The Atlantic Division is the Katy Perry of NBA divisions. It’s incredibly top-heavy. Watching the Boston Celtics’ preseason slate, which includes only games against fellow Atlantic Division teams, it’s hard not to think, “The C’s bench could win that division.” Seriously. In a survey of general managers asking who would win the division, the Celtics won only 100% of the vote.

Tonight is the next meeting with an Atlantic Division “rival,” as the Celtics see the New York Knicks for the first time. The Knicks could be the C’s biggest competition for the Atlantic Division crown, and by “biggest competition” I mean they might be the only team that comes within 20 games. Adding Amare Stoudemire, Anthony Randolph, Roger Mason, Jr., Timofey Mozgov and Raymond Felton, the new-look Knicks now take on Mike D’Antoni’s identity for the first time. He finally has his own team, and now it’s on D’Antoni to manufacture wins out of the crew.

That could be a tough task tonight against a Celtics team that has looked impressive. After most of the Celtics’ regulars (and all the starters) received a day of rest in yesterday’s 103-92 loss to Philadelphia, four of them will be back in uniform tonight. Shaq will likely sit again with bothersome hips (Marc D’Amico of celtics.com reports, “It sounds as if Doc Rivers is going to rest Shaquille O’Neal for the second straight game”), but six-time All-Star Jermaine O’Neal should take his place. O’Neal’s defense looked great in yesterday’s loss and his rebounding was exquisite, but his offense felt gross enough that O’Neal called his former high school coach for some pointers. Not that Doc Rivers minded his center’s unsightly one fer six: “I told him I could care less,” Rivers said. “It’s the 12 rebounds, the blocked shots, the charges. He’s going to be really good for us defensively.”

O’Neal should start the game opposite Timofey Mozgov, the 7’1″ Russian who has earned the Knicks’ starting center position with a strong preseason. Mozgov is a little bit like Austin Powers, in that they’re both international men of mystery (although I doubt Mozgov cares as much about “shagging” as Powers does). D’Antoni said of Mozgov, “He’s playing well, and he picks things up extremely fast. I know there’s going to be rough spots ahead, but I just like his attitude and his effort, and then we’ll see what happens.”

Mozgov, for his part, had this to say: “”Run, run, run, defense and work, defense, defense. If I get the ball, shoot sometimes, maybe.” I’m not even kidding. He actually said that. I guess he doesn’t pick English up quite as “extremely fast” as he picks up basketball.

It’s weird to say about a Knicks team that has been softer than Ray Allen’s touch for a few years, but they actually should provide the Celtics’ best inside test yet. With Stoudemire and Mozgov, the Knicks have both strength and athleticism down low. The Celtics’ big men, who have spent the preseason feasting on a steady diet of Trent Plaisted, Andrea Bargnani, Spencer Hawes and every other soft big man the Atlantic Division has to offer, could use a stiffer test: they’ve outrebounded every opponent so far this preseason. For a Celtics team that struggled mightily to rebound last season, that stat would be very encouraging… if it hadn’t been accomplished against such weak frontcourts.

The game starts at 7:30 p.m., so set your DVRs and microwave your popcorn.

What happens when Amare Stoudemire meets a goofy Italian with two knee braces? In the words of the immortal Walt Clyde, “puffing and stuffing, ha HA!”

By the way, yes this is a real basketball highlight. Two more days ’til Celtics preseason begins. Can you dig it?

Before you watch the NBA’s top ten dunks from 2009-2010, I just want to apologize to Glen Davis for posting this video. You’ll see why when you watch, but I’ll give you a three-word hint: Andrew Bogut, devastation.

If you ask me, and I may be the only one who thinks this way, Amare Stoudemire’s dunk on Anthony Tolliver is overrated. Stoudemire’s supposed to dunk on Tolliver. Meanwhile, 6’4″ Dwyane Wade dunked on 6’11″ Anderson Varejao, Varejao’s parents, his grandparents, his un-born grandchildren, and all his ancestors, all at the same time. I give the mythical dunk of the year title to Wade, and Derrick Rose’s two-hand cock-back comes in second. Vote for your favorite dunks here.

