Opening Thoughts

The wait is over and basketball season is back.  The Celtics finished their preseason with a promising 6-1 record and tonight they seek to carry that momentum into the regular season.  The game takes place at 7:30 pm in Boston against the lowly 76ers, whom the Celtics defeated 81-65 in their final preseason game last week.  

The Sixers severely lack depth and scoring ability.  They plan to rebuild around their talented new rookie center, Jahlil Okafor, but overall they are currently one of the worst teams in the NBA.  The Celtics have the depth and talent to become one of the top teams in the East, so expect an easy victory tonight.  Here are some important things to watch for in the season opener:  

1. The Starting Lineup – Smart – Bradley – Crowder – Lee – Zeller

Brad Stevens dabbled with several different starting lineups throughout the preseason, but this one was most prevalent.  Marcus Smart, Avery Bradley, and Jae Crowder have all stepped into leadership roles while David Lee is also a natural leader.  However Amir Johnson is much more capable on defense than Lee, making him one of several players who are banging on the door of the starting lineup.

Lee is a great addition … just not necessarily a great starting power forward.  He brings intangible assets such as veteran presence, leadership, and offensive versatility.  Unfortunately he is just not that effective on the court anymore.  He helped Golden State win a title last year but barely received any playing time during the postseason.

His offensive awareness helps the team run smoothly and he has developed a nice rapport with Bradley.  However Lee’s defense is unreliable and his scoring ability showed further regression during the preseason.  If Lee starts tonight, look for him to gradually relinquish that role to Johnson.

Lee and Zeller have played well, but not as well as Johnson and Kelly Olynyk have played off the bench.  The rotation may change frequently throughout the season.  Furthermore guards Isaiah Thomas and Evan Turner, two of the team's top playmakers, are part of the second unit right now.  They are fighting for starting roles as well.  Still, the biggest questions remain in the frontcourt, where six talented big men are fighting for four rotational spots.  

2. Interior Presence – Somebody must step up

The frontcourt puzzle will play itself out.  The Celtics have plenty of talented big men and some will earn more minutes than others.  However one of the best ways for these guys to establish themselves in the rotation is to step up their interior defensive game. 

The Celtics have spent the last five years getting outmuscled and outrebounded.  They need immediate improvement in paint presence so that they no longer look helpless against opponents who can score effectively inside.  Offensive rebounds have also been a major issue. 

Smart, Bradley, Crowder, and Terry Rozier give the Celtics an elite defensive presence in their backcourt.  However, once opponents penetrate inside, the Celtics bigs often look overmatched against (what should be) inferior opponents.  Lee and Olynyk are the biggest culprits of getting beaten inside by inferior players.  Zeller is guilty too. 

Look for Johnson to fight for minutes, as well as a starting role, by building upon his defensive prowess.  Johnson’s high level of activity on defense makes him very valuable.  He has an underrated quickness that enables him to impact the game in many ways.  

This team does not need Johnson to be a big-time scorer.  He just needs to consistently work hard and use his size and athleticism to maximize his defensive impact.  Furthermore, Sullinger and Mickey are on the outskirts of the rotation, but they can still earn some minutes if they are able to help control the paint by grabbing boards and playing physical defense.  Sullinger got hot towards the end of the preseason, finally parking his gigantic body under the rim and proceeding to pull down 14 rebounds during their final preseason game.

3. Noel and Okafor – The Saviors of the Sixers?

Sixers fans have been waiting for months to see their star big men in regular season action together for the first time.  Okafor and Nerlens Noel are both exceptionally skilled centers.  Okafor is a massive threat in the post while Noel is freakishly athletic.  The young and talented 6’11’’ centers combine for an intriguingly ferocious frontcourt in Philly.

 

Many believed that Okafor would be the #1 overall pick this past summer.  However the 19 year old, 270 lb freshman somehow slipped to Philadelphia at #3, right after leading Duke to a national championship.  Nevertheless the massive youngster has NBA-ready post moves and an NBA-ready body.  Essentially, he is teenage Al Jefferson with a 7'5'' wingspan.

