The ’Sheed factor: Wallace gives Boston Celtics NBA’s best starting line-up

July 05 09

Breaking NBA news mixed with analysis ...

Their News: “Rasheed Wallace is joining the Boston Celtics, giving the Celtics one of the most important free agents on the marketplace as they attempt to return to the championship. The Boston Globe reported Wallace will sign for two years at the mid-level exception." ESPN.com

Our Very Quick Analysis: Call them ’The Fantastic Five’.

Okay, this moniker is too Marvel Comics and doesn’t convey that the Boston Celtics have assembled their best starting unit since Danny Ainge, Larry Bird, Dennis Johnson, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parrish graced ‘The Garden’ back in 1985-86.

Nicknames aside, by signing Rasheed Wallace, the green-and-white has added a former All-Star to a first-five that includes Hall of Famers Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce. And there’s also up-and-coming point guard Rajon Rondo.

Like the Cavaliers, Lakers, and Spurs, the already strong Celtics got even stronger with today’s move.

‘Sheed secures the frontcourt. The post can fill-in as the first option down low if Garnett needs more time to rehab his knee. And when ‘The Big Ticket’ gets healthy, he can platoon with Kendrick Perkins. Bottom line, Wallace provides options to a forward line dealing with Leon Powe’s injury and the likely departure of restricted free agent Glen Davis.

His technical fouls and so-called attitude won’t be an issue, either. Over the years, Wallace has mellowed and isn’t the same player who once lassoed Lithuanian legend Arvydas Sabonis with a towel on national television.

If necessary, the Celtics will be able check their new addition. Veterans like Allen, Garnett, and Pierce possess the ‘Juice’ to reason with the North Carolina grad. And coach Doc Rivers easily meshed with Stephon Marbury, so Wallace won’t be a problem.

After a disappointing playoff, Boston is back. Only time will tell if ‘The Fantastic Five’ can capture championship glory like the 1985-86 Celtics.

How good are Allen, Garnett, Pierce, Rondo, and Wallace? Are the Celtics now the favourite to win it all in 2010? Get at us with thoughts and return to HoopsVibe The Blog for more NBA tidbits. Photo provided courtesy of Keith Allison’s on-line portfolio.

34 Comments: The ’Sheed factor: Wallace gives Boston Celtics NBA’s best (...)

Posted by
14 year old
on 08.17.2009

they need to keep the starting line up like it is and let rajon rondo play the point ray allen gaurd paul pierce gaurd rasheed play post and let k perkins and kevin garrnet go back to back and let rasheed go back to back with big baby .

Posted by
jordan
on 08.3.2009

Hi all! Sorry for interrup your meeting. I’d like to tell you something about ? Just follow me. .

Posted by
Go C’s
on 07.19.2009

Celtics also just got Marquis Daniels who is just coming off his best season for the Pacers. That was also a huge pickup .

Posted by
Go C’s
on 07.19.2009

To the guy who said the lakers had a fantastic 5? are you dreamin pal? I’ll give you Kobe, Pau and maybe artest but say goodbye to Odom cause he will most likely leave L.A. And BYNUM!? haha thats just a joke. He is the worst defender I ahve ever seen in my entire life. Nice try though. .

Posted by
Grant
on 07.18.2009

The Celtics will be 2009-2010 NBA Champs and heres why. Sure Rasheed is old but he can still play the game right? Picking him up adds another veteran all-star to the team along with Pierce, KG, and Sugar Ray. You may also say that those 3 are getting old but they are all still all stars and are not getting any worse. Then you have Perkins who does need to learn certain things, but with new veterans, they can observe and teach him new things. Last you have Rondo. Yes, he can’t make a jumpshot. That can be fixed. He is a very young player and skill will come with time and offseason. Oh and the free agency isnt over, the Celtics could have more up there sleeves. getting rid of Steph may help to clear salary. They must keep Big Baby and Eddie House to keep there bench strong. .

Posted by
Dakota Sears
on 07.16.2009

to the dude with first comment rasheed is not factor he out his prime and him kg will not get along talent wise yes but as a team hell no u smokin somethin .

Posted by
brandonfowler
on 07.14.2009

this is boston’s year we’ve got allen, pierce, kg is back ( he’s a beast ) sheed ( he will be a monster cuz he knows he has a chance at a fourth ring ) and then there is rondo who is getting betta. luk 4 rondo to mke the allstar as a reserve this season , mark my wrd. now tell me how can we lose. i luv ya lebron but u picked up shaq 2late. well kobe i hope u enjoyed ur victory cuz there aint no repeats. well spurs u guys luk damn gud. but ill tell u this god help the nba if rondo wrks on his jumpers this summer it will b all ova. this will b a green season in 09-10. the thing is will rondo or perkins start. cuz either way it will be crazy . if perkins start the paint on lock cuz u gat sheed, kg and perkins dwn low great defence in side. if rondo starts then its a perimeter defence cuz sheed cud play inside and outside defence and he hav rondo , pierce and allen. but rondo earns his spot cuz each yr he gets betta, luk at last season he rackin up the triple doubles and runin the offence he is becomin a team leader. all doc rivers needs to do is use the matchups 2 his advantage .

