Since the Laker's 139-107 blow out, Celtics have been elite, but how elite?...

[Monkhouse]

Sean Grande
✔
@SeanGrandePBP
Since their 139-107 blowout of the Lakers last month, the Celtics have been elite...

BOSTON CELTICS - NBA RANK
    (Since January 20)

W-L   (12-2)     2nd
SCORING DIF.  2nd
OFFENSE          3rd
DEFENSE          2nd
NET RATING     2nd
SHOOTING       3rd
3-POINT %       3rd

We're one of the four teams who are not only top 5 in offense, and defense.

Team   OFF RTG   DEF RTG
MIL   3rd   1st
LAL   4th   3rd
BOS   5th   4th
LAC   6th   6th

We're 3rd in NET rating behind Milwaukee (1st) and LA (2nd)

We're 6th in bench NET rating, despite it being seen as a clear weakness for our team

Of the top 4 seeds in the league (MIL, LAL, TOR, BOS) we have a winning record against the other top 3

Team   Record
MIL   3-1 (0.750)
BOS   4-2 (0.667)
TOR   2-3 (0.400)
LAL   0-3 (0.000)

Let's say we take away the January cut-off, in which we had one of the most brutal schedules EVER... It's almost downright ridiculous, and whoever created the schedule should be given some coal for Christmas in 2020... 

The crazy thing is we manage to go 4-6 in that disastrous schedule, where Kemba got ejected in the game, we missed him for like 4 games, and we played a total of 10 games in 2 weeks... Freakin' unbelievable.

Our team this year is going to be something special.

[RockinRyA]

Sean Grande
✔
@SeanGrandePBP
Since their 139-107 blowout of the Lakers last month, the Celtics have been elite...

BOSTON CELTICS - NBA RANK
    (Since January 20)

W-L   (12-2)     2nd
SCORING DIF.  2nd
OFFENSE          3rd
DEFENSE          2nd
NET RATING     2nd
SHOOTING       3rd
3-POINT %       3rd

We're one of the four teams who are not only top 5 in offense, and defense.

Team   OFF RTG   DEF RTG
MIL   3rd   1st
LAL   4th   3rd
BOS   5th   4th
LAC   6th   6th

We're 3rd in NET rating behind Milwaukee (1st) and LA (2nd)

We're 6th in bench NET rating, despite it being seen as a clear weakness for our team

Of the top 4 seeds in the league (MIL, LAL, TOR, BOS) we have a winning record against the other top 3

Team   Record
MIL   3-1 (0.750)
BOS   4-2 (0.667)
TOR   2-3 (0.400)
LAL   0-3 (0.000)

Let's say we take away the January cut-off, in which we had one of the most brutal schedules EVER... It's almost downright ridiculous, and whoever created the schedule should be given some coal for Christmas in 2020... 

The crazy thing is we manage to go 4-6 in that disastrous schedule, where Kemba got ejected in the game, we missed him for like 4 games, and we played a total of 10 games in 2 weeks... Freakin' unbelievable.

Our team this year is going to be something special.

That was a horrible stretch. 10 games in 15 days? Come on NBA.

[Who]

They look like a title contender / title winning side of late.

They've looked better than everyone not named the LA Clippers. And probably just as good as the Clippers.

[footey]

They look like a title contender / title winning side of late.

They've looked better than everyone not named the LA Clippers. And probably just as good as the Clippers.

The LA Clippers have looked pretty average the past month. 

I really believe that the Lakers, Bucks and Raptors are our toughest competition. 

The Bucks for obvious reasons.

The Raptors because they don't fear us, and if they get HCA against us, it will be tough for us to beat them.

The Lakers because I feel that the Kobe Bryant thing has really incentivized Lebron to win the crown, and my paranoia fears that the NBA will capitulate in making sure they get the breaks.

[Phantom255x]

Yeah that Lakers game really sparked something. 11-2 since that loss to the Suns.

[SparzWizard]

Like Phil Jackson said, if you meet the 40-20 threshold that team is considered a title contender.

Regardless, today is a must-win game for Boston. They need to walk into Staples Center and play like they have a chip on their shoulder. Treat it like a Game 7. Enough about looking inferior to LeBron James. This team needs to sweep them.

[nickagneta]

Like Phil Jackson said, if you meet the 40-20 threshold that team is considered a title contender.

