Did we just lose out on the best record in the league?

[P2]

I mean, the regular season is not the playoffs, but I still want the best record badly. But, whoops, those plans have hit a snag:

Garnett out at least until Jan 6.
Pierce out at least until Jan 2.
Big Baby out indefinitely (probably two weeks or so).
Daniels out until mid-February.
Rondo questionable.

That's 5 of our Top 8 players. And guess what, you can't win games with the following lineup in one of the toughest stretches of the season:

Perk/Williams
Sheed aka there are no 4's/Scal
Tony Choker/Walker
Ray/Giddens
House/Hudson

But for all the injuries, we probably won't see more than 10 minutes of Walker/Giddens/Hudson combined, anyway.

What I'm driving at: At almost full strength we even lose to bad teams and can't put the Lakers behind us, and now we will lose more games than any of us would have thought and the Lakers will be out of our range. It's the same as last year: We start out marvelously, only to be chasing the best record for the second half of the season and eventually not reaching it and dropping out early in the playoffs. Repeat, anyone? I hope not!

I want the best record in the league! Who's with me?

[Chris]

Eh, there is a lot of season left. 

[celticinorlando]

i think we just lost out on the best record in the east if these guys are out for some time....the cavs seem to be winning again and boston has a brutal january sked

not sure we get much out of the D League kids and giddens...looks like a very short bench and heavy minutes for the guards...we really need rondo not to miss games

[GreenFaith1819]

The best record would be nice, but a Healthy Team in May and June is nicer to me.

Once we start getting our folks back, it's nothing for this team to go on an 11-12 game win streak. We'll take some lumps now. It's hard, but I'll deal with it.

The 72-10 record would be nice, but a Healthy Celtics Team is deeper and better than ORL, CLE, ATL and LA. We can win on the road once we are healthy.

[celticinorlando]

honestly would much rather be a 2 or 3 seed and have to face orlando or the cavs in rd 2 than the 4th seeded hawks...i dont think seeding matters really...orlando proved that last year and boston is a good road team in the east.

[P2]

But how can we be healthy in May and June, if we can't even stay healthy in December?

[celticinorlando]

But how can we be healthy in May and June, if we can't even stay healthy in December?

and that is the rub..ainge said PP was a fluke..i think he is going to be fine....once Daniels gets back he will be ok and baby is not as bad as it looked...just leaves KG

[Cman]

who cares about best record?  being healthy, and "peaking" at the start of the playoffs matters much much more. 

I like that the Cs are doing things to try to keep the players healthy (precautionary stuff with KG, instead of forcing the issue to try to get the W).  Let's hope they are conservative with Ray as well.

[GreenFaith1819]

But how can we be healthy in May and June, if we can't even stay healthy in December?

Well, to me, injuries come in stretches. This is just our time, I believe. KG's issue was going to be a continual thing, as far as him getting back to 100%.

Just gotta find some positive in all of this...at least Perk's shoulder has been fine. And we haven't been the only team with injuries:

CP3 just came from his ankle injury. Pau Gasol was hurt for several weeks. Biedrins (GSW) was out all this season until the Celtics game. Vince Carter, Jameer Nelson's been hurt, Kobe's fractured finger, Artest fell up the stairs . Just to name a few.

[celticinorlando]

yes all those teams have suffered injuries...but boston BY FAR has been hit the hardest right now..other than portland

[nickagneta]

I really could care less if we get the best record in the league. A healthy team gunning on all cylinders come playoff time is all that matters to me.