The Celtics' status for opposing teams next year

[Drucci]

During the 2008-2009 regular season, every team in the NBA that played the Celtics came with extra motivation and desire to beat the champions. So as I was thinking about next season, I wondered how opposing teams will consider the Celtics next year, since they won't be the defending champions anymore.

Do you think that they'll still try their best to beat the Celtics because of their reputation and their 2008 title? Or will they play them like an elite team of the league (with motivation but not so much, especially when things go wrong for them)? I mean, last year, basically, every team, even the worst of the league, circled the game date with the Celtics. They were the "target number one".

Of course I'm not saying that teams will not try to beat Boston next season, it would be ridiculous, but I'm just wondering what will be the status of our team, and how much the opposing teams will want to beat us. For example, the Bulls will obviously circle their regular season meetings with Boston. Nobody has the answer, but I thought it would be interesting to discuss this topic.

Personnally I would be glad if the Celtics got a little bit "overlooked" like the Pistons team, it would be a relief since the Celtics wouldn't have to face extra and tough competition every night. Of course, it's good to face competition but when it's always at its highest stake, it's more a problem than a positive thing in my opinion.

[Ed Teach]

I think that it depends on how they start the season, if they have the best record in the NBA then they will be treat as the team to beat.

[PosImpos]

I think we will go into next year considered as one of the top 5 teams but the 4 teams that are in the WCF and ECF right now will be looked on as the "teams to beat" and especially the teams that go to the Finals and the team that ends up with the championship.

I also don't think the C's will have the best record in the NBA, at least not for the majority of the season.  We will probably have a decent start and stay in the top 5 for most of the season and be seen as #3-5 in power rankings and such.  We'll have to try to come on strong late and take #2 seed or ideally a #1 seed and then emerge as a strong contender later.

I'm not saying the Celtics won't be a contender for the title from the very start (though we won't be if we don't have a good offseason), just that from the perspective of the media and the public and even other teams we won't be seen as much a contender as the teams that went farther this year.

And you know what?  I think that's awesome.

[dlpin]

I really think that the celtics should take a page from the Spurs playbook and just coast through the first couple of months of the season. This boston team has at least shown that they can win on the road, so HCA should be secondary to keeping the big three fresh, hopefully all playing under 35 min a game.

[jackson_34]

It really all depends on our Injury status... In the eyes of the media, we wont have a chance, though I think teams will definently continue to step up when they play us.

[Thruthelookingglass]

KG's trash talk alone will ensure that other teams are extra motivated to beat the Celtics.

[ManUp]

KG's trash talk alone will ensure that other teams are extra motivated to beat the Celtics.

That's a given.

I think that had more to do with teams not laying down more so than the championship.