Click the jump for the Celtics’ top dunk of the season. Read more »

Only a true Knicks fan spells Amare with the appropriate apostrophe.

This post was written by Ryan Colburn, a high school basketball teammate of mine. I can pay him no higher compliment than this: If I needed one person to make a wide open jumper to save my life, and I was given a choice between Colburn and Ray Allen, I’d actually think twice.

Before all of Jay’s readers write this post off as absolute blasphemy, I would like to explain myself. Although I am a New York Knickerbocker fan, I’m not all bad. I was born in Connecticut and as a child was faced with the dilemma of choosing a side in the heated rivalry between Boston and New York. (Editor’s note: Heated rivalry? Child please.) Largely because of Spre, Allan Houston and Larry Johnson, I preferred the Knicks and the MSG network rather than NESN with Paul and Antoine.

But I don’t just love the Knicks; I am a huge basketball fan. Whether it is a high school all-star game, hoops mixtape, hoopshype.com, nba.com, NBA TV, (I begrudgingly admit some WNBA Playoffs), I have been thinking about basketball ever since Game 7 ended. I miss it. I miss it maybe too much. I miss it more than ever because I am a recent college graduate and at the moment am struggling to find work. Hell, I watch FIBA competition even if team USA isn’t even playing. That says something. (Editor’s note: Not as much as watching the WNBA playoffs does.) And before I throw some Knicks analysis your way, just know that I rooted for the Celtics all playoffs long, especially when they faced LA.

Read more »

Athletes Tweets is a Celtics Town feature we used during last offseason. When the news is slow, it can be fun to get a little goofy. Remember, as always, these tweets may or may not be real.

Antoine Walker has lost about 25 pounds, but he has a few more left to lose

@Antoine Walker I love working out with Rick Pitino. He appreciates my quick shots.

@Isiah Thomas Can you believe the Knicks actually tried to hire me again?

@Dustin Johnson When’s the last time you saw the gallery standing in a bunker? SMH.

@Antoine Walker I’m taking my talents to South Beach diet. Lost between 18 and 25 pounds so far. Read more »

ESPN.com posted a poll Thursday ranking the worst newcomers of the year. A panel of 93 “basketball experts” voted, and Celtics newcomer Shaquille O’Neal ranked third on the list, with six votes. (ESPN.com)

Who will prove to be the worst acquisition of the offseason?

We’re not talking about the worst player per se but the one who will have the most negative impact or the most disappointing season, relative to expectations, price, etc. Or the player who will wear out his welcome first.

Based on any criteria, Shaq is not one of the worst newcomers. But, especially based on a criteria that takes into account price and expectations, Shaq’s inclusion near the top of the list is absurd. Who are these basketball experts that voted for Shaq?

Shaq is a future first-ballot Hall of Famer who signed for the veteran’s minimum of $1.3 million. He is no longer in his prime as a player, but he still had enough skill left to  average 12 points, 6.7 rebounds per game last season. No other minimum signee had as much of a statistical impact as Shaq last season. Considering Shaq was reportedly searching for a deal worth about $8 million per year, a two-year deal at the veteran’s minimum seems like a fair price to pay.

As for the expectations, Shaq is expected to be a serviceable back up center to Jermaine O’Neal. The expectations are very low: all he has to do is out-produce Rasheed Wallace from last season and most Celtics fans will be pretty happy. Don’t forget, Wallace receieved the full mid-level exception last year, and played pathetically until the playoffs. He was lazy, out of shape, and he fired up more three’s than Ray Allen. Shaq may be lazy and out of shape, but al least he’ll post himself around the hoop, instead of behind the arc.

I don’t know how the Shaq experiment will play out over the next two seasons. But I do know that we won’t be sitting here next year, lamenting the signing, or praying for Shaq’s retirement like we did with Wallace.

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