2008 Celtics vs 2017 Celtics

[cousytoheinsohn]

I think a more challenging question is this year's team verses the team in 2002 that went to the conference finals.

Good stuff. Didn't even think about that very formidable 02 bunch.

This one lends itself to a lot of fascinating speculation. At first glance, it appears quite a bit closer and considerably more physical.

Does Pierce switch sides every quarter or does he just guard himself all the way through? And, assuming the latter, how many skirmishes does he get into with himself? Can you imagine the smack they would talk to each other?

The 08 guys win that one in 6, but they really have to battle for the four wins.

[Celtics4ever]

This is not even debatable, the  2008 would own this team.

2008 won    66–16 (.805)

PTS/G: 100.5 (11th of 30) Opp PTS/G: 90.3 (2nd of 30)
SRS: 9.30 (1st of 30) Pace: 90.9 (19th of 30)
Off Rtg: 110.2 (10th of 30) Def Rtg: 98.9 (1st of 30)

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/2008.html#all_per_game

2017 to date     52-29 (.629)

PTS/G: 108.0 (8th of 30) Opp PTS/G: 105.5 (14th of 30)
SRS: 2.07 (8th of 30) Pace: 96.8 (12th of 30)
Off Rtg: 111.1 (9th of 30) Def Rtg: 108.6 (13th of 30)

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/2017.html

One can see the 2008 won a lot more games, their defense was truly elite.    2008 were clear favorites in the playoffs, our team is not.   

I think the 2017 Team has done really well and gave a good account of itself, perhaps overachieved once again given all the holes our team had this year and we over came a lot of them.

The 08 team is the 43rd best team of all time.

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-best-nba-teams-of-all-time-according-to-elo/

The team now did not make that list.  But they are a winning team and fun to watch!

[loco_91]

Let's look at the Elo ratings. The '08 squad boasted an Elo of around 1700 in the 2nd half of the '08 season, and this year's team has been hovering around 1600 (for context, the average Elo is 1500). Based on the difference in Elo ratings, you expect the '17 squad to win 36% of games. So we'd only have a ~6% chance of winning the series, but also only a ~16% chance of getting swept.

[GreenEnvy]

I hate hearing about the long series in the playoffs for the 2008 team.

They were one of the most dominant regular season teams in NBA history. They somehow were stretched to a 7-game series against a bad team, but it was arguably the most lopsided 7-game series the league has ever seen.

Then they went seven against LeBron, not all that shocking. They never trailed in the series, though.

Detroit had a lot more experience than us and some even favored them. It was the first time we lost at home and responded with their first road win in a pressure game.

131-92, enough said.


They were a great team, and the 2009 squad may have been even better.

[More Banners]

I think a more challenging question is this year's team verses the team in 2002 that went to the conference finals.

Good stuff. Didn't even think about that very formidable 02 bunch.

This one lends itself to a lot of fascinating speculation. At first glance, it appears quite a bit closer and considerably more physical.

Does Pierce switch sides every quarter or does he just guard himself all the way through? And, assuming the latter, how many skirmishes does he get into with himself? Can you imagine the smack they would talk to each other?

The 08 guys win that one in 6, but they really have to battle for the four wins.

PP02 was much quicker and more explosive than PP08, but might well get himself ejected. PP08 had perfected the step-back, and scored without getting beaten up in the paint so much on drives. I'd take PP02 on any team any time. He could draw a foul to stop opposing runs and avoid scoring droughts that plagued later PP's.

Anyway, comparing a team that's hoping for a favorable matchup in order to have a punchers chance of winning the first round, let alone advancing to the ECF in conference full of flawed teams, to th 2008 heavily favored group is silly business. Comparisons to 2002 make more sense.  And I'd take the 2002 team in 6.

[Celtics4ever]

Anyway, comparing a team that's hoping for a favorable matchup in order to have a punchers chance of winning the first round, let alone advancing to the ECF in conference full of flawed teams, to th 2008 heavily favored group is silly business. Comparisons to 2002 make more sense.  And I'd take the 2002 team in 6.

TP, very eloquent.

[SHAQATTACK]

2017 guys  can't carry the water bucket for 2008 team  or the Bird title teams .


IT needs help .