New perspective

[libermaniac]

Let's face it, we all know the C's won't repeat this year.  After first learning of KGs injury I was po'd and not enjoying the Bulls series, because they appeared to be "underachieving".  I didn't even watch game 2 live, because I was so disgusted with the game 1 results.  But, after following on the internet, I went back and watched all of game 2 (not sure I've ever watched every minute of a game I knew the score of before) and LOVED IT.

Now, with Powe's injury - it's painfully clear that the C's won't win it.  But, that does not mean we need to despair.

We are in the midst of a great series.  I'm trying to throw out all preconceived notions that the C's should easily handle the Bulls, and am just going to enjoy this series for what it is - a very evenly contested, supremely entertaining series.  Just because the C's will eventually be knocked out doesn't mean we fans need to be robbed of enjoying this playoff series.

So, let's just focus on this series and enjoy it for what it's worth.  We can get back to title aspirations next year!

Go C's!

[BudweiserCeltic]

No, we ALL don't know that we won't repeat this year. I find it hard to believe the level of pesimism out here. Will it be tough? Sure. But that's just about it. We have very capable people in our roster.

[libermaniac]

No, we ALL don't know that we won't repeat this year. I find it hard to believe the level of pesimism out here. Will it be tough? Sure. But that's just about it. We have very capable people in our roster.

Still drinking the cool-aid I guess.  I suppose if Bron and Kobe get hurt, or if KG comes back 100% for the CLE series, then we have a chance (perhaps 1 in 3 if those things happen), but let's be realistic.  Odds of C's winning the title right now have got to be < 1%.

[Chris]

No, we ALL don't know that we won't repeat this year. I find it hard to believe the level of pesimism out here. Will it be tough? Sure. But that's just about it. We have very capable people in our roster.

Still drinking the cool-aid I guess.  I suppose if Bron and Kobe get hurt, or if KG comes back 100% for the CLE series, then we have a chance (perhaps 1 in 3 if those things happen), but let's be realistic.  Odds of C's winning the title right now have got to be < 1%.

If KG comes back 100% for the Cleveland series, we have a great chance.  That's not happening though.

[D Dub]

Just like last year, we'll go as far as home court takes us.


I for one always enjoy when my team is one of the top 5 competing late into the season.  That's all you can really ask for as a fan, imho.

[Eja117]

I'm not a big fan of surrenduring while the battle is approximately tied.

Facing reality is one thing.  Declaring ourselves the loser before it happens is another

[libermaniac]

I'm not surrendering the CHI series.  That was the whole point of this post.  We have a good chance in this series and it's enjoyable to watch, so I'm going to enjoy it.  It's just after that when we have to be realistic.

[BudweiserCeltic]

No, we ALL don't know that we won't repeat this year. I find it hard to believe the level of pesimism out here. Will it be tough? Sure. But that's just about it. We have very capable people in our roster.

Still drinking the cool-aid I guess.  I suppose if Bron and Kobe get hurt, or if KG comes back 100% for the CLE series, then we have a chance (perhaps 1 in 3 if those things happen), but let's be realistic.  Odds of C's winning the title right now have got to be < 1%.

I bet you were one of those who abandonned our team last year when we were having an awful playoffs.

There's no cool-aid drinking here, I just don't have to start expecting us to lose just so that I can have some peace of mind, like you seem to have. I wasn't the one that got disgusted with the team just because of ONE game (which we almost won anyways).

Why go through playoffs then, if it's guaranteed that the best teams always win? Games need to be played, and players rise to the occasion. Will it happen this year? Who knows, but giving up on a team when things get tough just so that you can enjoy life seems weak from a fan's perspective.

Cleveland, for one, will have a tough 2nd round (of course assuming they make it there). Atlanta and Miami played them quite well during the season. Some close games, and a couple of wins if not mistaken. So just because Cleveland has been so dominating so far, it doesn't mean they should have an easy time going through the rounds, or that they don't risk losing. They almost screwed up to a Detroit team that wasn't playing well, heck, they had Kwame Brown getting some minutes. Anything can happen.

It's fine if you don't expect the Celtics to win, but don't feed me the crap that I should expect them to lose, or that I can't have some hope that our team, with two future hall-of-famer, an all-star in the making, one of the best defensive/rebounding bigs in the game, a former all-star PG on the bench (who hasn't really panned out yet), etc. can't repeat this year... that it would be absurd to even contemplate.

[FLCeltsFan]

I still believe.  We can win it all this season but the players we have playing must give their best effort and play Celtics basketball on both ends of the court.  They CAN still win it. 

[Roy Hobbs]

I get what the OP is saying, in a way.  Last year, entering the playoffs the team was expected to win, or at the very least make the Finals.  To a lot of fans, each game took on a "win at all costs" feel, where it became hard to enjoy each individual game, especially the losses.

This year's team is much more of an underdog.  They're expected to make it out of the first round, but after that they're facing an uphill climb.  Maybe it's possible to enjoy the playoffs more when you *hope* to win, rather than *expect* it.  Maybe being the underdog allows fans to have higher highs, and lower lows.

