Do people seriously believe this team can go to the finals?

[Ogaju]

YES

[gpap]

There's a far better chance they go out in Round 1.

Sadly.

I am already thinking about a column presumably written this summer entitled "Where Did It Go Wrong For the Boston Celtics In 2018-19?" with multiple factors as the answer.

This season is eerily reminiscent of the 2011 Red Sox season. All that's missing is a chicken and beer controversy.

[CelticSooner]

Are they talented enough? Yes
Do I expect them to? No

I truly wonder how much this team actually cares about this season anymore.

[Somebody]

Yes I do, just need coaching changes.

[PhoSita]

There's a far better chance they go out in Round 1.

Sadly.

I am already thinking about a column presumably written this summer entitled "Where Did It Go Wrong For the Boston Celtics In 2018-19?" with multiple factors as the answer.

This season is eerily reminiscent of the 2011 Red Sox season. All that's missing is a chicken and beer controversy.

For over a month now I've been looking forward, eagerly, to that exact article.

I hope it's written by somebody like Jackie Mac , Chad Finn, or Zach Lowe, and I hope it has tons of inside info about what went wrong behind the scenes this year. I hope it's excoriating and embarrassing to the franchise.

I hope everybody who was involved with this mess is forced to answer for their role in it.

[gpap]

There's a far better chance they go out in Round 1.

Sadly.

I am already thinking about a column presumably written this summer entitled "Where Did It Go Wrong For the Boston Celtics In 2018-19?" with multiple factors as the answer.

This season is eerily reminiscent of the 2011 Red Sox season. All that's missing is a chicken and beer controversy.

For over a month now I've been looking forward, eagerly, to that exact article.

I hope it's written by somebody like Jackie Mac , Chad Finn, or Zach Lowe, and I hope it has tons of inside info about what went wrong behind the scenes this year. I hope it's excoriating and embarrassing to the franchise.

I hope everybody who was involved with this mess is forced to answer for their role in it.

Yeah, I could see either Jackie Mac or Steve Bulpett as the author.

[PhoSita]

Bulpett is a good call.

[slamtheking]

the talent is there but I don't think the desire or effort is there.  I suspect they're out in the second round barring a miraculous change in their level of play

[seancally]

No, and right now it seems like they want to be done ASAP.

well part of the team seems disconnected at this point.  Seems like mainly players who expect to get traded or not resigned.  Unfortunately for them teams remember how you finish out a season.

Feels like that "part" is at least half the team.

Well my guess of players gone after this year:
Tatum, Rozier, Morris, Williams, Yabu

might not be 1/2 but getting there.  I am worried that it is going to be another 75% roster purge in part to get AD.  I am not sure it is worth it.

Man, alls I know is this team suuuuuure could use a guy like AD out there.

As for the OP - I think they can. But it remains to be seen if this group has a stretch of consistently high-level play in them. Other problem is our frontline is real thin after Horford and Baynes, and both have been in and out... and there are quality bigs in each round.

[ozgod]

I think they can. But they have to want to and be willing to sacrifice to do so. Losses like tonight's make you wonder if they really want to. Giving up a 30-5 run after being up 18 and in total control of the game with 8 min to go suggests that they didn't care enough to put the effort in defensively after Charlotte made their push. This has nothing to do with talent it's to do with effort, in fact I don't think talent means anything without effort and desire.

[Moranis]

Top end talent wins when it matters.  Boston doesn't have any true top end talent.

That said, Atlanta beat Philadelphia and Dallas beat Golden State.  Sometimes worse teams beat better ones.  It just happens.

[celticsclay]

Top end talent wins when it matters.  Boston doesn't have any true top end talent.

That said, Atlanta beat Philadelphia and Dallas beat Golden State.  Sometimes worse teams beat better ones.  It just happens.

I知 pretty sure kyrie is gonna make all second team. What is too end?

[PhoSita]

Top end talent wins when it matters.  Boston doesn't have any true top end talent.

That said, Atlanta beat Philadelphia and Dallas beat Golden State.  Sometimes worse teams beat better ones.  It just happens.

I知 pretty sure kyrie is gonna make all second team. What is too end?

Everybody knows that only teams with guys who will make the all NBA 1st team are able to consistently hold 10 point leads and win playoff series against quality opponents.

[Kuberski33]

Top end talent wins when it matters.  Boston doesn't have any true top end talent.

That said, Atlanta beat Philadelphia and Dallas beat Golden State.  Sometimes worse teams beat better ones.  It just happens.

I'm not sure it's that. If the other guys are doing their job, even with Hayward sub- par, Kyrie should be the difference in a lot of these games. Their biggest problem is they have a couple of players dragging the rest down (Morris & Rozier) and one other (Tatum) who hasn't been nearly as good as everyone thought he was going to be. 

[nickagneta]

I think they can. But they have to want to and be willing to sacrifice to do so. Losses like tonight's make you wonder if they really want to. Giving up a 30-5 run after being up 18 and in total control of the game with 8 min to go suggests that they didn't care enough to put the effort in defensively after Charlotte made their push. This has nothing to do with talent it's to do with effort, in fact I don't think talent means anything without effort and desire.

This is it to me too. If this team wants it, they can beat anyone. When they decide to bring it, and I say when, not if, because I think they will come together in the playoffs, I think they will become the team no one wants to face. I do truly expect a 4 or 5 win first round that will have show a lot of dominant Celtic basketball where suddenly a lot of people are going to not want to play them.

And if it doesn't happen there is always the hopes of adding AD, getting to keep one of the Jays, keeping one first rounder and hitting on it and looking forward to title #18.

Oh, and I might cheer on the Bruins to the Stanley Cup.