Crappy play aside, I'm proud of this team.

[nickagneta]

Boston won last night in another game where it appeared that not only they should have lost but deserved to lose. I am sure over the next few days the threads in this section will be off the hook asking to have Rondo replaced in the starting lineup, a muzzle put on Perk so he doesn't get any more technicals, the rookies and POB given more playing time, Scal to never see the light of day before any other bench player ever again, Tony Allen to be used with more consistency and so on and so on.

But the Celtics just finished one of the hardest sections of this seasons schedule. They have played more games than every other team in the league but one and won as many or more games than most teams have played. They just finished 8 games in 12 days. Not even in last year's run to the title did they play that often. And every game they have played has been as tense and stressful and as competitive as any of those playoff games.

I've gotta say that I'm proud of the way this team has played thus far. Am I happy with the bench play, specifically Tony Allen, Leon Powe and Big Baby the last 4 games, no. Am I happy with the slow as molasses starts for most of this year, no. Am I happy with the team falling double digits back on teams and having to come back, no. Am I happy with Perk's big big mouth and Rondo's inability to make easy floaters and layups and his propensity for throwing away layups for 23 foot shots for his team mates, no.

But I am happy with a 9-2 record after having played six playoff teams from last year and 3 of the perceived 5 best teams in the league thus far. I am happy that the defensive intensity is there. I am happy that this team realizes there is a giant bullseye on their collective backs and that they have responded accordingly. And I am happy, no ecstatic with the play of the Big Three as after a grueling 100 game season, none of them appear a year older, game wise that is.

This has not been an easy road so far and I think the proper perspective should be had before jumping on this team for some of their shortcomings. The schedule makers did not make the first 30 games of this season a very easy one so before taking out the "this player or that player or this coach sucks" mantras let's remember where this team had to go to come out at 9-2 after 11 games.

And their current winning percentage is better than the winning percentage they finished last year with. It's not better than last year's start but it is better than the winning percentage they ended the regular season with. Not bad for a team that has played more games than anyone else and their last 8 games in just 12 days.

[celticmaestro]

This is true, and a TP for you nick for starting a positive thread. That's what I like to see around here. As I alluded to in another thread, my only concern is Pierce's playing time. But here's hoping that as the season grows older that will decline and our starters can sit large chunks of games like last year.

[Redz]

The execution isn't quite where we'd like it be on a consistent basis, but the Celts have the heart of a champ, and don't give up.   They've been seeing relentless effort from their opponents, and it is tough to match that for 48 minutes every night.  Win it all this year, or not, I am secure in the fact that the Celtics will leave it all out on the floor (as the cliche goes) when their title defense is on the line.

[Kwhit10]

They did very well considering they played 8 games in what 12 nights? While still going 7-1.  You could tell how the last few games they were getting a bit tired.  Let's hope these two days off they can fine tune their execution.

[xChopsx]

Well they got the next two nights off. Lets see how they come out and play on tuesday. They should come out pretty hungry as they lost to Denver, and could of lost to the Bucks (without Redd).

[guava_wrench]

8 games in 12 days. Probably not many practices.

I wouldn't worry too much.

[EJPLAYA]

The execution isn't quite where we'd like it be on a consistent basis, but the Celts have the heart of a champ, and don't give up.   They've been seeing relentless effort from their opponents, and it is tough to match that for 48 minutes every night.  Win it all this year, or not, I am secure in the fact that the Celtics will leave it all out on the floor (as the cliche goes) when their title defense is on the line.

Why can the other team give relentless effort and we as champions can't?! I don't buy that any more than the statement we don't give up. That is exactly what we are doing when we coast through half the game. If they stopped doing this we wouldn't have to win games this way. I'm not saying they give up in the sense that they don't pick the intensity back up when the game is close or they get behind, but they shouldn't be having to do that. We didn't do that last year. There is reason to be worried to some degree, because the Lakers resemble last year's team a lot more than we do.

[fairweatherfan]

I agree...the biggest silver lining to all of this sloppy play and falling behind in games is how absolutely effortlessly this team comes back from double-digit deficits.  We shouldn't be in those positions in the first place, and really need to assess what's causing it, but being able to seemingly flip the switch and blow past people when we want is very encouraging. 

And as the season moves along, we'll find teams won't be coming at us with the kind of intensity we're seeing now.  I watched Denver defend against Cleveland and against us the next night, and it was like an entirely different team.  That big spike in effort teams give us will fade over time.

I am (kind of) glad we lost to the Nuggets though, because I don't want the team thinking they can do that sort of thing at will.

[xmuscularghandix]

Well they got the next two nights off. Lets see how they come out and play on tuesday. They should come out pretty hungry as they lost to Denver, and could of lost to the Bucks (without Redd).

and villenueva. i thought this game was in the bag. but as everybody says, this is the time of the year that you "steal" games.

[LB3533]

We really shouldn't compare this season's team to last year's because this year is not going to be the same.

This season is going to be very different.

It's a whole new ball game for this team as the defending champs.

Every game, no matter the opponent, is going to be a tough one.

