Still can't beat the Heat!!!

[wahz]

The celtics have had at least one key injury every year since the championship year. No reason to believe this season will be any different. Id be shocked if we go into the playoffs with all of our key guys.

haha optimistic much?

who was hurt in 2010? Perk went down in Game 6 of the finals but they were generally healthy during the regular season and most of playoffs right?

uh well this guy named KG played on one leg all year and was half the rebounder he was before or another year later. He was unable to guard the baseline, a problem that went away 12 months later and only improved after that

[KGs Knee]

We won't be the favorites, but I think we have a plenty legitimate chance.

I really don't see any obstacles, outside of health, that will get in the way of a rematch of the ECF.  It will be Miami and Boston vying for the conf championship yet again.

[syfy9]

We were a game away from beating the best NBA team in the world.

I'd like to believe our team improved more than their team.

Jason Terry
Courtney Lee
Jeff Green
Jared Sullinger

Ray Allen
Rashard Lewis


Those are the most notable improvements, the ones that will be useful come playoff time. Hopefully Bradley will pan out.

[InRondoWeTrust]

Wow, I'm glad djbilly33 knows the outcome of next year's Eastern Conference standings months before teams are in training camp. That means I don't even have to watch it. Thanks djbilly33!

[Lightskinsmurf]

The celtics have had at least one key injury every year since the championship year. No reason to believe this season will be any different. Id be shocked if we go into the playoffs with all of our key guys.

haha optimistic much?

who was hurt in 2010? Perk went down in Game 6 of the finals but they were generally healthy during the regular season and most of playoffs right?

uh well this guy named KG played on one leg all year and was half the rebounder he was before or another year later. He was unable to guard the baseline, a problem that went away 12 months later and only improved after that

Exactly plus you just proved my point. We have had a key injury every year. Perk going down costed us the championship. I've been optimistic every single year and it always ends the same [dang] way.

[Green Hell]

We've improved our team at EVERY position relative to the product we were putting on the floor last season.  Lets wait and see how we look before declaring any team the prohibitive favorite.  Maybe you know where I can get one of those crystal balls so I can foresee the future too.

[bfrombleacher]

We've improved our team at EVERY position relative to the product we were putting on the floor last season.

It's not just that. By the end of the playoffs our team was so injured we barely had a starting lineup:

Rondo
KG
Bass


1/3 a Pierce
1/3 a Ray Allen

10 minutes of Pietrus and Dools


We were fending off the Heat with 3 remotely healthy players.

[Celtics4ever]

The HEAT got lucky and lots of help from the league to win their title.  Even hurt, we gave them fits and all they could handle.

[scottwedman]

We should get the #2 seed.

As for beating the HEAT, I think last year was a fluke and that LeBron will revert back to his choking dog ways in 12-13.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

We've improved our team at EVERY position relative to the product we were putting on the floor last season.  Lets wait and see how we look before declaring any team the prohibitive favorite.  Maybe you know where I can get one of those crystal balls so I can foresee the future too.

lol

[edwardjkasche]

First, your hypothetical playoff seeding is a bit out of whack.

The Celtics may finish 4th, as they have a penchant for taking part of the season off and gearing up for the playoffs, but Indy is not finishing 2nd and the Bulls will have a huge uphill climb to finishing 3rd. 

Remember, the Bulls will be without Rose until probably December and they ditched every SG on their roster (unless you still count Rip).  They're also openly trying to trade Noah and Boozer. 

Indy may finish 2nd, but there's no guarantee.  They traded their starting PG.  They're still young and they lack a closer. 

If the Celtics stay healthy and focused, and their bench plays up to par, they'll have a terrific shot at finishing 2nd, which will match them up against the Heat in the ECF again.

And, if they meet the Heat again in the ECF, health and the refs will be the two biggest issues.

Let's not forget that the Celts had a 3-2 lead on the Heat in the ECF this year despite losing Bradley, injuries to Pierce and Allen, and the refs doing everything they could to hand the series to the Heat - Rondo's non-call, Pierce's fouling out (twice). 

The Celtics can beat the Heat, if they're healthy and the refs stay the hell out of the way (which is no guarantee).

[All Star Matt Clement]

uh well this guy named KG played on one leg all year and was half the rebounder he was before or another year later. He was unable to guard the baseline, a problem that went away 12 months later and only improved after that

uh well he wasn't out completely like Perk was after game 6 or Bradley during the Miami series. he still had an impact on the game. smurf was talking about guys being completely out.

[celticinorlando]

bulls won't have rose until March..Cs finish no worse than 3rd in the east

[Jon]

As others have said, it's way too early. 

And don't sleep on Jeff Green's impact.  The Heat are essentially the reason that Danny Ainge made the Perk trade to begin with. 

Not only can Green play the 4 when LeBron slides there, he also gives Boston someone else besides Pierce who can guard LeBron WITHOUT giving up a lot offensively.  Pietrus did well on him last year, but when Pietrus was in, we either had to take out Pierce or Ray (and give up something offensively) or we had to go really small with Pietrus at the 4.

Green allows us to stay offensively potent and not give up size. 

That should help quite a bit. 

I actually like us matched up against Miami when they go small, as Green is about as physically well-equipped as anyone in the NBA to guard LeBron, Pierce could actually give Wade headaches offensively and defensively with his size, and Bradley should give Ray fits at the 2. 

[DesP898]

I think the biggest problem we faced last year was defending the perimeter vs the heat.  When Wade or Bron had possession and would try to drive to the basket we would clog the paint and forget all about the shooters outside.  I can't even remember how many times I kept asking myself why there was nobody guarding the outside, right as I see them drain the ball.  Sometimes somebody would try to quickly contest the outside shots but it's too late and a wasted effort.

If we at least had Bradley, I believe he would've been able to keep Wade outside, relieving some of the pressure.  Let's face it, Mike Miller and Shane Battier?  They would wait a while outside for somebody to pass them the ball before they chuck it up; had we actually put bodies on them there's no way in hell they would've made that many shots.  Not even close.