I Think I Am Aboard The Tank Train Now

[tenn_smoothie]

Brown looked just fine against the Magic though and played over 37 mpg against the Knicks.  Holiday was coming back from injury but also started every game and played over 32 mpg against the Knicks.  Zinger barely played the title season as well.  Relying on Zinger to be healthy is a fools errand. 

The Celtics were mostly healthy against the Knicks and lost badly.  Absolutely should have won the first two games and the series (and Tatum likely doesn't get hurt), but they didn't.  They got embarrassed by a team that designed its roster with beating the Celtics in mind and that is exactly what they did.  They put pressure on Tatum and Brown and the rest of the team just wasn't good enough. 

That was the fundamental problem with bringing the team back.  Boston would have been too old, too injury prone, and simply not good enough going forward, especially next year when Tatum is back.  In my view, they absolutely would not have won the title again if they mostly brought the team back.  The window was over.  They had to make moves.  I don't think they went far enough, but making moves was absolutely the correct decision, because running it back just would have delayed the inevitable.

I don't think the 2025 Celtics weren't good enough to beat the Knicks (or that their supporting cast around the Jays wasn't good enough). They just didn't play well in the series. It happens. It sucks. But it happens.

I'd still feel confident of beating that same Knicks team in a rematch with that same Celtics team. I still believe that Celtics team was the best team in the East last season and would have been the best team in the East again this season (assuming Tatum comes back and plays at a top 10 player in the league level). So I would have brought it back. I did not and do not believe the window had closed. That group was still very much a title contender.

Mostly healthy in the Knicks series? I would say healthy enough. They were healthy enough to win that series. They did not lose because of bad health. They lost because guys underperformed.

They lost because they have an incompetent coach who wanted the team to keep launching 3-pointers that they were not making which led to big leads being blown at home in games 1 & 2. Those two games were an embarrassment. I still do not see what it is that Brad sees in Mazzulla. We won the title in spite of him with talent and a good playoff draw.

[Kernewek]

Thanks Kernewek

No problem - as Keevs and others have pointed out, the odds for tanking don't make much sense for a team like ours, especially with the crowded field at the bottom.

[Phantom255x]

Well this win tonight temporarily ruins it again 

[Redz]

The next 10 will tell you what to expect in terms of where this team will finish.  If the manage to scrape together a .500 record against this competition you?re probably looking at a team that will be able to maintain their ?just above .500? record for the whole season (barring injuries to key players).  If they get smoked  and go 2-8 or worse the tailspin/tank train may take care of itself.

I suspect they?ll do enough to stay afloat.  With the way the league is now they?ll inevitably run into another game or two where the opponent has mailed in a G-League roster for the night rest stars.

[SHAQATTACK]

I think Brad is on that plan too?.

But he an?t gonna say it

[Phantom255x]

Can't lie even I was rooting hard for the C's to win that game against DET lol. It's gonna be hard to truly tank given some of the other hideous teams in the league (BKN, UTAH, New Orleans, Washington, Indiana, etc.). And the C's might be a play-in team by default just because of how the East is. So probably a lottery pick in the 11-14 range and then hope the odds are in our favor

[Neurotic Guy]

Simply put, this is not the terrible team that some here said they were at the start of the season. They can explode offensively, play some high energy defense and they have a capable scoring leader who is doing for the Cs what guys like Brunson, Mitchel, Booker and other elite scorers are doing for their respective teams.  They are an awful rebounding team which everyone here knew going in but that hasn?t stopped them from winning more than they lose.  Three games from now they could be losing more than they are winning but I think, as many have said, they probably settle in at about .500. Exactly where some predicted prior to the season.  If Tatum were here they?d probably be the second or third seed in the conference right now.  With an additional center who can board (plus Tatum), I don?t see how they wouldn?t be in the mix for the Eastern Conference.  I?d love to know what Brad is thinking right now as the season closes in on the trade deadline. 
Last point, I give thanks today that the Cs aren?t in the Emerites Cup mix. I suppose I have to accept that it?s probably here to stay, but I sincerely don?t get it and wish it would go away.  TBH it can take all-star weekend with it - just give the players a mid-year break.

[Celtics4ever]

Simply put, this is not the terrible team that some here said they were at the start of the season. They can explode offensively, play some high energy defense and they have a capable scoring leader who is doing for the Cs what guys like Brunson, Mitchel, Booker and other elite scorers are doing for their respective teams.  They are an awful rebounding team which everyone here knew going in but that hasn?t stopped them from winning more than they los

In the NBA that can be a recipe for mediocrity.   Of course, if we add Tatum back in good health and we are a contender of sorts.

With an additional center who can board (plus Tatum), I don?t see how they wouldn?t be in the mix for the Eastern Conference.  I?d love to know what Brad is thinking right now as the season closes in on the trade deadline.
Last point, I give thanks today that the Cs aren?t in the Emerites Cup mix. I suppose I have to accept that it?s probably here to stay, but I sincerely don?t get it and wish it would go away.  TBH it can take all-star weekend with it - just give the players a mid-year break.

