CELTIC GREEN
In interviews with four NBA scouts, a consensus on the Rajon Rondo-less Celtics emerged. If enigmatic small forward Jeff Green doesn’t live up to his 4-year, $35-million contract, Boston doesn’t stand a chance against the deeper Knicks, who are bigger and shoot the 3-pointer better.
“[Green] has to step up,’’ an Atlantic Division scout said. “In the second half, Green started to become the player that signed a $35-million contract. But he’s been back and forth between a disappearing act and a guy who you say ‘Wow he’s terrific!’ They need his emergence and to play up to his potential.’’
Green needs to be the second option after Paul Pierce that J.R. Smith has been to Carmelo Anthony. Green (12.8 ppg, 46.7 percent shooting) had a poor first half of the season before coming on late.
“He is an X-factor,’’ a Central Division scout said of Green. “He had a pretty good finish and is a tough matchup for the Knicks, with his young legs. You know what you’re going to get out of Pierce. You don’t know what you’re going to get out of Green.’’
REPLACEMENT RONDO
The Knicks haven’t won a playoff series since 2000 and were swept by Boston two years ago. But that was when point guard Rajon Rondo routinely befuddled the Knicks as a triple-double threat. Now, they get replacement Avery Bradley, who struggles to put the ball into Boston Harbor. Raymond Felton can have a siesta on defense.
“He’s a legitimate defender at the guard spot,’’ a Southeast Division scout said of Bradley. “That’s few and far between. He can guard the 1s and the 2s, has that lateral quickness and a lot of it is effort. You can’t say that about a lot of guys. But his point-guard skills, he isn’t even a point guard. Just barely. Not a great decision-maker or ballhandler. And he hasn’t even been making his open 3s.’’
But if this battle turns into a defensive struggle, Bradley can make it tough. Said the Central Division scout, “He’s their best defender and Rondo was only a good defender. Hey, you can even put him on J.R. Smith.’’
HITTING THE BENCHMARK
Smith headlines the Knicks deep and versatile bench that is getting healthy reinforcements with their bigs. The Celtics lost Ray Allen and hoped Jason Terry could be a Sixth Man of the Year candidate. Instead, Terry has disappointed (43.4-percent shooting) and the Boston bench became no bargain.
But if Terry outplays Smith, a Sixth Man favorite?
“Look what Terry was stepping into,’’ the Atlantic Division scout said. “He’s a veteran shooter like Ray Allen, but he’s not Ray Allen, he’s not as good as Allen. He hasn’t shot well and his age is getting up there. The guy’s been a clutch player in his career and if he comes through in the playoffs people will forget the regular season. He can redeem himself in the playoffs.’’
The Celtics bench doesn’t incite fear. Wingmen Courtney Lee and Jordan Crawford, all the scouts agree, are streaky players. And starting power forward Brendan Bass hasn’t been a difference-maker.
“He’s not a big rebounder, but he’s starting to come on,’’ the Southeast Division scout said. “If he makes shots for them, that mid-ranger, that’s big. But he doesn’t bring enough other things to the table.’’
“Bass is what he is,’’ the Central Division scout said. “He’s a jump-shooting 3 1/2.’’
KG LIVING DANGEROUSLY
Garnett, returning from ankle problems, and Pierce likely will have to give All-Star performances each game.
“Kevin knows how to play, knows where his shot is going to come from, is still dangerous inside-out,’’ the Western Conference scout said. “He’s so long it’s difficult to block his shot. He’s still a dangerous post-up player and can pass it out, too. He can be as good as anyone in a short series because he is playoff-tested.’’
And he can rattle some cages as he did one night in January when Carmelo Anthony blew his top and got suspended, allegedly over cereal.
“He sets the example, he’s a winning player,’’ the Atlantic Division scout said of Garnett. “He can score some still but it’s the intangibles at this stage of his career what stands out more than a specific skill. He talks a good game and he backs it up. That goes into the persona. It’s a positive for the Celtics, not a negative.’’