Yep, #18 is coming this year!

[DrGlen]

After watching the "old" 3 beat the Lakers, and then witnessing Rondo's 1st qtr dominance over the Cavs, I can see why the Celtics brass are so comfortable with just a minor tweak at the trade deadline.

I only hope that the players continue to do exactly [sic] what they have been doing:

a) If you are even slightly injured (KG), don't play.
b) If you play, learn to avoid injury. Don't kill yourself out there. Championships aren't handed out in the regular season, even if it's against contenders.
c) Learn not to be like Detroit, thinking they can just switch it on in playoffs. Play hard every game - for one quarter.
d) Stay sharp by making easy games more difficult in order to simulate come-from-behind Q4 playoff nail-biters.
e) Keep Ubuntu alive. This means keeping his star players happy. Doc does this by only playing guys who will see playoff minutes. And never sit your star players. (They hate being yanked because they need to be on the court in order to talk trash.)

"There's nothing I can do about it," said Rivers (2-time COY).

"There really is nothing that needs to be done," KG.

INDEED. #18 is Guaran-SHEED.

 

[PosImpos]

I'm not quite sure if this is a joke or not.

[DrGlen]

It's a joke ... until you ask yourself:

1) What part of it has not been true?
2) Is there really a better plan?

Put another way:
1) Would you rather the C's go for 70+ wins, and risk old man KG blowing out both knees? Or should he take it easy?
2) Should Pierce take it to the rack strong every game, and risk more teeth knocked out? More bruised thighs? More knee fluid to drain? Or should he chill and work on shooting 3's?
3) Does Ray still have to prove he can shoot by maniacally preparing for each game, endlessly shooting practice jumpers (a la Reggie Miller)? Or should he just sleep in and spend time with his family for the meaningless first half of the season?
4) Should Rondo go for a triple double every game? Is that worth the risk of injury to our only pg?

Basketball is a game of intelligence, right? Isn't this the absolute smartest thing to do?

The only person not smart enough to realize any of this is Tony Allen. Playing hard = injury risk. Doesn't matter when the whistle blows! 

[Jon]

Well, after blasting someone who said we're going to lose in the second round, I'll come out and also say that anyone who thinks they know we're going to win #18 is equally inaccurate. 

For me, this is much larger problem in America.  Everyone loves to make predictions on things that have so many variables in the future that they know nothing about. 

To those who think we're going to win it all, I agree with you...if this teams get healthy and plays hard. 

To those who think we're going to lose in the second round, I agree with you...if we continue to be beat up and not play as hard as we should. 

To those who think we're going to lose in the first round, I agree with you...if someone like Rondo or Ray also gets hit with the injury bug.

But no one here knows anything about how those things will transpire, so to say that we're definitely going to do anything at this point is just silly. 

But it happens all the time in America.  People wanted to believe that Obama's approval rating early meant he was going to easily cruise to a second term.  Now people want to believe that his slipping approval rating means he wont'.  The truth is that neither stat mattered, since the next election he has to face it 2 1/2 years away. 

Same thing here.  All that matters is the health of the team and quality of the play in late April into May.  How we played at any point in the season before that won't really matter. 

[DrGlen]

How we played at any point in the season before that won't really matter. 

Exactly the point of this tread: Trying to extrapolate the season's outcome is pointless, regardless of how many data points (games) you sample. Hence the facetious proclamation of this post (to counter balance the doomsayer's predictions).

There are many ways to interprete the losses and meltdowns.
1)Maybe they are even on purpose.
2)Sometimes, in order to win the war, you need to lose the battles. Kinda like Rocky. 

[WeMadeIt17]

I love to think this way as well but its tough to do. A lot of people have given up on this team. I always say wait till the playoffs. I think we need to get on a roll this next 8 to 14 games and then we can coast. We have 8 very winnable games coming up and then we play the Cavs. If we can win 6 out of 8 or maybe roll with 8 in a row. Then we would be able to coast. But this team is doing this coasting thing right now and its not helping us. Celtics need to get this thing rolling a little bit in this upcoming games and then take it easy. Not this win 3 lose two stuff. I am sick of it. Win these next 8 then rest. I know it sounds like a lot to do but these teams we are playing aren't on our level unless we allow them to be! AND FOR GOODNESS SAKES LET NATE LOOSE!

