Ainge thinks the current Celtics are better than the '08 team

[Fafnir]

Cassell was really bad with us. I don't think missing him is anything to worry about. Other than bring up the ball, Eddie did everything better that season.

I do agree that Ainge shouldn't be done yet though. But I do think Sheed instantly makes our bench better than in 07-08, all we need is a vet. SF to fill it out. I don't think we necessarily will need one, but I don't want to count on Tony/Walker/Giddens to fill that role. In the playoffs I think we'll have a very good shortened rotation. If healthy better than 07-08.

[ssspence]

whatever. comparing the team to the past won't accomplish anything. just make this team as good as it can be to give us the best chance to win again this year. then we can compare the two.

[CoachBo]

Until he produces a capable backup for Pierce - and regains his credibility on that subject after trying to pass the farce that is Tony Allen off in that role - he is wrong.

[Spilling Green Dye]

I actually agree with Ainge, provided the Celtics stay healthy.

Reasons?  Rondo & Perk are better, and the rest of the bench has gained some experience.  The synergy of the team is even better too, which was evident by the 27-2 start last season.  Adding Rasheed Wallace was HUGE in so many ways. 

I think the only downsides, currently, are that Pierce may be slightly less than he was, and Ray has dropped off some.  Throw in that they don't have a Posey like guy off the bench for the SF position and it's clear there is still some work to do.  But, I love the team as it is right now, and am only hoping for a few more tweaks!

[ThaPreacher]

Until he produces a capable backup for Pierce - and regains his credibility on that subject after trying to pass the farce that is Tony Allen off in that role - he is wrong.

Announcer:  The Celtics have brought in the defensive specialist Tony Allen for Rajon Rondo, to guard Chancey Billips for the final minute of play.

Fan:  OH God No!

Announcer:  Billips goes left, crosses over to his right.  Clock is running down.  Look at the patience of the veteran All-Star guard.  Allen stays with him

Fan: Please don't leave your feet, TA.

Announcer:  Billips pulls up to take the final shot.  He pump fakes.

Fan:  (closes eyes and begins to re-sight the rosary)

Announcer:  Billips fakes the jumper, Allen right in his face.

Fan: thinking "I bet he left his feet"

Announcer:  Tony Allen with the foul, with .001 on the clock.
That Billups is a wily veteran guard, he fooled the Edited.  Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline.e out of Tony Allen.  He will be going to the line for to win the game.

Announcer:   Billups hits both free throws for the Piston win.


Fan:   @#$%#@%  Allen!

[mgent]

Until he produces a capable backup for Pierce - and regains his credibility on that subject after trying to pass the farce that is Tony Allen off in that role - he is wrong.

Announcer:  The Celtics have brought in the defensive specialist Tony Allen for Rajon Rondo, to guard Chancey Billips for the final minute of play.

Fan:  OH God No!

Announcer:  Billips goes left, crosses over to his right.  Clock is running down.  Look at the patience of the veteran All-Star guard.  Allen stays with him

Fan: Please don't leave your feet, TA.

Announcer:  Billips pulls up to take the final shot.  He pump fakes.

Fan:  (closes eyes and begins to re-sight the rosary)

Announcer:  Billips fakes the jumper, Allen right in his face.

Fan: thinking "I bet he left his feet"

Announcer:  Tony Allen with the foul, with .001 on the clock.
That Billups is a wily veteran guard, he fooled the ****e out of Tony Allen.  He will be going to the line for to win the game.

Announcer:   Billups hits both free throws for the Piston win.


Fan:   @#$%#@%  Allen!

Why would he pump fake with .001 on the clock?
Jeez Chauncey, just throw it up there.

[TheCelticTruth]

i agree with danny's opinion. a lot of what ive read on here seems to take stock of our team as the team that lost to orlando. we didn't have kg and paul and ray were gassed and banged up. to me, it feels like we need to remember that WE were the best team in the league last year until KG went down. then the cavs were the best in the east until orlando got hot in the playoffs.

if we look at our base rotation as perk/garnett/pierce/allen/rondo starting, with sheed and house and tbd as the 8/9 man rotation. we are much better than '08. rondo and perk will have all of last years growth plus this offseason and whatever improvement they put in during the coming season, sheed is better than anyone we had coming off the bench by a wide margin.

remember, one player doesnt make a whole bench, but we havent had anyone of rasheed wallace's caliber coming off the bench since bill walton. house is great at what he does. a solid back up wing, a fourth big that could still very well be glenn davis, and a point guard who plays more of a run the offense style than eddie for when we need that and i think we go toe to toe with anyone's team

[KungPoweChicken]

Of course, we look better on paper. But, as always, this is the question: Will we be healthy? Planning for a championship run with old timers, health is always the biggest issue. Can KG stay healthy for a full season? His games per year have been going down for the past three or four years. Is there any reason to believe that is going to stop this year? Can Pierce and Allen continue to stay healthy for a full season? They have had great luck thus far. But how long will that luck last?

Will Rondo make the jump from a very good point guard to an elite point guard? If one of the big three goes down, Rondo needs to be the best player on the court, always.

Is our bench any better than last year? I tend to think it is. As we all know, Rasheed can be a big time player. But does he still want it? Does he still have the fire?

