2007-2008 NBA Season Preview: Boston Celtics

In desperate years of seeing conference finals matchups lost (2002), star players traded away (Antoine Walker in 2003, 2005) and franchise players unhappy with repeated losing (Paul Pierce), the Boston Celtics' future has looked grim and sometimes unfathomably bleak.

The summer of 2007 will now be remembered for Boston taking a chance to reach for a championship in dark years.

Future Hall of Famers Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen were acquired from both the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Seattle SuperSonics to bring a vision of winning come into fruition. Pierce being 30 for the upcoming 2007-08 season now places emphasis on his play during his prime years. Because of such a gaudy lineup of Garnett, Allen, and Pierce being present, much of the expectations of glory are present in the public sitting Boston atop the Eastern Conference before even a game has been played. This may hinge, though, the Celtics' bench being able to come through for the superstars.

The guard spots are somewhat solid but also a bit of a question mark. Rajon Rondo is now entering his second year anticipating his spot being as the starting point guard, but his replacements are in question. Defensive stalwart Tony Allen is coming back from an ACL injury to his knee and will be challenged to make a full recovery and play significant minutes behind Rondo and Allen as a combo guard; Eddie House, a journeyman, sharp-shooting guard, will also be a factor.

The forward positions are more stable with James Posey, Brian Scalabrine and Leon Powe. Posey is a seasoned NBA champion with enough offense and defense to make his minutes valuable on the court as a sixth man; Scalabrine is a large, versatile forward who can effectively shoot and adequately defend slower power forwards; and Powe is a smaller power forward who has the aggressiveness to challenge opponents inside, while maintaining a knack for getting the ball.

Rookies Glen "Big Baby" Davis and Gabriel Pruitt would seem to figure into the Celtics' plans, but they have to prove their assertiveness somewhat. While both were high second-round draft picks in the 2007 Draft and originally projected as first-round selections, Davis has to make sure he can keep his weight down, else he may end up to be the next Oliver Miller; Pruitt has shown the ability to effortlessly play the point guard and shooting guard positions, but being a rookie guard is the hardest thing to deal to with, skill-wise.

Will KG, Jesus Shuttlesworth and P2 prove to the people that another banner will go up in 2008? The world will have to watch and see.