Depth Chart: To Start Or Not To Start?

By: Brian Gleason

With training camp underway and the regular season approaching, join Celtics.com as we bring back the Depth Chart series for the third season. We've got two positions left, and today we'll breakdown the small forward spot.

Small forward is a bit of crapshoot right now. Most people stand in one of two camps, the "Ricky Davis is a rising star and should be a starter" camp, or the "Ricky best suits the Celtics on the second unit and should come off the bench" camp. The good thing is that the only opinion that truly matters is that of Head Coach Doc Rivers.

Ricky Davis

Tale of the Tape: 6-7, 195 lbs, Iowa, 8th Season

04-05 Stats: 16.0 ppg., 3.0 apg., 3.0 rpg.

Skinny: Ricky Davis was tremendous last season coming off the Celtics bench, and an argument could be made that he should have won the Sixth Man of the Year award, but there is no denying that he has the talent to be a starter on this team. He started the Celtics first preseason game, and has spent most of the Celtics practices working with the first team. No matter where Davis ends up in the lineup, we all know he'll be in the game in crunch time.

Questions: Will he start or come off the bench? If he does start it could mean good things for the Celtics. Not only will he give the first unit a boost, but what it really means is that a few of the younger players are producing enough, especially offensively, that they can carry the second unit on their own. That would not only be a boost for the 2005-06 season, but it would be a big boost for the franchise going forward.

Justin Reed

Tale of the Tape: 6-8, 240 lbs, Mississippi, 2nd Season

04-05 Stats: 1.8 ppg., 5.3 mpg.

Skinny: If Ricky Davis starts, then you can expect Justin Reed to back him up early on in the season. Reed had a tremendous offseason and played very well in the Celtics first preseason game. His main contribution will be defensive, but as we witnessed Tuesday night vs. Cleveland, Reed has improved his offensive game.

Questions: It all comes back to Ricky Davis. If Davis goes back to the bench, then will Reed move into the starting lineup? At this point it looks like that could be the case.

Tony Allen

Tale of the Tape: 6-4, 213 lbs, Oklahoma State, 2nd Season

04-05 Stats: 11.1 ppg., 6.9 rpg., 1.3 bpg.

Skinny: This was Tony Allen's starting spot last year, so it will be up to him to reclaim his job when he returns. Initially, he may have to work his way back into the lineup, but if he responds quickly he could find himself right back in the starting lineup, with Davis making another run at the Sixth Man Award.

Questions: Justin Reed could have the biggest impact on Tony Allen's season. If Reed plays well and establishes himself in the early going, then where does Allen fit when he returns? If this happens it may take longer for Allen to break into the lineup.

Brian Scalabrine

Tale of the Tape: 6-9, 235 lbs, USC, 5th Season

04-05 Stats: 6.3 ppg., 4.5 rpg.

Skinny: Scalabrine will see some time this season on the wing, mainly when Doc Rivers wants to go with a bigger lineup. Scalabrine is fairly athletic and is a tireless worker, so playing on the wing is something he can definitely do in short minutes. Expect Rivers to do some experimenting with this.

Questions: To play small forward Scalabrine will have to prove to the coaching staff that he can guard wing players on the perimeter. Scalabrine doesn't have the quickest feet, but he is one of the hardest workers in the league, so this may not be a problem.

Ryan Gomes

Tale of the Tape: 6-7, 250 lbs, Providence, Rookie

04-05 Stats (College): 21.6 ppg., 8.2 rpg.

Skinny: Gomes has been all over the Depth Chart series, which is a testament to his versatility, and here is yet another spot where he should see some time. Like Scalabrine, Gomes can play the "power 3" position, as he's capable of going both inside and out. He has a crafty post game which will allow him to take smaller wing players in the paint.

Questions: Although he is quicker than Scalabrine, guarding wing players in the NBA will certainly be a question for Gomes. One thing that shouldn't be a question is his outside shooting, which he's improved greatly.