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Sizing Up New Orleans Pelicans Competition: Boston Celtics Q&A

By Matt Cianfrone

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As we head towards the start of the 2015-16 season, New Orleans Pelicans fans are mostly concerned with the way the Pelicans are adjusting to a new system. While that is the most important question for the Pelicans right now, there are also 29 other teams in the NBA with questions and the answers to some will directly impact the Pelicans. With that in mind we decided to go around the league and do Q&A sessions with a blogger for each team in the league. Today we continue a look around the Atlantic Division by talking with Celtics fan Jack Maloney who is the editor of Fansided’s The Friendly Bounce and also writes at Hardwood Paroxysm. Jack joins us to talk Darren Erman, rebuild strategies and more.

1. Darren Erman helped the Celtics put together a top 15 defense last season despite some terrible defensive big men. How much will they miss him this season and do you think he can help the Pelicans jump towards the top 10? 

Jack: They’ll definitely miss him for sure, but the Celtics should still be pretty solid defensively. They were in the top half last year, Avery Bradley and Marcus Smart are two of the best perimeter defenders in the league, and they’ll have a full season of Jae Crowder to guard against good wings. 

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Man, I don’t know. Erman should help the Pelicans a lot, but I’m not sure a jump from 22 to top 10 is plausible. If they’re healthy all year though, they should be better.

2. Boston has a ton of guards. How exactly does that rotation play out and is there any chance on of them that can shoot will be traded (Avery Bradley in New Orleans would be nice)? 

Jack: Yeah, one of the toughest jobs for Brad Stevens this year will be trying to figure out his rotations. They’re stocked at guard, with Bradley, Smart, and Isaiah Thomas being the big three for sure. But then they also have Evan Turner, who is more of a small forward but also handles the ball sometimes. And then there’s the little three of R.J. Hunter, Terry Rozier, and James “Best D-League Prospect of All-Time” Young, so it should be very interesting to see how that pans out.

As for Bradley in particular getting moved, you never know with Danny Ainge, but I don’t see it happening. They just resigned him last year, and everyone–from the front office to the fans–loves him.

3. The Celtics have a ton of young players that have the potential to be great role players and the assets to acquire a star. New Orleans has a star and some other nice pieces but really needs a bunch of good role players, yet doesn’t have the cap to get them. Which situation do you think is better?

Jack: 100 percent would rather be in New Orleans’ situation. Getting that star is always the hardest part of the rebuild, and the Pelicans have done that. And not only have they just gotten a star, they have the future of the league on their team. Davis is going to win multiple MVPs by the time his career is over, so yeah, I’d much rather be in New Orleans’ shoes.

4. Jae Crowder or Quincy Pondexter? 

Jack:   Ah man, I guess I’ll go with Pondexter because he’s shown a better ability to shoot from three. He’s a career 36.5 percent shooter from deep, while Crowder is only at 31.6 percent. But I think it’s mostly a wash.

5. What are your expectations for the Celtics this year? What would you consider a success? 

Jack: I think a trip back to the playoffs and making it difficult for someone in the first round is well within reach. It wouldn’t surprise me if they just miss out on it though, the back-end of the playoffs in the East is mostly a crapshoot.

More importantly though, will be the development of guys like Marcus Smart, Kelly Olynyk, James Young, Terry Rozier, and R.J. Hunter. They have so many youngsters, and bringing them along is much more important than making the playoffs this season.

Next: Wes Share of Friendly Bounce and Liberty Ballers Talked 76ers Yesterday With Us

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