New Territory...is it possible this team is actually better than we think?

[ScoobyDoo]

On one hand you have KG, Pierce and Ray Allen who...have all played in "some" playoff games but never together and never with this many expectations.

On the other hand you have Doc who has coached in "some" playoffs games but never with this team this deep and with this many expectations.

On the third hand you have Rondo ( basically his first year, he played about 25 games his rookie season) and Perkins, who has never played in any meaningful minutes in a playoff series and neither of them with this many expectations on them.

On the fourth hand you have a completely re-structured team of guys who have played only one season together ( Pollard, Posey, House, PJ , Cassell, Big Baby, KG, Ray Allen are all new...) and who all have all these enormous expectations on them in their first season...

Is it possible that they are ven better than we thought when they were 66-16 at the end of the season...

because...

They are actually trying to figure out how to play under playoff stress that teams like San Antone and Detroit and even the lakers who have Kobe and Fisher with their three title runs to guide them honed in several unsuccessful playoff runs before they hit pay dirt?

Last night they showed me some playoff grit...they made some mistakes right at the end but they played with some balls last night, with some mental fortitude. 

Is it possible that if this team does work out the kinks..and gets to the promised land that they have achieved something unusually special because they are beating all comers ( Detroit with their six years, same with San Antone or possibly LA with Kobe and Fisher's experience, even Clevleand with their championship run experience) while they are trying to figure out how to play in "this season" together?

[Celtic]

I believe so, this team has a more balanced offense and defense than any left playing, and probably any in the league. Not to mention that they have homecourt throughout, which is proving to be oh so valuable.

[SShoreFan]

Good thought process -- but until I see some road wins, I am not at all convinced. 

[celtics2]

Celts still look ragged much of the time. The Cavs are helping because they suck period. Until Allen gets his act together we're going to be suspect.

[wdleehi]

At this point, no.


I thought this team was good enough to sweep the Hawks.

I thought this team was good enough to win on the road. 

[Onslaught]

In a word.... no.

They should have never gone 7 game to the Hawks. At them most it should have been 5 games after getting surprised in the first game. I know that the Hawks are young, fast and athletic. But come on, they killed them all year and they should have been mad about the first loss.
I'm not surprised that the Cavs have won two games but I'm surprised at the problems that some of the Celtics seem to be having against them.
I figured R.Allen would be killing Szczerbiak (had to look that up) in this series and it's been the other way around most of the time.
I would have thought they could win on the road after doing it in the regular season. I know the playoffs are different but you can' tell me some of the games they won against LA,Spurs, Pistons and others
didn't have that Playoff "feel" to them and they won those games.
For some reason I didn't think Doc would screw up as much. He did a good job last night and I hope its something that will continue.

All that said I still feel like they can do it if they can play the kind of offense they did last night. Just please don't turn the ball over so much or pass the ball to the opponents rim when bringing the ball up anymore. My heart can't take very much more of that. And I would love to see Allen find his shot and finally hep us win one of the road. I think that would help the teams (and my) confidence heading into a very difficult series with
the Pistons.

[tanner]

I was encouraged last night (despite the turnovers) but they have to close out this series in Cleveland before I start raising my expectations again.

I worry about next season.  The core will be better but  I just don't know if we can build a better supporting cast via free agency.  I can't help but think their stock has been diminished in these playoffs.

[crownsy]

that remains to be seen, i just dont get this "oh man they struggle on the road" thing to a extent.

yes Atlanta was awful, no excuse, that was awful, but clevland is a good team, not as good as we are, but real good. not real shocked they won 2 at home, ive said boston in 6 since the begining.

