WITH THE 20TH PICK:

The Celtics use their 2nd First Rounder on David West. Two critical factors go into this selection. Firstly, most of the current group of Celtic forwards play "smaller" than their size. West plays bigger. He's averaged 10 rebounds per game for an entire 4 year college career. Secondly, Xavier has consistently produced PF's who have exceed expectations in the NBA.

Overview:

After spending most of the 1990's on the outside of the Play-off Picture looking in, the Celtics got back into the mix over the last 2 seasons. Not only did they make an appearance, but they won a few series. The 2002 group made an improbable run to the Conference Finals (albeit the Eastern Conference). The 2003 Green Team fell one round short of the previous season losing in the Conference Semis to the same New Jersey squad. Going from bad to good was a challenge. Going from good to great will be a huge undertaking, but for an organization with 16 World Championships, anything short of GREEN 17 (the new ownership's slogan) will be considered a failure.

Scour the current roster for players who averaged more than 16 points per game OR 5 rebounds per game OR 4 assists per game and you'll find two players; Pierce and Walker. The NBA has turned into a league where two Superstars can win you a World Championship, but the Celtics have to get more from roster spots 3 thru 12 (or is it 13????)

Team chemistry is very good, so don't expect a major overhaul. That being said, no one past Pierce and Walker is a lock to return next season.

Management:

Since 1999 the Celtics have drafted: Kris Clack, Jerome Moiso, Joe Johnson, Kedrick Brown, Joseph Forte, and Darius Songaila. Any wonder why Danny Ainge was brought in as the new Executive Director of Basketball Operations? In what was surely the biggest off the court move since the hiring of Rick Pitino (oops!!!) the new ownership group has made a statement. Danny is the perfect guy for the job. He brings credibility, enthusiasm and an incredible work ethic. The biggest challenge facing Ainge will be to find scoring help for Pierce and Walker. Look for Ainge to try to upgrade the point and power positions.

2002-03 Celtics Regular Season Statistics

  PLAYER AVERAGES
Player          G GS  MPG  FG%  3P%  FT% OFF  DEF  TOT  APG SPG  BPG TO    PF PPG
Paul Pierce    79 79 39.2 .416 .302 .802 1.30 6.00 7.30 4.4 1.76 .78 3.65 2.90 25.9
Antoine Walker 78 78 41.5 .388 .323 .615 1.30 5.90 7.20 4.8 1.49 .40 3.33 2.80 20.1
Tony Delk      67 39 28.0 .416 .395 .782  .60 2.90 3.50 2.2 1.07 .15 1.03 1.90  9.8
Eric Williams  82 79 28.7 .442 .336 .750 1.70 2.90 4.70 1.7 1.05 .23 1.18 2.90  9.1
J.R. Bremer    64 41 23.5 .369 .353 .766  .30 2.00 2.30 2.6  .59 .05  .92 1.30  8.3
Tony Battie    67 62 25.1 .539 .200 .746 2.20 4.30 6.50  .7  .49 1.21 .72 2.90  7.3
Walter McCarty 82  8 23.8 .414 .367 .622  .80 2.70 3.50 1.3  .95  .34 .82 2.30  6.1
Vin Baker      52  9 18.1 .478 .000 .673 1.70 2.10 3.80  .6  .42  .58 1.17 2.80 5.2
Mark Blount    27  7 19.2 .563 .000 .750 1.80 2.80 4.60  .8  .74  .63 1.22 2.80 4.4
Bimbo Coles    14  0 12.5 .449 .000 1.000 .10  .70  .80 1.1  .43  .00  .71 1.20 3.7
Kedrick Brown  51  5 13.1 .357 .077 .625  .90 1.90 2.70  .4  .67  .25  .45 1.30 2.8
Grant Long     41  1 11.9 .386 .000 .783  .60 1.40 2.00  .6  .22  .02  .46 1.50 1.8
Bruno Sundov   26  0  5.3 .250 .250 .000  .30  .80 1.10  .3  .23  .12  .35  .90 1.2
Ruben Wolkowyski7  0  3.4 .500 .000 .250  .00  .10  .10  .1  .00  .00  .14  .40  .7
Mark Bryant     2  0  4.5 .000 .000 .000  .00 1.00 1.00  .5  .00  .00  .00 1.00  .0
Team Averages  82  0 241.8 .415 .334 .742 10.4 30.1 40.5 19.2 8.8 3.7 14.0 21.4 92.7
Opponents      82  0 241.8 .435 .331 .749 11.4 33.5 45.0 22.2 7.5 4.5 16.0 21.9 93.1

