SLAM DUNKS: G-F Paul Pierce (26.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 4.7 apg) showed last season that he is not quite at his ceiling. He continues to improve aspects of his game - such as leadership - despite always playing against double-teams and a supporting cast constantly in flux. He gives this team belief it can win. ... F Wally Szczerbiak (19.0, .487 FG) will benefit from a training camp and can spread the floor with his shooting. He gives Pierce a reliable veteran that can be trusted. ... Some of the younger players are maturing, most notably G Delonte West (11.8, 4.6 apg) and F Ryan Gomes (7.6, 4.9 rpg). ... Ratliff (4.9, 5.1, 1.60 bpg) couldn't score in an empty gym but will defend the rim, which was a problem for the Celtics last season.

AIRBALLS: Despite the on-the-job training last season, this team is extremely young, with nine players no older than 24. The ball will be in the hands of either West or Telfair (9.5, 3.6 apg), both of whom have plenty of promise but a paucity of poise. ... Big things were expected of both G Tony Allen (7.2, 2.2 rpg) and F Al Jefferson (7.9, 5.1), each of whom had lost seasons due to injuries and off-court issues. Allen and Jefferson need to work harder at being NBA players if they want to stick around. ... Szczerbiak and Ratliff are injury-prone. If they go down for any extended period, Pierce will be baby-sitting again. GUESSWORK: Can vice president Danny Ainge stand pat for a whole season? He keeps shuttling players in and out around Pierce with very little to show for it. That makes things very difficult for Rivers, who has to more clearly define roles this season, and the players, who develop rhythm and continuity from playing with the same teammates. At some point, Ainge has to show trust in the people he has hired and acquired.

THINKING CAP: The good news is Telfair ($1.8 million), Jefferson ($1.6 million), West ($1.1 million), Rondo ($1.1 million), Gomes ($664,000), Allen ($1 million), C Kendrick Perkins ($1.7 million) and G Gerald Green ($1.3 million) make a combined $10.2 million. The bad news is Ratliff makes $11.6 million - for each of the next two years.

D-LEAGUE CANDIDATE: Powe

THE COACH SAYS: "We don't have a lot of low-post scoring unless it's from our guards. We would love to get low-post scoring out of Al, out of one of the big positions. We have good shooters. We can play around him. I think he's really come on and learned the game as far as understanding traps and different defenses."