9 Percent of ESPN predicts the Celtics will win the Finals

[Mike-Dub]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=OffseasonPredictions09-NBAChamps

Boston Celtics (5 votes)
The Big Three are now the Big Four, and Boston is just 15 months removed from winning its 17th title. But add it all up, and only 9 percent of our panel sees the C's raising another banner in 2010:

I pick them to win the NBA title because it really is their last stand. Much like the 1968-69 Celtics, who won the 11th title in Bill Russell's career, this team is primarily a group of proud veterans who want to achieve a special place in franchise history. They won it once and may have won it last year had not Kevin Garnett been hurt. With Rasheed Wallace in the mix, Danny Ainge went all-in to win it in 2010.


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Maybe Kevin Garnett and Rasheed Wallace aren't what they once were, but the Celtics should get a pretty dynamic season out of the combination of the two.


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The emergence of Rajon Rondo was the dose of youth and energy the Celtics will need to get them back to the top of the mountain.


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The Celtics have the best starting five in the NBA and added terrific depth in Marquis Daniels and Rasheed Wallace. With KG healthy, they may not be the best team in the regular season, but they will be in the postseason.

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They deserve to be the favorites and they are. But the best team doesn't always win. Ron Artest is fierce, but in the Finals against Boston, L.A.'s front line will face nasty guys like Kendrick Perkins, Kevin Garnett and Rasheed Wallace, while Paul Pierce and Kobe will cancel each other out.

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The last part is from someone who thinks the C's will beat the Lakers!!!!!!   Which I do too!

Not, surpised only 9 percent of ESPN predicted us to win.  Every one will know who's the best when we're raising Banner 18 on opening night of the 2010-2011 season!

[PosImpos]

Celtics vs Spurs in the 2010 Finals.

Bank on it.

[Mike-Dub]

Celtics vs Spurs in the 2010 Finals.

Bank on it.

I say Celtics Vs. Lakers like '08.

[RebusRankin]

Predictable, ESPN loves the Lakers and Cavs when the Celtics and Spurs are the better teams.

[Cman]

Celtics vs Spurs in the 2010 Finals.

Bank on it.

That would be great.

[Mike-Dub]

I WANT US TO CRUSH THE LAKERS!

[Bent]

On the eve of the 2008 finals, only 1 of 16 analysts said the Celtics would win, which I think is 6.25%.

So does that mean the Celtics' chances of winning this year's titles are almost 50% higher now (two months before the season) than they were at that point?

[Mike-Dub]

Celtics vs Spurs in the 2010 Finals.

Bank on it.

That would be great.

What would be great is C's Vs. Lakers with the C's sweeping and winning everygame at least by 20!!!!!!!!!!!!

[justice]

I am surprised that we aren't getting the respect that we should be considering our off-season moves and Garnett returning but I attribute it to the fact that we aren't the hot team anymore and I think there are lingering concerns KG may not be the same....Couple that with our big 3's age, and I think thats the reason.

Should we care? Hell no, it will be that much more satisfying proving we are better than the experts think. And I think this may be our year...Can't wait to find out if I'm right

[billysan]

So we spank Stern's Lebron binky and meet the evil Lakers in the Finals.

Celtics win it all in 5, making Kobe cry again.

Rondo is the Finals MVP for number 18.

ESPN stands by and acts incredulous. How can this be?

[star18]

The Cavs aren't winning anything, they are not even going to come close to the title.   How they are 1 vote under the Lakers makes no sense.  I don't know why ESPN keeps doing this.   Read the comments by the readers under the article.  For every person that says the Cavs are the best there are 9 more comments about how they are the most overrated team and aren't going to win the finals.   Why can't EPSN just make a fair and balanced prediction for the 2009-10 nba season?

[Mike-Dub]

Celtics win it all in 5, making Kobe cry again.

Don't you mean Celtics SWEEP, making Kobe cry again.

[star18]

In their last 28 road games, the Cavs have 1 win against a +.600 team.   It was @SA w/o Duncan & Ginobli, so it doesn't even really count.  How are you supposed to win a title with numbers like that, and why would they get so many votes with numbers like that?  Nobody wins titles with numbers like that.

[Scalablob990]

Marquis and Wallace are the only two "?" who will determine if we win or not. Marquis on fire = less mins for RA/PP. Wallace on fire = KG less minutes.

[star18]

2008-09 Records on the road against the top 11 teams in the league(+.585 or better).   Lakers 15-11, Magic 10-10, Celtics 7-8, Cavs 5-10.   There is nothing there that says 34% chance Cavs win title(18 of 53 votes).