looking forward to enjoying the celtics again

[nickagneta]

I will reserve judgment until I see them playing real competition. I am not sure they could have had weaker competition in this preseason and that makes me pause in jumping into the deep end of positivity for this season.

The players may play a prettier brand of ball. The players may seem like they have better chemistry and better camaraderie. But if they go out and only win 45-47 games and get jacked in the 1st round, I am not sure everyone is still going to be feeling all warm and fuzzy.

[Neurotic Guy]

My memory is far from great, but the C's of 2 years ago sits in my memory as a team that frequently ended up in games I thought they were out of, and the C's of 1 year ago frequently ended up losing games (or giving back leads) in games that I thought they would win.   The 10-10 start last year proved to be a sign of things to come.  This year, I am looking for early signs that tell me this team is more 2017-18 than 2018-19.   If C's show that, I'll be enthusiastically on board.

[libermaniac]

My memory is far from great, but the C's of 2 years ago sits in my memory as a team that frequently ended up in games I thought they were out of, and the C's of 1 year ago frequently ended up losing games (or giving back leads) in games that I thought they would win.   The 10-10 start last year proved to be a sign of things to come.  This year, I am looking for early signs that tell me this team is more 2017-18 than 2018-19.   If C's show that, I'll be enthusiastically on board.

I generally think pre-season games don't mean much, but last year I kept explaining away how poorly they were playing in pre-season, and assumed they'd kick it up once the season started.  This year, I know they've played bad teams in pre-season, but they've looked downright awesome, so I'm hoping as well that they get off to a fast start and just play fast and loose and have fun and keep winning.

[arctic 3.0]

My memory is far from great, but the C's of 2 years ago sits in my memory as a team that frequently ended up in games I thought they were out of, and the C's of 1 year ago frequently ended up losing games (or giving back leads) in games that I thought they would win.   The 10-10 start last year proved to be a sign of things to come.  This year, I am looking for early signs that tell me this team is more 2017-18 than 2018-19.   If C's show that, I'll be enthusiastically on board.

Watching this preseason, the teams energy feels like we picked up right after the 2017-18 season. Like last year never happened.

[wiley]

I will reserve judgment until I see them playing real competition. I am not sure they could have had weaker competition in this preseason and that makes me pause in jumping into the deep end of positivity for this season.

The players may play a prettier brand of ball. The players may seem like they have better chemistry and better camaraderie. But if they go out and only win 45-47 games and get jacked in the 1st round, I am not sure everyone is still going to be feeling all warm and fuzzy.

Just a guess, but my guess is that if that happens, it will be blamed hugely on losing Al Horford and not enough D from the big men.  It will become known as:

the year we tried to keep up with the league without Al Horford but couldn't.

[trickybilly]

I will reserve judgment until I see them playing real competition. I am not sure they could have had weaker competition in this preseason and that makes me pause in jumping into the deep end of positivity for this season.

The players may play a prettier brand of ball. The players may seem like they have better chemistry and better camaraderie. But if they go out and only win 45-47 games and get jacked in the 1st round, I am not sure everyone is still going to be feeling all warm and fuzzy.

Just a guess, but my guess is that if that happens, it will be blamed hugely on losing Al Horford and not enough D from the big men.  It will become known as:

the year we tried to keep up with the league without Al Horford but couldn't.

Yeah, agreed. There will be lots of moments when we will look fun and fast and flashy, but those grind out wins will dry up, and I fear we will be a first round exit.

[SparzWizard]

I will reserve judgment until I see them playing real competition. I am not sure they could have had weaker competition in this preseason and that makes me pause in jumping into the deep end of positivity for this season.

The players may play a prettier brand of ball. The players may seem like they have better chemistry and better camaraderie. But if they go out and only win 45-47 games and get jacked in the 1st round, I am not sure everyone is still going to be feeling all warm and fuzzy.

Just a guess, but my guess is that if that happens, it will be blamed hugely on losing Al Horford and not enough D from the big men.  It will become known as:

the year we tried to keep up with the league without Al Horford but couldn't.

In other words, could be the 2015-2016 season all over again.

[cman88]

I still think this team has the potential to win more games than last years team. but Alot hinges on how our bigs fair defensively.

IF:

1. Gordon Hayward looks like the player we signed him to be and not the shell of himself he was last year.
2. Jayson tatum/Brown take leaps this year to being much better players
3. Our bigs can play adequate defense and not be a dumpster fire.

#1 and #2 can more than offset losing horford

[Abel]

My memory is far from great, but the C's of 2 years ago sits in my memory as a team that frequently ended up in games I thought they were out of, and the C's of 1 year ago frequently ended up losing games (or giving back leads) in games that I thought they would win.   The 10-10 start last year proved to be a sign of things to come.  This year, I am looking for early signs that tell me this team is more 2017-18 than 2018-19.   If C's show that, I'll be enthusiastically on board.

I generally think pre-season games don't mean much, but last year I kept explaining away how poorly they were playing in pre-season, and assumed they'd kick it up once the season started.  This year, I know they've played bad teams in pre-season, but they've looked downright awesome, so I'm hoping as well that they get off to a fast start and just play fast and loose and have fun and keep winning.

The bolded part is the important bit for me. Last year was like eating glass watching the C's play, just painful (no joy, no comradery etc etc). And, especially towards the end of the season, the post-game interviews with Kyrie, media speculation around team leadership just turned into a circus. I don't care if we finish 8th in the East this season, as long as the team looks like they are having fun, back one-another and building towards something. That is a team I want to support, that is what I (along with a number of others in this forum) lost last season. But don't get me wrong, I am the guy who wants the C's to win the 'chip every year, however, this coming season, if they are a fun, happy team that everyone can support, I would take that. Winning, and winning it all, would just be bonuses. 
   

[cman88]

only 5 games, but at 4-1 I can say my thread still stands. This team is showing more fight and grit than last years team. it reminds me of the Isaiah teams. Last years team probably wilts vs the bucks or last night.


Also, my early season prediction that the addition by subtraction would make the celtics better assuming tatum/brown/Hayward take jumps appears to be right so far.

having so many gunners like Morris/Rozier stunted tatum/brown/Hayward....now with a more defined roles where the top 4 guys take most of the shots well those guys are performing much closer to their potential and making this a better team.

[gpap]

Hayward still has room for improvement. He needs to be a better finisher at the rim.