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Leon Powe is a good player. I checked his splits at B-R.com, and you’re right, he has a history of big games versus the Cavaliers. I think it’s a mistake, though, to extrapolate his numbers to a 36 or 40 minute average or cite his PER rating. He’s a scrappy dude, but he’s limited defensively, and he’s foul prone.

Rasheed became a one-dimensional scorer by choice. He never respected Flip Saunders or Michael Curry. Doc Rivers and Kevin Garnett will command his respect. I think the guy has a lot left in the tank. Like Tim Duncan, Rasheed’s game has never been predicated on athleticism.

He still has the skill set to do some serious damage on the block. And he can still stroke the longball.

As for Rondo, all indications are that he’s shooting the ball well in training camp. If he adds a 15-20 jumper, he’ll be indefensible. Outside shot or not, you can’t defend a Rondo-KG, or Rondo-Sheed pick-and-roll with two players. So where is the help going to come from? Who are you going to leave? Ray? Pierce? I don’t think so.

The Cavaliers struggled to defend Dwight Howard and Rashard Lewis last season. Pairing Rasheed with KG will pose many of the same mismatch problems. Who is Shaq going to defend? Varejao may have had his moments against Rasheed, but he’s never been able to defend Garnett.

I agree that Cleveland probably would have defeated a healthy Celtics team in last year’s playoffs. But only because the Celtics had zero depth. Marbury and Moore gave them next to nothing off the bench. Sheed, Daniels, Baby, House, and Shelden Williams are quality reserves. And Kendrick Perkins (the best low-post on-ball defender in the league, in my opinion) will be improved.

I meant textbook ball MOVEMENT.

Let’s not forget we’re talking about Rajon Rondo. He still hasn’t shown he can consistently hit a deep jumper. I know he can fill up the stats sheet – he’s been my fantasy PG 2 years in a row. But the offense is going to have to run through him lest PP be completely worn down again in mid may. And teams can definitely go under those picks on Rondo-Unlike Mo Williams and Jameer Nelson. The Rondo pick and roll won’t be that effective.

“Dismiss this team at your peril. Last season they won 62 games, even though KG missed the final two months, and took the Magic to seven games in the conference semifinals.”

Am I the only one that feels like the Magic only brought it against the Cavs? They looked pretty lackluster against Philly until game 6, poor against the C’s until game 6, and after the first half of the ECF game 1, they put on a clinic. (until the finals…sigh) I don’t think the Celtics can hang with the Magic.

“Plus, Marquis Daniels is the best backup wing the Celtics have had since Posey left (not saying too much, but he’s an upgrade over Tony Allen). I think they need a defensive stopper but I like them over Cleveland and Orlando.”

Daniels was a nice addition. He will fit in their system well.

I’m surprised that many people actually like Boston over Cleveland and Orlando. Both teams, imo, improved their rosters from LAST season when I believe they were both ALREADY better than the Celtics – Even with a healthy KG.

My $0.02:

“Rajon Rondo will more than make up for any potential slippage from the Big 3. Mark my words: Rondo is going to have a monster season.” (is that a Mark Price pun?)

As Ray Ray and PP get older, they rely more on jumpers and less on penetration. Their previously dynamic scorers are going to be more 1 dimensional on offense. In the past, they have beaten good defensive teams with textbook ball handling. That won’t change. They will win a lot of games, and the garden will be fired up. I just don’t see the matchup problems that they will create against the Magic or the Cavs. Rondo eats poor defenses alive with his athleticism, but he won’t be playing against Derek Rose in the conf finals if they even make it that far.

“For the life of me, I cannot understand how the Celtics paid $2.5 mil a year to Glen Davis and let Leon Powe go to the Cavs for the veteran’s minimum. I know Powe will be injured for part of the season, and Davis played well in the playoffs, but Powe is just a much better player.”

I remember the day it was reported that Leon Powe would miss the rest of the season. I immediately called up some friends and told them that there was zero chance the Celtics could beat the Cavs in a 7 game series. Not after the KG injury, after the Powe injury. He was THAT dominant against the Cavs. The fact that the Cavs never have to guard Leon Powe again is huge enough, but they signed him to the league minimum. Probably the second least talked about NBA story of the offseason (first being Rashard Lewis testing + for testosterone)

“Sheed is a better defender than Powe, and he gives Boston an added dimension versus the Cavaliers and Magic. Wallace has the size, quickness, and versatility to defend Rashard Lewis. Plus he’s been very effective against Dwight Howard.”

He has not been effective against Anderson Varejao for a long time. See: ECF 2007. He’s a good pickup, but again, a one dimensional offensive player at this stage of his career. Last year he absolutely blew. I would chalk up part of it to the Pistons being such a mess, but let’s remember, it was a contract year for him. Everyone was saying before last year he was really going to bring it because it was a contract year.

McDyess never gave up in the playoffs last year. Sheed was atrocious.

Dismiss this team at your peril. Last season they won 62 games, even though KG missed the final two months, and took the Magic to seven games in the conference semifinals.

Sheed is a better defender than Powe, and he gives Boston an added dimension versus the Cavaliers and Magic. Wallace has the size, quickness, and versatility to defend Rashard Lewis. Plus he’s been very effective against Dwight Howard.

The Celtics are deeper than they were two years ago, and Rajon Rondo will more than make up for any potential slippage from the Big 3. Mark my words: Rondo is going to have a monster season.

It’s going to be very difficult for teams to double off Rondo when the Celtics have three guys standing behind the 3-point line, and KG setting picks at top of the key.

- Allen also had the lowest usage rate of his career, despite KG being off the floor for almost 30 games. I’m not saying that he didn’t have a great season, he did, but more likely than not he’s going to return to earth some. He’s played over 1000 games in his career, that’s going to have an effect.

I just don’t think we can assume that KG is going to come back and this team is going to be as good as they were two years ago. There’s too much uncertainty. 2 years is a big difference when most of the principal guys on your team are on the wrong side of 30

On offense, he’s another shooter, and if you defend him with a small player, he can post.

I keep waiting for the bottom to fall out of Allen and it never does.

Plus, Marquis Daniels is the best backup wing the Celtics have had since Posey left (not saying too much, but he’s an upgrade over Tony Allen). I think they need a defensive stopper but I like them over Cleveland and Orlando.

A few thoughts:

* Rasheed Wallace is a huge upgrade over Leon Powe. He didn’t have the emotional edge to play at a high level last season. Consequently, he gave almost no effort on both sides of the ball. Look for him to play with renewed energy this season.

* Last season, Ray Allen improved his shooting percentage from the field, from 3-point range and the foul line. He looked exhausted versus Orlando because he logged major minutes against the Bulls. Remember, there were a record seven overtimes in that series.

Health is always the X-factor, but if the Celtics can remain relatively injury-free, and if Doc Rivers can limit Allen, Pierce, Wallace, and Garnett’s minutes during the regular season, I like the Celtics to come out of the East.