Celtics are a "good" team but are they a mirage?

[Ogaju]

This team signed Kemba to a max contract.

Do we really believe that Ainge told Kemba to come to Boston to help with the rebuilding?

There was a max offer from the Knicks and Kemba turned it down.

I'm sure Ainge told Kemba come here because Kyrie's gone and the Celts will be right back in the hunt.

It's time to stop making excuses.

The problem is simple, the Celts are not a balanced team.

Too much wing power and outside shots and no inside presence.

The trade deadline is less than 3 weeks away, Ainge can correct this problem.

What's the use of assets if you're not going to cash in.

Danny doesn't believe in having players like AD , Embiid or Townes .  Its more importantbto have 6 wings and 10 guards who can't shoot ....and if thats not  enough draft another fifty .

Danny was so crushed by AD's rejection he has not recovered. So to say he does not covet players like AD, I know you must be joking, right?

[PhoSita]

I have to say, I am "FIERCELY" awaiting the day when the Celts take a turn for the better and we don't have to entertain these hyperbolic arguments anymore.

[GetLucky]

This is a tough stretch, but I swear some of y’all would’ve broken up the 2011 OKC Thunder.

Breaking up a team that made the Finals is stupid.

But this current Celtics team is clearly flawed.

That's why there's a need to make a change.

And that's why I'm talking about the 2010-11 OKC thunder, who got beaten 4-1 in the Western Conference Finals by the corpse of Dirk Nowitzki, led by 22-year-old Kevin "too thin and too soft" Durant, 22-year-old Russell "Can't Shoot and too selfish" Westbook, and 21-year-old. James "12.2 points per game" Harden. That team was too small (assuaged by the Krstic and Jeff Green for Perkins trade, making their two bigs off the bench Nick Collison and Nazr Muhammed), got beaten by a past-their-prime Mavericks team, and arguably were a "fluke" WCF team after beating the the 8-seed Grizzlies 4-3 in the western conference semifinals.

Led by 2 22-year-old (the same age as Tatum in April!) players who clearly did not and never would have what it takes to get it done in the playoffs, the Thunder foolishly refused to break up their core, besides later trading James Harden for a proven 20 pig scorer in Kevin Martin and picks. That must be why they never won the title.

[droopdog7]

In the sense that they do not have a top 10, MVP caliber player on the team, yes. 

I think it's fair to say that historically, teams that lack a MVP type talent, irrespective of their point margin and their regular season win totals, don't hold up as well against elite opponents in the playoffs.

The 2004 Pistons won a championship without an MVP type talent.

Billups was the best player on that team.

But that Billups led team went to the Finals twice.

That Pistons team had the right mix of players.
They had inside presence with the two Wallaces.
Billups, Rip Hamilton, and Tayshaun Prince took care of the scoring.

The Celts should model that team instead of the GSW model of Steph and Klay.

A Celtic team with a starting 5 of Kemba, Brown, Tatum, Gallinari, and Steven Adams will be similar to the talent level of that of the 2004 Pistons team.

Smart and Theis come off the bench.

EVERYBODY uses the piston team of an example of a team winning without a superstar.  You know why?  Because it’s pretty much the only one.  It is far and away the exception to the rule.

[Somebody]

In the sense that they do not have a top 10, MVP caliber player on the team, yes. 

I think it's fair to say that historically, teams that lack a MVP type talent, irrespective of their point margin and their regular season win totals, don't hold up as well against elite opponents in the playoffs.

The 2004 Pistons won a championship without an MVP type talent.

Billups was the best player on that team.

But that Billups led team went to the Finals twice.

That Pistons team had the right mix of players.
They had inside presence with the two Wallaces.
Billups, Rip Hamilton, and Tayshaun Prince took care of the scoring.

The Celts should model that team instead of the GSW model of Steph and Klay.

A Celtic team with a starting 5 of Kemba, Brown, Tatum, Gallinari, and Steven Adams will be similar to the talent level of that of the 2004 Pistons team.

Smart and Theis come off the bench.

EVERYBODY uses the piston team of an example of a team winning without a superstar.  You know why?  Because it’s pretty much the only one.  It is far and away the exception to the rule.

To be fair the '14 Spurs are also another example, but yeah these teams are the exception rather than the rule.

Btw that Pistons team was stacked, they had 3 All-NBA players in Rasheed, Ben and Billups (I actually think the Wallace brothers were better than Chauncey throughout the whole season, Billups got really hot in the playoffs). Our best player in Kemba might not even be an All-NBA player this season!

[GreenFaith1819]

I still believe that this team has an outside shot at contending.

We're going through a tough stretch of injuries....probably doing some load management.......

This team DOES NEED - everyone....EVERYONE - to be healthy to compete, though.

We've already seen this...they played SEVERAL teams CLOSE out west....already beaten MIL once....played them close just the other day and would've beaten them if Hayward could've nailed a few more shots.....

The J's have to continue to play UP to their potential, though....NOTHING is easy. No opponent will back down from us....we're BOSTON. Because of that MOST teams will give us their BEST.

