Celtics managing partner Wyc Grousbeck believes that the team is "hands down" the favorites in the Eastern Conference next season.

"I think we should be the favorites in the conference, hands down," Grousbeck told CBS Sports on Tuesday. "And we're going to start proving that Oct. 27."

Boston will open up the 2009-10 season against Cleveland, with a healthy Kevin Garnett and the newly-acquired Rasheed Wallace.

"I personally recruited him with five others guys," Grousbeck said of Wallace. "My guys lobbied us for the signing because the players who’ve played the game for 10 years at a high level, they know who can help them and what they can do. They know the score. Rasheed was everybody’s first choice: ownership, general manager, and players. We all wanted to have him as a first choice, and we got him."

Via CBS Sports

Boston Celtics

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