Time To Panic?

[Muzzy66]

I'm a little bit cautious, but not sure if I should be or not.

One thing that made me feel very confident last year is that the team's effort was very consistent, from the start of the season to the end.  We generally took care of business when we were supposed to, had very few bad losses against crappy teams, and even when we had one or two key guys out other guys stepped up and we continued to play at a very high level.

The above characteristics were a big change from previous years, where the team's effort levels seemed to fluctuate drastically at times from one game to the next, and it seemed almost commonplace for us to beat a contending team by 20 points one night and then lose to a bottom 5 team by 20 the very next day.  It's almost like there was a cockines to the team that would cause them to drastically underestimate bad teams and then get their butts whopped by them as a result.  And any time we had a key player out it seemed the team would fall apart.

My concern this year is that when I look at this team, I see a lot more of the earlier season Celtics then I do of last season's Celtics.  The team is unpredictable - it feels like we could dominate a game against the Thunder one night and then get spanked by the Wizards the next night.  Our effort seems to very dramatically, our defence does not seem consistently strong, and there are times we look like we lack the mental strength to get past the 2nd round.

The difference this year however, is that we are coming off a championship, and it's relatively common for teams coming off a championship to lose some degree of passion/enthusiasm for regular season games because all of their focus is on getting back to the playoffs to compete for a title again.

So the question is - is this the reason for the Celtics regular season issues, and then when the playoffs come around they will crank it right back up to last season's intensity level again? If yes, then I'm not so worried.  If no and this is how this team is going to play in the postseason as well, then yes I think we're in trouble. 

[Celtics2021]

Worry in March if this continues.  The Celtics started out like last years team, have coasted the last 2.5 months, but are still in 2nd place and on pace to win around 55 games.  My feeling is they will try to turn it on in March to get in rhythm for the playoffs.  I am not convinced they will succeed, but this sort of season was very predictable, so hopefully they actually follow the plan.

But perspective is also key.  They are 13-7 in their last 20, which is a .650 winning percentage that would be the 5th-best record in the NBA if it were for an entire season.  Even when playing mediocre basketball by their standards they are still a top 5 team. They are still a very good basketball team, so theoretically they won?t need to turn the dial too far to get back to great.

[SparzWizard]

I'm a little bit cautious, but not sure if I should be or not.

One thing that made me feel very confident last year is that the team's effort was very consistent, from the start of the season to the end.  We generally took care of business when we were supposed to, had very few bad losses against crappy teams, and even when we had one or two key guys out other guys stepped up and we continued to play at a very high level.

The above characteristics were a big change from previous years, where the team's effort levels seemed to fluctuate drastically at times from one game to the next, and it seemed almost commonplace for us to beat a contending team by 20 points one night and then lose to a bottom 5 team by 20 the very next day.  It's almost like there was a cockines to the team that would cause them to drastically underestimate bad teams and then get their butts whopped by them as a result.  And any time we had a key player out it seemed the team would fall apart.

My concern this year is that when I look at this team, I see a lot more of the earlier season Celtics then I do of last season's Celtics.  The team is unpredictable - it feels like we could dominate a game against the Thunder one night and then get spanked by the Wizards the next night.  Our effort seems to very dramatically, our defence does not seem consistently strong, and there are times we look like we lack the mental strength to get past the 2nd round.

The difference this year however, is that we are coming off a championship, and it's relatively common for teams coming off a championship to lose some degree of passion/enthusiasm for regular season games because all of their focus is on getting back to the playoffs to compete for a title again.

So the question is - is this the reason for the Celtics regular season issues, and then when the playoffs come around they will crank it right back up to last season's intensity level again? If yes, then I'm not so worried.  If no and this is how this team is going to play in the postseason as well, then yes I think we're in trouble.

With how over-reliant their 3-ball offense is with no other offensive strategies, and a nonexistent defense...I think it is concerning.

[Donoghus]

Worry in March if this continues.  The Celtics started out like last years team, have coasted the last 2.5 months, but are still in 2nd place and on pace to win around 55 games.  My feeling is they will try to turn it on in March to get in rhythm for the playoffs.  I am not convinced they will succeed, but this sort of season was very predictable, so hopefully they actually follow the plan.

