Refuting the Excuses

[celticinorlando]

i think we need to see how this teams responds from this way forward. they are lazy, effortless and down right putrid with their play right now. will KG cure some of that? I hope so....but it bothers me that this team decided to take the last month off and act like they can just turn it on whenever they want. they showed true heart and grit  last year without him. this year they look like a bunch of entitled players going through the motions. i dont care if it is only Jan. this team has a long, long way to go

[Chris]

There are no excuses.  This team has lost focus.  That is clear and irrefutable.  The question is whether this lack of focus is cause for as much concern as some people are giving it.  

Based on past history, I would argue that it isn't.  This team still has the third best record in the league, and they have been there before.  Slumps like this happen all the time to good teams in the NBA.  I think this team has the ability to pull out of it, just like they have in the past.

[GreenFaith1819]

I just think that the next several weeks - prior to All-Star break - will be a good snapshot of what will unfold with the rest of the season.

We have POR, Both LA's, MIA, and a few others coming up..I haven't looked at the whole schedule into Feb yet.

Once we get KG back and run off a few without losing no more than one or two prior to the All Star break, then I believe all will be forgotten.

Hopefully.

[Chris]

I just think that the next several weeks - prior to All-Star break - will be a good snapshot of what will unfold with the rest of the season.

We have POR, Both LA's, MIA, and a few others coming up..I haven't looked at the whole schedule into Feb yet.

Once we get KG back and run off a few without losing no more than one or two prior to the All Star break, then I believe all will be forgotten.

Hopefully.

Eh, I think if you expect that, you are going to be disapointed.  Even once KG comes back, there may be a small spike, and then another let down.  I don't think we will get an accurate view of what this team will be until KG has been back for a few weeks, and things have a chance to level out a bit.

[celticinorlando]

the schedule from tomorrow until the end of the month is BRUTAL:

portland
clippers
at orlando
at atlanta (back 2 back nights)
then the LAKERS....

if they don't show or the continue to struggle for this next stretch with KG...then that will tell all we need to know about the celtics. those are all games they should be fired up and ready to play....i am not trying to be drastic...but i could honestly see them losing a majority of those games to finish the month unless they get their you know what together. KG will help...but there are a lot of guys on this team not playing focused

[Redz]

the schedule from tomorrow until the end of the month is BRUTAL:

portland
clippers
at orlando
at atlanta (back 2 back nights)
then the LAKERS....

if they don't show or the continue to struggle for this next stretch with KG...then that will tell all we need to know about the celtics. those are all games they should be fired up and ready to play....i am not trying to be drastic...but i could honestly see them losing a majority of those games to finish the month unless they get their you know what together. KG will help...but there are a lot of guys on this team not playing focused

Where are the Nets when we need them?

[GreenFaith1819]

the schedule from tomorrow until the end of the month is BRUTAL:

portland
clippers
at orlando
at atlanta (back 2 back nights)
then the LAKERS....

if they don't show or the continue to struggle for this next stretch with KG...then that will tell all we need to know about the celtics. those are all games they should be fired up and ready to play....i am not trying to be drastic...but i could honestly see them losing a majority of those games to finish the month unless they get their you know what together. KG will help...but there are a lot of guys on this team not playing focused

Good Point - now what if they sweep these games? I certainly would say that this scenario would mean the Celtics we all know and love are back.

[celticinorlando]

the schedule from tomorrow until the end of the month is BRUTAL:

portland
clippers
at orlando
at atlanta (back 2 back nights)
then the LAKERS....

if they don't show or the continue to struggle for this next stretch with KG...then that will tell all we need to know about the celtics. those are all games they should be fired up and ready to play....i am not trying to be drastic...but i could honestly see them losing a majority of those games to finish the month unless they get their you know what together. KG will help...but there are a lot of guys on this team not playing focused

Good Point - now what if they sweep these games? I certainly would say that this scenario would mean the Celtics we all know and love are back.

no question...even of they come out of the orlando-atlanta-laker stretch 3-0 or 2-1 i will be happy. i think the laker game at home is a game the need to win to restore confidence in themselves and the Cs nation

[GreenFaith1819]

the schedule from tomorrow until the end of the month is BRUTAL:

portland
clippers
at orlando
at atlanta (back 2 back nights)
then the LAKERS....

if they don't show or the continue to struggle for this next stretch with KG...then that will tell all we need to know about the celtics. those are all games they should be fired up and ready to play....i am not trying to be drastic...but i could honestly see them losing a majority of those games to finish the month unless they get their you know what together. KG will help...but there are a lot of guys on this team not playing focused

And even IF we don't play well in that stretch - even with KG - are we still ready to write the Celtics off?