[liam]

I love to think this way as well but its tough to do. A lot of people have given up on this team. I always say wait till the playoffs. I think we need to get on a roll this next 8 to 14 games and then we can coast. We have 8 very winnable games coming up and then we play the Cavs. If we can win 6 out of 8 or maybe roll with 8 in a row. Then we would be able to coast. But this team is doing this coasting thing right now and its not helping us. Celtics need to get this thing rolling a little bit in this upcoming games and then take it easy. Not this win 3 lose two stuff. I am sick of it. Win these next 8 then rest. I know it sounds like a lot to do but these teams we are playing aren't on our level unless we allow them to be! AND FOR GOODNESS SAKES LET NATE LOOSE!

Loose your inner Nate Doc! Let the man run wild!!!

[DrGlen]

But this team is doing this coasting thing right now and its not helping us. Celtics need to get this thing rolling a little bit in this upcoming games and then take it easy. Not this win 3 lose two stuff. I am sick of it. Win these next 8 then rest. I know it sounds like a lot to do but these teams we are playing aren't on our level unless we allow them to be!

But what if the goal is not to win meaningless games at all cost? What if the 3rd qtrs are the official rest period for the starters? (Still need to play them to sell tickets.)

1) Seeing how hard they all play to start games, tells you only one thing for certain: None of them have quit on their coach.
2) Is there a coach with more job security than Doc? This could be because everyone is on the same page here.

"There's nothing I can do about it" In (wait for it) DEED.

[DrGlen]

There are many ways to interprete the losses and meltdowns.
1)Maybe they are even on purpose.
2)Sometimes, in order to win the war, you need to lose the battles. Kinda like Rocky. 

Rocky Balboa: "It ain't about how hard you hit, it is about how hard you can get hit ... That's how winning is done! "

[DrGlen]

After watching the "old" 3 beat the Lakers, and then witnessing Rondo's 1st qtr dominance over the Cavs, I can see why the Celtics brass are so comfortable with just a minor tweak at the trade deadline.

Today's globe:
Ainge: "It's not age... I'm not panicking. I am just saying that's what it is."[Starters are coasting till the playoffs.]

Indeed, #18 is guaran-SHEED.

[moiso]

From the OP- learn to avoid injury???  Huh, oh that's why KG and Pierce are beat up.  They just havn't learned to avoid injury.
Even though we aren't playing hard, guys keep getting hurt.

[moiso]

Leave Sheed alone, he's just playing to avoid injury! 

[DrGlen]

From the OP- learn to avoid injury???  Huh, oh that's why KG and Pierce are beat up.  They just havn't learned to avoid injury.
Even though we aren't playing hard, guys keep getting hurt.

How do you know they were injured? Are you a doctor? Where are the X-rays you took?

Even if you took all the MRIs in the world and ran a complete battery of tests, Ray Allen's back pain right before All-Star weekend is whatever the player says it is. That's the nature of such "injuries". Back pain like that often don't show up on anything any doctor can see.

Was he really hurt? Or was he given extra time to spend with his son?

Was Pierce really injured? Or was he in the gym practicing 3 point shooting? And playing pool?

[DrGlen]

I just saw Greg Dickerson on tv talking about this. He said he spoke to Perk and Perk said that some of the players were bored with the process and waiting impatiently for the playoffs to start.

Is this the same Perk who was asked in 2008 why his numbers noticeably improved after all-star break, the same Perk who answered "Because it's the second half of the season. Time to turn it up."?

Indeed, #18 is guaran-SHEED.

[celticinorlando]

After watching the "old" 3 beat the Lakers, and then witnessing Rondo's 1st qtr dominance over the Cavs, I can see why the Celtics brass are so comfortable with just a minor tweak at the trade deadline.

Today's globe:
Ainge: "It's not age... I'm not panicking. I am just saying that's what it is."[Starters are coasting till the playoffs.]

Indeed, #18 is guaran-SHEED.

what a poor message to send. coasting until the playoffs.