Nearly half of this year's draft class believes that Okafor will win Rookie of the Year.  It's easy to see why, especially when you put him alongside a blossoming Noel, the #6 overall pick in the 2013 draft.  The exciting duo will give the Celtics a lot of trouble, but other than two big men, the Sixers don't have much else going for them.

Expect Okafor and Noel to combine for approximately 25 points and 20 rebounds tonight.  The rest of the game should belong to Boston.  Okafor will show off some nifty offensive plays in his NBA debut, working the post against Zeller and the Celtics.  Nevertheless the Sixers stand little chance of winning the game.  

Prediction: Celtics win 94-81.  Look for Smart to dominate on both sides of the ball, Crowder to set the pace in the hustle department, and rookie point guard Terry Rozier to come up with some big plays in his first official NBA game.

Celtics Rookies Implicated in Louisville Escort Scandal

During the Celtics’ preseason trip to Milan, Terry Rozier declined to speak to reporters about the ongoing investigation into the Louisville sex scandal.  He simply said,

“When it’s time to answer those questions and deal with that, I will. But right now I’m just trying to take in this moment with these guys out here and have a lot of fun with my teammates. So, like I said, when that time comes to answer that, I will.”

This morning, ESPN’s Outside the Lines aired an in-depth investigation into the scandal.  Katina Powell, who runs the escort service, claims that from 2010-14 many Louisville players and recruits were treated to on-campus dorm room shows complete with strippers, dancers, and sexual encounters for money.  

In her book about her business dealings with the Louisville basketball program, she claims that several high school aged recruits, including rookie Celtics Rozier and Jordan Mickey, had sex with her dancers for money.  The dancers were paid by Andre McGee, a former Louisville grad assistant to the basketball team.    

Rozier recently told Outside the Lines,

"I don't want to talk about it. ... I was already committed before I took my visit. ... I will say, though, Coach P [Pitino], as far as the dorm situations and visits, he'd go out to eat with the recruits and their parents. As far as after that, he wouldn't know. ... I can say his nose is clean."

Mickey could not be reached for comment.  If these allegations are true, Louisville and head coach Rick Pitino will face deadly sanctions, not just from a recruiting standpoint but from a legal one as well.  

Promoting prostitution is a Class D Felony and both Louisville officials and Powell are in danger of facing prison time depending on how the case unfolds.  A major point of focus will be whether or not Powell personally profited from the exchanges. 

It is highly unlikely that McGee, a grad student at the time, could afford to pay for all these expensive sex parties.  

Powell claims that McGee would often bring wads of cash to the parties and hand out money to the recruits to “pay” the dancers to simulate a strip club environment inside the dorm rooms.  McGee would allegedly ask the recruits which girl they liked, and then would negotiate deals with the individual strippers to have sex with the recruits. 

This story is gaining a lot of momentum and it is very unfortunate that two promising young Celtics players had to be involved in this sinful scandal out of Louisville.  In addition to the young recruits, many of the dancers, including Powell’s own daughters, are said to have participated in these sex parties as minors.  However the age of consent in Kentucky is 16. 

The Louisville program may be forever damaged by these allegations and Pitino’s coaching legacy will be forever tainted if it is determined that he knew anything  about the escort services.  The school may very well be stripped of their 2013 championship.  

Whatever happens in Louisville – here’s to hoping that the scandal will not be a huge distraction for Rozier and Mickey as they begin their promising young professional careers in Boston.

Five Takeaways From Last Night’s Preseason Game

The Celtics showed off their depth and versatility last night with a commanding victory over the Brooklyn Nets.  Boston defeated Brooklyn 109-105 however the Celtics never trailed and they firmly controlled the game from start to finish. 

Boston led by as much as 18 before inserting non-rotational players such as Corey Walden and James Young into the lineup for the entire fourth quarter.  Overall, the Celtics were undeniably impressive in their first taste of NBA preseason action.  Here are five key takeaways from last night’s victory.