They will still have March and half of April.

Celtics are making the playoffs - no doubt. I am just not ready to sell the farm until someone disposes of us in a Seven Game series.

ATL hasn't done that. ORL Barely did it last yr in playoffs - without KG or Powe. CLE hasn't done it ever, nor do I think that they will.

We are 2-1 this season against CLE and ORL (Christmas Day Miracle without Pierce, I may add). I like those odds, myself. And we've beaten the Spurs (In San Antonio).

And ATL can't beat CLE or ORL. Period.

Crushed the Bulls twice - with KG, though.
Beaten Memphis (In Memphis) and OKC (In OKC) - Two hot teams right now who are over 500.

And even with the ATL games - these games were not decided until very late..ATL has not blown us out in ANY loss since the Big Three trade.

See? A lot of good has happened this season...it's just a dark time right now.

[celticinorlando]

the schedule from tomorrow until the end of the month is BRUTAL:

portland
clippers
at orlando
at atlanta (back 2 back nights)
then the LAKERS....

if they don't show or the continue to struggle for this next stretch with KG...then that will tell all we need to know about the celtics. those are all games they should be fired up and ready to play....i am not trying to be drastic...but i could honestly see them losing a majority of those games to finish the month unless they get their you know what together. KG will help...but there are a lot of guys on this team not playing focused

And even IF we don't play well in that stretch - even with KG - are we still ready to write the Celtics off?

They will still have March and half of April.

Celtics are making the playoffs - no doubt. I am just not ready to sell the farm until someone disposes of us in a Seven Game series.

ATL hasn't done that. ORL Barely did it last yr in playoffs - without KG or Powe. CLE hasn't done it ever, nor do I think that they will.

We are 2-1 this season against CLE and ORL (Christmas Day Miracle without Pierce, I may add). I like those odds, myself. And we've beaten the Spurs (In San Antonio).

And ATL can't beat CLE or ORL. Period.

Crushed the Bulls twice - with KG, though.
Beaten Memphis (In Memphis) and OKC (In OKC) - Two hot teams right now who are over 500.

And even with the ATL games - these games were not decided until very late..ATL has not blown us out in ANY loss since the Big Three trade.

See? A lot of good has happened this season...it's just a dark time right now.

and that is the frustration. we know this team can play without KG...they did all last half of the season.

[Fafnir]

and that is the frustration. we know this team can play without KG...they did all last half of the season.

They played like a 50 win team without him, they're playing worse at the moment but a 50 win team isn't all that exciting.

[Redz]

and that is the frustration. we know this team can play without KG...they did all last half of the season.

They played like a 50 win team without him, they're playing worse at the moment but a 50 win team isn't all that exciting.

Yup, that team took the eventual conference champs to a 7th game.  This team is getting run ragged by mediocre opponents.

[Fafnir]

and that is the frustration. we know this team can play without KG...they did all last half of the season.

They played like a 50 win team without him, they're playing worse at the moment but a 50 win team isn't all that exciting.

Yup, that team took the eventual conference champs to a 7th game.  This team is getting run ragged by mediocre opponents.

That team also gotten taken by the Bulls to a 7th game, and repeated OT games.

The Celtics without KG/Powe played over their heads to take Orlando to 7.

[Redz]

and that is the frustration. we know this team can play without KG...they did all last half of the season.

They played like a 50 win team without him, they're playing worse at the moment but a 50 win team isn't all that exciting.

Yup, that team took the eventual conference champs to a 7th game.  This team is getting run ragged by mediocre opponents.

That team also gotten taken by the Bulls to a 7th game, and repeated OT games.

The Celtics without KG/Powe played over their heads to take Orlando to 7.

Be that as it may, they were playing with a lot more effort and effectiveness than this team is.

[celticinorlando]

the biggest warning sign is losing the decent-big leads in the third quarter. that shows this team is mentally going through the motions. i mean dallas is a good team...but you give up 34 points in one quarter to them? same with atlanta...29 points in the 3rd to them? then again last night to a bad pistons team...you score 13 points in the third? other than the injuries...this team just plays like they can cruise until april then show up and turn it on...i dont like that mentalitiy