Hollinger on the C's

[rondohondo]

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/30964

Mike (Akron)


Hey John, what are you looking for in tonights game in Beantown?
John Hollinger
  (12:46 PM)


Reasons I should still consider Boston a contender. I've been struggling to find them lately.

What is he talking about ?

has he not seen Ray Allen going for over 20 in 4 straight games while shooting really good % ?

Has he not seen KG looking really good in the past 5 games?
(By the way I must admit I was wrong about KG, He won't get back to 2008, but he can reach about 80%)

How about we added a huge boost to the bench with Nate?


I think there have been a lot of reasons to be optimistic about the C's title chances lately .

[vinnie]

I happen to agree with Hollinger. Yes, they are playing better, and yes some of the injured guys are looking a little better, but overall I still do not believe they are a serious contender. I hope,however, that I am dead wrong.

[Mr October]

Yeah, I can see why he'd feel that way. The C's haven't proven that they are capable of winning 4 series over the span of 2 months.

I still believe in them though. Just gotta be healthy in April.

[csfansince60s]

I don't agree with him, but an objective observer watching the Knicks game the other night might have some serious doubts about us too. Just sayin'

[rondohondo]

I don't agree with him, but an objective observer watching the Knicks game the other night might have some serious doubts about us too. Just sayin'

we also didn't have PP playing and Nate playing in his first game.

[mobilija]

What does being a "contender" really mean?

If they make the playoffs, aren't they contending for a championship?

Do they have to have a certain percentage chance of winning the championship? If so, what is that percentage? What percentage do you currently give the Celtics?

Do you have to be the Top team in your conference? Top 2 teams in the conference?

For me, the Celtics are a competative, veteran savy group with versatile players,well balanced with skill sets that will be making the playoffs as a top 3. That definately makes them a contender in my book.
Besides once the playoffs start, ANYTHINGS POSSIBLE!

[Who]

has he not seen Ray Allen going for over 20 in 4 straight games while shooting really good % ?

Ray Allen has been scoring 20+ppg but he is doing so on a true shooting percentage of 75.5%. That type of shooting is not sustainable. His scoring is a flash in the pan. It'll come right back down again.

Once you account for the ridiculously hot shooting + He would have been at 18.5ppg if posting a TS% of around 59.5% ... the other difference during the streak was that Ray was playing big minutes + being slightly more aggressive in looking for his shot basically because he was knocking down everything in sight. Add that second consideration and Ray is right back down around his usual scoring per game numbers (16ppg).

I don't think we should make too much of Ray's performances over the last few days. It's not sustainable.

[csfansince60s]

I don't agree with him, but an objective observer watching the Knicks game the other night might have some serious doubts about us too. Just sayin'

we also didn't have PP playing and Nate playing in his first game.

If we cant annihilatedominate the Knicks at home (with or without PP or any one of the Big Four), a team with no frontcourt but Lee, I can understand why people might doubt us. However, we all know that the hot team, the team that peaks at the right time (i.e the playoffs)is often the most successful almost in any sport.

[mobilija]

has he not seen Ray Allen going for over 20 in 4 straight games while shooting really good % ?

I don't think we should make too much of Ray's performances over the last few days. It's not sustainable.

Sustainable has nothing to do with it. What it shows is that Ray can get hot at any time. An allstar player getting hot at  the right time can definately win you a series in the playoffs.

[jdpapa3]

has he not seen Ray Allen going for over 20 in 4 straight games while shooting really good % ?

Ray Allen has been scoring 20+ppg but he is doing so on a true shooting percentage of 75.5%. That type of shooting is not sustainable. His scoring is a flash in the pan. It'll come right back down again.

Once you account for the ridiculously hot shooting + He would have been at 18.5ppg if posting a TS% of around 59.5% ... the other difference during the streak was that Ray was playing big minutes + being slightly more aggressive in looking for his shot basically because he was knocking down everything in sight. Add that second consideration and Ray is right back down around his usual scoring per game numbers (16ppg).

I don't think we should make too much of Ray's performances over the last few days. It's not sustainable.

It's obviously not sustainable, but it's pretty darn good for a guy that everyone said was washed up a few weeks ago. I was very nervous for Ray since his TS% and 3 pt% had slipped this season, but this is a good start on his path to being a great offensive player again.

And I hate Hollinger. He loved us when we had Big Al and Rondo, and then hated us when we cashed in our assets. His PER is a major screw up and people sadly put a lot of value into it.

[Evantime34]

Tonight can be a statement game if we win, but without Pierce and Daniels if we lose it's not the end of the road. We just need to get hot right before the playoffs start. I would like it to be now but if it can be in a week or two that's ok too.

[Fan from VT]

has he not seen Ray Allen going for over 20 in 4 straight games while shooting really good % ?

Ray Allen has been scoring 20+ppg but he is doing so on a true shooting percentage of 75.5%. That type of shooting is not sustainable. His scoring is a flash in the pan. It'll come right back down again.

Once you account for the ridiculously hot shooting + He would have been at 18.5ppg if posting a TS% of around 59.5% ... the other difference during the streak was that Ray was playing big minutes + being slightly more aggressive in looking for his shot basically because he was knocking down everything in sight. Add that second consideration and Ray is right back down around his usual scoring per game numbers (16ppg).

I don't think we should make too much of Ray's performances over the last few days. It's not sustainable.

It's obviously not sustainable, but it's pretty darn good for a guy that everyone said was washed up a few weeks ago. I was very nervous for Ray since his TS% and 3 pt% had slipped this season, but this is a good start on his path to being a great offensive player again.

And I hate Hollinger. He loved us when we had Big Al and Rondo, and then hated us when we cashed in our assets. His PER is a major screw up and people sadly put a lot of value into it.

I'm pretty sure this is entirely untrue. He was a major major backer for most of the 2007-2008 season.

He's not a Boston guy. He's a national guy and sees what he sees. Right now, we are not very impressive. We're an improved version of the Spurs, but i don't know if we're better than Dallas, and we seem to be behind Denver, LA, Orlando, Cleveland and quite possibly Atlanta. I'm not sure how a non-Boston fan is going to have any reason to claim the C's are clearly at the top of the East.

[ManUp]

He didn't say anything wrong.

The C's haven't looked like a contender in months.

[blake]

What does being a "contender" really mean?

Malcom Gladwell?  Is that you?

[PosImpos]

He didn't say anything wrong.

The C's haven't looked like a contender in months.

Well, let's clarify this.

The Celtics haven't looked like a contender for a full 4 quarters (with the exception perhaps being the Portland game) for quite some time.

There are have a quarter or two here and there where they've looked downright unstoppable, though.  08-esque even.