The way this story is being hyped, you'd think were the only team who can't win on the road. Outside of the lakers in the first round, who got a Denver team that admitidly quit the season on thier coach, most teams are struggling to win on the road. Yes, other teams have gotten one on the road, but its not like anyones sweeping anyone this round.

is NO bad because they can only beat SA at home? How bout the lakers with utah? its so overblown its ridiculous.

also im not sure what pieces we'll really be looking for. i expect james posey to take his option, unless he decides he wants to be a starter, eddie house is probley gone, but honestly spot up shooters aren't real hard to find. Leon will be back, so will davis, you can get a reserve big man for the mid level to replace pollard, and you have pruitt who they seem to think can play some minutes next year givin his d-league performances.

really, danny only needs to add one impact bench guy to improve this squad, and he'll have most of the MLE. im sure he can get a good glue guy to replace sam and eddie. Plus you'll get a kid out of the draft who may not be a superstar, but you can find good bench guys in that second round (baby anyone?)

[CoachBo]

The real question is why this team cannot do the three things it needs to win on the road.

Ball movement, attacking the rim and defensive intensity ought to translate anywhere. None seem to be present on the road.

Find the answer to that and the series is over Friday night.

[Roy Hobbs]

Interesting thought process, and you're right to point out the particular struggle this team has had in terms of its relative lack of playoff experience, both individually and as a team.

That being said, no, I don't think this team is better than many of us expected.  In fact, I think most people would argue the opposite, and suggest that it's not as good as its 66 regular season wins should suggest.

[Reyquila]

This team is not as good as the record show. It is very weak at the Center position and that will cost us Banner 17. We are getting killed down low and it will only get worse until we fade away. Perk is a non-factor; its not his fault: he is what he is; a very limited basketball specimen with a mean look.

[Boris Badenov]

Is it possible that they are even better than we thought when they were 66-16 at the end of the season...

I'm sorry, you must have the wrong blog. *This* blog is for the expression of pessimism, hand-wringing and doomsday scenarios only.

[BASSTHUMPER]

well in the last few  years i think the celtics got attention cause of gearld green winning the dunk contest...cool...that brought a few onlookers....really now...who likes a team that aint a contender for a ring?..last season we went through so much stuff...tony got hurt..paul was in and out of the game...wally ankles and al jefferson too.nobody liked us...but most understood we were in a rebuild mode...i always felt we were in rebuild mode after bird and ainge and johnson..now we got kevin g ray a which is sweet...but so many who were not here throught the ruff tymes now are wondering whats wrong with the team today when we are 100% better...in a year we have come along way...i want to see paul and perk and rondo..orignal O G celtics hold that trophy high wit tears....but if they dont make it..love the complete turn around this team has made from last season and expect how much better we will be next year..if you have been on the ruff road with this team through the last 18 years...for me..you would never question the celtics..you would enjoy them..win or lose...cause right now it's golden..solid..

now tomorrow yall get yall a 40oz and watch the celtics run these fools....!

[Kiwicelt]

Thanks for the post Scoobs. I think you are right, and I hope that the Celtics prove you/me right by winning game 6 on the road, and continuing to evolve.

I've always been of the opinion that the harder road produces a tough never give up type of attitude - you grow up and start believing in yourself and expanding your own mental capabilities.

This team is on the harder road. Seven games to finish off the Hawks when everyone else said "sweep". They are finding out just how hard it is to win when things are on the line. Just look at Rondo in the last game. Career points and assists, in a playoff game to boot. He must be just itching to go out there and put the hurt on again!

I think, in regards to these Celtics, that the growth (Ubantu) that we saw during the regular season is still evolving, but now in the hot glare of the playoffs. If the Celts make it all the way this season, you'd be looking at a diamond hard squad at the end.

Just read your comments. Excellent sentiments Bass

Go Celts!!!!

[tanner]

is NO bad because they can only beat SA at home? How bout the lakers with utah? its so overblown its ridiculous.

Those teams aren't Cleveland.  More importantly, the Celtics level of play hasn't exactly gone up since the Atlanta series.  Pistons dispose of the Magic in 5 (winning the last two--one on the road, the other at home--without Billups).  It's not overblown unless our expectations for this team had been lower to begin with.