Let me start by saying that I'm not launching into an over-analysis of this team after only one game. As Chuck said in last night's recap, these guys were understandably emotional last night. There's no way we can judge performances based solely on last night.
BUT…
We can look at the lack of Patrick O'Bryant as a sign of how far he still has to go. When you leave your newly signed 7 footer on the bench to play an undersized forward against a guy pushing 8 feet tall… that says something. We saw a sign of that the other day when Doc said there's "Celtics speed" and then there's "Patrick speed."
A lot of us liked what we saw in the preseason, and there's no doubt he's got the potential. And again, let me stress that this isn't a criticism of him or a criticism of Danny for signing him. It's just me calling attention to the fact that, after some positives in the preseason, O'Bryant clearly hasn't done enough to earn any playing time yet.
One thing we need to watch for is how he responds to a DNP in a game where he had a chance to play. I'm sure he thought that a chance to work against a big, slow Zydrunas Ilgauskas would be perfect for him. Now, what does he do in practice to make sure the next time Perk gets into foul trouble, he gets a chance to play?
Quick question on Perk, again playing off what Chuck said last night: Should we just accept that this is going to be what Perk is… a foul-prone bruiser that will occasionally bust out for a big night? I love Perk, but at what point does he stop committing some of those unnecessary fouls?
Over on Examiner.com, I look at why Paul Pierce's display of emotion was good for the team.
And when Paul Pierce cried those tears of joy (and maybe a little relief), he also showed his younger teammates a little something about being a Celtic.
Being a Celtic is different. It IS about trying to be a member of "the club." It IS about pouring your heart and soul into a kids game, whether you make the league minimum, or $17 million a year. It IS about showing the fans you care about what you're doing as much as we care about what you're doing
After the jump, today's links, and the YouTube video of Leon Powe posterizing Delonte West
Herald: Celtics ring in the season | Powe finishes with bounce in his step | Cavs sit out ceremony | New contract gives Danny some life | Delonte gets it together | Legendary Celtics effort | Celtics learn to deal with it | Tony Allen goes fourth in gritty win | Globe: Green party | Banner raising photo gallery | game photos | Little rhythm, no blues | Ainge elevated | Hole Truth: Brown a major loss | Garden rocks with rafter effects | Once is not enough | Ballerblogger: KG as intense as ever | Camerato: Wahlberg shows another side of Pierce | Admiral salutes Celts | Megliola: Too much to keep Pierce's eyes dry | Souza: C's take slug-fest | ProJo: Stern booed in Boston
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NImMIFnB2JA]Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