1. The Celtics defensive backcourt wreaks havoc.  As expected, the Celtics displayed high levels of energy and were incredibly active on defense.  They contested nearly every single opposing shot in the first half and frequently harassed opposing ball handlers with tight defensive pressure.  The Celtics recorded 12 steals and 9 blocks, frustrating Nets players and causing them to lose their cool and play errant basketball.  Brooklyn point guard Jarrett Jack was ejected in the second quarter for tackling Jonas Jerebko after Jack had turned the ball over to Jared Sullinger.  

The Celtics use hustle, resilience, and tenacity to create chaos for opposing offenses.  It was very impressive that the Celtics could keep their defensive intensity level high even with three of their best on-ball defenders missing the game.  Marcus Smart, Avery Bradley, and Terry Rozier are combo guards that bring explosiveness and tenacity to their backcourt defense while often producing subsequent fast-break points.  The Celtics scored 18 fast break points last night and that number will only go up when those guards return from their respective ailments. 

2. The Celtics defensive frontcourt still lacks paint presence.  This is an issue that has plagued the Celtics for five years.  While the Celtics can outrun almost any opponent and can produce offensively in a variety of ways, they still lack an interior defensive anchor.  The Nets played poorly last night but they still out-rebounded the Celtics while managing to score 50 points from inside the paint.  The Celtics big men need to do better.  

Amir Johnson is a slight upgrade from last season in terms of defensive presence, but without a commanding force that truly deters opponents from frequently attacking the rim, Johnson and the other bigs must learn to work together more effectively.  It is worth noting that David Lee also did not play last night, however majority of Lee’s contributions will come through his offensive versatility and veteran leadership rather than his defense.

3. The Celtics have ridiculous depth.  Before the game, I wrote about the depth on the Celtics roster and that depth is what enabled them to dominate the Nets even when four important Celtics players were sidelined.  

The Celtics theoretically have enough talent to field three NBA starting lineups, so opposing second units will always be overmatched against Boston's bench.  The Celtics backups exhibit zero drop-off in both production and intensity. 

 There is no rest for the weary against the Celtics, who attack their opponents with intensity and fresh legs by mixing in so many different hard-working defensive-oriented players into the lineup.  Many teams find themselves struggling to field a passable roster during the middle months of the long NBA season, but the Celtics have the talent to always be productive, regardless of what combination of players is on the court.

4. I’m going to keep saying it - R.J. Hunter may be the future face of this franchise.  Deep down, we can all see that this kid is special and there is no ceiling on his potential.  Hunter was stroking it from three-point range in the first half last night and then filled up the rest of his stat sheet in the second half.  He works hard and has the ability to score like crazy.  Obviously he’s just a rookie and can’t be trusted yet as a reliable volume scorer in the NBA, but that hasn’t stopped him from finding countless other ways to contribute.  

His length and basketball IQ often help him intercept passes and he recorded a team-high 4 steals against the Nets.  He also contributed 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists in his first game against NBA opposition while showing no hesitation when pulling up from three-point range.  His jump shot will only become more lethal as he gradually becomes more comfortable in the NBA.

5. Sullinger looks very out of place.  He’s clearly uncomfortable about his uncertain role in the rotation and he honestly looks like he belongs on another team.  After all the offseason hype about Sullinger finally getting in shape, he predictably failed to do so.  Furthermore he shot 1-8 from the field last night, chucking up erroneous long range jumpers.  It is hard to watch Sullinger launch three-point attempts when everybody knows that he should be using his gigantic backside to post up defenders.  

There was a time when Sullinger was one of the best young players on this team, but with a measly two rebounds, three points, and four fouls in 12 minutes of action yesterday, it is hard to envision him receiving meaningful playing time this year.  The offseason acquisitions of Johnson and Lee make Sullinger entirely expendable, but truthfully there are no teams right now that would be interested in trading for a young player that isn't showing any improvement either from a skills or a conditioning standpoint.

