I know what everyone is thinking!!!

[cc1995]

I have to say that I love how the team is playing in these preseason games...fantastic ball movement (Never staying in anyone's hands for more than a few seconds...no pounding the ball into the ground type offense).  I felt like I was watching Hoosiers out there with the unselfishness.  This will unfortunately all change once Rondo gets back into the lineup.  I love Rondo and think he's incredibly talented and the best player on the team, but he won't move the ball like Smart and Pressey are once he gets back.  Contract year and he's used to playing in the grind it in halfcourt offense he played in with the big 3.  The reason  it looks so good right now is that we have a bunch of young kids willing to sacrifice their stats for the good of the team and when you have a bunch of guys willing to do that it can be some beautiful basketball....like the Spurs.  I'm not saying we are anywhere near as talented as the Spurs only that they draft many European players and they are all unselfish players for the most part that know how to play fundamental basketball.  I just fear that once Rondo gets back he's going to slow the offense down from dominating the ball.  I hope I'm wrong because I love all the ball movement going on right now...it's creating tons of open shots for everyone.

As far as Sully and KO.  I like both their games.  Sully is a load down low.  Kelly is a pretty skilled big man that can help a team in many ways (IQ, Shooting, Passing)....the only downside of Kelly is his defense is terrible....he tries but he just doesn't have the lateral quickness to stay with anyone and he;s got T-Rex length arms so he isn't much of a protector in the paint.  For everything he gives you on the offensive end he gives up just as much defensively.  He's a great piece on a team, but teams will go at him and isolate him at the end of games.  We need a legit center and we would be in great shape...but the problem is...so does just about everybody else in the NBA.  We need to get better defensively down low to really make any hay this year.  Love the perimeter D but we need a rim protector bad.  Also, I think we need to find a way to keep Powell....he is very active and athletic and quick for a 6-11 guy.  Looks like he would fit in nicely with the team filling a minor bench role and maybe he might turn into something down the road.

[LarBrd33]

Our team is going to get owned nightly once the regular season starts.   Pretty terrible collection of talent.  30 wins would be overachieving.

[Rondo9]

Our team is going to get owned nightly once the regular season starts.   Pretty terrible collection of talent.  30 wins would be overachieving.

How are the Celtics talent "terrible"?

[gpap]

Actually, what I was thinking was I like sunny days, Chinese food and watching "Goodfellas."

[Eddie20]

Our team is going to get owned nightly once the regular season starts.   Pretty terrible collection of talent.  30 wins would be overachieving.

How are the Celtics talent "terrible"?

Four books, Bovada.lv, Sportsbook.com, the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook, and TheGreek.com all have the C's at 26.5 wins for the year.

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/24743449/odds-future-scouting-the-nba-season-overunder-win-totals

[greece66]

Four books, Bovada.lv, Sportsbook.com, the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook, and TheGreek.com all have the C's at 26.5 wins for the year.

They also have the Cavs as the favourite to win the championship.
I think sthg between 27-35 wins for this team is a realistic expectation - unless we make a consistent effort in the last third of the season to finish among the six worst teams that have a good chance of getting the nr 1 draft pick.
The same players in a different organization might have been terrible (think Philly) but what makes the different is that the C's are better at developing talent and  have a pretty good coach.

[Eddie20]

Four books, Bovada.lv, Sportsbook.com, the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook, and TheGreek.com all have the C's at 26.5 wins for the year.

They also have the Cavs as the favourite to win the championship.

Not sure if you're giving those sites validity or thinking they're wrong by that sentence. I think their top 5 is pretty accurate and wouldn't be surprised whatsoever if the Cavs win it all.

1. Cleveland
2. SA
3. OKC
4. Chi
5. LAC

[D.o.s.]

It's important to remember that sports books aren't setting lines based solely on what the team is capable of, but also to entice people to bet.

That said, I'm sticking with 31 wins. I guessed 26 last year, so five or six over that would be a nice improvement.

[greece66]

1. Cleveland
2. SA
3. OKC
4. Chi
5. LAC

I know I am unfashionable, but my order is
1. SAS
2. LAC
3. Cavs
Beyond that there is simply chaos- far too difficult to make meaningful predictions unless you are a professional statistician paid full-time to follow NBA games and news. Still, I ll add  this- unless OKC changes coach and/or makes huge changes in the way it attacks, they have no chance of winning the championship - if forced I would rather bet my money on the Mavs rather than OKC.
I ve heard many times the Cavs argument, ie the SAS might have the stronger team but the Cavs play in the easier conference. Yet, the NBA playoffs are organized in such a way that usually the best team wins.
In any case, I can go on talking about Cavs and their weaknesses for a long time, but I guess we ll just have to wait nine months to find out. 