Once they fully realize that they have to continue to grow, get better and STAY HUNGRY - then we'll get back on track.

We have already seen flashes from these two - those flashes need to become as steady and dependable as Lighthouses.



If they need guidance - they need to look NO FURTHER than OTHER Celtic Greats....Paul Pierce...Larry....

[greenhead85]

I think the team needs a 2nd unit that has someone who keeps on attacking the basket. Wannamaker, Edwards and Smart are a bit slow in transition offense. A bench player like Derrick Rose who comes after Kemba takes a breather. He could ably run and keep  the offense going. He may have lost some of his athleticism and explosiveness from injuries but would be more than just fine in handling the 2nd unit.

Just a thought.

[Celtics4ever]

I think we lack balance and have too many wings. Hayward, Brown and Tatum all can play the same positions.   Yet we lack in other areas.  We have not seen the full team much this year but even when we do the bench is weak.

[SHAQATTACK]

The scant few times that Hayward and TimeLord were truly feeling 100 percent ,  the team looked like a top four NBA .   With Kanter , Theis and Timelord all healthy with good rotations th CBS system seemed to work.

Its ok to have three sub elite centers each a specialist against various opponents . Provided they all stay healthy . 

But when one is out or Hayward is feeling poor ....the whole thing goes to a pile of turds .  Poor defense , poor ball movement , or whatever .....the stack of cards collapses into a  very average team at best .

[Tr1boy]

Doesn't look like it

At this rate, Celts have a nice shot to go all the way

Tatum and Brown both look possessed now

After KB death, they look fired up like I have never seen them before

CBS finally loosened up with stubborn ways (stick to shooting 3s) and finding ways to beat zone/semi zone D by hitting the middle man just above the FT line.  Scoring the open 2 if its there. 

Players all of a sudden driving in a lot more and letting guys like Grant Williams hang around the rim to grab offensive rebounds

The aggression fits and works

[Sophomore]

I have to say, I am "FIERCELY" awaiting the day when the Celts take a turn for the better and we don't have to entertain these hyperbolic arguments anymore.

I see what you did there.

[mr. dee]

In the sense that they do not have a top 10, MVP caliber player on the team, yes. 

I think it's fair to say that historically, teams that lack a MVP type talent, irrespective of their point margin and their regular season win totals, don't hold up as well against elite opponents in the playoffs.

The 2004 Pistons won a championship without an MVP type talent.

Billups was the best player on that team.

But that Billups led team went to the Finals twice.

That Pistons team had the right mix of players.
They had inside presence with the two Wallaces.
Billups, Rip Hamilton, and Tayshaun Prince took care of the scoring.

The Celts should model that team instead of the GSW model of Steph and Klay.

A Celtic team with a starting 5 of Kemba, Brown, Tatum, Gallinari, and Steven Adams will be similar to the talent level of that of the 2004 Pistons team.

Smart and Theis come off the bench.

EVERYBODY uses the piston team of an example of a team winning without a superstar.  You know why?  Because it’s pretty much the only one.  It is far and away the exception to the rule.

Let's use other legit contenders then.

1975 Warriors - No MVP either but you can argue that Rick Barry is an MVP caliber player

1979 Sonics - No MVP either. Their best player? Our own Dennis Johnson

89-90 Pistons - No players who have won MVP. Their best player, Isiah Thomas have never won one and  they went to repeat.

1996 Sonics - Came close against 72-10 Bulls, winning at least 2 games in the finals

1994 Knicks - 1 game away from winning against the Rockets in the finals, if it wasn't for Sam Cassell dagger and John Starks pulling a major choke job.

2000 Pacers - Probably the best finals opponent the 3-peat Lakers have faced. Winning at least 2 games against them.

2002 Kings - No cigar but they were arguably the champs that year if it wasn't for scumbags like Donaghy.

2019 Raptors - You could argue that he is an MVP caliber player. But with constant load management, he makes it difficult to win MVP trophy in the future.

[ederson]

that is just 8 cases in 45 years Which still makes in an exception in my book

[td450]

This is about being able to beat the Bucks, Lakers and/or the Clippers. If you can do that, you can probably get by all the other teams. And the Tatum Brown combination would have to suffice as an alternate to having a true superstar. And because they are both such good defenders and have consistently played well against the best players, it just might work.

Its pretty likely they will both be better players by the time the playoffs start. We have a chance if that happens.

[Walker Wiggle]

The 2019-20 Celtics are absolutely not a "mirage" and absolutely should be considered a potential contender.

Consider what this team has:
- Two all-stars, including an all-star starter.
- When healthy, four all-star level players.
- A starting center (the one starter not considered all-star level) who has been playing the best basketball of his career, especially at the defensive end.
- One of the best defensive players in the league coming off the bench.
- One of the best coaches in the league.

I'm not saying the Celtics *should* go to the Finals -- of course not -- but they absolutely should be considered one of the best teams in the league simply on the basis of the talent on their roster and their head coach.