Hooped Up

A team-by-team preview of all 30 NBA teams heading into the 2008 – 2009 season, Hooped Up style. 

Boston Celtics
Coming off a championship and the best record in the NBA last season, there is not much change needed to the Celtics formula heading into the 08 / 09 season. The calling card of the Celtics success was team defense anchored by reigning Defensive Player of the Year Kevin Garnett and a bench that swarmed the opposition (just ask Kobe Bryant) and they might be even better. 

Projected Starters: PG – Rajon Rondo / SG – Ray Allen / SF – Paul Pierce / PF – Kevin Garnett / C –  Kendrick Perkins

Additions: Bill Walker, Darius Miles, Patrick O’Bryant, Darius Miles, J.R. Giddens

Losses: James Posey, PJ Brown, Scot Pollard

Projected Wins: 60+

Team Theme Song:  Blahzay Blahzay- Danger
The Celtics are still the most dangerous team in the East!  

Overall
Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett will dominate the headlines but their measure of success relies on the bench. The Celtics added much needed young legs to their bench and will be scary despite the lose of James Posey and PJ Brown. Especially if J.R. Giddens, Darius Miles and rookie  Bill Walker can provide that same defensive spark off the bench as a platoon.  

At the very least the Celtics are poised to make the conference finals and the chances of a repeat looks good, if team defense is the straw that stirs the drink once again.