Are we really that bad?

[vinnie]

Celts are not as bad as 9-10, but they are nowhere near a top 5 team in the league. As previously stated, the rebounding has been terrible, the offense is painful, and they really don't have a dependable center. I would say this is a top 10-12 team. Right now Vegas has the Celts anywhere from 8-1 to 20-1 to win the title, depending on where you look. I would lean much closer to the 20-1.

[vl819]

You are what your record says you are

[ACF]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31lFUZRjv_w

.

[ianboyextreme]

Is it reasonable to suggest that had Pierce and Pietrus been 100% to start the year and had Ray, Rondo and Jermaine not been injured as we have started to round into game shape the last 2-3 weeks, that we might have 4-5 "less" losses so far and have a mark of 13-6 or 14-5 - tied for the best record in the East and one loss back of the best record in the West? Would we all be singing a different song?

In vacuum, maybe. But most of the other teams you listed had also have rotation players miss games. So yeah, we're pretty much close to that bad, barring some expected random variation in record.

So were the wins over Orlando and Indiana a random variation in record? Glad the dice rolled our way...since it was random and all.

[Celtics4ever]

If you have to ask we are that bad.

[Interceptor]

So I like our chances against Miami. Chicago is a tougher match up for us I think, but if we can get one more big man I'd feel better about that match up as well. We can beat any other team in the East in a seven game series.

Yeah, that's kind of what I was getting at. People make a big deal about interior defense and a legit C, but the Heat have 6'9" Joel Anthony and uhh... Eddy Curry? Tell me that JO, Bass, and Wilcox can't handle it. The most dangerous guys on that team play the 2, 3 and 4. Maybe our Big Three aren't better as a unit as the Heatles, but Rondo will smoke Mario Chalmers, and LBJ/Wade aren't strong outside shooters.

The point about the Heat isn't that we're favored against them (because we aren't), it's that we CAN beat them. They have weaknesses to expose.

Bulls are a different story, but let's see them make it to the playoffs with their roster intact first.

[ScoobyDoo]

Yeah, I have to say I agree with you on this Inteceptor. Pietrus gives us another tough, wing defender besides Pierce and this really helps our defensive rotations on Wade and James this year.

Get us 100% healthy and more time to gel as the season goes on and I just like the combination of players on this team.

I'd love to see us bring in one more big man, even if that meant Pryzbilla or even Rasheed. Just 10-15 minutes a night is all we'd need.

I think this team is considerably better than our current record indicates.

[CelticsFanNC]

  They're that bad if they don't start beating the teams they're supposed to beat and picking off a few of the others. 

[vinnie]

Is it reasonable to suggest that had Pierce and Pietrus been 100% to start the year and had Ray, Rondo and Jermaine not been injured as we have started to round into game shape the last 2-3 weeks, that we might have 4-5 "less" losses so far and have a mark of 13-6 or 14-5 - tied for the best record in the East and one loss back of the best record in the West? Would we all be singing a different song?

In vacuum, maybe. But most of the other teams you listed had also have rotation players miss games. So yeah, we're pretty much close to that bad, barring some expected random variation in record.

So were the wins over Orlando and Indiana a random variation in record? Glad the dice rolled our way...since it was random and all.

Have you looked at Orlando's record the last six games? Other than Howard, that team stinks.