Sullinger will likely be relegated to a bench role, and that’s probably for the best if Stevens wants his team to be as fast, active, and aggressive as possible.  Sullinger could be a starter for many NBA teams but he is holding himself back from reaching his full potential.  He will only play significant minutes this season when Lee is resting or when another big man gets hurt.

Deep Impact

The Celtics were surprisingly productive last season, and after upgrading in the offseason, they are ready to turn heads once again.  Evan Turner, Avery Bradley, David Lee, and other Celtics players have not been shy in talking about the team’s remarkable depth at every position.  This team expects to be playoff-bound for the second straight year, and for the first time since 2010, the roster features fifteen legitimate players – all non-busts – who are ready to compete. 

Yes, the Celtics still lack a star scorer (let alone three like the 2008 Championship team) but Danny Ainge has fashioned an undeniably impressive foundation of young hard-working players.  R.J. Hunter may eventually grow into a bigtime scoring role, but in the meantime, the Celtics will operate with fifteen different guys (arguably sixteen if you count James Young) with unique skillsets and excellent work ethic.  They have fifteen different players that could potentially be starters in the NBA if they were not all crammed together on one roster.  Ainge has quietly transformed the Celtics into the deepest team in the East.

Check out the box score from their preseason exhibition win against Olimpia Milano.  Every single Celtics player contributed.  Turner, who led the team with three triple-doubles last season, was out due to a knee injury.  Fourteen of the remaining fifteen players scored points. (way to go James Young – perhaps you would have gotten on the board too if you were more concerned with consistency on the basketball court rather than consistency on the dance floor.)

The roster can be broken down into three logical rotations.

PG: Marcus Smart	Isaiah Thomas	Terry Rozier
SG: Avery Bradley	Evan Turner	R.J. Hunter
SF: Jae Crowder	Jonas Jerebko	Perry Jones
PF: David Lee	Amir Johnson	Jared Sullinger
C: Tyler Zeller	Kelly Olynyk	Jordan Mickey

*SG James Young is not listed on these rotations because he’s clearly still not ready for meaningful minutes.

Defeating Milan is obviously no big deal.  However it is extremely encouraging to see that all fifteen Boston players who touched the court in their first preseason game registered positive plus/minus ratings.  In other words, the team played well from start to finish, regardless of which combination of players was on the court. 

These preseason trips to Europe inherently build a great deal of chemistry and comradery for NBA teams.  Many of these players have a chip on their shoulder from being cut or traded by previous teams, and many of them have a chip on their other shoulder from being told by many Celtics fans to tank for a lottery pick last season.  

Ainge promised each and every one of these players an opportunity to contribute for the Celtics and they all bought in, working hard under Brad Stevens to silence the doubters and surge to a playoff spot in the second half of the season.  This roster is full of hard-working talented players and that is no accident. 

These like-minded individuals often form a brotherhood during these kinds of trips and a passionate culture becomes infectious.  The 2008 championship squad traveled to Italy in the preseason and bred a powerful winning culture known as “Ubuntu” to unite the team, while priding themselves on hard work, defense, and faith in a coach that identifies with and speaks to the players. Sound familiar?

This team may not yet have the star power to win a championship, but they have everything else they need to become a top-four team in the East.  With a team-wide focus on defense and three productive players at every position, this team is incredibly well-equipped to handle the grind of a long NBA season.  Better yet essentially every player is capable of playing multiple positions, so the possible lineup combinations that Brad Stevens will dabble with are endless. 

These Celtics are multidimensional with an ability to play big or small.  They will often look to outrun opponents – but they can also work the middle with newly acquired veteran big men, Lee and Amir Johnson.

There is a plethora of three point shooting ability that will help their offense regardless of whether they play fast-paced or decide to slow it down.  Working the ball inside and using Lee to establish a an inside-outside presence was very effective during their preseason games in Europe. 

