Celtics can Win It All

[KG Living Legend]

 Tmac was talking after the game about how they're is about four teams every year that actually believes they can win it all.

 Right now those teams are The Bucks,  The Warriors, The Suns and The Celtics.  Bulls and Heat trying to believe.

 With this recent win streak the Best defense in the NBA in the past 4 YEARS during the stretch.  All of a sudden we are playing as a team and for each other.

 Add to that a big confidence boost with White and Big man depth in Theis.  I believe we think we are a top four team in the league.

 This NBA season is very much in Flux. Truly a wide open year. I think the Bucks are favorites to repeat,  but I'm saying they're is a chance.

[ozgod]

I never got too down on them when they were floundering, mainly because it seemed to be a mental issue - we lost 6 or 7 games where we blew big leads or otherwise failed to close them out because we lost key moments in the game. Conversely I'm hopeful but not too excited yet, because the schedule has been softer for us in 2022 - even though we are 18-6 since Dec 31, and 8-2 against teams with winning records, each of those wins could be argued that the other team was disadvantaged in some way e.g. Charlotte has been floundering and sliding out of the top 8, Brooklyn has been decimated by injuries, LaVine and Lonzo were missing when we beat them, Philly lost Curry and Drummond and didn't have Harden, etc.



Of course, when we were losing in Nov and Dec and the team was being pilloried nobody gave us qualifiers for the fact that we were missing people, so there is that. We definitely seem more connected on defense, and you can see it in the game logs, where the opponent FG% and 3FG% are definitely trending downwards in 2022 vs 2021:



Another thing in our favor is the East is very congested this year, there are no runaways like the West with PHO and GS so we could conceivably finish in the top 4 if we maintain our defensive intensity and connectedness so that we can grind out games when we're not shooting well, like vs Orlando and Atlanta. If we play the way we have been playing, we're going to be a tough out, assuming no injuries (a big if given our lack of depth).

[Kuberski33]

Defensively they're good enough to win it. But their lack of 3 pt shooting and lack of cover for the Jays at SF will be an issue against the best teams. Maybe......one of PP/Nesmith/Hauser can step up to address one or both of those issues. I'd like to see Ime give Hauser some run with the rotation to see what happens. 

But I'll tell you what - early indications are that Brad knocked one out of the park at the trade deadline.

[liam]

I never got too down on them when they were floundering, mainly because it seemed to be a mental issue - we lost 6 or 7 games where we blew big leads or otherwise failed to close them out because we lost key moments in the game. Conversely I'm hopeful but not too excited yet, because the schedule has been softer for us in 2022 - even though we are 18-6 since Dec 31, and 8-2 against teams with winning records, each of those wins could be argued that the other team was disadvantaged in some way e.g. Charlotte has been floundering and sliding out of the top 8, Brooklyn has been decimated by injuries, LaVine and Lonzo were missing when we beat them, Philly lost Curry and Drummond and didn't have Harden, etc.



Of course, when we were losing in Nov and Dec and the team was being pilloried nobody gave us qualifiers for the fact that we were missing people, so there is that. We definitely seem more connected on defense, and you can see it in the game logs, where the opponent FG% and 3FG% are definitely trending downwards in 2022 vs 2021:



Another thing in our favor is the East is very congested this year, there are no runaways like the West with PHO and GS so we could conceivably finish in the top 4 if we maintain our defensive intensity and connectedness so that we can grind out games when we're not shooting well, like vs Orlando and Atlanta. If we play the way we have been playing, we're going to be a tough out, assuming no injuries (a big if given our lack of depth).

Depth is the big issue but these blowouts are giving Ime the chance to run out these young bench guys who need reps. There's a real chance for some of these guys to step up. I would still like another bench shooter/vet.

[Phantom255x]

I actually don't think it's crazy to think the C's could be a Top-5 team in the league now (firmly at #5).

I'd say the Suns, Warriors, Bucks and Sixers (assuming all are healthy of course) are ahead of the C's, but besides that the C's might be at 5 or just in a tier with Utah, Brooklyn, Memphis, etc.

Idk what it is, but something just seems off with Brooklyn and I don't think it's just 1 or 2 things. They made a good trade to get Simmons, Curry and Drummond, but nothing will really matter unless KD can come back and stay healthy and that's not a guarantee either. Plus, how does Simmons look and can Simmons actually contribute to playoff wins? Kyrie is a headcase anyways so there'll always be drama there

The C's are on a roll and if they can add 1 or 2 impact buyout guys, they can absolutely make a run.

[Donoghus]

+3000 on Draftkings right now if you want to make a value bet.

[ozgod]

+3000 on Draftkings right now if you want to make a value bet.

3000, I would put my lunch money on them for sure 

[Celtics2021]

+3000 on Draftkings right now if you want to make a value bet.

I so wish Mass would legalize sports betting.

[Donoghus]

+3000 on Draftkings right now if you want to make a value bet.

I so wish Mass would legalize sports betting.

Yeah, you guys need to get your act together.

[jpotter33]

+3000 on Draftkings right now if you want to make a value bet.

I so wish Mass would legalize sports betting.

Yeah, you guys need to get your act together.

Same with Georgia. We don’t even have casinos 

Supposed to be some movement towards sports gambling in the current state legislative session, though.

[Phantom255x]

+3000 on Draftkings right now if you want to make a value bet.

I so wish Mass would legalize sports betting.

Yeah, you guys need to get your act together.

Same with Georgia. We don’t even have casinos 

Supposed to be some movement towards sports gambling in the current state legislative session, though.

Oh wait you're in Georgia? I thought you were in Ohio lol (Cleveland I think?)

[Roy H.]

Not buying it.  We're playing well, but we're not the favorites.

[Kiorrik]

I believe.

Dunno if I shared this, probably did, but on trade deadline day, I put my first bet ever on the C's winning the chip.

Hope we win cuz that'll mean I get to go on a nice long holiday :]

[Celtics2021]

I believe.

Dunno if I shared this, probably did, but on trade deadline day, I put my first bet ever on the C's winning the chip.

Hope we win cuz that'll mean I get to go on a nice long holiday :]

You did share, and I was (and am) jealous that I don’t live in a place with legal betting.