Ten story lines

It’s been a while since I’ve posted. It’s been a while since there’s been anything to post about.

But seeing we are just 16 short days from Boston’s first exhibition game of the season (Oct. 10 at Cleveland), it’s time to do what everyone does in the preseason: speculate. Here then, are 10 storylines we will probably be following during the 2006-2007 Celtics season:

1. Will they or won’t they?
The Celtics might pull the trigger on a deal this season (if they don’t do so before the season starts). I still think Kevin Garnett or Allen Iverson could end up in Boston. At the very least, some of this young talent is going to be moved for a veteran to help Paul Pierce.

2. Who’s the point guard?
Sebastian Telfair? Delonte West? Rajon Rondo? Does it matter? Delonte should start, but whether he starts at the one or the two is up for debate. My feeling is that all three guys get some minutes at the point, with Delonte playing the most minutes and spending some time at the two as well.

3. Who starts?
Remember Doc Rivers’s lineups before the trade last season? Expect more of the same. Paul Pierce starts. Beyond that we really don’t know. Either Delonte or Wally Szczerbiak comes off the bench as the sixth man. Without the benefit of any preseason games, I think Telfair, West, Pierce, Ryan Gomes, and Kendrick Perkins start on opening night.

4. Where are Gerald’s minutes?
The problem with having such a young team is there aren’t enough minutes to go around. If Tony Allen’s legal issues are resolved, I believe Gerald Green is the odd man out in terms of the guys who everyone expects should be playing. This ongoing story will only fuel the trade debate this year.

5. Who should be the second big man off the bench: Al Jefferson or Leon Powe?
I’m not kidding. Theo Ratliff will probably be the first man off the bench to spell Perk, but I truly think the power forward situation is wide open. Don’t be surprised if Powe, Kevin Pittsnogle, or Brian Scalabrine cut into Jefferson’s minutes. You all think I’m crazy now, but Gomes and Perk aren’t giving Al a chance to take their minutes. Jefferson is going to have to work harder than ever this season to prove he deserves all the hype.

6. How’s Wally’s knee?
I love Wally’s scoring ability, but if the new point guards push the pace like Danny Ainge wants, he may be a step slow. It was hard watching Wally play through the pain last season. I hope he’s healthy, but something tells me the Celtics will get what they got from Wally last season.

7. Is the youth movement working?
If the Celtics don’t look like a playoff team around the All-Star break, the critics will question whether Danny Ainge’s plan is working. And if it isn’t, expect some changes to be made.

8. Is Pierce staying?
He signed an extension, but if Pierce is unhappy, the ‘Does Paul want to be traded?’ question will inevitably be asked.

9. How’s the new Celtics “experience”?
There’s a new dance team. There’s a new high-definition scoreboard. There are new, higher priced tickets. Is this a good thing?

10. What’s up, Doc?
Rivers is a great player-development coach. But if his young players reach their potential, will Danny Ainge look for an x’s and o’s guy to carry them the rest of the way?

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