[greece66]

It's important to remember that sports books aren't setting lines based solely on what the team is capable of, but also to entice people to bet.

That's another good point. Half of it is prediction, and the other half is projection of where ppl are going to place their money.

[makaveli]

I have to say that I love how the team is playing in these preseason games...fantastic ball movement (Never staying in anyone's hands for more than a few seconds...no pounding the ball into the ground type offense).  I felt like I was watching Hoosiers out there with the unselfishness.  This will unfortunately all change once Rondo gets back into the lineup.  I love Rondo and think he's incredibly talented and the best player on the team, but he won't move the ball like Smart and Pressey are once he gets back.  Contract year and he's used to playing in the grind it in halfcourt offense he played in with the big 3.  The reason  it looks so good right now is that we have a bunch of young kids willing to sacrifice their stats for the good of the team and when you have a bunch of guys willing to do that it can be some beautiful basketball....like the Spurs.  I'm not saying we are anywhere near as talented as the Spurs only that they draft many European players and they are all unselfish players for the most part that know how to play fundamental basketball.  I just fear that once Rondo gets back he's going to slow the offense down from dominating the ball.  I hope I'm wrong because I love all the ball movement going on right now...it's creating tons of open shots for everyone.

As far as Sully and KO.  I like both their games.  Sully is a load down low.  Kelly is a pretty skilled big man that can help a team in many ways (IQ, Shooting, Passing)....the only downside of Kelly is his defense is terrible....he tries but he just doesn't have the lateral quickness to stay with anyone and he;s got T-Rex length arms so he isn't much of a protector in the paint.  For everything he gives you on the offensive end he gives up just as much defensively.  He's a great piece on a team, but teams will go at him and isolate him at the end of games.  We need a legit center and we would be in great shape...but the problem is...so does just about everybody else in the NBA.  We need to get better defensively down low to really make any hay this year.  Love the perimeter D but we need a rim protector bad.  Also, I think we need to find a way to keep Powell....he is very active and athletic and quick for a 6-11 guy.  Looks like he would fit in nicely with the team filling a minor bench role and maybe he might turn into something down the road.

omg, as if i wrote this myself tp

[GreenWarrior]

if this great play in pre-season meant we were going to win 45-50 games then i'd be enthused. but all this means is we're going to win 30-35 wins probably just miss the playoffs or be an 8 seed and get bounced in the 1st.

which does nothing for this team. people make too big a deal out of young guys getting playoff experience, which in some cases it is valuable. but in our case imo all we're doing is getting these young guys playoff experience for another team...or at least most of 'em.

[D Dub]

if this great play in pre-season meant we were going to win 45-50 games then i'd be enthused. but all this means is we're going to win 30-35 wins probably just miss the playoffs or be an 8 seed and get bounced in the 1st.

which does nothing for this team. people make too big a deal out of young guys getting playoff experience, which in some cases it is valuable. but in our case imo all we're doing is getting these young guys playoff experience for another team...or at least most of 'em.

Normally I'd be with you, but 2 things sway me.

1) we have SO many tradable assets.  the more we win, the more tradable they become, and we have luxury to make a many4few trade and get much better, quickly. 

2) didn't they change the draft lotto rules?  thought it became less advantageous to tank starting this year. 

[greece66]

They simply eliminated the great advantage that the worst three teams had. Now the six worst teams have roughly equally good chances. So, now you can actually get a pretty good % of getting a top draft pick without having to suck Philly style.

[GreenWarrior]

if this great play in pre-season meant we were going to win 45-50 games then i'd be enthused. but all this means is we're going to win 30-35 wins probably just miss the playoffs or be an 8 seed and get bounced in the 1st.

which does nothing for this team. people make too big a deal out of young guys getting playoff experience, which in some cases it is valuable. but in our case imo all we're doing is getting these young guys playoff experience for another team...or at least most of 'em.

Normally I'd be with you, but 2 things sway me.

1) we have SO many tradable assets.  the more we win, the more tradable they become, and we have luxury to make a many4few trade and get much better, quickly. 

2) didn't they change the draft lotto rules?  thought it became less advantageous to tank starting this year.

I forget.

as far as our assets go, while I personally think our draft picks are pretty valuable. I just don't think other teams are viewing it that way. add to the fact that there is no Pierce type player here for another player to want to be traded here.

I think about the only way we're getting the next cornerstone guy is going to be through the draft. so why not give yourself the best opportunity to get one. Pierce was drafted at the 10 spot and while in my heart I'm ok with how that turned out; and maybe there isn't a "Jordan" or a "Duncan" coming out in next yr's. draft but i'd still like to see us get the best pick we can...since we're down in the basement anyway.