My observations over the first two weeks

[Q_FBE]

1. The Celtics got their biggest upgrade at Coaching position. Brad Stevens could be one the smartest basketball coaches in the history of this game. He thinks outside the box like his predecessor 50 years earlier.

2. The team bounces back from anything it seems and makes a game of it. For instance - They were outshot by 20 FTA in Miami (By design perhaps?) and got a chance to steal the game which they did.

3. We are seeing new combinations and rotations out there and I think that better overall teamwork and chemistry is developing. If we finish with a worse record than last year it will be because teams passed us in talent level.

4. This team is more fun to watch because the burden of expectations and the drama queens all left town (I said exactly the same thing about the Red Sox earlier this year).

5. Tanking is not in the Celtics vocabulary. Competition, resiliency, and improvement are in the Celtics vocabulary.

6. The rebounding and defense statistics are a lot better and there is a lot more fast break opportunites and second chance points to be had.

7. Thirty Four wins with this team will be more satisfying than fourty one wins last year.

8. I am rooting for the underdogs this year in the hopes of parity arriving to the league. Yes I admit to rooting for the Lakers over the Clips on opening night. I would root for the Lakers over the Cheat too.

9. I am enjoying the NBA season so far.

[D.o.s.]

1. The Celtics got their biggest upgrade at Coaching position. Brad Stevens could be one the smartest basketball coaches in the history of this game. He thinks outside the box like his predecessor 50 years earlier.

2. The team bounces back from anything it seems and makes a game of it. For instance - They were outshot by 20 FTA in Miami (By design perhaps?) and got a chance to steal the game which they did.

3. We are seeing new combinations and rotations out there and I think that better overall teamwork and chemistry is developing. If we finish with a worse record than last year it will be because teams passed us in talent level.

4. This team is more fun to watch because the burden of expectations and the drama queens all left town (I said exactly the same thing about the Red Sox earlier this year).

5. Tanking is not in the Celtics vocabulary. Competition, resiliency, and improvement are in the Celtics vocabulary.

6. The rebounding and defense statistics are a lot better and there is a lot more fast break opportunites and second chance points to be had.

7. Thirty Four wins with this team will be more satisfying than fourty one wins last year.

8. I am rooting for the underdogs this year in the hopes of parity arriving to the league. Yes I admit to rooting for the Lakers over the Clips on opening night. I would root for the Lakers over the Cheat too.

9. I am enjoying the NBA season so far.

-There's a great discussion of the merits of Brad Stevens going on in the BS rotations thread.

to the bolded: Even after Kobe comes back? It's one thing to cheer for a bunch of scrubs (I enjoyed it when they beat the Clips, too), but that's a whole different ball of wax.

[Q_FBE]

8. I am rooting for the underdogs this year in the hopes of parity arriving to the league. Yes I admit to rooting for the Lakers over the Clips on opening night. I would root for the Lakers over the Cheat too.

9. I am enjoying the NBA season so far.
 
to the bolded: Even after Kobe comes back? It's one thing to cheer for a bunch of scrubs (I enjoyed it when they beat the Clips, too), but that's a whole different ball of wax.

If Kobe were smart, he would retire and collect his 30 million dollars. If he comes back, I would root for Kobe to fail.