   

Something interesting to watch out for – Lee and Bradley have formed an unlikely scoring duo in the starting unit.  The two of them have combined for 57 points in two preseason games.  Isaiah Thomas obviously continues to be the offensive lightning rod as their sixth man, but Lee’s veteran leadership seems to be rubbing off on Bradley, who at 24 years old is the longest tenured Celtic. 

I wrote about Hunter’s bright future in Boston and mentioned that Bradley’s inconsistent jump shot is one of the reasons that Hunter will have the opportunity to shine as a sharpshooting volume scorer.  However Lee’s presence, as well as the battle for playing time, has seemingly motivated Bradley to “fix” his jump shot.  Thus far in the preseason he is 7-8 from three-point range while playing his usual tenacious defense, and while his long range buckets came mostly on wide-open looks, it does appear that Bradley has removed a hitch from his jump shot that hurt him last season. 

Many of Bradley's three-pointers were also assisted by Lee, who was scoring effectively and frequently drawing double-teams in the paint.  The veteran leadership that Lee is demonstrating is very valuable to a team with so many young players.  Coming off a championship season with the Warriors, Lee knows what it takes to be successful and has frequently drawn comparisons between the Celtics and the Warriors.  Bradley seems to love having him on the court and in addition to helping him because more effective as a player, hopefully Lee teaches the young veteran a thing or two about being a leader as well.

The Celtics get their first taste of NBA action tonight in Brooklyn against the Nets.

Don’t be surprised if the Celtics are out there running way too hard for a preseason game.  It’s not like they have to worry about fresh legs.

Celtics Draft Grades

Following a promising 2014-2015 campaign, the Celtics entered the offseason with two glaring needs: a dominant rim protector who controls the paint and a consistent three point shooter who stretches out opposing defenses.  Consequently it was no surprise that a chorus of boos rang out from Celtics fans in the Barclays Center when Danny Ainge opted not to address either necessity with the 16^th overall pick in the draft. 

Instead of addressing specific needs, Ainge targeted rookies with great attitudes and a lot of upside in order to continue building on Boston’s intriguing foundation of scrappy, young, hardworking players.  ESPN’s Celtics reporter Chris Forsberg gave the Celtics a big “Thumbs Down” for their draft choices – but I strongly disagree.  Here’s why they deserve a “Thumbs Up.”     

(16^th Pick) Terry Rozier: B+

Initially this pick floored me because I was incredulous that Ainge would select anybody other than Sam Dekker.  Most draft experts projected Dekker to be a lottery pick so it seemed like a gift from God that the former Wisconsin star forward was still available at sixteen.  Ainge then promptly slapped God in the face by passing on Dekker and selecting a point guard that could have fallen out of the first round altogether. 

But after the initial shock, and after Ainge selected a sharpshooting R.J. Hunter later in the first round, the idea of Terry Rozier running the offense for Boston’s second unit became increasingly intriguing.  The 21 year old Louisville product is an incredibly dynamic player and Ainge climbed up the draft board to select him early for a ton of good reasons.
        

First, Rozier plays like a pit bull, measuring in at approximately 6’2’’ and 190 pounds, most of which is muscle.  He plays with intensity, aggression, and confidence. Rozier will be able to make an immediate impact at the NBA level because of his athleticism, his raw strength, and his tenacious on-ball defensive skills.  These traits have actually caused Rozier to appear on the Celtics’ radar since his freshman year at Louisville and he has improved drastically over the past couple years.

Rozier penetrates inside both by blowing past defenders and by outmuscling them through the lane.  Furthermore his ability to make accurate passes off the drive makes him very difficult to cover.  This past season, Rozier increased his average points per game from 7 as a freshman to 17 as a sophomore.  His average steals per game also doubled and he improved in essentially every statistical category except for three-point shooting. 

His energy, quickness, and defensive intensity make him a great fit for Boston’s fast-paced style of play.  Right now he reminds me a little bit of Atlanta’s backup point guard Dennis Schröder, but in time, Rozier will grow and develop into a sort of Rajon Rondo/Marcus Smart hybrid who could find a home in almost any NBA starting lineup.      

