Doc Rivers led the Celtics to the NBA Championship just two years ago and he hopes to get back to the promised land in 2009-2010. The Celtics will have no excuses this season (even injuries) as they have loaded up the bench with quality players. Rivers led the Celtics to a 62-20 record last season (75.6%) and they were 7-7 (50%) in the post season. I hate to say it but that just isn’t good enough for the NBA’s version of the New York Yankees. In Rivers’ five years with the Celtics he has compiled a regular season record of 230-180 (56.1%) and he has a post season record of 26-21 (55.3%) with them. Rivers has essentially an All-Star team in Boston so he should be able to pad his career coaching numbers this season. He has a 401-348 (53.5%) career record as an NBA coach in the regular season and he is 31-31 (50%) in the post season.

24-year old Kendrick Perkins knows his role and that is to rebound and play defense and he does that well. Perkins played in 76 games for the Celtics last season and he averaged 29.6 minutes, 8.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 2.0 blocked shots per game. His minutes might come down a little bit because he has a much better back up than last season. 35-year old Rasheed Wallace will give the Celtics a awesome offense when he is on the floor. He is also still a good defensive player but the fact that he can drag the opposing center out to the three point line will open up the paint for other Celtics. Wallace played in 66 games for the Pistons last season and he averaged 12.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.3 blocked shots per game. He will likely only get 20-25 minutes a game for the Celtics this season and it will be interesting to see how he handles that because he has always been a starter. 31-year old Brian Scalabrine will be the #3 center for the Celtics this season. He played in 39 games for the Celtics last year and he averaged 12.9 minutes, 3.5 points, 1.3 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. Don’t look for Scalabrine to play much this season unless the Celtics have injuries to at least two of there big guys.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CENTERS IN 2009-2010: B

33-year old Kevin Garnett is healthy and ready to rock this season. The Celtics will likely watch his minutes this season but they have a lot of talent behind him which should help keep him fresh and healthy all year long. Garnett played in 57 games for the Celtics last season and he averaged 31.1 minutes, 15.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. The Celtics value K.G. more for his defense than his offense but he still can drop 30-35 points on any given night. Glen “Big Baby” Davis will again back up K.G. this season. The 23-year old Davis played in 76 games for the Celtics last season and he averaged 21.5 minutes, 7.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. But, he stepped up big time in the playoffs while Garnett was out of action and the Celtics expect him to do the same if K.G. were to get injured this season. He has a huge upside. 35-year old Rasheed Wallace will likely get a few minutes at this position but most of his time will likely come at center. 25-year old Shelden Williams, a former lottery pick of the Hawks, is also trying to make the team. He played in 45 games for the Kings and T-Wolves last season and he averaged 11.4 mintues, 4.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. 26-year old Michael Sweetney is also in camp trying to make the Celtics. He has not played in the NBA since the 2006-07 season with the Bulls.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE POWER FORWARDS IN 2009-2010: A

31-year old Paul Pierce might just be the best player on this basketball team. He played in 81 games for the Celtics this season and he averaged 37.5 minutes, 20.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. Pierce is the guy the Celtics look to when they need someone to make the big shot. The Celtics signed 28-year old Marquis Daniels is the off-season and he will back up both Ray Allen at shooting guard and Paul Pierce at small forward. That job will likely give him at least 25 minutes a night as the Celtics have to start watching the minutes that both of those players (Allen and Pierce) get to keep them fresh and happy. Daniels played in 54 games for the Pacers last season and he averaged 31.5 minutes, 13.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Daniels took less money from the Celtics to try to play for a ring so he will be ready to play whenever Doc Rivers calls his number.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SMALL FORWARDS IN 2009-2010: A

The Boston Celtics are set up well at shooting guard for this season. 34-year old Ray Allen is back this season to start for the Celtics. He played in 79 games for the Celtics last season and he averaged 36.4 minutes, 18.2 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. Allen has turned into a great team player for the Celtics after being the #1 option on offense for many years with the Sonics. He also still has that nice stroke from long range as he hit 40.9% from three point range last year. 27-year old Tony Allen will back up Ray Allen again this season. Allen played in 46 games for the Celtics last season and he averaged 19.3 minutes, 7.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Tony Allen brings energy to the basketball court which the Celtics feed off of. 28-year old Marquis Daniels can also handle playing at shooting guard but he will get most of his minutes backing up Paul Pierce at small forward this year.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SHOOTING GUARDS IN 2009-2010: B+