Neemias is a serviceable center, the narrative he is not, needs to stop.  Is he perfect, nope, but this idea we could do better when we have cheap valuable center already on the roster.

We compete for Championships here and the Emirate cup is a joke.

They are an awful rebounding team which everyone here knew going in but that hasn?t stopped them from winning more than they lose.  Three games from now they could be losing more than they are winning but I think, as many have said, they probably settle in at about .500. Exactly where some predicted prior to the season.

We are one injury away from a lottery team.   However, I think that is far more common situation across the NBA than people realize and that is many teams.

[Celtics4ever]

Simply put, this is not the terrible team that some here said they were at the start of the season. They can explode offensively, play some high energy defense and they have a capable scoring leader who is doing for the Cs what guys like Brunson, Mitchel, Booker and other elite scorers are doing for their respective teams.  They are an awful rebounding team which everyone here knew going in but that hasn?t stopped them from winning more than they los

In the NBA that can be a recipe for mediocrity.   Of course, if we add Tatum back in good health and we are a contender of sorts.

With an additional center who can board (plus Tatum), I don?t see how they wouldn?t be in the mix for the Eastern Conference.  I?d love to know what Brad is thinking right now as the season closes in on the trade deadline.
Last point, I give thanks today that the Cs aren?t in the Emerites Cup mix. I suppose I have to accept that it?s probably here to stay, but I sincerely don?t get it and wish it would go away.  TBH it can take all-star weekend with it - just give the players a mid-year break.

Neemias is a serviceable center, the narrative he is not, needs to stop.  Is he perfect, nope, but this idea we could do better when we have cheap valuable center already on the roster is growing more silly every day.   What else does he have to prove his worth?

We compete for Championships here and the Emirate cup is a joke.

They are an awful rebounding team which everyone here knew going in but that hasn?t stopped them from winning more than they lose.  Three games from now they could be losing more than they are winning but I think, as many have said, they probably settle in at about .500. Exactly where some predicted prior to the season.

We are one injury away from a lottery team.   However, I think that is far more common situation across the NBA than people realize and that is many teams.

[Phantom255x]

(Stolen from Celtics Reddit)

[Celtics4ever]

This team has derailed the tank train.

[Redz]

This team has derailed the tank train.

A game and a half back from first place and the number 2 seed in the East!  I have no idea if it?s sustainable but you?ve got to be impressed with them figuring out how to win with this roster and the development of a bunch of guys.

[Neurotic Guy]

This team has derailed the tank train.

A game and a half back from first place and the number 2 seed in the East!  I have no idea if it?s sustainable but you?ve got to be impressed with them figuring out how to win with this roster and the development of a bunch of guys.

I saw an MVP power ranking the other day, no mention of Jaylen Brown.  Not sure how Jaylen would not be considered among the most valuable at this point in time.  Remarkable that after an 0-3 start, this team is 14-6.  With wins against quality teams.   Some here thought this was a 30-35 win team. Right now they are blowing pre-season speculation out of the water.  Of course, could turn in a hurry. 

I really have to wonder what is going on right now in Brad Stevens head.

[Silas]

This team has derailed the tank train.

A game and a half back from first place and the number 2 seed in the East!  I have no idea if it?s sustainable but you?ve got to be impressed with them figuring out how to win with this roster and the development of a bunch of guys.

Lot's of guys on this forum have trashed Joe over and over the past few years.  This year he has proven to me, and I would say many others, that he is a good coach and is doing a great job with this team.  He has figured out how to best use Walsh, Minott, and Hugo.

[Phantom255x]

This team has derailed the tank train.

A game and a half back from first place and the number 2 seed in the East!  I have no idea if it?s sustainable but you?ve got to be impressed with them figuring out how to win with this roster and the development of a bunch of guys.

I saw an MVP power ranking the other day, no mention of Jaylen Brown.  Not sure how Jaylen would not be considered among the most valuable at this point in time.  Remarkable that after an 0-3 start, this team is 14-6.  With wins against quality teams.   Some here thought this was a 30-35 win team. Right now they are blowing pre-season speculation out of the water.  Of course, could turn in a hurry. 

I really have to wonder what is going on right now in Brad Stevens head.

Obviously assuming Tatum desires to play and doctors actually clear him in February or March (with no setbacks until then), I am starting to feel it's 99% likely he returns this season.

As for Brad, he definitely needs to add another center to the rotation at the trade deadline. Even if it's someone who can backup Queta or be a running mate with him (just like Lively-Gafford in Dallas). Claxton, Zubac or Vucevic are my targets.

We're basically a Queta injury away from needing guys like Tillman/Garza to play 20-25+ minutes a game consistently and that is definitely NOT good. Minott can play some smallball 5 but they absolutely need another big man in the rotations. And idk about Boucher, he just doesn't play at all anymore.