Also, I won't get on the OP too much for doubting the Celtics chances.  A few weeks back, I think I described the chances of the Celtics winning without KG as "0.0%".  While I'll still be rooting hard and hoping, I can't say that I truly believe the team is going to win this year.  I wouldn't have used some of the language libermaniac used (especially the "we all know" stuff), but I think the sentiment is at least understandable.

[Drucci]

I think that I agree with the OP. I've accepted the fact that the team have about 1% chance of repeating since we know that KG is done (even though he may come back). It bothered me for a long time, it was hard to accept it, especially because we could only blame KG's injury and the bad luck.

Now, the Celtics will have trouble to get to the second round and to advance further. But I trust this team, I'm just enjoying this ride and I won't say that the repeat is impossible till the Celtics lose 4 games in a series. My expectations are clearly lower than last year but I'm fine with it because I still love to watch this team do its best against a younger and hungry athletic team which gives them problems. The Celtics got the title last year and they are trying their best to repeat this season even though everything is against them. But I still believe. Let's go C's!

[Eja117]

Being realistic has nothing to with sports.

[LarBrd33]

No, we ALL don't know that we won't repeat this year. I find it hard to believe the level of pesimism out here. Will it be tough? Sure. But that's just about it. We have very capable people in our roster.

Yeah... we have as much chance of winning the title as any other team in the playoffs ... Philly... Utah... Chicago... etc.  It's possible, for sure... 

But the only two teams likely to win it are the Lakers and Cavs.   Everyone else just has delusions of grandeur.

I mean... the Walker/Pierce Celtics were fun to watch... but even when they made the ECF we knew they didn't have a prayor of actually winning the title.   This year feels the same way.  I mean... suuuure... TECHNICALLY we have a shot... but Comeoonnnnn....

[libermaniac]

I bet you were one of those who abandonned our team last year when we were having an awful playoffs.

Nope - I'm a Sox fan, so I do believe.  In this post last year pointed out to all the downers that nobody would've expected the Sox to win it all when down 3-0 to the Yanks or 3-1 to the Tribe (and they all said ... THAT WAS DIFFERENT).  No, I kept the faith.  Because we were full strength and the best team.  http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=17675.msg280921#msg280921

That's not the case this year.

There's no cool-aid drinking here, I just don't have to start expecting us to lose just so that I can have some peace of mind, like you seem to have. I wasn't the one that got disgusted with the team just because of ONE game (which we almost won anyways).

Why go through playoffs then, if it's guaranteed that the best teams always win? Games need to be played, and players rise to the occasion. Will it happen this year? Who knows, but giving up on a team when things get tough just so that you can enjoy life seems weak from a fan's perspective.

You are missing my point.  My point was I had a brief hiccup of being disgusted, now I'm just going to enjoy this series and root for the C's, without expectations.  E.g. if they win by 2, that's great (I'm not going to worry about the fact that they should be handling the Bulls easily).

Cleveland, for one, will have a tough 2nd round (of course assuming they make it there). Atlanta and Miami played them quite well during the season. Some close games, and a couple of wins if not mistaken. So just because Cleveland has been so dominating so far, it doesn't mean they should have an easy time going through the rounds, or that they don't risk losing. They almost screwed up to a Detroit team that wasn't playing well, heck, they had Kwame Brown getting some minutes. Anything can happen.

It's fine if you don't expect the Celtics to win, but don't feed me the crap that I should expect them to lose, or that I can't have some hope that our team, with two future hall-of-famer, an all-star in the making, one of the best defensive/rebounding bigs in the game, a former all-star PG on the bench (who hasn't really panned out yet), etc. can't repeat this year... that it would be absurd to even contemplate.

I'm sorry, but we are just going to have to agree to disagree.  This is the NBA, not baseball.  There are very few upsets in the NBA playoffs.  Perhaps one round, maybe even two, but rarely if at all underdogs who run the table.  And, those that may have in the past are not playing with only 2 healthy bigs. 

I wasn't telling you you should expect them to lose, I just thought it was obvious.  My bad that it's not obvious to everyone.  I'd be glad for you to rub this post in my face if I'm wrong.  Freaking thrilled if we got #18.

[libermaniac]

No, we ALL don't know that we won't repeat this year. I find it hard to believe the level of pesimism out here. Will it be tough? Sure. But that's just about it. We have very capable people in our roster.

Yeah... we have as much chance of winning the title as any other team in the playoffs ... Philly... Utah... Chicago... etc.  It's possible, for sure... 

But the only two teams likely to win it are the Lakers and Cavs.   Everyone else just has delusions of grandeur.

I mean... the Walker/Pierce Celtics were fun to watch... but even when they made the ECF we knew they didn't have a prayor of actually winning the title.   This year feels the same way.  I mean... suuuure... TECHNICALLY we have a shot... but Comeoonnnnn....

Thank you LB!  A voice of reason. TP for your honesty.