PLAYER TOTALS
Player          G GS   MIN     FGM-A   3PM-A   FTM-A OFF DEF TOT AST STL BLK  TO  PF   PTS
Paul Pierce    79 79 3,096 663-1,592 118-391 604-753 106 472 578 349 139 62  288 227 2,048
Antoine Walker 78 78 3,235 603-1,554 188-582 176-286  99 464 563 373 116 31  260 221 1,570
Eric Williams  82 79 2,350 254-575    37-110 201-268 143 239 382 140  86 19   97 234   746
Tony Delk      67 39 1,873 233-560   120-304  68-87   41 191 232 146  72 10   69 124   654
J.R. Bremer    64 41 1,503 171-464   101-286  85-111  18 127 145 164  38  3   59  80   528
Walter McCarty 82  8 1,949 173-418    91-248  61-98   64 224 288 106  78 28   67 188   498
Tony Battie    67 62 1,683 199-369     1-5    88-118 148 285 433  49  33 81   48 197   487
Vin Baker      52  9   942  99-207     0-4    72-107  90 108 198  29  22 30   61 146   270
Kedrick Brown  51  5   666  61-171     3-39   20-32   45  95 140  20  34 13   23  68   145
Mark Blount    27  7   518  45-80      0-0    30-40   49  76 125  21  20 17   33  75   120
Grant Long     41  1   488  27-70      0-3    18-23   24  59  83  25   9  1   19  62    72
Bimbo Coles    14  0   175  22-49      0-7     8-8     1  10  11  16   6  0   10  17    52
Bruno Sundov   26  0   138  14-56      4-16    0-2     8  20  28   7   6  3    9  24    32
Ruben Wolkowyski7  0    24   2-4       0-1     1-4     0   1   1   1   0  0    1   3     5
Mark Bryant     2  0     9   0-1       0-0     0-0     0   2   2   1   0  0    0   2     0
Team Totals    82 n/a n/a 2700-6509 719-2155 1480-1994 849 2471 3320 1575 720 303 1147 1758 7599
Opponents      82 n/a n/a 2804-6450 463-1400 1560-2084 937 2750 3687 1824 617 367 1315 1798 7631

CURRENT ROTATION

• C-F Tony Battie
• C Mark Blount - Free agent
• G J.R. Bremer
• F Kedrick Brown
• G Tony Delk
• F Walter McCarty - Free agent
• G Paul Pierce
• F Antoine Walker
• F Eric Williams

RECENT FIRST-ROUND PICKS

• 2002 Darius Songaila,#50, Wake Forest (The Celtics did not have a First Round pick in 2002. Songalai who played overseas and played well is still property of the Celtics and looks to play a role in 2003 or 2004.)
• 2001 Joe Johnson, #10, Arkansas
• 2001 Kedrick Brown , #11, Okaloosa-Walton
• 2001 Joe Forte, #21, North Carolina
• 2000 Jerome Moiso,  #11, UCLA
• 1998 Paul Pierce, #10, Kansas
• 1997 Chauncey Billups, #3, Colorado
• 1997 Ron Mercer, #6, Kentucky
• 1996 Antoine Walker, #6, Kentucky
• 1995 Eric Williams, #14, Providence

Other possible picks:

Troy Bell - Although a stretch pick at #20, Bell not only impressed at the Chicago work-outs, but is the 2nd all-time leading scorer in Big East History. He's an excellent shooter and has been Mr. Clutch since his freshman year at BC. Bell will play in the NBA and if the Celtics acquire a 2nd round pick, watch for his name to be called.

Aleksandar Pavlovic - This 6-foot-7 small forward might be the best player on the board at #20 and received serious consideration. But with Paul Pierce expected to fill this slot for many years, the Celtics have more pressing need; primarily a legit rebounder and Pavlovic doesn't seem to fill that need.

Marcus Banks - The Celtics gave a great deal of thought to picking 2 point guards in the first round. It is clearly the teams most pressing need and with the 50/50 success rate of point guards, taking a shot at two is not out of the question. Banks is probably the best PG available at this spot, but his size scared us off. He's listed at 6-foot-2, but most people think 6-foot (without the 2) is more like it.

Travis Hansen - Danny Ainge selecting a 6-foot-6 guard out of BYU????? Not out of the question. Hansen who was not on too many boards at the start of the season in now a legit first round prospect. He's played big in some of BYU's biggest games and has also shown well in Chicago. His great defense is tough to overlook, but at times he appears to be "shoot first, pass second." Ultimately, his 2.4 assists per game just aren't enough.