Posted by

on 07.13.2009

rando allen pierce garnett sheed bench steph marburykendrick perkinsbig baby davis(jackie moon) brian scalleon powemikki moore(maybe this is his year lol) .

Posted by
F22
on 07.13.2009

lol celtics aint goin nowhere in the playoffs. like seriously, look at that lineup. that lineup would die vs. a run & gun team (like the lakers?) or a 3pt team (like orlando). btw, people call the rasheed signing great yet he had a crappy year last year and the year before that... sheed is overrated right now. the dude has great defense yes. but i as a piston fan know very well that he goes crazy, loses focus very fast and loves to jack up the 3. celts fans thought giving a makeover to marbury was hard... wait till they get a load of this dude... celtics-no championship in 2010-2011. .

Posted by
celtic pride steve
on 07.12.2009

CELTICS WILL ONCE AGAIN BE ON TOP IN 2010.LETS PUT BANNER NUMBER 18 UP IN FRONT OF THE LAKERS AGAIN.GO CELTICS BEAT L.A. .

Posted by
joey
on 07.10.2009

My nuts itch .

Posted by
dominic
on 07.10.2009

the best defense in the leaque just got a lot tougher. perkins,garnett and rashweed will be the best front line in 09-10. .

Posted by
ronh
on 07.10.2009

The Lakers will beat the celtics in a 7 game series. ron ron will shut pierce down and kobe will shut either ray or rondo down. Lakers Baby 2009-10!!! .

Posted by

on 07.10.2009

CELTICS are gonna be UNSTOPPABLE. how can anyone NOT see this?Look at the damage they did last year WITHOUT KG!! RONDO got MUCH better and will continue exponentialy. The Hall of famers are still playing FRESH, no doubt they will deliver. if big baby and poe stay home and strong WE WILL TAKE THE 2010 PLAYOFFS. The other teams had to bulk up, i dont blame them...but its too late THE BEAST (KG) is LOOSE and now hes got the detroit MONSTER...its over before it started. LeBron needs to start dancin on over to Jigga and NY NOW!!!!!!!!! .

Posted by
Snika
on 07.8.2009

Allen is 33, KG is 33, Pierce is 31, and Sheed is 34. While I agree that it won’t last long, these guys have 2 great years left. Hell, Kobe is about to turn 31 and he’s a LONG way from being over the hill. Best player in the game... BY FAR. Also remember, the Celts took Orlando to 7 without KG and Sheed this season. What do the finals look like if they have KG??? My point is really that the upcoming season is SO unpredictable because all the best teams got a LOT better. .

Posted by

on 07.8.2009

With this new Celtic lineup 3 years ago just wouldn’t have been fair to the rest of the league but now they just sound like the new spurs, in age mind you. Don’t get me wrong they will make their push, after all a tiger is at its most fierce towards their end but I can’t see them beating the Champs. It reminds me of the ’04 Lakers with Payton, Malone, Shaq & Kobe, sure they made it to the finals but with age and health being an issue look how it ended. .

Posted by

on 07.8.2009

I would move Ray Allen to the point and then have Wallace, Perkins, Garnnet, Pierce in the starting lineup. Rondo could not hit a jumper if he were in the gym by himself. They would have better scoring and would be much bigger. .

Posted by
ruester
on 07.8.2009

"...basically adding ginobli AND jefferson to the spurs..."Yeah, assuming Ginobli doesn’t break his ankle diving for a can of peas at the supermarket or something.Fact is, without Ginobli scoring the spurs have zero chance of beating the Kobes. Probably why Sheed signed with the celtics; clearer path to the finals. .

Posted by

on 07.8.2009

This is a good move for the celtics to acquire Sheed, we need additional player like Sheed who can score and depend the circle, another suggestion if the boston celtics can manage to acquire a good veteran point guard who can score and make play as a back up for Rondo. If they do so, no doubt that the boston celtics will win the 2010 championship and more years to follow. .

Posted by
CELTICS
on 07.6.2009

what ever them say, celtics is gonna kick ass’ come november... and y’all should beli dat!! .

1 2 3 Next >

Post your comment:

No profanity or inaproppriate remarks. All i.p. addresses will be saved and abuse/hate posts will be reported to providers and authorities as part of the anti-spam act of 2003, thank you for posting comments on the articles only.

	About Oly Sandor
Daily take on NBA Oly Sandor is an NBA analyst and sports journalist based out of Vancouver, Canada.After years of the free-lance game, Oly Sandor is bringing his unique brand of NBA analysis exclusively to (...) More

The ’Sheed factor: Wallace gives Boston Celtics NBA’s best starting line-up

AboutOly Sandor

About
Oly Sandor