It will not be so easy for this team to be "in top form" each game for 82 games in the regular season.

Things are not going to look pretty or as pretty as last year.

Last year, opposing teams kind have took us for granted and didn't believe in our power..they played us in awe a little.

This year, they know what we are...we are the champs, and they want to knock us down a notch or two or three.

I don't believe we should have lost to the Pacers or the Nuggets, but we did. The season is not over.

We will continue to face adversity all season long and I am confident in this team that we will be the last team standing again.

[thecaptain34]

I'm especially proud of Paul Pierce, from coming back in better shape,making me shed a tear on banner night and then following it up with a great performance,  saying all the right things and playing at an elite level...Hes extremly special!
Keep it up paul!

[dark_lord]

we definately have some concerns in no order):
1. rondos slump
2. slow starts
3. turnovers
4. poor offensive sets (settling for jumpers rather than penetrating).
5. no true point guard back up (we will manage during the season, but this will be exploited in the playoffs.....sup with sam i am these days?)
6. no legit center off the bench that can consistently contribute (i love bbd and powe, but they are 4's, and obryant is garbage)


the good news.....
1. we are 9-2 while not playing up to our standards
2. when we have to buckle down, we do and we get the W.
3. our defense is still the best in the league

[NoraG1]

The execution isn't quite where we'd like it be on a consistent basis, but the Celts have the heart of a champ, and don't give up.   They've been seeing relentless effort from their opponents, and it is tough to match that for 48 minutes every night.  Win it all this year, or not, I am secure in the fact that the Celtics will leave it all out on the floor (as the cliche goes) when their title defense is on the line.

Why can the other team give relentless effort and we as champions can't?! I don't buy that any more than the statement we don't give up. That is exactly what we are doing when we coast through half the game. If they stopped doing this we wouldn't have to win games this way. I'm not saying they give up in the sense that they don't pick the intensity back up when the game is close or they get behind, but they shouldn't be having to do that. We didn't do that last year. There is reason to be worried to some degree, because the Lakers resemble last year's team a lot more than we do.

Do other teams give that relentless effort every game or just against the champs. I am guessing the latter. It would be very tiring and difficult for the champs to do that every night esp. if we want them to do anything come playoffs. I'd like them to have something left. 

[nickagneta]

The execution isn't quite where we'd like it be on a consistent basis, but the Celts have the heart of a champ, and don't give up.   They've been seeing relentless effort from their opponents, and it is tough to match that for 48 minutes every night.  Win it all this year, or not, I am secure in the fact that the Celtics will leave it all out on the floor (as the cliche goes) when their title defense is on the line.

Why can the other team give relentless effort and we as champions can't?! I don't buy that any more than the statement we don't give up. That is exactly what we are doing when we coast through half the game. If they stopped doing this we wouldn't have to win games this way. I'm not saying they give up in the sense that they don't pick the intensity back up when the game is close or they get behind, but they shouldn't be having to do that. We didn't do that last year. There is reason to be worried to some degree, because the Lakers resemble last year's team a lot more than we do.

Do other teams give that relentless effort every game or just against the champs. I am guessing the latter. It would be very tiring and difficult for the champs to do that every night esp. if we want them to do anything come playoffs. I'd like them to have something left. 

I watched the Nuggets-LeBrons game and then the Nuggets-Celtics game and I'll tell you what, that Nuggets team playing defense against the Celtics wasn't the same team that was playing defense in Cleveland. Not even close.

[Toine43]

The execution isn't quite where we'd like it be on a consistent basis, but the Celts have the heart of a champ, and don't give up.   They've been seeing relentless effort from their opponents, and it is tough to match that for 48 minutes every night.  Win it all this year, or not, I am secure in the fact that the Celtics will leave it all out on the floor (as the cliche goes) when their title defense is on the line.

Why can the other team give relentless effort and we as champions can't?! I don't buy that any more than the statement we don't give up. That is exactly what we are doing when we coast through half the game. If they stopped doing this we wouldn't have to win games this way. I'm not saying they give up in the sense that they don't pick the intensity back up when the game is close or they get behind, but they shouldn't be having to do that. We didn't do that last year. There is reason to be worried to some degree, because the Lakers resemble last year's team a lot more than we do.

I'm not sure why you in particular, EJ, have been so down about this team. As LB3533 said, this is not last year. It is understandable that since we are coming off an extended season, and are the world champions, and that the players were especially pumped throughout last season because it was their first season together, that we are not going to look quite as good in the regular season as we did last year. I've argued this point in the past with you, but again, playing poorly does not = coasting. I can guarantee you that the Celtics are not giving up. They've battled their way through a rough stretch in the season, and came out of it 9-2! How can you be worried about that? You know what this team is made of from last year. We can doubt their offensive execution, but you definitely cannot doubt their heart.

And if you wanted to make the effort argument, wouldn't it make a lot more sense if you had some defensive stats to back your argument up? The Celtics are ranked first in the NBA in opponents' FG% (39.6%). They are the only NBA team whose opponents are shooting below 40% from the field.