But perspective is also key.  They are 13-7 in their last 20, which is a .650 winning percentage that would be the 5th-best record in the NBA if it were for an entire season.  Even when playing mediocre basketball by their standards they are still a top 5 team. They are still a very good basketball team, so theoretically they won?t need to turn the dial too far to get back to great.

This is a very reasonable outlook.

I'm not terribly concerned at the moment. It's not even mid-February and they certainly look like a defending champion coasting the next season while waiting for the playoffs.  Personally, I think they can be that "flip the switch" team  (they're that good) and I'm not sure anyone is taking them in a 7 game series but I do understand the concerns.  It's not going to be as easy as last season.

[Phantom255x]

Worry in March if this continues.  The Celtics started out like last years team, have coasted the last 2.5 months, but are still in 2nd place and on pace to win around 55 games.  My feeling is they will try to turn it on in March to get in rhythm for the playoffs.  I am not convinced they will succeed, but this sort of season was very predictable, so hopefully they actually follow the plan.

But perspective is also key.  They are 13-7 in their last 20, which is a .650 winning percentage that would be the 5th-best record in the NBA if it were for an entire season.  Even when playing mediocre basketball by their standards they are still a top 5 team. They are still a very good basketball team, so theoretically they won?t need to turn the dial too far to get back to great.

This is a very reasonable outlook.

I'm not terribly concerned at the moment. It's not even mid-February and they certainly look like a defending champion coasting the next season while waiting for the playoffs.  Personally, I think they can be that "flip the switch" team  (they're that good) and I'm not sure anyone is taking them in a 7 game series but I do understand the concerns.  It's not going to be as easy as last season.

How they look after the Break will be telling. Last season, after the break they continued to look dominant and for the most part in the 2nd half of the season, the only hiccups they had were that Lakers game, and losing 2 in a row against ATL. Otherwise, just dominant with some big win streaks mixed in.

In 2023 however, we had hope but they came out flat even after the Break and then sort of just struggled and grinded up until the ECF. The "I'll make them both" Grant Williams masterclass, some other games they choked or looked bad, etc. Then a rocky postseason run overall.

I'm really hoping they utilize the break to rest and come out firing again. I'm sure Jrue, Horford and a few others could really use the break in particular.

[ozgod]

Worry in March if this continues.  The Celtics started out like last years team, have coasted the last 2.5 months, but are still in 2nd place and on pace to win around 55 games.  My feeling is they will try to turn it on in March to get in rhythm for the playoffs.  I am not convinced they will succeed, but this sort of season was very predictable, so hopefully they actually follow the plan.

But perspective is also key.  They are 13-7 in their last 20, which is a .650 winning percentage that would be the 5th-best record in the NBA if it were for an entire season.  Even when playing mediocre basketball by their standards they are still a top 5 team. They are still a very good basketball team, so theoretically they won?t need to turn the dial too far to get back to great.

This is a very reasonable outlook.

I'm not terribly concerned at the moment. It's not even mid-February and they certainly look like a defending champion coasting the next season while waiting for the playoffs.  Personally, I think they can be that "flip the switch" team  (they're that good) and I'm not sure anyone is taking them in a 7 game series but I do understand the concerns.  It's not going to be as easy as last season.

TP Donoghus - this is exactly my thought as well. I don't think anyone can beat us in a 7 game series if we are healthy and if Joe can prepare them to make sure they have the right mindset come playoff time and are not coasting then. That's the only risk with coasting - you can develop bad habits that become annoying to break when the pressure is on. And I think they will give us a lot more heart attack moments come playoff time  But I think they are good enough to win it all again if they have the right mindset and are healthy. OKC is the only team I'm concerned about.

[letsgoblue86]

How do threads like this even get started? The crux of this is the season is too long and so many games are meaningless.

This is easily the best team, top to bottom.

Coasting is necessary if you want to be fully healthy for the playoffs.

Celtics get that.

[ozgod]

How do threads like this even get started? The crux of this is the season is too long and so many games are meaningless.

This is easily the best team, top to bottom.

Coasting is necessary if you want to be fully healthy for the playoffs.

Celtics get that.

You clearly haven't been in the 16 game threads that we lost (and probably another 10 that we won that were close)...it's how we roll here 

[BringToughnessBack]

The only team that can beat Celtics in 7 game series?!??.


The Mirror. Wasn?t worried last year. Not worried this year.