Bench This!

The starters will be fine, you got three hall of famers who although not in their prime, are still pretty good. Jermaine Oneal was a perennial all-star, not all that long ago. Injuries have taken their tole, but as a guy who will be a mostly fourth option, he should excel. 

But what's the difference in last years team, what's the difference between the 25-3 start, and losing to the...Nets. Why will this year's team beat the 51 win, 3rd seed mark the so-called experts at ESPN are predicting.

Well the bench of course, that's why. The Celtics will have the deepest second unit in Basketball, yes you heard it here first. Find out why after the jump.

Nate Robinson. Yes, he can play defense. He can also score (we knew that already) and even showed an ability to facilitate and make smart decisions with the ball (we didn't know that.) Given a full year learning the offense, and getting more settled into his role which he seems to have embraced; we finally have the reliable back up PG we've been clamoring for for years.

Shaquille Oneal is now your backup Center. So we've now officially replaced Rasheed Wallace with Shaquille O'neal. Let's face it, regular season Sheed was awful. Actually the term "awful" doesn't even begin to encompass the giant pile of crap his regular season performance was. Those that were chanting the "bring Sheed back!" stuff a week ago must forget that most of Celtics Nation was calling for Sheed's minutes to be taken by Shelden Williams. Shelden. Freaking. Williams.

Shaq will be much better than that, there is no doubt. He also brings a presence, and leadership to the second unit that probably no other player in Basketball could. A former league MVP, first ballot hall of famer, and one of the most dominant forces in the history of the NBA, becoming a role player and coming off the bench. Hell that's a guy I want to follow. 

He's also still pretty freaking good in the post, and commands a double team by most teams in the NBA. Then he's got two deadly 3-pt shooters, and two other pretty good mid-range players around him to dish to when those double teams come. Shaq is the best backup Center in Basketball, even at 38, tell me one who's better.

Big chip on their shoulder. This relates to both Marquis Daniels and Von Wafer. Both had awful years last year, Wafer's just happened to be in another country. Both are playing their ass of this year in order to prove their worth anything next year. Both know they better step up to the plate and get the job done, or next year they'll be playing on a minimum deal again. Wafer showed starter level talent in HOU, but couldn't get his head on straight, and has clashed with coaches. Don't forget, he's pretty young and there's a fairly good chance this experience in Greece has finally gotten through to him. If he's finally matured, he absolutely has the talent to be a huge asset, and one of the better bench players in the league next year.

Marquis Daniel's year last year was a train wreck. But prior to that, he was a starter in Indiana, and a pretty solid one at that. I have no idea what happened to him last year, confidence, injury, who knows. But you better believe he's going to come out this year and find motivation like he's never had before. For a guy who made 6mil just two years ago, and is now staring a minimum deal in the face if he doesn't pick it up, there's plenty of reasons to expect he's going to go out with a desperation this year we've never seen.

 The Big Baby. Glen Davis started last year in street clothes. Missed training camp, and dealt with the backlash the entire year. His shot was non-existent, until we saw some flashes of it in the playoffs. He couldn't get a shot off underneath to save his life, and he struggled to adapt and find his role with the team. All those things clicked come playoffs. He's also in a contract year, and really looking to cash in next year, whether or not that is with Boston. For all these reasons I fully expect this to be a career year for Davis. This is the year he finally breaks through and shows the league he's worth more than the 3mil he's making. Motivation is the key to success, and he has plenty of reasons to be motivated this year.

Let's wrap it up. The Celtics have five guys coming off the bench who have all shown starter level ability at some point in their careers, and a leader that is a first ballot hall of famer. They have a clear identity, they each know their roles. Daniels is there to get to the rim, and play defense. Davis rebounds, knocks down mid-range shots, and fights for every ball, every possession. Shaq rules the paint. Wafer is your knock-down shooter and long range sniper. Robinson runs the show.

They all know their part, and in those roles, they've all been pretty damn good at it before. There are question marks, no doubt. But for every reason to believe they won't get it done, there's plenty more to believe they will.

So let me reiterate. The Celtics have the deepest second unit in the NBA.