Regardless, today is a must-win game for Boston. They need to walk into Staples Center and play like they have a chip on their shoulder. Treat it like a Game 7. Enough about looking inferior to LeBron James. This team needs to sweep them.

Yeah, kinda whatever metric you use to measure contenders(40/20 rule, Simple Rating System, Margin of Victory, Net Rating, etc.), Boston falls into a title contender status this season.

[GreenFaith1819]

We've been elite enough to where I'm hearing more and more analysts giving us a puncher's chance - with our roster as is.

Earlier in the season the biggest concern was our Bigs...but I guess they're playing well enough to give us a shot in June.

Biggest roadblock I think is our health....need ALL hands on deck to pull it off - especially our big FIVE.



I can dig it.

[#1P4P]

This team is a contender. The determining factor will be their ability to respond to the offensive droughts this team suffers through. If the team can respond by going up another level defensively or consistently getting to the line or consistently hitting big shots, this team can actually win it.

During the exhaustion that is May/June Playoff basketball, defenses collapse on post-ups, shut down driving lanes, and stick to shooters. The teams that have elite mid-range and/or FTA specialist as one of their best players will have an advantage over their opposition (considering the teams are relatively equal) because these are the shots that defenses do not impact with the same effectiveness.

The Bucks, Raptors, and the Sixers lack of mid-range games will make those teams vulnerable in the 4thQ (though they have elite FTA specialist). The Celtics have 4 players that have solid mid-range games, if one of them can level-up to elite, it lifts the ceiling to Championship contender. Without that, and teams being evenly matched, styles will make fights.

[GreenFaith1819]

This team of ours is STILL Elite, even after our loss today..

We are quite different than we were a year ago...losing badly in games like this...barely beating ANY contending teams...

This year? We are RIGHT THERE with all the contenders....gaining splits against DEN, LAL, LAC...PHI could not sweep us...getting one vs MIL and playing them closely as well....playing well vs MIA....

We DO need to be completely healthy...we missed Kemba badly, today...

If LAL loses LeBron or AD they are toast.

[Fierce1]

Sean Grande
✔
@SeanGrandePBP
Since their 139-107 blowout of the Lakers last month, the Celtics have been elite...

BOSTON CELTICS - NBA RANK
    (Since January 20)

W-L   (12-2)     2nd
SCORING DIF.  2nd
OFFENSE          3rd
DEFENSE          2nd
NET RATING     2nd
SHOOTING       3rd
3-POINT %       3rd

We're one of the four teams who are not only top 5 in offense, and defense.

Team   OFF RTG   DEF RTG
MIL   3rd   1st
LAL   4th   3rd
BOS   5th   4th
LAC   6th   6th

We're 3rd in NET rating behind Milwaukee (1st) and LA (2nd)

We're 6th in bench NET rating, despite it being seen as a clear weakness for our team

Of the top 4 seeds in the league (MIL, LAL, TOR, BOS) we have a winning record against the other top 3

Team   Record
MIL   3-1 (0.750)
BOS   4-2 (0.667)
TOR   2-3 (0.400)
LAL   0-3 (0.000)

Let's say we take away the January cut-off, in which we had one of the most brutal schedules EVER... It's almost downright ridiculous, and whoever created the schedule should be given some coal for Christmas in 2020... 

The crazy thing is we manage to go 4-6 in that disastrous schedule, where Kemba got ejected in the game, we missed him for like 4 games, and we played a total of 10 games in 2 weeks... Freakin' unbelievable.

Our team this year is going to be something special.

I agree.

It would've been nice if Ainge made a move at the trade deadline.
But I think the Celts have a shot at making the Finals this season.

[SparzWizard]

Ainge needs to make a move on getting a scoring guard to come off the bench.

Flip Hayward, give up some picks...

[RockinRyA]

Ainge needs to make a move on getting a scoring guard to come off the bench.

Flip Hayward, give up some picks...

 

Trading a very good starting wing for a scoring guard off the bench. Plus picks as well? Good thing Ainge is not an idiot.

[BASS_THUMPER]

over the




in the EAST!!


*sippin*


natty daddy 24oz

[Fierce1]

If Celts can beat the Bucks then the Celts will win a championship.

The Celts can beat any team in the west.

It's the Bucks that will be the problem.