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          Flaws cast some doubt on C's repeat

          • John Carroll, Scouts, Basketball RecruitingFeb 18, 2009, 03:00 AM ET
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              John Carroll joined Scouts Inc. after nine years as an NBA coach, including a seven-year tenure with the Boston Celtics that concluded with a four-month stint as interim head coach in 2003-04. Before joining the NBA, Carroll spent six years as head coach at Duquesne University and seven years at Seton Hall as an assistant to head coach P.J. Carlesimo.

          The defending champion Boston Celtics emerge from the All-Star break with a league-leading 44-11 record, and resume their Western swing on Thursday night in Utah. However, the Celtics are a differently constructed team than the one that won the NBA Championship last June.

          The Celtics have chosen to go with Tony Allen at small forward, Leon Powe and Glenn Davis as the backup forwards and without a true backup point guard. They are also without veterans James Posey, PJ Brown and Sam Cassell from last year's roster. That may all change by Thursday's trade deadline, but even so, the Celtics appear to be a more vulnerable team this postseason.