(This article, including a poll, can be viewed at Celticsblog.com)
With the Celtics recent overhaul the one thing no one seems to be talking about is the lack of veteran leadership on this team. We all know that this will be one of the youngest and most inexperienced teams in the Association this year (only the Magic, Jazz and 76ers come to mind) but that is no excuse for a lack of leadership.
This is where things get difficult, as you can’t appoint someone as the leader of a team, they have to emerge and establish themselves as the alpha dog. There are a few players on this Celtics team that will be able to assume a leadership position
We all know Rajon Rondo has the potential to be a star in this league, but can he take the next step now that this is his team? In the past Kevin Garnett said that the Celtics would only go as far as Rondo would lead them, and I still believe that to be true.
We all expect Rajon Rondo to be the leader of this Celtics team, but one small problem, we have no idea when Rondo will be back on the court. A player can be a leader off the court by setting an example of how a professional should act, establishing a serious work ethic that their teammates will notice, being vocal and communicating with their teammates. Rondo has been doing all of these things, but there is only so much he can do while injured. What the Celtics need is someone to lead them on the court while he is injured.
When Gerald Wallace first became a member of the Boston Celtics I assumed he was nothing more than cap filler in the KG-Pierce trade, but as I have watched him over the pre-season it is obvious to me he is so much more than that. He’s proven to be a leader on the court with his consistent hard play that has earned him the nickname “crash”. Wallace has also proven that he is not afraid to lead off the court, recently calling out his teammates for not giving 100%.
Wallace may have had a down year with the Nets last season, but his veteran leadership and nonstop motor will do wonders for this young and inexperienced Celtics team.
This season presents a huge opportunity for Jeff Green, but is he ready for it? If Jeff Green can be a leader for this team (whether that be in scoring, the locker room, or poster dunks) it will be huge. This is Jeff’s chance to prove to the league that he can more than a “high-end complimentary player” but to do that he will have to come up big.
If one of these players can step up this season and be a leader for the green team it will do wonders. With a rookie coach, and a roster full of young inexperienced players the Celtics can not afford to rely on Keith Bogans for all of their leadership .
Hump: “So until Rondo’s back are you guys gonna throw me lobs?”
via cdn0.sbnation.com
