Poll: Are we peaking too soon?

[coco]

I remember how SA used to start slow or somewhere in the top, but had enough in the tank to close teams during the playoffs.

Since there isn't much to complain about, I figured is a good time to reflect and look at the big picture from a different perspective.

I voted: Yes, but we'll be alright

[CelticsWhat35]

Did the Celtics peak too soon last year?

[coco]

We did have some trouble in the first couple of rounds.  No sure if that had to do with the "crusie control" mode the guys were in during the last couple of moths prior to the playoffs.

...but yes, I see your point.

[Celtic]

I remember how SA used to start slow or somewhere in the top, but had enough in the tank to close teams during the playoffs.

Since there isn't much to complain about, I figured is a good time to reflect and look at the big picture from a different perspective.

I voted: Yes, but we'll be alright

Definitely not, it worked out last year. Also the C's really have a lot of games where they didn't play well and still won. Scary thing is their two losses are against teams they should have beaten, they could very easily be 22-0 right now.

[incoherent]

I don't think we are peaking. 

Look at last year, we didn't 'peak' until the last game of the NBA finals.

[Redz]

Doc had some quotes about this in the Globe yesterday

"We're just playing basketball. We're winning, but we're playing normal minutes. So, the question should be, if we played the same amount of minutes and lost, would we be burning out? No. So, if we're going to play the minutes, I think we should try to win the game, and that's what we're doing."

"We don't look at our record, we look at where we think the team should be someday," Rivers said. "And we know we have to be better. They are hearing we are 20-2 and we are telling them we have to improve, so it's two different messages. We just hope they get our message and not yours.

"We are winning games, but you've got to be careful with records. Even with teams you beat during the regular season, you don't know if they had back-to-backs, they were tired, they had injuries, it could be their fourth game in six nights.

"In the playoffs, they are focused and ready to play you. They've had rest. It's a different breed.

"That's why the record is great and we'll take it. And, on most of those nights, we were the tired team, and we won those games. But we know we have to be better."

What are they supposed to lose so that they don't "peak" too soon?

[Roy Hobbs]

Did the Celtics peak too soon last year?

That was my initial reaction, as well.

Also, I'm not sure that the team has "peaked".  It's certainly playing well, but there have been very few games this year that both the offense and the defense have been fully in sync. 

[housecall]

when we won aganist the Hawkes earlier brought back memories of last season aganist the Bobcats,when we won in Indy i got that last season feeling.No i think we are doing just fine,unlike the Cavs who think they are clicking on all 8cylinders(according to a few of their players),i agree with KG's statement saying "we still have work to do".

[TatteredOnMySleeve]

This team hasnt even come close to playing their best basketball this season, regardless of being 20-2...so no absolutely not
I think this question would be more fitting about the lakers and cavs
Lakers peaked their first few weeks, and now their defense looks among the worst in the league
Cavs are playing about as good as they will all year right now

[Tnerb02]

You know your team is good when one of your "problems" is that you are not losing enough.

[kenmaine]

Last year showed how important home court was, so every win matters.  And Doc is not overworking anyone IMO, so the starters should be fine come playoff time.
Actually, the bench hasn't really peaked. And they miss Posey, but TA has been fine. Leon's been a little bit inconsistent, Baby has pretty much done nothing, POB forget it, Eddie House has been fine, Scal has been almost useless. Pruitt is the invisible man- if he's really any good, wouldn't he be getting at least a few minutes/game?. I know Doc prefers veterans, but he did use Leon and Rondo when it became obvious to everyone how good they were, so I'm skeptical about Pruitt.
So, the answer is no.

[D Dub]

I was surprised by this thread because it has been my feeling that we have been sort of coasting into this season.  I felt that we were in pre-season mode through our first 10 games, and are just now starting to get to full speed.  We have had more than a few laxidazical efforts that required some late heorics to pull out the W, unlike the Lakers and Cavs who are running at full sppeed right now trying to blow everyone out. 

I think Doc has set it up nicely for us to peak later in the year.  I like how he started workouts a week later than everyone else and how he is working in the young guys early on.  He is letting the team ease their way in to the season, just so happens we are good enough to win even we when we play an average game.

[housecall]

Doc had some quotes about this in the Globe yesterday

"We're just playing basketball. We're winning, but we're playing normal minutes. So, the question should be, if we played the same amount of minutes and lost, would we be burning out? No. So, if we're going to play the minutes, I think we should try to win the game, and that's what we're doing."

"We don't look at our record, we look at where we think the team should be someday," Rivers said. "And we know we have to be better. They are hearing we are 20-2 and we are telling them we have to improve, so it's two different messages. We just hope they get our message and not yours.

"We are winning games, but you've got to be careful with records. Even with teams you beat during the regular season, you don't know if they had back-to-backs, they were tired, they had injuries, it could be their fourth game in six nights.

"In the playoffs, they are focused and ready to play you. They've had rest. It's a different breed.

"That's why the record is great and we'll take it. And, on most of those nights, we were the tired team, and we won those games. But we know we have to be better."

What are they supposed to lose so that they don't "peak" too soon?

Good one..tp for your comment.

[Hoops]

I was surprised by this thread because it has been my feeling that we have been sort of coasting into this season.  I felt that we were in pre-season mode through our first 10 games, and are just now starting to get to full speed.  We have had more than a few laxidazical efforts that required some late heorics to pull out the W, unlike the Lakers and Cavs who are running at full sppeed right now trying to blow everyone out. 

I think Doc has set it up nicely for us to peak later in the year.  I like how he started workouts a week later than everyone else and how he is working in the young guys early on.  He is letting the team ease their way in to the season, just so happens we are good enough to win even we when we play an average game.

I feel the same - like the team has sort of been coasting all year. It's like they've been the slow and steady tortoise. Doc even said they're not pushing minutes to win games, they're just kind of doing their thing. As it turns out, "doing their thing" has put them at 20-2. They can't help it if they play crappy and still win games.

I agree that the bench certainly has not peaked yet. They need more time running together to get things into top form.

One of the best things - now that I think about it - is that the team doesn't seem arrogant about their record right now. They still seem pretty humble to me. I know a lot of non-Celtic fans would say just the opposite - they would point to the trash-talking, the T's, the crazy Garnett antics with Calderon, etc. Those people do have a point, but I think those things are manifestations of hunger and intensity more than they are manifestations of arrogance. To me, the Lakers during the month of November were the epitome of arrogance. They lapped up the praise for their fast start like a dog drinking water after running around in the hot sun.

I think the hunger and intensity are signs that these guys take nothing for granted. In the end, given the additional year of experience together as a team, I think this year's squad will actually be more dominate that last year's team. (The only worry I have is that LeBron's team is also a LOT better than last year's Cavs team).

[dark_lord]

i dont think we have peaked yet, mainly bc i dont think we have played our best basketball.  we have been inconsistent in different areas thus far in the season.  i we were clicking on all cylindars and have been beating the top teams, then i would say we could have peaked, but that hasnt been the case to date.