ODOM AND MORE, DONT EVEN ARGUE LAKERS ARE BY FAR THE BEST TEAM YOU DUMB IDIOTS
Typical Laker fan, too much class!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rasheed got very little credit for his dominating defense on Dwight Howard. That was a major reason for the Pistons stellar record against the Magic. Sheed could cover Dwight one on one so the Magic's 3 point shooters would have a harder time getting open. Considering that the Magic elimnated the Celts last season I think that bringing Sheed to Boston was a smart move.