The year was 1995. Coolio’s “Gangster’s Paradise” was the first of what was sure to be a years-long run atop the rap charts. America was only just starting to get annoyed by the endless Ross & Rachel dynamic on Friends. And a young Alicia Silverstone wowed movie-goers with her acting chops in Clueless.
And on August 19, in Flint, Michigan, a baby named James Young would come into this world.
19 years later, Young would stroll across the stage after hearing his name called as the 17th overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft. His extreme youth, and the fact that he’s got a legitimate shot at being a part of the Celtics future perhaps signifies where the Celtics are more than anything. So we, because we can’t just be normal, are going to look back to Young’s birth year as we look forward to this current year of Celtics basketball, with a retro-preview… all the way back to 1995.
FREEEEEEEDOMMMMMM!
Epic guy flick Braveheart was released in 1995, and it gave us one of the great movie speeches:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gr_OpFxCx-A]William Wallace was one of the greatest on-screen leaders Hollywood has produced. The big question this season for the Celtics is, will Rajon Rondo become this kind of leader too?
John: I think Rondo wants to be that guy. I think Rondo has seen the Paul Pierce tribute, I think he’s heard from Pierce first hand what he’s been through, I think he’s heard from Kevin Garnett what it takes to be great. I think even though those guys are gone, Rondo wants to carry on their legacies as the next great Celtics leader.
He’ll have to adjust some things about his mentality. He’ll have to accept imperfections where in the past he’d carry botched possessions with him. He’ll have to teach young guys and bring them along rather than rely on other veterans to do that job. That process started last year, and it continues this year in earnest. The thing he has going for him, and why I think he will make this happen, is the support of the team and, more importantly the coach. I think Rondo’s relationship with Brad Stevens will allow Stevens to pull Rondo aside and say “hey, you need to do this.”
Good coaches will occasionally go through their captains to get messages across to the team. Good ones will pull a captain aside and say “hey, go make sure these guys know ‘this’, because I’m going to hammer them hard on this at practice. They’ll prop up young captains like that, help them legitimize their captaincy, and grow as leaders themselves. I think Stevens will be this guy for Rondo.
Chuck: I agree with John, Rondo wants to be that guy. The ACL tear robbed him of that opportunity last season. Except for the overblown birthday party controversy, Rondo has done everything a captain should do. He rehabs his ass off and is regularly around the team even when injured. There hasn’t been one noteworthy incident proving that Rondo isn’t willing to work with Brad Stevens. Now, Rondo’s patience will be tested like never before. How will he react to repeated missteps by rookies Marcus Smart and James Young? Will the losing wear him down? What about the inevitable trade rumors? While I’m hoping Rondo reacts positively to all of those influences, this is unchartered waters for Rajon.
Jay: He has no choice if he wants to be thrust back into the conversation as “best point guards in the league.” Or if he wants that max contract. Or if he wants to lure other star players here to get that coveted second ring. He has all the support he needs, so it’s all on him now.
KWAPT: He definitely has the leadership qualities needed, but I think he’s going to need a VP to his Commander-In-Chief. Wallace obviously has no problem being vocal, but I think it’s time for either Sully or Avery to step up and be a voice as well. Bass & Green simply are not the vocal type.
SWEET SWEET FANTASY BABY!
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qq09UkPRdFY]Mariah Carey’s “Fantasy” held the #1 spot on the Billboard chart for two months in the fall of 1995. As we head into the fall of 2014, who’ll be the Celtics fantasy leaders in the major statistical categories?
John:
Points: Jared Sullinger – Yep, I’m buying the hype. Brad Stevens said Sully’s probably the team’s best scorer, and I know Jeff Green will follow 25 points games with 11 point games. I think Sully will be more consistent and, ultimately, the better scorer.
Rebounds: Sully (duh) – He’s the most consistent rebounder the C’s have. I think Sully is a good fantasy pickup as it is, especially if his 3-point shooting is close to what he showed in the preseason.
Assists: Rondo (DUH) – I think he can average double-digit assists even on this team, but even if he doesn’t, it won’t be THAT far below 10 per game.
Chuck:
Points: Sullinger – In addition to the consistency John points out, I like the inside/out aspect to Sullinger’s game. If he’s going up against oversized power forwards, he’s developed the range to kill them from the perimeter. If he’s matched up with thinner forwards, Sullinger can use his width to his advantage in the post. I’m expecting 18 ppg from Sully.
Rebounds: Sully (double duh) – The kid can’t jump a lick but can rebound like a monster. Why? All about desire and positioning. He’s going to average double-digit rebounds for the first time in his career.
Assists: Rondo – Not only will he lead the Celtics in assists, he will lead the league in assists.
Jay:
Points: Sullinger. If his preseason play translates into the regular season and he stays healthy, he’ll not only lead the team in scoring but will also be a league wide candidate for Most Improved Player.
