words // Brandon Richard
The Boston Celtics are about to embark on another season in which expectations from the team and Garden fans will be high. After a surprisingly great '11-'12 playoff run led by a rejuvenated Kevin Garnett, the Cs are retooled and ready to remind the league that they're not quite ready to bow out just yet. Of course, this will be done without the original "Big 3" after Ray Allen decided to take his sharpshooting to South Beach, a move that doesn't exactly sit well with Boston vets Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo. However, Danny Ainge didn't sit on his hands - he brought in some fresh faces that could very well set up a Heat/Celtics Eastern Conference Finals matchup next year.
First, there's NBA Champion and 13-year veteran Jason Terry, who will be called on to fill most of the void left by Allen's departure. Also, the Celtics are bringing back a healthy and re-signed Jeff Green, a repaired Avery Bradley and stole defensive-minded swingman Courtney Lee off of the free agency market. The rookie class includes All-American Jared Sullinger, Big East Defensive Player of the Year Fab Melo and Dionte Christmas, one of the true Summer League standouts.
Not to mention - DARKO.
Are these fresh faces enough to keep Boston in the title discussion? We'll find out in the months ahead. While you wait, check out the sneakers worn to Celtics Media Day last Friday in today's Sneaker Watch.
images via Yahoo
Avery Bradley - adidas Crazy Shadow
Chris Wilcox - Nike Zoom Hyperfuse 2011
Courtney Lee - Air Jordan 3 "Black Cement"
Darko Milicic - Nike Lunar Hyperdunk 2012
Dionte Christmas - Reebok Zig Fury
Fab Melo - Nike Zoom Hyperfuse 2012
Jamar Smith - adidas adiZero Ghost
Jared Sullinger - Air Jordan 7 "Golden Moments"
Jason Collins - Nike Lunar Hyperdunk 2012
Jason Terry - Reebok SubLite Pro Rise
Jeff Green - Nike Zoom KD IV N7 Away
Kevin Garnett - ANTA KG3
Kris Joseph - Nike Lunar Hypergamer Low
Micha Downs - Nike Free Run 3
Paul Piece - Nike Air Max P2 V
Rajon Rondo - Nike Free Run 4.0 V2
Rob Kurz - Nike Zoom Hyperdunk 2011