(My Sportsbook) - The Boston Celtics rode two superstars to the Eastern Conference Finals last season. They ultimately fell short of a nostalgic date with the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals. There are moments that the team will rue entering this season. Paul Pierce missed some key free throws with games on the line, and the New Jersey Nets were able to get off the deck and win the series, even after the Celtics made huge double-digit leads evaporate into thin air.

Like most teams do in the offseason, the Celtics took an inventory of strengths and weaknesses and tried to make changes. Boston acquired power forward Vin Baker as part of a five-player deal with the Seattle SuperSonics. The Celtics also received guard Shammond Williams in return for guards Kenny Anderson and Joe Forte, and forward/center Vitaly Potapenko.

Coach Jim O'Brien and the rest of the Celtics are hoping that a return to the New England area [Baker played collegiately in Hartford, Connecticut] will light a fire under Baker. In the preseason, Baker was slowed by a right ankle injury. He told O'Brien he was ready to go against the Nets in a preseason matchup, but fouled out after 14 ugly minutes.

"I thought he had a tough night, however you want to look at it," O'Brien said. "Hopefully, it was because of a banged-up ankle."

Baker has looked bad in the preseason - he has more fouls than points and rebounds combined. Celtic fans can only hope that when his ankle heals his game will come around. Historically, Baker's career has been earmarked by a lack of effort leading to wasted talent.

No one can blame the Celtics for taking a chance on a career underachiever, given the hodgepodge of frontcourt players - with the exception of Antoine Walker -- they went to war with last season.

The good news for Boston is it appears to have upgraded the point guard position. Williams is still a bit raw, but by December he should make people forget all about Anderson.

FRONTCOURT

Baker is important to the Celtics' plan this season. All he really needs to do is grab some rebounds and provide a wide body in the middle. If the change of venue causes Baker to revert back to the form he exhibited in his early Seattle days, the Celtics will be one of the better teams in the East.

Walker is the unquestioned vocal leader of the Celtics. His ability to handle the ball is rare for a power forward and he knows when to defer to Pierce. If Baker can do some of the dirty work inside, it will allow Walker to be that much more effective. Walker can score from both inside and outside, and his athleticism makes him a tough cover - especially for the weaker forwards in the Eastern Conference.

With Baker's contributions uncertain and Walker's tendency to play further from the basket, the Celtics need a tenacious defender at the small forward position. Enter Eric Williams, who is finally healthy and may be just what the doctor ordered. Williams is a great effort player and plays solid defense - both on the ball and in the passing lanes. His health is always a question mark, and Boston can only hope he can stay on the court for 82 games.

GUARDS

The Celtics' season relies heavily on Pierce and his ability to carry the team. He's a tremendous talent, but he has been a little mouthy and immature at times. Pierce will have to shake off the memories of those missed free throws against New Jersey and get back to the drawing board. Much like Walker, Pierce can score anywhere from the paint to the perimeter. He loves to lure weaker defenders into the post and abuse them. Pierce also has moments where he's unconscious from behind the arc. Boston can only hope that Pierce takes the next step in the maturation process and learns to let his game do the talking.

Williams will be the starter, if not right off the bat definitely by December, at the point guard position. He's an athletic young talent that is a glove- like fit in this offense. If he can stay patient, he'll be a legitimate option when opponents go to a zone to limit Pierce and Walker.

BENCH

There's no question the Celtics have a thin rotation beyond the starters. One area where there is quality depth is point guard. Tony Delk is as quality a reserve guard as there is in the NBA. Sacramento King fans know how effective this guy can be off the bench. If Williams makes some mistakes, like a young guard can do, O'Brien will have the luxury of inserting Delk and letting Williams think about it on the bench.

Kedrick Brown is the reserve shooting guard. If the Celtics are lucky, Pierce will stay healthy and Brown will play just a few minutes per game. Brown averaged 8.4 minutes and 2.2 points per game last season.

Tony Battie is Boston's reserve pivot, but he may be playing major minutes if Baker is injured or ineffective. Battie will make no one forget Bill Russell, but he's 6-11 and has a wide body. Boston is hoping Baker stays healthy and focused, which will limit Battie's role. Boston also has Croatian pivot Bruno Sundov. He's never been a significant player in the NBA, but perhaps he can eat up a couple of minutes in the pivot-starved East.

OUTLOOK

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Boston will need both Pierce and Walker to have MVP-type seasons if it's going to succeed. The wild card in this equation is Baker. If he is rejuvenated by a change of scenery and can take some of the defensive pressure off the shoulders of Pierce and Walker, the Celtics will challenge in the East. If he's a bust, Boston could still make the playoffs, but it won't be able entertain dreams of going to the NBA Finals.