Much like Smart, Rozier combines physical strength with speed to become a relentless force in frazzling opposing ball handlers.  Summer League play provided a chance to watch Rozier and Smart play alongside each other for the first time and the two high-energy combo guards forced a ton of turnovers that led to fast break points.  With the addition of Rozier, this team could easily average over 15 fast break points per game this season.  (Last year they averaged 13.6) 

Like Rondo, Rozier lacks height, but makes up for it with explosive quickness and a freakish 6’8’’ wingspan that helps him create chaos on defense.  He is also an extremely good rebounder for his height, pulling down nearly six rebounds per game last year.  Rozier is very comfortable inside the paint and has a graceful finishing touch at the rim. His jump shot is a bit inconsistent and needs some work, but fortunately it’s not broken like Rondo’s.  Rozier knocked down 33% of his three-point attempts and 77% of his free throws in college.

Bottom line, Rozier does not directly address any of the Celtics' most glaring needs, but he helps them significantly in several important categories as a catalyst and a playmaker.  Rozier will be able to create space for himself and others and generally make players around him better.  He will strongly contribute to Boston's high level of defensive pressure in the backcourt and absolutely will outmuscle and out-hustle opponents for loose balls.  Ainge knows the value of someone like that and jumped at the opportunity to acquire a hardworking young player who will likely make an immediate impact.  When asked if he will win the NBA Rookie of the Year award, Rozier responded “does an elevator go up and down?”  This kid will literally be a Tommy Point machine.

Despite Boston's crowded backcourt, Rozier will almost certainly carve out minutes for himself early in the season and will appear in three guard sets when the Celtics look to outrun opponents.  Rozier's new teammates are already very impressed with his work ethic and stellar play.  He is effective alongside other point guards and his own confidence is through the roof.  When asked on Twitter about the main goal for his career, he responded “GOAT.” 

Greatest of all time is certainly setting the bar high, but according to Amir Johnson and several other teammates, Rozier stands out at Celtics’ practices.  His high energy and superb athleticism speak volumes about his potential.  His unwavering confidence and great work ethic demonstrate his desire to win.  Don’t be surprised if Rozier leads the Celtics in Tommy Points this season.  He’s doing things right and will soon win over Celtics fans, coaches, and management.  He
has already won over his teammates.

(28^th Pick) R.J. Hunter: A+

The new best shooter in Boston has a very bright future for this franchise.

(33^rd Pick) Jordan Mickey: A+

The Celtics have lacked a legitimate paint presence since 2011 when they traded away Kendrick Perkins to Oklahoma City.  It will be interesting to see if Mickey can grow into this critical role.  At 6’8’’, he is undersized for a big man, but makes up for it with terrific athleticism, high energy, and a 7’2’’ wingspan.  The former LSU power forward is a true student of the game who models his style of play after Dennis Rodman.  With a role model like that, it is no wonder that Mickey led the NCAA with 3.6 blocks per game last season. 

Mickey blocked 219 shots in two seasons at LSU and last season he averaged a double-double with 15.4 points and 9.9 rebounds per game.  Like Rodman, Mickey is intensely focused on defense and rebounding.  He harasses opponents and loves getting under their skin.  But one of my favorite things about Mickey is that he frequently works with his stepfather, studying and watching film to identify potential areas of improvement in his own game.  Together they compare rebounding and defensive tendencies from Rodman and other NBA stars such as Dwight Howard in order to constantly find new ways to ensure that Mickey’s development never ceases.  This willingness to learn from others show a great deal of maturity for such a young player in the league.

This deep work ethic and defensive commitment make Mickey one of the most intriguing players in the draft class.  Like Rozier and Hunter, his ceiling is extremely high, which might explain why Ainge signed him to the biggest rookie contract in NBA history for a second round pick.  Mickey understands his role as a rebounder and shot blocker and those are two areas where the Celtics need immediate improvement.    

