Last year's stats:
12.0 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.4 apg, 1.3 bpg, FG%: 41.9, FT% 77.2
Projected Stats:
John: 14.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.8 bpg, FG% 44.2, FT% 78.4
Chuck: 13.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.3 bpg, FG% 44%, FT% 80%
What will help him the most?
John: Playing along side KG. And that doesn't just apply to being on the floor at the same time as Garnett, because they often won't be. It's just being around KG. Garnett is THE vocal leader of this team. He's the vocal leader of anything he's ever involved with. Wallace, by all accounts, is surprisingly not… despite his propensity for yapping away. With KG there to take the heat off of him… and kick him in the ass if need be… Wallace can step up his game even in a reduced role.
Chuck: I agree with John, it's KG. Wallace is known to tank it not give his all on certain occasions, but fortunately for us, Sheed's good buddy won't let that happen much this season. Playing for a legitimate contender this season should also energize Wallace.
What will hurt him the most?
John: A lack of minutes. He's a guy used to about 33 minutes per game. Cutting that to somewhere in the 20-25 range could hurt him a little… especially since he's become more of a perimeter player. Perimeter guys can sometimes struggle to find their jumper… and fewer minutes could reduce some of his early effectiveness.
Chuck: The adjustment from starter to reserve. This make take a while, but I expect Wallace to flourish with the Celtics. He's going to be a regular, and more than likely get a ton of minutes during crunch time. He'll just need to get used to sitting for the tip-off.
Burning Question #1: Will Sheed start mixing it up in the post again, or is he primarily a perimeter guy now?
John: He's primarily a perimeter guy, but I wouldn't be surprised if he dove into the lane a few more times than Detroit fans have seen over the past couple of years. I don't expect him to suddenly turn into a back-to-the-basket kind of player… but I do expect him to take advantage of match ups and the type of teammates he's got. Sometimes, that means dropping into the post to be a facilitator of the offense.
Chuck: I don't expect his game to change one bit. What's the saying: you can't teach an old leopard new spots? People want to fault the guy for taking too many 3s, but I've seen him hit a few clutch jumpers during his career.
Burning Question #2: Was 'Sheed just dogging it last year… or is he clearly on a downward slide?
John: It's a little of both. I know that it's odd to be so excited about a guy who spent last year mailing in games… but I think we all expect that to be in the past. Again, I doubt Kevin Garnett will let that happen on his team… and I think the change of scenery will light a little more of a fire under Sheed. It's clear he's not the player he once was, but with the added desire and prodding, he'll be the type of player we're hoping for.
Chuck: 'Sheed didn't quit until Joe Dumars quit on that Pistons team. I can't blame the guy for his lapses in motivation following the Chauncey Billups trade. Yes, guys his age tend to lose some of their skills. But his minutes will decrease, and that should allow Wallace to excel during his reduced time on the court.
Other Player Projections: Kendrick Perkins | Marquis Daniels | Paul Pierce | Ray Allen | Rajon Rondo | Tony Allen | Brian Scalabrine
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