The Celtics played their final contest of the 2012/13 preseason yesterday, and now have more than a week to look ahead to next Tuesday's opener against Ray Allen and the Heat. As Jessica Camerato of CSNNE.com writes, coach Doc Rivers is heading into next week optimistic about the season, saying that his team has a chance to be "very, very good." Here are the latest Celtics-related stories from around the web:
- TNT's David Aldridge focuses on the Celtics in his latest Morning Tip piece for NBA.com, examining how new additions like Jason Terry and Jared Sullinger are meshing with the team's established leaders, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Rajon Rondo.
- According to Rivers, returning forward Jeff Green "stood out more than everybody" this preseason and has a chance have a "terrific" season, writes Paul Flannery of WEEI.com.
- Rivers says he wasn't surprised that Leandro Barbosa signed with the Celtics for the veteran's minimum, since it seems Barbosa had shifted his priorities to factors besides money. "I think he had us zeroed in on his radar and he understood all the players in front of him," Rivers said, according to Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe. "He didn’t care. He kept saying that, which is refreshing. I was very honest with him. There’s a chance [he may not play] with the numbers. He said, 'I’m not here to ruffle any feathers. I just want to be on a team that wins and hopefully I can help.'"
Sullinger a “right now” pick for Celts while they nab Melo to learn behind Garnett. Ainge had a great draft and will have cap in a couple years to go big in ’14 competing with LAL…