With all these blog Celtic summaries, it got me to thinking about our X-factor.  The practical glass-half-full side worries about minute management, defensive stoppers, and backups for injured starters but if you put that aside for a moment and fantasize about a specific positive change "coming out of nowhere", what would you want the Celtic Surprise to be?

We're poised to be a great transition team... maybe not always the fastest fast break but the starters have their style of getting down the court and Rondo either finding someone or finishing.  It's after the rotations start that we lose that identity and what I'm hoping to see is Rondo and someone getting their slashing signals in tune with each other so that when X sees a lane he and Rondo are ready in the moment to exploit it.

As far who that would be... I love to keep rooting for Bill Walker and Tony Allen but both are injured in some way or another and haven't shown an ability to get telepathic.  And has Rondo ever played with J.R. Giddens (or even know he exists)?  So that leaves Marquis Daniels, who I'm guessing is who all of you probably thought of first, but I just had to try and build it up.  Daniels is certainly not a "who's left" kind of player.   ;-)

So that's my "Halloween Slasher" Surprise X-factor:  That Marquis and Rondo (or whoever's playing point) can get some surprise cutting/slashing into our offense after the substitutions start.

I'd love to read what people think of this and/or hear your hope for how the Celtics could, I mean will, surprise the league "out of nowhere".  It's good to be the underdog.

It's official.  The Wolves have moved on by signing Ramon Sessions to a 4 year, $16 mil contract with last year a player option.  That ought to last until Rubio gets bored with the competition in Europe.  

Ramon is young (23) but a vet compared to draft pick Jonny Flynn who will also be fun to watch get playing time.  Ramon is offense-oriented so MN will be the run-and-gun team Khan wants and should fit in with the other offense-minded players (or are they just not defensive-minded, I forget).  Hopefully there will be some high scoring games at least even if their record doesn't improve much due to lack of defense.  Credit must be given to Khan for setting the goal for 3 years from now and not trying to walk some "rebuilding while competing" line by signing Iverson.

The coaching staff is also totally revamped so the culture will definitely change... to something.  With all 3 assistants saying they someday want head coaching jobs, it may be that the staff have more disagreements than the players.

Can Sessions handle the ball better than Sebastian Telfair?  Can Al Jefferson keep up with the fast break?  We'll find out if the darn season would ever start.

Too bad they don't have much for wings.  Are they desperate enough to want Tony Allen?  Oh wait, they already suffered through Rashad McCants so they've paid their dues.

Sessions coming on board means Chucky Atkins or Bobby Brown will most likely become available according to Khan.

Discuss.