Our issues this year

[ManUp]

Our issue this year was that we never got the bench that was supposed to magically fall into our lap and come together by midseason (like last year). At the beginning of the year just about all of us knew our bench wasn't good enough. Doc did a great job with the bench during the season, despite the lack of talent on it. With the injuries emptying what little quality we had on our bench, the lack of depth has caught up. Hopefully next season we'll have a bench we can go into the play-offs with ready from the start.

[kozlodoev]

There is one thing glaringly obvious that hurts our team that needs to be addressed in the offseason. We are absolutely getting KILLED by younger, faster, and taller teams. This was an issue last season as well as we saw in the Hawks series, but our health and defense allowed us to get away with it. This season we have gone from a championship contender to an also ran due to losing players, lacking the defensive intensity we had last year, and being even smaller than we were last year.

This offseason we need to look very hard at the idea of getting taller and quicker. Guys with true NBA bodies that can get up and down the floor with these teams like ATL, the Bulls, Cavs, etc. If we don't we are going to be in even worse shape than this year. Fortunately the stars aligned last year and we were able to get the banner, but if we don't get some length out there we can kiss any additional chances goodbye.

Sure. We should use genetic treatment to make our three best players 10 years younger. Yes, this will address the issues.

The reason we won last year is because we played as a team in all phases of the game, at all times - starters or bench. This makes the team better than the sum of its parts.

This year our game consists of our best players taking turns to carry the team on their back. While this worked to an extent due to the fact we have 3 of the best players in the game, it leaves us exposed when one or two of them are down, and it wears everyone out.

That's it. With nearly the same players we were in a much better situation against young, tall and athletic teams -- and fared better. It's not the personnel, it's how they've been playing.

[Txusberg]

I think, besides the injures, the main issue is the lack of quality from the bench. Big Baby, Powe and House are our only assets IMO and now with Davis as starter and Powe down, our bench is full of bodies with not much talent to bring on the floor. I would rather have a few good players in our roster rather than a bunch of guys with not much to bring to the table. I know that the regular season is long but since we are only using 10 or 12 players anyway, why do we have our roster full of unproven or mediocre guys?. I hope we learn from our mistakes and build a better team in order to three-peat (#18 is coming this year, maybe ). Go Celts!!

[EJPLAYA]

There is one thing glaringly obvious that hurts our team that needs to be addressed in the offseason. We are absolutely getting KILLED by younger, faster, and taller teams. This was an issue last season as well as we saw in the Hawks series, but our health and defense allowed us to get away with it. This season we have gone from a championship contender to an also ran due to losing players, lacking the defensive intensity we had last year, and being even smaller than we were last year.

This offseason we need to look very hard at the idea of getting taller and quicker. Guys with true NBA bodies that can get up and down the floor with these teams like ATL, the Bulls, Cavs, etc. If we don't we are going to be in even worse shape than this year. Fortunately the stars aligned last year and we were able to get the banner, but if we don't get some length out there we can kiss any additional chances goodbye.

Sure. We should use genetic treatment to make our three best players 10 years younger. Yes, this will address the issues.

The reason we won last year is because we played as a team in all phases of the game, at all times - starters or bench. This makes the team better than the sum of its parts.

This year our game consists of our best players taking turns to carry the team on their back. While this worked to an extent due to the fact we have 3 of the best players in the game, it leaves us exposed when one or two of them are down, and it wears everyone out.

That's it. With nearly the same players we were in a much better situation against young, tall and athletic teams -- and fared better. It's not the personnel, it's how they've been playing.

No. Although I agree we have players trying to carry it on their own, that isn't our biggest issue. We got away with it last year because we were completely healthy, and the Cavs hadn't strengthened their roster. Had they had Mo Williams and a healthy Zydrunas last year we wouldn't have slipped past them. They are young and improving. We are old and aging. Our young guys are short and one dimensional. We need to get bigger plain and simple. A little health wouldn't hurt either. Otherwise two years from now we are rebuilding again. The only young guy on this team worth rebuilding around right now is Rondo. We're in trouble once the big three are gone.

[cornbreadsmart]

luckily we have danny who WILL trade anybody to improve the team. danny won't let feelings get in the way. he understands it's about the name on the front and all that.

[CoachBo]

By priority:

1. Get Garnett healthy.
2. Get a competent 3 to backup the Captain, preferably a perimeter shooter who can defend.
2a. Resign Davis.
3. Find a competent center to back up Perkins. Robert Swift need not apply.
4. A veteran PG to back up, tutor and push Rondo to play aggressively and smart EVERY night.

Beyond the starters, buy out, waive or trade anyone not named Bill Walker.

You KNOW Danny's gonna take a look at Swift.   LOL

I know. Like some men have a weakness for hookers, Danny has a weakness for incompetent 7-footers.

I wouldn't be suprrised to see that cadaver Bob Swift in a Celtics uniform next for O'Bryant: Season Two.

[RAcker]

If we'd have had luck in the health department, none of this would even be a discussion right now because we wouldn't be struggling so badly with the Bulls.  They are a good team, but are not our equals to this degree when healthy.