Assists: Rondo. This really needs no explanation.
Rebounds: Sullinger. See above.
WELCOME TO SPLITSVILLE…. POPULATION, YOU.
Prince Charles and Lady Di horrified the delicate senses of Royals-watchers by announcing a split in 1995 (Chuck’s still getting over this). Which current Celtic is most likely to not be a Celtic by the time the year is done?
Chuck:
Marcus Thornton – While Brandon Bass and Jeff Green are likely candidates, I think Danny Ainge will be most aggressive trying to move Thornton. He’s a veteran scorer whose $8.5 million contract will seem more palatable come mid-season.
John:
I’m going with Bass. His deal is a tick under $7 million, he’s a solid shooter who’s now added that corner 3. If that remains a thing all season long, teams in the hunt could look at Bass as an affordable stretch 4 who can guard some 3’s if need be. I think teams come calling for Bass fairly quickly.
Jay:
Brandon Bass. They nearly had a deal done for him last year and he has a cap friendly expiring contract. They also have a glut of players at that position, especially younger players that they’ll want to give more time to.
KWAPT:
Marcus Thornton. Look for a playoff-bound team interested in some added scoring taking him off the Celts’ hands right before February’s trade deadline.
BRAD “DANNY TANNER” STEVENS
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUlgBSz3AkY]Full House ended its 8-season run in 1995. It was a show about a guy, his brother-in-law, and his best friend raising a bunch of kids. In Boston, Brad Stevens and his staff are doing the same thing. So does Stevens have an 8-year (or longer) run in him as Celtics head coach?
Chuck:
Yes. Figure another 3 rebuilding and then 4-5 contending for a title. No reason he can’t stay as long as Doc Rivers (9 years).
Jay:
Yes. Despite what some experts and insiders want to push, Stevens is a guy that is more of the growth mindset than of the fixed one. The easy thing for him to do would be to take over at Duke or UNC, but Stevens is wired differently and truly wants to prove he can succeed at this level.
KWAPT:
Tough to say. But this year should give us a clearer picture. Now that his proverbial feet are wet in the NBA, and he’s had a full season to get to know his players & staff,(and the league) we can get a more realistic picture of that.
John:
I firmly believe Stevens was the absolute perfect guy for this job at this time. He’s got the long-term deal already, and I think he’s growing enough with this team that he’ll earn an extension.
Here’s the thing about Stevens… there hasn’t been a single second here where I’ve thought he’s been overwhelmed by any aspect of coaching an NBA team. Rondo was supposed to be his biggest challenge and they’re practically fishing buddies at this point. If this guy is so cool and calculated now, what’s he going to be like when he settles in?
Sure, he could falter and flame out, but I don’t see it. I think this guy is an NBA coach for a long, long time.
YOU’VE GOT MAIL
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1npzZu83AfU]James Young wasn’t the only birth in 1995. The internet… or at least the publicly available internet as we know it… was also born in 1995 with AOL offering access to the world wide web for the first time… and also ushering in years of those annoying damn CD’s in magazines and in the mail.
So we asked you for your questions for our preview, using the internet AOL and it’s stupid dial up modem helped popularize (Chuck still uses this for blogging).
@RedsArmy_John Do you think it’s a realistic possibility for Sully to play at an All-Star caliber level? #RedsArmy
— Damian (@_TheTruth7) October 28, 2014
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsJohn: I don’t want to go TOO crazy overreacting to a great preseason. I’m very encouraged by what I’ve seen, and I expect him to play really well (obviously, by my answers earlier), but (a) it’s going to be tough to ask him to play at an All Star level all season long, (b) he’s got a lot of competition at the forward spot. I think Sully will progress nicely, but I doubt he’ll be in the All Star reserve conversation until next season at the earliest.
@RedsArmy_John The #Celtics rebounding & 3-point shots have been much higher in preseason. Will this continue throughout 82 games? #RedsArmy — AusCelticsFan (@AusCelticsFan) October 28, 2014
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John:
No. That’s a lot to ask. I think it’ll be better, and the team will certainly look to take a lot of 3, but the Celtics still have to play better competition for a few months before I buy into any prolonged success in those areas. I think the level of competition this preseason was a factor in some of these inflated numbers
Chuck:
I’m bracing myself for another tough year on the boards. Jared Sullinger will get his fair share, but I haven’t seen anything from Kelly Olynyk or Tyler Zeller to make me think either can control the defensive boards.