In the Summer League, Mickey showed off his athleticism and impressive leaping ability, averaging 2.4 blocks, 7.9 rebounds, and even scored 12.5 points per game.  He is quicker than he looks and his athleticism and awareness make him effective for pick and roll and fast break situations.  He finished some big alley-oop slams off lob passes from Rozier and Hunter and also demonstrated an ability to knock down open midrange jumpers from seemingly any angle.

Mickey is a fantastic pick because he cares deeply about both his own development and about playing in Boston.  He has very active hands on defense, always hustles, and thoroughly understands the game.  Probably the only other player I would have considered drafting with the 33^rd pick is former Kentucky center Dakari Johnson for sheer size purposes alone.  However Johnson does not possess the athleticism or basketball IQ that Mickey does, and Johnson cannot run the floor effectively with the fast paced Boston offense. 

In the opening weeks of the season, it may be difficult for Mickey to find consistent playing time in Boston’s crowded frontcourt, but he will ultimately get his chance – especially if the Celtics continue getting dominated inside the paint as they did last season.  If that happens, Mickey could well find himself patrolling the key for Stevens' small ball lineups sooner rather than later. 

(45^th Pick) Marcus Thornton: N/A

Not much to say here as Thornton will play in Australia this season.  Perhaps in a couple years, the sharpshooter will find his way back to Boston after working on his game overseas.  

Faith in R.J.

This is my R.J. Hunter jersey, ordered online three months ago on the night of the NBA draft.  I was one of the first people on the planet to own this jersey and I’ll be proud to say so as the stands at the TD Garden gradually overflow with them over the next several seasons.

In many ways, Hunter may be the perfect fit, the missing cog, and the future star of a rebuilding Celtics’ franchise.  Is that too much praise for a 21 year old rookie swingman that might start his first NBA season in the D-League?  Perhaps.  But if you are a Celtics' fan, then there are a lot of reasons to have a lot of faith in R.J.

The Celtics have lacked a prolific scorer, or even a reliable volume scorer, since trading Paul Pierce to Brooklyn two seasons ago.  It is no coincidence that Danny Ainge targeted Hunter with the 28th overall pick, selecting a player whose biggest asset is scoring ability rather than athleticism or "NBA-readiness."

Analysts such as ESPN’s Jay Bilas claim that Hunter’s “range is as soon as he gets in the building,” a statement that was backed up by Hunter’s performance in three record-breaking seasons at Georgia State as well as a solid performance in the NBA Summer League.  It doesn't take a basketball guru to recognize that Hunter is already the best pure shooter on the team.

Hunter’s unconventional jump shot is comparable to Stephen Curry’s because they share a quick release, inestimable range, and deep accuracy in off-balance and tight coverage situations.  Listed at 6’6’’ with a freakish 6’11’’ wingspan, Hunter is incredibly difficult to contest when he pulls up to shoot.

He is also already showing improvement as a playmaker and drives effectively to the hoop against smaller defenders, often drawing contact to get to the free throw line where he shoots almost 90%.   As Georgia State’s all-time leader in career points, 3-pointers, and free throws, Hunter raised his scoring average from 17 points per game as a freshman to 19.7 as a junior.

Hunter grew up in Indiana just like another former Celtics' great, and after he was selected by Boston, Hunter said "Hopefully I'll be their best shooter since Larry Legend."  While neither sharpshooter was the most athletic player in their respective draft classes, they were both dominant college scorers for lesser known schools.

Hunter shoots accurately off the dribble and needs only an inch or two of separation from his defender to find his shot.  His leaning mid-range jumper was one of his biggest weapons in college.  Deadly from long range and accurate from seemingly any location and any angle, Hunter has one of the highest ceilings of any guard in his draft class.  Two or three seasons under Brad Stevens may transform Hunter into a premiere NBA scoring threat.