[CoachBo]

If healthy, this series is over.

However, we have definitive bench issues that were going to keep us from repeating anyway, in my opinion.

Keep six players: The starters plus Davis. Everyone else is available, although I'd prefer another season to look at Walker.

[RAcker]

If healthy, this series is over.

However, we have definitive bench issues that were going to keep us from repeating anyway, in my opinion.

Keep six players: The starters plus Davis. Everyone else is available, although I'd prefer another season to look at Walker.

Man, wouldn't it be nice to have a healthy Leon and BBD coming off the bench with Eddie and Marbury right now? 

Aaaaaaaah!  I want to smash something. 

Um...and Mikki Moore is a hot stinking pile of rotten trash at this point.  Please throw some lime on him.

[PosImpos]

If healthy, this series is over.

However, we have definitive bench issues that were going to keep us from repeating anyway, in my opinion.

Keep six players: The starters plus Davis. Everyone else is available, although I'd prefer another season to look at Walker.

I'd definitely keep Walker for at least another year, he has a legit. chance of some time next year.  As for the rest, I agree, though it really comes down to what we can get for people.  Scal has been useful in limited minutes and so has Eddie for stretches (when he's on a good streak), but if we can get something half decent for either of them (or both together) I'd say yeah, trade 'em.  The only core that we def. need to keep is the starters + BBD, as you said.

[RebusRankin]

If healthy, this series is over.

However, we have definitive bench issues that were going to keep us from repeating anyway, in my opinion.

Keep six players: The starters plus Davis. Everyone else is available, although I'd prefer another season to look at Walker.

Bo for GM.

[ManUp]

If healthy, this series is over.

However, we have definitive bench issues that were going to keep us from repeating anyway, in my opinion.

Keep six players: The starters plus Davis. Everyone else is available, although I'd prefer another season to look at Walker.

I'd like to see us keep Gabe as well. I think he's shown that he can be a decent backup, and to be honest that's all we need. In my opinion, the vet backup point is no longer needed with the way Rondo has developed.

[CoachBo]

While I agree that Rondo has improved, his game is still quite erratic, as the last two games of the Chicago series illustrate.

And, I frankly don't believe Pruitt has proven much of anything. He's consistently mediocre, and I'd like more out of the position than he's provided - or Marbury, for that matter, although Steph is my clear preference for the rest of this season.

When you cannot get bench minutes on a team with this kind of a bench, you're clearly not long for Boston.

PG isn't my top off-season priority: finding a competent 3 to backup Pierce is. However, I am far from sold on Gabe Pruitt, and I'd certainly move him in the right deal.

[cdif911]

While I agree that Rondo has improved, his game is still quite erratic, as the last two games of the Chicago series illustrate.

And, I frankly don't believe Pruitt has proven much of anything. He's consistently mediocre, and I'd like more out of the position than he's provided - or Marbury, for that matter, although Steph is my clear preference for the rest of this season.

PG isn't my top off-season priority: finding a competent 3 to backup Pierce is. However, I am far from sold on Gabe Pruitt, and I'd certainly move him in the right deal.

Rondo put up 19 assists in game 6 - 19! there's few guards in the league who could come close to that - and yes game 7 wasnt' a shining moment, but I think he was just out of gas - Rondo has come a long way, and I think the fact he put up flat out ridiculous numbers for 5 games may have raised the ceiling to unrealistic expectations for some people here; he's proven to be an elite pg in the league this season and this series, I wholeheardetdly expect it to continue

[CoachBo]

While I agree that Rondo has improved, his game is still quite erratic, as the last two games of the Chicago series illustrate.

And, I frankly don't believe Pruitt has proven much of anything. He's consistently mediocre, and I'd like more out of the position than he's provided - or Marbury, for that matter, although Steph is my clear preference for the rest of this season.

PG isn't my top off-season priority: finding a competent 3 to backup Pierce is. However, I am far from sold on Gabe Pruitt, and I'd certainly move him in the right deal.

Rondo put up 19 assists in game 6 - 19! there's few guards in the league who could come close to that - and yes game 7 wasnt' a shining moment, but I think he was just out of gas - Rondo has come a long way, and I think the fact he put up flat out ridiculous numbers for 5 games may have raised the ceiling to unrealistic expectations for some people here; he's proven to be an elite pg in the league this season and this series, I wholeheardetdly expect it to continue

To quote Doc Rivers, Rondo was "passive" in Game 6, a conclusion I wholeheartedly agree with.

We won't advance further in the playoffs until Rondo resumes attacking the basket and defending aggressively, neither which he did in the last two games. Assists can be a rather meaningless number when you're fiddling and diddling with the basketball, then flipping it on the wing to a guy who's in the midst of a 51-point game - until that ugly turnaround jumper you got blocked while the same 51-point guy's on the wing waiting for the basketball.

I still have issues with his judgment with the basketball and taking possessions off. Until those are dealt with, he's merely knocking on the elite door.

He hasn't knocked it down. Yet. But he will, because Rivers will continue to quite correctly demand consistency from him. It is coming.