It's 1987...all over again.

[Andy Jick]

I hate to be "Debbie Downer" but after watching this team play against Orlando last night, I can only come to one conclusion: it's 1987 all over again.

This team looks injured, slow, and tired - when it matters most: the 4th quarter.

A lot of guys are running around with knee pads and it's a M*A*S*H Unit that needs fixed. 

Danny WILL be left the a major decision, the one that pains him most (and one that he doesn't want to admit): the only way this team can improve is to trade Ray Allen.  Why?  Because he knows that Red kept the "Original Big Three" together too long, and it was to the demise of the organization.  It's hard, because Red (and I believe even Danny to some degree) was a loyalist.  But if the Celtics don't do something, the window is closing and quickly.

That last play two things stood out: Kevin Garnett can't move defensively and Rasheed Wallace is too slow to move from the weakside.  You don't just turn a switch come playoff time.

This team is struggling...even a win against the Clippers just doesn't seem right.

The Al Jefferson trade will have netted one title only...and in my opinion it was worth it.  To have the privilege to have seen that one special season was something all Celtics fans will forever be proud of.  But face facts...it's over...

...unless Danny does something big.  And Danny knows it.  And I bet most do here as well.

[WeMadeIt17]

I agree to an extent but I dont think it is all over just yet. But KG did look really bad on that play last night. Two years ago Lewis would have got caught on the sideline and had to pass out. I do believe something needs to be done in order for us to win the Title this year and beyond.

[Hoops]

I don't know if that's true, but I certainly do think about it. Which is why I made a promise to myself about 10 years ago that if the C's ever made it to the Finals, I would do anything to attend at least 1 Finals game in Boston. And sure enough, in June of '08, I bought a plane ticket across the country and spent a boat load of money buying a ticket to Game 2 in Boston - one of the best experiences of my life. And now, I relish that moment even more because success is fleeting - Boston didn't go back to the Finals last year and there's definitely no guarantee that they'll be going this year...

[Brickowski]

Actually it's 1988 all over again, even though Ainge is trying to convice the fan base that it is 1986.

[lon3lytoaster]

Panic like it's 1999!

[Machiche]

Danny made the decision to make the necessary trades back in 2008 and we got ourselves a title. We had to give away Big Al, but Titles do not come easy. We got what we needed and we won it all.
Its no longer 2008. The big 3 have gotten older and with age, injuries are more frequent and they take longer to cure. That cannot be avoided. The time has come to stop hanging on to 2008 memories.
I remember Red used to say after we had won a title: "Enjoy it now. guys because next year, if we lose 3 in a row our fans are going to kick our behinds".
A lot of fans believe if that as long as they dont admit the truth, the truth does not happen.
We are no longer as good as we were and we wont be a contender again unless some new blood is acquired; what will happen? I havent got the slightest idea. The top brass knows whats happening- they are not dumb. What can they do-  it depends on many factors most of which are unknown to us, so I wont eve try not to guess.
But please, by burying your head in the sand dont think everything you dont see is well. We are in dire shape and it aint going away anythime soon. We got our 17th title. Be happy till the next one comes along. Thats the way it is.

[GreenFaith1819]

The interesting thing here is that:

"Would this thread be here if Boston had pulled the game out last night?"

ORL gets no respect from me for this game....let's see:

* Free throw disparity like 40-ORL to 18-Celtics. Was Boston   
  Really fouling like that? I did not see the game..were we?

*Paul Pierce allowed Matt Barnes to slow him down..not a good
 game from Pierce at all. No disrespect to Matt, but Pierce
 just didn't play well. If Pierce hit one more bucket, we win
 by one point.

Those were my two biggest observations. I cannot believe that it's 1987 all over again - because it's not. I was 18 back then, and Boston was dealing with The Tragedy and an aging Big Three, but it's just not the same scenario to me.

And also: Boston did not have a young and upcoming Center in Perkins and an All-Star Rondo back then either. Boston will Not go away silently into the night, even after Ray, KG and Pierce moves on.

Nope..not 1987..at least to me.

[jdpapa3]

Actually it's 1988 all over again, even though Ainge is trying to convice the fan base that it is 1986.

Well, Danny has been in all 3 locker rooms so I'll trust him. And not some guy on a message board.

Although, he could be trying to convince the fans one thing when he feels the other way...who knows?

[GreenFaith1819]

Some may think that I am too positive...well, a little background on me:

I have survived the lean days for the Celtics...the Two Tragedies, the late 80's...90's...the 2000's were a little better, with the Dynamic Duo of Pierce and Walker, and their Improbable playoff run of 2001-2002.

I survived being on a Navy ship with a great crew, but diehard sports fans. I remember one guy in particular..this guy was an Engineer..smart guy, funny and LOUD, lol....I would dread going to the mess hall, because every time he saw me coming, he would say: "He man, how about those Celtics"...I would laugh at him, and say: They'll be back.

That was back in the early 90's, by the way.

Now fast-forward to now: I just will always believe that Boston will pull through, no matter what. Until someone puts The Boston Celtics out of Playoffs, then it's not over for us.

Yes Boston needs the Killer Instinct...they need to Impose their Will on Opponents for entire games, not just a half...our stars need to play big in big games...yes these are all true, but we'll get through this. I'm not throwing in the towel.

[Andy Jick]

"1987" was a metaphor for players injured and starters playing too many minutes and a bench that is hampered by injuries and an overall lack of talent.

1987 was the year that kevin mchale broke his foot...he was never the same again.

bill walton made a cameo appearance every now and then, but he was done.  sichting wasn't the same and a year later he was moved for jim paxson (which was nothing more than a lateral move - maybe worse, because paxson (i believe) made those disparaging remarks about the "team plays better without bird on the floor...").

i'm not saying this team is done...but they have looked "tired" in games heading down the stretch.  they were outscored by 14 points in the 4th last night.

to person who asked if this thread would be here if they won: i don't know.  but they lost, so i guess that point is moot.  i suppose if garnett was healthy i wouldn't have started this thread...but i deal with reality. 

when i watch this team, and i was a a die-hard fan of the celtics who was 15 in 1987 - i remember vividly how that team was done following that season.  they limped into the playoffs and then detroit passed them by and it was over.

better to trade a guy early than too late...Ray Allen is the most movable piece - i'd trade him before it's too late.  a new long-term deal (even if only 3 years) is death to this franchise.

anyone second-guessing the 3 years given to rasheed wallace?  i am...he looks old.

doc better give billy walker some consideration, or even pierce will fade out later in the season.

God help us if we draw the Hawks...I think we all know that they are hungrier this year.  See my Piston's reference above...

This team is still good, but they're not good enough to win it all...

[Mencius]

Actually it's 1988 all over again, even though Ainge is trying to convice the fan base that it is 1986.

This.  It seems very much like 88 again.  87 felt like we still had a chance (and in fact came pretty close, even gimped as we were).  This team feels like it's got no shot, ala the 88 team.

If Danny thinks the window has closed as constituted (vs the prattle he rattled off a couple of days ago) he will consider trading Ray this year.  The only way to avoid a prolonged downward spiral into irrelevancy and then downright suckitude is to trade our big contracts as they expire.