Championship repeat chances looking great

[Triboy16]

Celtics might have got a little worst by losing posey but on the other hand i see guys like perk and rondo improving from last year so they will be a little better. Our core team is still here

The rest of the league on the otherhand haven't done much to pose a considerable threat to us. Its funny to watch los angelas and golden state steal each others players(they don't get that , it hasn't improved their teams), Lakers will get bynum but lost a key bench guy in turiaf and vujacic might be next, detroit and cavs have done nothing at all(can't make lebron too happy), spurs have done nothing and philly, washington, new orleans could be darkhorse teams to watch for. But thats it

I really thought after danny pulled off a trade to get the big three together there would be some teams who might try that as well.

Pending some major trades to happen, i like our chances again to win it all. I don't doubt again we will have the best record in the regular season with our lineup right now.(then giving us home court advantage in the playoffs)

[Steve Weinman]

Celtics might have got a little worst by losing posey but on the other hand i see guys like perk and rondo improving from last year so they will be a little better. Our core team is still here

The rest of the league on the otherhand haven't done much to pose a considerable threat to us. Its funny to watch los angelas and golden state steal each others players(they don't get that , it hasn't improved their teams), Lakers will get bynum but lost a key bench guy in turiaf and vujacic might be next, detroit and cavs have done nothing at all(can't make lebron too happy), spurs have done nothing and philly, washington, new orleans could be darkhorse teams to watch for. But thats it

I really thought after danny pulled off a trade to get the big three together there would be some teams who might try that as well.

Pending some major trades to happen, i like our chances again to win it all. I don't doubt again we will have the best record in the regular season with our lineup right now.(then giving us home court advantage in the playoffs)

The Clippers haven't improved?

-sw

[Evantime34]

The Clippers haven't improved enough to be a threat. It's great to see some positivity on this board. We are the champions and the road still goes through us to next years championship. Perk, Rondo, BBD, Powe, TA and Pruitt should get better and I don't see any of our older players getting worse. I even think Ray will have a better season a full year after Ankle surgery.

[footey]

The team that came closest to beating us last season, Cleveland, will be better, as they will have played together longer; their roster was assembled late last season, and was just beginning to jell when they played us.  We have to be able to beat a physical sagging defense.  When Ray went cold, we lacked another outside shooting threat, since House was still in Doc's doghouse that series for whatever reason.  Would be nice if we could pick up one more great outside shooter to round out our roster.

[Emperor Young]

I'm not sure so sure about that.. detroit is trying to acquire Artest and if they do, they get better. Atlanta is going to be tough, cleveland didn't get better yet but they still might end up with gomes.. it is not going to be easy at all..

[Steve Weinman]

The Clippers haven't improved enough to be a threat. It's great to see some positivity on this board. We are the champions and the road still goes through us to next years championship. Perk, Rondo, BBD, Powe, TA and Pruitt should get better and I don't see any of our older players getting worse. I even think Ray will have a better season a full year after Ankle surgery.

To clarify my comment above -- I wasn't to claim that they belong in the championship discussion by any means, but to suggest that the acquisitions they've made this summer haven't made them markedly better than they were a season ago seems like a stretch.

-sw

[Simey1055]

Until Detroit blows everything up they are always going to be contending with their 4 guys as well as Jason Maxiell and Stuckey.

Sixer's improved with Brand, assuming they re-sign Iggy and L.Will.  They have a young team that will only improve.

Lakers did not lose much and they will try to move Odom for a piece that will make them better defensively.  

Overall I do think the Celtics are a favorite but there is good teams out there that can not be overlooked just yet.
 

[Birdbrain]

We'll see who Detroit gives up to get Artest and having Artest doesn't really scare me at all.  He's just as likely do something crazy as play well.  The guy was pimping some low rent CD while he was suspended during the brawl. 
I mean if that ain't low class I'm not sure what is.  Not a big Artest fan.

The C's are setup fairly well to repeat.  I still believe they will actually get better it was their first year together.  They really only starting getting Ray involved towards the end of the playoffs.  They have also proven that they can win big games when everything is against them.  Detroit game #6 and of course LA game #4.  They also have some young guys who haven't reached their ceilings as players.  They might not win 66 but, I'm planning on a good round number 60.

[ManUp]

The team that came closest to beating us last season, Cleveland, will be better, as they will have played together longer; their roster was assembled late last season, and was just beginning to jell when they played us.  We have to be able to beat a physical sagging defense.  When Ray went cold, we lacked another outside shooting threat, since House was still in Doc's doghouse that series for whatever reason.  Would be nice if we could pick up one more great outside shooter to round out our roster.

No, Cleveland will be better because Lebron will be on year older, and one year closer to what will be a G.O.A.T. type prime.

Wally, Wallace, Smith, Big Z are just getting older.

[crownsy]

The team that came closest to beating us last season, Cleveland, will be better, as they will have played together longer; their roster was assembled late last season, and was just beginning to jell when they played us.  We have to be able to beat a physical sagging defense.  When Ray went cold, we lacked another outside shooting threat, since House was still in Doc's doghouse that series for whatever reason.  Would be nice if we could pick up one more great outside shooter to round out our roster.

more worried about orlando and toronto, assumign a miricle in JO staying on the court.

clevland doesn't worry me, they have one guy. the only reason they were in that series for 7 games was ray was on an awful slump.

[wiley]

More worried about Philly with a healthy Brand, Speights as a backup and the rest of their team coming back, than anyone else.  Worried in order:

1. Philly
2. Cleveland
3. Atlanta (everyone but Childress returning)
4. Orlando
5. Detroit
6. Toronto

From the West, I think the Hornets will edge L.A. to get to the finals.

[zerophase]

i'm actually more worried about the east than the west. if you would all remember, it was a 5 point game with like 2 minutes left in game 7 verse clev. that could've easily went the other way.

[Roy Hobbs]

Celtics might have got a little worst by losing posey but on the other hand i see guys like perk and rondo improving from last year so they will be a little better. Our core team is still here

Inversely, of course, the "big three" is a year older, so a slight decline can be anticipated.

[crownsy]

More worried about Philly with a healthy Brand, Speights as a backup and the rest of their team coming back, than anyone else.  Worried in order:

1. Philly
2. Cleveland
3. Atlanta (everyone but Childress returning)
4. Orlando
5. Detroit
6. Toronto

From the West, I think the Hornets will edge L.A. to get to the finals.

philly hasent signed AI yet, without him they'll be mediocre.

how can you rank atlanta, who hasen't resigned josh smith yet, above orlando?

im sorry, orlando is much better than atlanta.

[zerophase]

Celtics might have got a little worst by losing posey but on the other hand i see guys like perk and rondo improving from last year so they will be a little better. Our core team is still here

Inversely, of course, the "big three" is a year older, so a slight decline can be anticipated.

there are many predictions we could make and we'll never know if they're correct or not. a counter to your arguement is that the big 3 have a full year of playing together, so they're more use to the style, and fluidity of each other. as many said to start the season, experts didn't pick the celtics to win this year but rather next year after a full year together.

my point is, the argument could go on forever.