Preseason saw great ball movement in the offense. How much will Rondo adapt to this? And how, if at all, will the team adjust? #RedsArmy
— AusCelticsFan (@AusCelticsFan) October 28, 2014
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsJohn: I think Rondo will adapt well. Tommy Heinsohn made a good point during a recent broadcast that Rondo was coached into setting halfcourt offense in the Big 3 years because that’s how the team succeeded. The best option was to let plays develop and spot one of the 3 future HOF’ers for a good shot. Rondo returned late last year in his first season with a new team and still had to get a feel for what was going on. I think a guy who plays at that level is certainly capable of adapting to the strengths of his teammates… while the team is also smart enough to put in offensive sets that play to Rondo’s strengths.
Will Sullinger & Olynyks ability to be able to pass like point guards and shoot from the outside be a threat in this league? #RedsArmy — Braeden (@Braedenks) October 28, 2014
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John:
I love the passing these guys bring to the table. I think Sullinger has emerged as the bigger “stretch” threat and will continue to be one throughout the season. Olynyk needs a little more work, and, in unfortunately playing a bit out of position. I think that might hurt his game a little bit, but we’ll definitely see flashes of it this year, and more flashes than we saw last year.
Chuck:
Pass like point guards? Let’s pull back the reins on a bit on their passing skills. I do like their range and it will certainly force opposing bigs to drift away from the basket and open up passing and cutting lanes.
@RedsArmy_John Could you see a Phoenix style renaissance from the C’s this season? Looks a fun roster to me. #RedsArmy
— Neil Donohoe (@NeilDonohoe) October 28, 2014
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Chuck:
Ooh, I like your thinking. But I’m a bit nervous about the Evan Turner/Jeff Green/Gerald Wallace three-headed monster at the pivotal position of small forward. Turner has impressed me a bit in the preseason, but can he really reverse years of negative trends? I’ve all but given up on Jeff Green becoming a consistent offensive player. And Gerald Wallace is… Gerald Wallace.
John:
Phoenix had all the right things come together with a lot of pieces that just fit. I think the Celtics will be fun to watch and they’ll probably win more than most experts think, but Phoenix spent a long time in the upper half of the Western playoff picture before they fell back to earth. The Celtics open with a brutal November schedule that will probably squash a lot of that talk. They’ll have to recover later in the season to even come close to the bottom half of the standings.
CLEVELAND ROCKS!
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aln0oMSkSUE]
Let’s get an NBA prediction in here…
The Drew Carey Show debuted in 1995. Set in Cleveland, it chronicled the lives of some loveable losers. But Cleveland won’t be losers this year (and depending on your feelings about LeBron James, they won’t be loveable either). Will Cleveland be good enough to win it all?
Jay:
Absolutely. I’m not sold on the Bulls because I’m not sold that Derrick Rose is Derrick Rose. I’m talking about the MVP Rose. The Bulls, as it stands right now are the only team that will challenge Cleveland. Then, they only have to beat one team in the west and while they all have their advantages, there are holes in each team. This doesn’t necessarily mean they WILL win it, but they certainly can.
KWAPT:
No. I truly believe that if the Spurs can keep their core group healthy, they are going to repeat. I see this year’s Cavs team being a lot like Miami Lebron’s 1st season there. They are an extremely talented team, and will have undoubtedly steamroll through much of the East, but I still think the Spurs are going to be just as good, if not better than last year.
Chuck:
No. And maybe I’m going more with my (anti-Lebron) heart than my head here, but it’s possible the Cavs have too many new pieces, including head coach David Blatt. I realize the NBA is a players league, but is Blatt really ready for the NBA finals?
John:
I don’t think the Cavs are deep enough or have the same level of supporting cast that Miami had when they instantly went to the Finals. However, they are in the East, so I think they’re definitely good enough to get to the Conference Finals. And if they’re good enough to do that, then they could get to the Finals. From there anything could happen, but I’m not counting on Cleveland winning it all this year. The champion still lives out West, and will probably be whichever team survives the OKC-San Antonio Western Conference Finals showdown that everyone will be begging can go 14 games and just double as the Finals as well.
Predictions
Chuck: The Celtics are still a young team in transition and for that reason I see them struggling this season. Plus, Danny Ainge is going to make mid-season roster moves than can help this team over the long haul. Guys like Bass, Green and Thornton might get dumped with little value in return. I think the C’s can be a tick better than last year. Let’s go with 27-55 and 12th in the East.
John: I think Rondo alone is good for a few more wins than the 25 the C’s put up last season. I think an improved Sullinger is good for a couple more, and I think Thornton/Evan Turner will provide enough bench scoring that the C’s lacked last season to win a couple more. So Rondo’s 3, plus Sully’s 2, plus the bench’s 2 is good for 7 more wins. And because I’m an optimist who’ll buy into the happy chemistry vibe this team is putting out, I’ll tack one more to say 33-49 for the season.
What would a Retro Season Preview be without retro versions of John and Chuck?
Cindy and Chuck had a great night. She loved to fog up his giant glasses.
Meanwhile, proof that one of us had a little game once upon a time.
Enjoy the season everyone.
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