Great article of how the Celts really turned things around against all odds

[More Banners]

I was wrong about the Celtics and wrote them off as Lottery experts at the beginning of the season. They sure looked like it.

I still don't consider this team a contender , but they are playing well enough to be flirting with the consideration as one.  

Given the untimely exit of Jeff Green , JO , Wilcox and Rays ankle ,and Pietrus and how old our team is.... the season is nothing short of amazing.

Docs been good, AB and Steamer stepping up, and last but not least..

I would like to take this chance to personally thank the Orlando Magic for sending us Bass for Big Baby....  

  

One never wants to wish for or celebrate anyone's injury, so I don't.  But the case could be made that it was only the timely injuries to JO and CW that paved the way for Bass to start, KG to shift to center and Stiemer to emerge; and likewise for RA and MP for Bradley to settle in as the starting 2 and Ray off the bench.

That's five of Doc's seven players put into their current position only because multiple injuries really forced his hand.

Before giving Doc the COY, everyone should read this.

But I think everyone will be in the right spot in the rotation going into the playoffs, and that does count for something, too.

I think Ray's gone this offseason, though, because he prefers starting.

And I think KG won't stick around to play C since he prefers PF.

And thing only thing that might change either of their minds is winning.

[LarBrd33]

I absolutely wrote them off.  This isn't the team I gave up on earlier this year.  Kevin Garnett right now is blowing my mind.  I haven't seen him move this well since 2008.  I said from day 1 that we'd be toast "unless a starting center falls out of the sky".  I didn't expect that center to be Kevin Garnett. 

Bradley is a surprise as well.  I didn't expect him to contribute.  That gives us a legitimate bench presence (either he or Ray).  He reminds me of a mini Tony Allen without the mental problems.

And role players like Stiesma are understanding their place and getting it done.  It's very encouraging.

That said, I still don't see us as contenders.  We have some fatal flaws.  We're going to be a major pest for anyone we face, though... and I'm looking forward to seeing this tough team grind it out.  It's got the potential to be a lot like 09... where we knew we were undermanned and ultimately didn't actually have a shot, but we still got to see the team go down swinging.  And boy did they.

One side note.  Said this in another thread.  I don't see Philly and Indiana as "contenders".  Do you ?  Are we just calling any team that makes the playoff a "contender" this year/  Here's what I said in another thread.

Depends who you think the contenders are, I think.  I had Miami, Chicago, OKC, Dallas and the Lakers as my contenders at the start of the season.  Some people might count San Antonio. 

Tue, Dec 27 @ Miami L 115-107 (no Pierce)
Wed, Jan 11 vs Dallas L 90-85
Fri, Jan 13 vs Chicago L 88-79
Mon, Jan 16 vs Oklahoma City L 97-88
Thu, Feb 9 vs Los Angeles L 88-87 OT
Sun, Feb 12 vs Chicago W 95-91 (Rose didn't play)
Thu, Feb 16 @ Chicago L 89-80
Mon, Feb 20 @ Dallas L 89-73 (no KG or Rondo)
Wed, Feb 22 @ Oklahoma City L 119-104 (no Rondo)
Sun, Mar 11 @ Los Angeles L 97-94
Sun, Apr 1 vs Miami W 91-72 (first legitimate win)
Wed, Apr 4 vs San Antonio L 87-86
Thu, Apr 5 @ Chicago L 93-86

So I mean... I personally don't count the first win against Chicago, because Rose didn't play.  I do acknowledge that our only chance of beating the Bulls is Rose going down with an injury in the playoffs.  So maybe you count it??  I don't know.  That leaves us as 1 for 12 against contenders with our lone legitimate win coming last week against the Heat.  Hats off on that one... impressive. 

However... there were 3 losses there where one of the Big 3 didn't play.  So to be fair (since I didn't count the first Bulls win)... that leaves us as 1 for 9 against contenders.  I missing something here or do we really think we are good enough to beat a team like the Lakers with two legit 7 foot big men?

Good points here. But you shouldn't overlook that both LA games went down to the wire and we just ended up losing in the final couple of possessions. I know that a loss counts as a loss, but it's not like that games had LA written on them. Just like the recent loss to Spurs, I say.

