Is the '10 Cs, the reincarnation of the '86 squad?

[TitleMaster]

Think about it, in '85, Max was hurt and Bird had a bad shooting wrist, thus his worst shooting series until '88 in Detroit. That squad had at most, a semi-on/off Wedman and Thirdkill for a bench. Then in '86, both Walton and Sichting arrived, the C's bench was complete and then the legendary season followed. The problem was that neither subs were 25 years of age so it didn't last into the years following.

Now today, similar story, Powe/KG decimated in '09, lost due to a weak bench, much like in '85, after the '84 title with a solid bench rotation. Now, we find a former all star, Wallace, who meshes with KG's passing in-out game, see Walton-Bird combo in terms of ball movement. The difference is that even in '86, neither Ainge nor DJ could stomp the court like Rondo and Ray Ray. But again, DJ, unlike RA, still had a few more seasons of heavy minutes, this could be Ray's last one before his inevitable decline. And like Walton, who knows how many seasons Rasheed can contribute, once he turns 36.

[Redz]

This has been my inclination since KG went down.

I really think we're in for something special this year.

[nickagneta]

While I love the analogy, I'm not so sure I would say that Rondo and Ray could stomp the yard and DJ and Ainge couldn't. DJ in 86 was better than Rondo is now. Much better and more savy and smarter. DJ was one of the few defensive PG's that could shut down anyone who played the point during that time, including Magic. And in 1986 Danny turned himself into one of the league's better 3 point shooters and in his next year had a year with shooting percentages almost as good as Ray did last year. Danny during those years between 86 and 91 was every bit as good a shooter as Ray is now.

[TheLegendaryClub]

It's early to tell how the season is going to go, since other teams are getting stacked too, but I think that both the fans and the team are going to get way hyped for this season. You could see it in KG at the Sheed press conference. These guys are out for redemption this year. They're all bummed about the dive the team took last season, and they're ready to wipe the slate clean, get healthy, and get down and dirty.

[celticinorlando]

undefeated at home baby!!!

[RAcker]

Man, I love posts like this.  TP and here's hoping you are right.

Of course, you have now got me anxious for the season to start and it's still a long way away.  Darn!

[TitleMaster]

DJ in 86 was better than Rondo is now. Much better and more savy and smarter. DJ was one of the few defensive PG's that could shut down anyone who played the point during that time, including Magic.

DJ wasn't good, DJ was great! He was a key lockdown defender and was a tenacious player who, despite numerous minutes played, never ran out of gas. If Bird had DJ's physical endurance, he could have played the post in '85 and still have won it all, out working Cooper in the paint, without needing his shooting wrist.

It wasn't the DJ vs Rondo analogy but more the combo pairing of Ray Ray and Rondo which DJ and Ainge might have a tougher time matching, not one-on-one. Realize, Magic wasn't all that quick, unlike Rondo who is lightening fast, and since Rondo is pass-first, DJ may have to switch off and cover someone else for the pullup, and Ray Ray clearly has a better overall game than Ainge, from both downtown and in the mid-range.

[Celtics17]

Ray has a better overall game then Ainge did but let's not forget who the superior athlete was. Ainge was not only a much better athlete then Ray he was a very savy player, not that Ray isnt. I still give the edge to this years guards but not by much. DJ was about as savy a player as you might find ever, could play lockdown D, and was "money" in crunch time. Rondo, as good as he was in the playoffs really choked in "money" time in this years playoffs. And please, lets not compare Wallace to Bill Walton. Bill would eat him alive!

[Ed Teach]

I am not sure that a 1986 Walton would eat Sheed alive. 
Bill Walton's best years were behind him in 1986, but even as a declining superstar he was one hell of a player off the bench.

I think that at this point in their careers that Sheed and Walton are very comparable.

[GKC]

I am not sure that a 1986 Walton would eat Sheed alive. 
Bill Walton's best years were behind him in 1986, but even as a declining superstar he was one hell of a player off the bench.

I think that at this point in their careers that Sheed and Walton are very comparable.

Walton's endurance might have been down, but his per 36 minute stats were still very good. 14pts, 13rbs, 2.5 blocks. Whenever McHale or Parish were in foul trouble, that's when he would dominate.

I think Sheed is different, because he provides a certain type of lock-down defense, and can space the floor, but from a rebounding and help defense standpoint, Walton was still better.

(I actually initially agreed with you until I looked at the stats)

[dark_lord]

i see the similarities.....if the outcome is the same as 86, i will be ecstatic!

[BadNewsBarnes]

Great post.  I was just saying this to someone the other day that the Sheed move reminded me of when we got Walton.  Walton was obviously a very different player than Sheed but it is similar in that we are adding a veteran who I think will be reinvigorated with us.  Let's hope it turns out the same as it did for our '86 Celts.  Let's see what else Danny adds to the mix. Too bad Grant Hill wasn't interested in winning.

As a side note I still think that the '86 team is the best team I ever saw.  It was really Walton's last hurrah but he went out with a bang.  Let's not forget sharpshooter Scott Wedman coming off the bench too.  Best team ever!

[Redz]

...then there's the depressing `87 and beyond part of extrapolating the comparison 

[Celtics17]

Walton was the 6th man of the year in 86. He had some very dominating games although in still limited minutes. Bill was an excellent rebounder, excellent passer, savy post player and a very tough player. I am not trying to take anything away from Sheed and I love the addition of him but still dont feel like he is anywhere close to the player, even at the respective ages, that Walton was. If we are talking about the two in their respective primes then there is really no way they are comparable as Walton was a vastly superior player in his prime then Sheed ever was. I am just talking about the one healthy year that Bill played for us.

[xmuscularghandix]

love the analogy.

Disagree about Ray's decline. I think he's got a good amount left in him, i'd actually resign him after this year as long as he's not asking for something crazy.