After the Boston Celtics lost in game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals to the eventual champion Miami Heat, the Celtics also lost Ray Allen, as a free agent, to the Heat. Since then, the Celtics have retooled to make up for the loss of Allen to, once again, make a run at a championship.
Ray Allen, one of the best 3-point shooters in NBA history, shot 45.3% from the outside last season. But, his injury was costly in the playoffs. A healthy Allen would have added a different complexion to the Celtics-Heat series, and would have made their path to the ECF a bit easier.
When the rival Heat signed Allen as a free agent, even without the personal wooing of Pat Riley, many were taken aback. But, as Allen prepares to chase down another ring with the Heat, the Celtics have tried to replace him.
The Celtics re-signed All-Star Kevin Garnett, who had a revitalized regular season, and then exploded with energy in the playoffs. The 36-year-old power forward increased his regular season effort from 15 points and 8 rebounds per game to almost 20 ppg and 10 rpg during the playoffs.
Wisely, the Celtics also retained the services of 27-year-old Brandon Bass, who recorded a career-best in points (12.5) and rebounds (6.2) with Boston last season. As a backup, the green team will also keep 29-year-old veteran out of North Carolina Chris Wilcox.
Since the Celtics still have Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce, they have a solid core. And after resigning key free agents Garnett, Bass, and Wilcox, the Celtics have focused on the shooting guard position.
Allen, who gave the Celtics 14.2 ppg and shot 91.5% from the free throw line, is almost impossible to replace. But, the Celtics will give it a shot with Courtney Lee and sharp shooter Jason Terry.
Terry, an NBA champion like Allen, is also almost as old as Allen; Terry will be 35 in September. Terry is a great shooter and should be capable of filling Allen’s post in the starting lineup. Even though neither Lee nor Terry are as good of shooters as Ray Allen, they might just be good enough.
Former Dallas Maverick Jason Terry, former 6th Man of the Year, had comparable numbers to Allen last season, scoring 15.1 ppg and shooting 88.3% from the free throw line. While Terry (37.8%) might not be quite as money from the outside as Allen (45.3%), Terry is strong in crunch time. In the 2012 playoffs, Terry increased his three-point shooting to 39.4%.
Jason Terry highlights:
Along with Terry, the Celtics completed a sign-and-trade deal with the Houston Rockets for Courtney Lee. Celtics management scored big, acquiring Lee, 26, for a handful of young, undeveloped players, a 2nd round draft pick next year, and Sasha Pavlovic, who is headed to Portland.
Courtney Lee highlights:
Lee, a career 38.6% three-point shooter will help spread the floor and knock down three’s. Although Lee’s numbers from last season, 11.4 points 1.0 steals per game, are not particularly impressive, Lee shot 40.1% from three and, in 2009, he was part of an Orlando Magic team that made a run to the NBA Finals.
As a backup, the Celtics also signed Dionte Christmas, who has been playing well overseas since graduating from Temple University in 2009, after a successful college career.
Can this retooled Boston Celtics team win another title? That remains to be seen. And, the new-look Heat, who have added Rashard Lewis and Ray Allen, will be once again standing in their way of another championship.
Rob S. De France is a College and University Instructor of English Composition living in Los Angeles. He has a B.A. in English and an M.A. in Rhetoric and Composition. De France has played, coached, and officiated competitive high school basketball in California for many years. Recently, De France, his wife, and another colleague started an internationally read magazine at Shwibly.com.
