Sport-Blog.com

A year ago, the Boston Celtics saw two of their three first round picks from the 2004 draft earn a spot for the rookie squad in the Rookie vs. Sophomore pre-All Star game event. Amazingly, the third of those three picks will appear this year in the same game.

Delonte West, the starting point guard for the Boston Celtics for 2005-06, has been selected to replace his former college teammate, Jameer Nelson for the sophomore squad. West has been having a break out season for the underachieving C's and had been a surprising omission until Nelson's injury.

West has moved into the top 25 in the league in assist to turnover ratio, averaging 2.5 assists per turnover from the point guard slot. The youngster is also averaging 11 points a game while his field goal percentage has been hovering around the 50% mark for the entire season (currently 49%). West has also shown the ability to hit the home run ball, shooting more than 40% from beyond the three point line.

Among the sophomore guards in the NBA, West is in the top five in assists, field goal percentage and rebounds. He is also averaging nearly one block shot per game, a number that puts him at the top of the league when it comes to that position, sophomore or veteran.

Last year, the Celtics saw both high schooler Al Jefferson and former college senior Tony Allen make the rookie squad. Unfortunately for Boston, both players have suffered through injury plagued seasons in 2005-06.

Ironically, West spent most of his rookie season on injured reserve as well. His inability to play a year ago had few expecting that he would be able to be the key replacement to the departing Gary Payton at point guard.

For Boston, the three players being chosen the past two years are seen as a great sign for the team's future - they certainly represent an outstanding single draft. Celtics General Manager Danny Ainge is counting on those three individuals, along with third year player Kendrick Perkins and veterans Paul Pierce and Wally Szczerbiak to start the Celtics back on the path to challenging for a NBA championship.

To Ainge's credit, all signs point to his having had a heckuva' draft in 2004 as yet another Celtic heads to the Rookie-Sophomore pre-game All Star event.