These Stevens-Celtics are now far-removed from the Celtics of the Doc Rivers era.  This team is young, exciting, and gritty.  They no longer rely on veteran leadership or complex offensive plays because admittedly without a big-name free agent signing they are still a couple seasons away from meaningful playoff games.  Nevertheless this is a fascinating Celtics' team unlike any that we've seen before.

After trading away Rajon Rondo last season, the role players that were left behind comprised a scrappy young core that prides itself on physicality, hustle, and resilience.  They lacked talent, but they were well-coached, eager to play, and eager to improve; that's all it takes to make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference.

Check out this picture that Adam Himmeslbach tweeted to visually grasp exactly how many draft picks the Celtics have over the next six seasons.  Regardless of whether they use all these picks, or trade away most of them away for an elite veteran who can help Stevens mentor Hunter and the other young Celtics, expect Hunter to be a major contributor when the Celtics find their way back into important playoff games.

The Celtics need a captain.  They need a Paul Pierce.  The Truth left some gigantic shoes to fill, but fortunately, Hunter does not need to take the entire franchise upon his back for a decade like Pierce did.  He only needs to shoot the lights out.  Hunter will quickly win over Celtics' fans with his gritty play, superior work ethic, and unconscious scoring ability from the guard position.  He will quickly move ahead of James Young on the depth chart if he hasn't already.

While I love Avery Bradley, one of the best on-ball defenders in the NBA, the Celtics cannot afford to continue relying on his felonious jump shot as a source of offense.  Bradley knocked down just 5 of 19 three-pointers when Cleveland swept them in the first round of the playoffs.  Many of those fourteen misses were wide-open looks and many of those wide-open looks were air-balls.

Enter: R.J. Hunter, with a skillset built for Stevens’ system as a scrappy young player who works hard and scores in bunches.

It is no coincidence that Stevens tried to recruit Hunter out of high school to play for him at Butler three years ago.  R.J. opted to go play for his father, Ron Hunter, at Georgia State instead.  Three years later, Hunter has emerged as an even better sharpshooter with intangible leadership skills and an incredibly high basketball IQ.  In summer league play, Hunter showed off his playmaking ability and situational awareness with stellar plays on defense and improved ball handling.  Hunter showed off an ability to effectively drive the lane while dishing out some nifty passes to open teammates, frequently connecting with fellow rookie Jordan Mickey for beautiful alley-oop assists.

Hunter will eventually become a primary scoring option, but in the meantime, he has already improved in other aspects and has demonstrated that he can positively impact games in many ways.  Even his fellow rookies have noticed the impact he can make, voting for Hunter in a rookie survey as the second biggest steal in the draft and the second best shooter in the draft.  

Hunter does not need a D-League stint to continue his development.  He works hard and he loves to win.  His ESPY-nominated performance leading Georgia State over Baylor was arguably the biggest upset of last year's NCAA Tournament.

Facing a twelve point deficit in the final minutes of the game, Hunter scored 12 of his team’s final 13 points, including this DEEP game-winning three pointer with two seconds left on the clock.  Hunter may not be the most athletic or physically gifted player, but this kid is the real deal.

By halfway through this coming season, Hunter will likely have carved out some consistent minutes for himself, and over time he will grow to become a reliable NBA scorer.  Even as a scrawny rookie, Hunter could become a very effective scorer in the second unit.  At some point, Stevens will likely dabble with a small three-guard lineup that features Hunter, Thomas, and Boston's other first round pick Terry Rozier.  It would be extremely difficult for opposing benches to keep up with them.

With basketball smarts, grit, and a remarkable jumper, I have no doubt that this kid was born to be a Celtic.  Hunter will become a centerpiece for this franchise as they seek to establish a new identity with a talented young leader.  I cannot wait to see who will play alongside him in the future.

The rebuilding stages are tough but they are going well.  With Hunter's help, this team will soon develop into a truly competitive force in the East.  Is this too much to expect from a 21 year old rookie swingman that might start his first NBA season in the D-League?  No - not if you like Boston basketball.  Not if you believe in R.J.  Now go get yourself a #28 jersey.