"Agent 0" meets "Mean Green 3"

Is this a dream fit or a fight in the making...Only time will tell.

The "TD Banknohhth Gahhden" will be, simply put, frenzied tonight as thousands of Green fans hit the streets of Boston to see their new team. Although two years removed from Massachusetts, I myself will be glued to the tube as the Wizards and Agent 0 come a knockin' on the Celtics' door. There is much to be said for the matchups and how the game will end, so I dare to take on this endeavor to overview the season-opening game of the C's.

First, we must look at the hype that has been built up by no one but "Agent 0" himself. Gilbert Arenas has been quoted (The Washington Post) as saying....

"On November 2nd, we're going to go into that building, we're opening up Boston," Arenas wrote. "Right now I'm telling the Boston fans: You guys are going to lose. It's not going to be a victory for Boston. You might as well just cheer for me, because Boston isn't winning in Boston for the season opener. I'm sorry."

The best part about this article is the quote that Gilbert gave after their season-opening loss to the Pacers (mind you, without Jermaine O'Neil and Troy Murphy) was quoted, when asked about tonight's game verse the C's....

"Nah, I'm not making any predictions."

In my opinon, that was a smart move. Don't get me wrong, this Wizard's team IS good... and should be better, but they suffered a huge loss with starting Center Eton Thomas developing a heart condition that is likely put him out for the season. Here is a quick look at the positional matchups by statistics per game (career) for the starting line-ups projected tonight:

[p=points per game; b=blocks; a=assists; s=steals; r=rebounds; m=minutes]

(C ) PG Rajon Rondo: 6-1 171 lbs; 6.4/p; 3.8/a; 1.6/s; 3.7/r; 23.5/m

(W) PG Deshawn Stevenson: 6-5 218 lbs; 8.2/p; 1.7/a; .05/s; 2.4/r; 23.1/m

(C ) SG Ray Allen: 6-5 205 lbs; 21.5/p; 3.9/a; 1.3/s; 4.6/r; 37.5/m

(W) SG Gilber Arenas: 6-4 215 lbs; 22.9.p; 5.5/a; 1.8/s; 4.2/r; 37.5/m

(C ) PF Kevin Garnett: 6-11 220 lbs; 20.5/p; 1.7/b; 4.5/a; 11.4/r; 38.3/m

(W) PF Antwan Jamison: 6-9 235 lbs: 19.4/p; 0.3/b; 1.8/a; 7.7/r; 36.4/m

(C ) SF Paul Pierce: 6-7 235 lbs; 23.6/p: 1.7/s; 3.9/a; 6.5/r; 37.8/m

(W) SF Caron Butler: 6-7 228 lbs; 15.4/p; 1.6/s; 2.5/a; 5.8/r; 35.5/m

(C ) C Kendrick Perkins: 6-10 208 lbs; 4.0/p, 1.1/b, 0.9/s, 4.6/r, 16.6/m

(W) C Brendan Haywood: 7-0 263 lbs; 6.9/p, 1.3/b, .04/s, 5.7/r, 22.9/m

When you look, position by position, it appears a lot closer than it should be. The Wizards have their own three, Arenas, Butler, and Jamison to match up with the Celtics Allen, Pierce, and Garnett. This should make for an exciting game.

The question is not who wins the battle at these three positions as much as it is who wins at the other two...

THE "QUESTIONS":

Can the size and strength of Wizard's point guard Stevenson overwhelm Rondo or will the passing ability of Rondo eliminate the size difference and focus the battle more on a team level than a positional level?

Can Kendrick Perkins overcome the size and ability of Brandon Haywood to get in the box and put up points or is this a position that is focused solely on rebounds and ability to get open for the quick dump and an easy bucket?

THE "BENCH" FACTOR:

When I review the two benches, it appears to me that the Celtics, although experience-wise might be a little behind, definitely should outperform the Wizards bench, based on talent alone. Tony Allen, Eddie House, Glen "Baby" Davis, and Scott Pollard should be able to stabilize the game during the times in which the trio need to breathe. The Wizards have a young and savvy bunch as well, but skill for skill, the Celtics win the bench wars.

THE "PREDICTION":

I believe that the Celtics ultimately win this game, not so much because of the big three because they can and will, at times, be stabilized by the Wizards' own three, but because of a few key factors.

One. The "Home Court" advantage will play a huge part, mostly because the Celtics' fans are rabbid for a "real team" and will packed in the Gahhden like sahhdines."

Two. The "Pass Factor" is overwhelming when you compare cumulative assists per game, having Rondo, Allen, and Garnett focused on the open man while the Wizards are a sort of "shoot first, look for the pass second" type of team and will ultimately affect the outcome of the game.

Three. Contrary to popular belief of three stars and only one ball, the historical data of these three are that they are on fairly good teams who have had to use the pass to stay effective AND they have all been on "close but no cigar" teams, when discussing NBA Championships and are ready to take a page out of the New England Patriots book (it worked for the Red Sox, didn't it?)

The game will be at 8:00 pm EDT on ESPN. Don't miss it!!!!

There you have it... my first article about the NBA and of course it's about my C's.

Statistocrat