14 Boston Celtics

POS. PG
PPG 9.5
RPG 1.8
APG 3.6
SPG 0.97
FG% 39.4
3FG% 35.2
FT% 74.3

Paul Pierce

POS. SG
PPG 26.8
RPG 6.7
APG 4.7
SPG 1.35
FG% 47.1
3FG% 35.4
FT% 77.2

Al Jefferson

POS. PF
PPG 7.9
RPG 5.1
APG 0.5
BPG 0.78
SPG 0.51
FG% 49.9
FT% 64.2

[This article contains a table. Please see hardcopy of magazine or PDF.]

BENCH 2005--06 STATS

* NEW ACQUISITION
(R) ROOKIE (COLLEGE STATISTICS)

Enemy Lines An opposing team's scout sizes up the Celtics

As an offensive coach, Doc Rivers is very, very good. But if the Celtics think they're going to win by outscoring and outrunning teams, then that will be the death of them.... Sebastian Telfair and Rajon Rondo are small point guards who can't shoot a lick, which means defenses will ignore them in the half-court. Paul Pierce is going to be frustrated with Telfair because he isn't a pass-first point guard--he gets to the lane, and then if he can't score, he dishes it out. He still hasn't proved that he's capable of finishing, so it's not like he's going to force the defense to collapse and create open shots for Pierce.... They're putting too much faith in young guys like Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Kendrick Perkins and Delonte West. The latter two are career backups on a good team. Green may turn out to be a starter, but I don't see him as a future All-Star. Jefferson needs to overcome his inability to play with some pain, which is a huge detriment for a big man.... Their failed attempts to trade for Allen Iverson showed me that they are panicking.

FAST FACT
Paul Pierce and Allen Iverson were the only players to score 15 or more points in every game last year. The last time Pierce failed to score 15 in the regular season was on April 19, 2005.