Our bench is better than last year's, but that isn't saying much. We have nothing after Rasheed. No one. Well, that's not entirely true. We do have Tony "Emergency Room" Allen and Brian "The Celticsblog Whipping Boy" Scalabrine. But, everyone here knows, we cannot count on those guys. It's just way too much of a gamble.

[footey]

I think we are better if we re-sign BBD and acquire Moon or someone comparable to him as back up 3. Then it is time to measure for rings.

[jerrykid69]

Resigning BBD will only help...he has been on this team, played with these guys, and will just deepen our bench.

But if he is going to get the full mle than forget it. With Sheed his minutes will be cut down also.

[RAcker]

What makes me feel good about this optimism by Danny is that he must know that KG is coming along real nicely and that BBD is very possibly coming back.  I also hope that his optimism is grounded in one more bench pieces being added to keep TA, et al on the bench or shipped out of town.  If he knows this is happening for sure, then I can see why he is so bold.

[LB3533]

Umm, how about who cares if we are better than 2007-2008?

Shouldn't we be asking, have the moves we have made make us better than the Cavs or the Magic?

[mgent]

i agree with danny's opinion. a lot of what ive read on here seems to take stock of our team as the team that lost to orlando. we didn't have kg and paul and ray were gassed and banged up. to me, it feels like we need to remember that WE were the best team in the league last year until KG went down. then the cavs were the best in the east until orlando got hot in the playoffs.

if we look at our base rotation as perk/garnett/pierce/allen/rondo starting, with sheed and house and tbd as the 8/9 man rotation. we are much better than '08. rondo and perk will have all of last years growth plus this offseason and whatever improvement they put in during the coming season, sheed is better than anyone we had coming off the bench by a wide margin.

remember, one player doesnt make a whole bench, but we havent had anyone of rasheed wallace's caliber coming off the bench since bill walton. house is great at what he does. a solid back up wing, a fourth big that could still very well be glenn davis, and a point guard who plays more of a run the offense style than eddie for when we need that and i think we go toe to toe with anyone's team

Even with KG and Perk we were having trouble staying ahead of Cle and Orl, plus there was LA doing good in the West.  And don't try to play the 'our poor guys were tired' card.  Plus you can't say we were the best until our team proved it in the playoffs.  Unless we were leading the league by 10 wins, it's not exactly considered 'objective' to say we were the best.
Also remember, we're not the only team that is better.  Simply adding one guy in spite of what we have lost, might not be enough to ensure victory.
Keep in mind our 4 main competitors have all added good players, ALL of which have been added in a starting position.  That sort of gives them more of an opportunity to improve.  3 of them were all stars and 3 of them were added for little to no price.

[footey]

well, with Sheed and Daniels, and assuming we get Davis back, I would say Danny is right. We are much better now.\

[snively]

i agree with danny's opinion. a lot of what ive read on here seems to take stock of our team as the team that lost to orlando. we didn't have kg and paul and ray were gassed and banged up. to me, it feels like we need to remember that WE were the best team in the league last year until KG went down. then the cavs were the best in the east until orlando got hot in the playoffs.

if we look at our base rotation as perk/garnett/pierce/allen/rondo starting, with sheed and house and tbd as the 8/9 man rotation. we are much better than '08. rondo and perk will have all of last years growth plus this offseason and whatever improvement they put in during the coming season, sheed is better than anyone we had coming off the bench by a wide margin.

remember, one player doesnt make a whole bench, but we havent had anyone of rasheed wallace's caliber coming off the bench since bill walton. house is great at what he does. a solid back up wing, a fourth big that could still very well be glenn davis, and a point guard who plays more of a run the offense style than eddie for when we need that and i think we go toe to toe with anyone's team

Even with KG and Perk we were having trouble staying ahead of Cle and Orl, plus there was LA doing good in the West.  And don't try to play the 'our poor guys were tired' card.  Plus you can't say we were the best until our team proved it in the playoffs.  Unless we were leading the league by 10 wins, it's not exactly considered 'objective' to say we were the best.
Also remember, we're not the only team that is better.  Simply adding one guy in spite of what we have lost, might not be enough to ensure victory.
Keep in mind our 4 main competitors have all added good players, ALL of which have been added in a starting position.  That sort of gives them more of an opportunity to improve.  3 of them were all stars and 3 of them were added for little to no price.

I don't think anybody has added more for less than the C's.  We were in a 3-way tie for best team with the Cavs and Lakers when KG went down.  Since then the C's have upgraded their biggest weaknesses (the Baby/Scal round mound of no rebounds and the absence of a competent back-up wing) and added some big weapons (3-pt shooting, shot-blocking and post-defense at the 5, and ballhandling at the wing) without losing anyone but maybe Baby and Powe.

The next best offseason is the Spurs, but they were so far behind the C's last year, that I doubt RJ and Dice brings them even.

I think the Cavs have stagnated (Shaq is going to hurt them defensively, and clog the court for LBJ.  His offensive rebounding is nice, but nothing that Z and Varejao didn't already bring to the table.  And did they really need more scoring? Parker's a good addition though.) and the Magic are treading water (Carter for Hedo is small upgrade, and Bass is a mild upgrade of Battie.  If they don't replace Lee with an equivalent or better swingman, I don't see how they've improved).

I see the Lakers, granted Odom resigns, as the most significant threat.  A Cavs or Magic EC crown would be fluky IMHO (and both would lose to the Lake Show).  The C's are put together a lot better.