Boston Celtics 2010 Preview & Predictions

Boston Celtics 2010 Season Preview, Predictions Picks & Odds

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Boston Celtics 2009-2010 NBA Record: 50-32, 1st in Atlantic Division.

Boston Celtics Betting Trends & Betting Angles:
• 12-1 SU past 13 Nov road games
• OVER is 8-1 past 9 vs Northwest Div
• UNDER is 15-3-1 past 19 vs Pacific Div
• 3-11 ATS past 14 as fave of 8+ points
• 17-2 SU past 19 Dec home games
• 14-3-2 ATS past 19 trips to Philly
• 13-5 ATS past 18 visits to New York

Boston Celtics 2010 Preview & Prediction

It’s rare that 20-something cool kids choose to emulate their elders. So it’s a telling testament to the success of Boston’s New Big Three that LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh joined forces this offseason in an attempt to create a younger, more robustly tattooed version. In the New Big Three’s three seasons together, the Celtics have put up results to rival that of the old Bird/ Parish/McHale Big Three – they won achampionship in ’07-08, cruised through the next year before injuries ended Kevin Garnett’s season, and came a few defensive stops away from winning asecond title in ’09-10. By just about any standard, the Kevin Garnett/Ray Allen/Paul Pierce trio has been a smashing success, while aided by the development of contributors such as Glen Davis, Kendrick Perkins and Rajon Rondo. All the principals of last season’s Eastern Conference championship team are back in ’10-11, and veteran bigs Shaquille and Jermaine O’Neal will bolster the frontcourt rotation while Perkins rehabs the knee he injured in the NBA Finals. But as ’10-11 looms, the Celtics face the same question they have since initiating the New Big Three era three seasons ago. That is, how long and how hard can Boston ride its 30-something stars before the wheels – or, more to the point, knees – come off? The question isn’t whether Boston will compete for a title if Rondo, Garnett, Pierce and Allen can stay healthy and repeat their ’09-10 performances; they will. The more worrisome question, and the tougher one to answer, is how long these trend-setting NBA oldsters can keep this up.

Boston Celtics Coach: Doc Rivers (7th season)

Boston Celtics Projected Starters: PG Rajon Rondo, SG Ray Allen, SF Paul Pierce, PF Kevin Garnett, C Jermaine O’Neal.

Boston Celtics Key Additions: C Shaquille O’Neal, C Jermaine O’Neal, G Delonte West.

Boston Celtics Key Losses: G Tony Allen, F Rasheed Wallace.

2010 Boston Celtics Point Guards:

Rajon Rondo is item A on Rivers’ coaching curriculum vitae. He’s the poster child for a generation of speedy, athletic point guards turned loose by the NBA’s rules changes against the hand check and overly physical defensive play. Rondo has earned that status by virtue of his huge heart. It’s impossible to overstate how important his play is to his team and to the NBA at large. Yet he’s only a shadow of the weapon he can become with Rivers – himself a vastly experienced former NBA point guard challenging and directing his competitive spirit. That’s why the coach was so glad to see his 24-year-old guard working with Team USA over the summer. He made only 33 percent of his shots from 16-feet out last season, despite shooting 50 percent from the field. The lack of a jumper was glaring in the championship series as the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant laid off Rondo to help defend. Work ethic is a strong suit for Rondo. Over time his efforts with shooting coach Mark Price should payoff.

2010 Boston Celtics Off Guards:

Imagine if Ainge had been able to pry J.J. Redick away from Orlando. He tried by offering the full mid-level exception, but Redick’s agent quickly laughed and told the Celtics that simply wouldn’t be enough. Redick has long idolized Ray Allen and their competitive spark might well have fueled Allen’s already considerable drive. Allen has proven himself as one of the game’s all-time great competitors. Anyone who watched him running fullcourt wind sprints before his great performance in Game 2 of the NBA Finals got a view of his determination. Yes, he’s a year older, but he’s an immaculate conditioner and will deliver everything he has for 2011. Von Wafer perhaps realizes his great fortune in being signed as an understudy. In their second years on the roster, Nate Robinson and Marquis Daniels should offer even greater support of the cause.

2010 Boston Celtics Small Forwards:

Paul Pierce remains one of the toughest match-ups in the league. The MVP of the 2008 championship series has earned all the accolades. The franchise had no hesitation in re-signing him for the max over the summer. With the loss of Tony Allen to Memphis, the only question is more depth at the wing for Boston. That is why Ainge was still looking for help in late summer. Pierce is durable and tough-minded despite the silly image of him being rolled off the floor in a wheel chair during the 2008 Finals. Rookie Luke Harangody is a tweener who showed impressive shooting depth in the Orlando Summer League. He seems to have made step one in earning Rivers’ confidence and could provide scoring off the bench at forward. How quickly he learns to compensate defensively will determine his minutes.

2010 Boston Celtics Power Forwards:

Yes, Kevin Garnett is older and has made the adjustments to the indignities of senior citizenship. He gets posterized with some regularity these days. But he found health last season and remains a huge portion of the competitive heart of this team. Jermaine O’Neal provides quality depth at this postion along with the hulking Glen Davis, who is showing signs of much-needed maturity. Boston is big, deep and experienced. They manage well most nights at this position.

2010 Boston Celtics Centers:

Kendrick Perkins is a guy you love, regardless if you’re a Celtics freak or not. He gets it, having long been smart to absorb all the special teachings of big man coach Clifford Ray, another of the gems on Boston’s coaching staff. Perkins is recovering from a knee injury and is expected back by February. He will never be confused with a guy who can draw double teams, but he brings toughness, smarts and physical play in big quantities. The retirement of Rasheed Wallace is a blow, but there remains hope that Boston will lure him back in the spring. Shaq will add much needed rebounding. Jermaine O’Neal will help here too, as will Davis and even Garnett. It’s a deep frontcourt.

Boston Celtics 2010 Season Predictions

We predict that the Boston Celtics will finish 1st in the NBA Atlantic Division .

Boston Celtics Betting

Boston Celtics NBA Championship Odds: +900
Boston Celtics Eastern Conference Odds: +340

Boston Celtics 2009-2010 Betting Stats

Boston Celtics Straight Up: 50-32
Boston Celtics ATS: 33-48-1
Boston Celtics Home ATS: 12-28-1
Boston Celtics Away ATS: 21-20
Boston Celtics Record As Favorite: 42-20
Boston Celtics Record As Dog: 7-12
Boston Celtics Over/Under: 41-39-2

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