Am I the only one thinking Miami/Lakers finals?

[ChefEricT]

This is a funny name for a thread.  Of course you are not the only one thinking that.  The second the Lakers get Howard, that will be the odds on favorite matchup in Vegas.  Me, however, I'm thinking Celtics-Lakers.  And it will go like the 2004 finals where the star studded Lakers(Karl Malone, Gary Payton, etc.) fell to the best TEAM that season, the Detroit Pistons.

The star studded team wins 19 times out of 20 though.  Ask Magic, Larry, Michael, Shaq, and Kobe.

And Rondo and KG are still stars.  Arguably Pierce too.

Those teams were a little different.  Magic's Lakers, Larry's Celtics, Michael's Bulls, even Shaquille and Kobe were teams that were built over time and with strong coaching staffs.  A lot of times when guys are just put together overnight they have a hard time winning it all right away.  The exception is the Celtics from a few seasons ago, but I think the preseason trip overseas, Ubuntu and Doc Rivers were the difference.

Oh, and not Arguably Pierce too.  Paul Pierce IS a legit star and that's the truth!

Miami did it pretty quickly though.  2 games away in Year 1. Title in Year 2. Not bad.

There are very few circumstances where Hall of Famers come together overnight and the results are usually pretty strong.

Moses joining the 76ers. Magic joining Kareem in his rookie year.  Clyde being traded midseason to a badly slumping Rockets team.

The Heat won quick, but this Lakers team needs to win quick before the window closes.  How old is Nash?  Kobe and Gasol aren't kids anymore either.  I'm just saying, this Lakers team will be great, but I think we could beat them in the finals.  That may be my blind optimism, but can you fault me for that?

[BballTim]

It makes me sick to say. However, if the Lakers get Howard, I don't see how they are going to be stopped in the West.

In the East, I think Miami is still the beat team (on paper.)
Lebron has clearly hit his stride, Bosh has been huge for them and they are putting quite a bench together with Allen, Battier and Lewis.

Look, I think the C's will be a 3 or 4 seed again, no doubt.

But can anyone honestly tell me the Celtics (as currently constituted) are a championship team?

Yes, I know the season hasn't even started. Just going by what I see on paper

  The Celtics (as currently constituted) are a championship team.

  Feel better now?

If they are healthy and Pierce and KG can hold up and not deteriorate (much if at all), then they are certainly a contender, but would have to be behind Miami in the East and OKC (and probably LA) in the West in the championship pecking order.   

  Maybe. Last year we were a tossup with Miami, who dispatched OKC fairly easily. I don't know that we've really lost any ground.

Matchups work out differently when you face different teams though.  The HEAT beating the Celtics in 7 and beating the Thunder in 5 makes no definitive statement about the Celtics in relation to the Thunder.

I think Moranis has it stated pretty accurately.  We're a contender, but not exactly the favorite or anything.

  Whether people here think we're actual favorites or not isn't really important. Most people here were expecting the Heat to get soundly thrashed by the Spurs when both of the CF series were 2 or so games old.

[17wasEZ]

i am thinking a celtics thunder finals actually

We thought that about 6 weeks ago.

[celtsfan84]

It makes me sick to say. However, if the Lakers get Howard, I don't see how they are going to be stopped in the West.

In the East, I think Miami is still the beat team (on paper.)
Lebron has clearly hit his stride, Bosh has been huge for them and they are putting quite a bench together with Allen, Battier and Lewis.

Look, I think the C's will be a 3 or 4 seed again, no doubt.

But can anyone honestly tell me the Celtics (as currently constituted) are a championship team?

Yes, I know the season hasn't even started. Just going by what I see on paper

  The Celtics (as currently constituted) are a championship team.

  Feel better now?

If they are healthy and Pierce and KG can hold up and not deteriorate (much if at all), then they are certainly a contender, but would have to be behind Miami in the East and OKC (and probably LA) in the West in the championship pecking order.   

  Maybe. Last year we were a tossup with Miami, who dispatched OKC fairly easily. I don't know that we've really lost any ground.

Matchups work out differently when you face different teams though.  The HEAT beating the Celtics in 7 and beating the Thunder in 5 makes no definitive statement about the Celtics in relation to the Thunder.

I think Moranis has it stated pretty accurately.  We're a contender, but not exactly the favorite or anything.

  Whether people here think we're actual favorites or not isn't really important. Most people here were expecting the Heat to get soundly thrashed by the Spurs when both of the CF series were 2 or so games old.

Agreed. But whether you think the Celtics are a championship team as stated in your earlier post is just as important.  We'll see when the games are played.  Fun season ahead.

[Celtics4ever]

I like our chances especially when Rondo takes the next step.