As for the contenders, yes, Pacers or Sixers are not contenders. But if Pacers is left out, Dallas is definitely out. That team isn't playing good basketball. Kidd and Odom are easily having the worst seasons of their careers, and they ley JJ Barea go, which, in my book, will turn out to be a mistake if things go on like this.
That leaves Miami, Chicago, Oklahoma and San Antonio as the real contenders for me, not coincidentally that these are the four teams with the best record in NBA.

Anyway, playoff basketball will be different. I can't see a team thrashing all others on the way to the trophy. This will be one of the closest playoff battles of recent times, so, looking forward to it! 

I'm cool with leaving Dallas out.  Bad record for sure.  I just figured you can't leave out the defending champion.  There team is different this year, though.  And those teams were who I picked before the season started.  San Antonio wasn't on my list, but it's hard to leave them out. 

[D Dub]

Heading to the casino this week to make a 'Celtics to Win NBA title' bet.  Figure i'll get pretty good odds right now.

I really think it could happen.  

This new wrinkle with Avery at 2 has rejuvinated us.  That added defensive pressure in the backcourt, along w/ a six man of the same caliber as Manu/Harden/Jason Terry is huge.  

We've got the best top 7 rotation in the league
(yes, I'm talking about the Steamer, most underated C in the L right now)

Chicago is looking spent, and Miami can't beat us 4 out of 7 with a healthy Rondo.  

As long as he can avoid another miami-cheat-MMA takedown, they simply don't have enough to beat us.  
Yup, I said it.  

UBUNTU is alive and well in 2012!

[Eddie20]

One thing she mentioned in the article that I am puzzled about, is her claim that if the Celtics secure the 4th seed, they will have home court advantage in the first round.  Bob Ryan also asserted this claim in his piece in the Globe today, yet someone here had previously posted a link to NBA.com where it stated that the team with the better record would have home court even if a lower seed.  Hard to figure that Jackie and Bob both got this wrong, but as of right now, the C's only have the 6th best record in the East so both the 5th and 6th seed, the Hawks and Magic, have a better record.  That would mean although the C's finished as Atlantic division winners, if the 5th seed has a better record, they would have the home court.

Can anyone clear this up definitively?

Yeah, I believe that the team with the better record gets the home court. I think this was changed a few years back when a couple of West Coast teams were tanking.

[D Dub]

One thing she mentioned in the article that I am puzzled about, is her claim that if the Celtics secure the 4th seed, they will have home court advantage in the first round.  Bob Ryan also asserted this claim in his piece in the Globe today, yet someone here had previously posted a link to NBA.com where it stated that the team with the better record would have home court even if a lower seed.  Hard to figure that Jackie and Bob both got this wrong, but as of right now, the C's only have the 6th best record in the East so both the 5th and 6th seed, the Hawks and Magic, have a better record.  That would mean although the C's finished as Atlantic division winners, if the 5th seed has a better record, they would have the home court.

Can anyone clear this up definitively?

Yeah, I believe that the team with the better record gets the home court. I think this was changed a few years back when a couple of West Coast teams were tanking.

That's correct.  We'd get the 4th seed, but wouldn't have HCA in any series where our opponent has the better record.

[esel1000]

http://www.nba.com/powerrankings/?cid=nba_12_facebook_L

finally our celts getting some recognition here

[2short]

Well I for one didn't give up on the team and think we still have one more thing; Michael Pietrus coming back.  Loosing Wilcox (the healthy one) hurt but if mp can come back and play the way he was prior to concussion wow.
pg-rondo, bradley, dooling
sg-bradley, ray, mp
sf-pierce, mp, sasha
pf-bass, kg
c-kg, gs, hollins (5 minutes if needed)

Pf is the only spot I see that we could be forced to small ball ie. not so deep.  MP back gives us 3 deep with no bad weaknesses at 3 spots.  No team in the east is going to want to match up against the celtics (healthy) in a series.

[Cman]

I really like JM. I think she's one of the better sportswriters. But I also think she's jumping the gun. I mean, all that matters is the postseason success (or lack thereof).

I'm reminded of my mother in law's saying "when the chicken is merry, the hawk is near"