6 Reasons the Celtics Will Be on Vacation in June

[yoursweatersux]

The Celtics lack concentration and mental will power to overcome difficult situations. They are a 50 win team in the EC which is good enough to get to the 2nd round but probably nothing more than that.

I think that bad losses and great wins just prompt different types of people to post.

I haven't posted a single "BANNER 18 WOOHOO!" thread all year because I haven't been sold on that possibility. Obviously, as a fan, I have to believe we're still in the running for Banner 18 but the odds are thin.

However, after a bad loss like the one we just had to the spurs, I DID post a thread ripping on this team for its poor rebounding and terrible offense. I think you'll find that the blindly optimistically people tend to stay blindly optimistic and the pessimistic people tend to stay pessimistic. They just don't post at the same time.

However, you're probably right that there are at least a few bi-polar individuals on here that think the end is near whenever we lose and that banner 18 is a lock whenever we beat Sacremento or whomever.

[Mr October]

I don't think the teams are that similar.  The 2002 team sucked but overachieved by playing great defense.  This team is so much more talented.

They are similar in that they rely on the outside shot falling more than your average contender. (Cleveland can always rely on Lebron to barrel through people on drives to the hoop. And the Lakers can always dump inside to Gasol or Bynum - note that Kobe is more of a jump shooter these days.)

And these Celts are going to need Pierce to deliver big time as a scorer, much like the 2002 team did.

However the defense on the current team is much better, the players are bigger and longer at almost all positions - especially the big men. This team also has to face much better competition than the 202 team did in the east.

I think Boston, Cleveland and Orlando are all much better than the Kidd/K-Mart Nets.

So, lots of similarities, lots of differences. But the bottom line is that the Celtics' perimeter shots need to fall in order to win.

[Mr October]

I don't think the teams are that similar.  The 2002 team sucked but overachieved by playing great defense.  This team is so much more talented.

They are similar in that they rely on the outside shot falling more than your average contender. (Cleveland can always rely on Lebron to barrel through people on drives to the hoop. And the Lakers can always dump inside to Gasol or Bynum - note that Kobe is more of a jump shooter these days.)

And these Celts are going to need Pierce to deliver big time as a scorer, much like the 2002 team did.

However the defense on the current team is much better, the players are bigger and longer at almost all positions - especially the big men. This team also has to face much better competition than the 2002 team did in the east.

I think Boston, Cleveland and Orlando are all much better than the Kidd/K-Mart Nets.

So, lots of similarities, lots of differences. But the bottom line is that the Celtics' perimeter shots need to fall in order to win.

[Mr October]

darn it! Its so easy to hit quote, when you mean to hit modify! 

[dark_lord]

if the celts are on vacation in june, it means they made it pretty far into the postseason....sounds good to me

[PosImpos]

if the celts are on vacation in june, it means they made it pretty far into the postseason....sounds good to me

I still believe the Celtics are capable of taking the Magic to 6 or 7 games in the second round of the playoffs.  If they get to the ECF, I'll be totally blown away and actually really proud of the team's accomplishment, even if an exit in the ECF was well below my ultimate expectations at the start of the season.

[Mike-Dub]

Edit: You are in violation of the following rule:

Do not label fellow posters in a way that is likely to provoke a negative response.  Dependent upon context, examples include, but are not limited to, "fake fan", "bandwagon fan", "not a real fan", "hater", "homer", "koolaid drinker", etc.

[PosImpos]

I didn't bother reading this thread because I still believe unlike people like you PosImpos, but I didn't notice the word inconsistent thrown around a lot in it.

And when the word inconsistent comes to mind it makes me automatically think of how you are a fan for this team.

Go be a fan of another team if you are just gonna give up on this one.  We don't need fans like you who give up on the Celtics. 

Why don't you just leave like Brickowski, another fan who has given up.

Hmm, so who is less pleasant to have around, somebody who carefully articulates a certain viewpoint in order to create discussion, or a narrow minded instigator who doesn't read posts with titles he doesn't like and then tries to end discussion by telling other posters to leave?

Why don't you leave?  Or at least, try not to be such a

[Mike-Dub]

LOL Celtics blog is funny sometimes, after losses everyone overreacts and is quick to nitpick flaws. And vice versa the opposite say we beat Cleveland next week, there will be a influx of "...I beleive Banner #18 threads"

In my case, I have been consistent since early January that this team does not have the horses to win the title. Still love them and will still go to most homes games and watch every other home and away game. You can still be a fan of a team and take a step back and say, "I just don't think they are good enough."

Hehe, after a loss, the glass half empty posters go nuts. After a big win the glass half full posters go crazy.

Each time it is a the same names sticking to their sides of the glass debate.

Just like in politics (uh oh, i said it), the truth is somewhere in the middle. Pieces of both sides are correct.

1. The Celtics have flaws and are going to need things to click just right and have the health just well enough in order to contend.

2. The C's defensive strategy relies on them scoring, putting forth a minimal effort on the offensive glass (for the sake of getting back on transition defense).

3. This means if the C's score they do well. If the scoring drops they can get blown out against anyone who is hot.

In the playoffs you can expect to see more attacking of the rim, and close range shots. But no matter what, if the C's are hitting their 3's they are as dangerous as anyone. If they are cold from the outside, they are toast.

Completely agree Mr. October TP!

[Mike-Dub]

I didn't bother reading this thread because I still believe unlike people like you PosImpos, but I didn't notice the word inconsistent thrown around a lot in it.

And when the word inconsistent comes to mind it makes me automatically think of how you are a fan for this team.

Go be a fan of another team if you are just gonna give up on this one.  We don't need fans like you who give up on the Celtics. 

Why don't you just leave like Brickowski, another fan who has given up.

Hmm, so who is less pleasant to have around, somebody who carefully articulates a certain viewpoint in order to create discussion, or a narrow minded instigator who doesn't read posts with titles he doesn't like and then tries to end discussion by telling other posters to leave?

Why don't you leave?  Or at least, try not to be such a

Some of the stuff you said is probably true, but I'm not going to give up on this team until we lose four games in a playoff series or Paul Pierce is raising the Larry Obrien trophy and neither should ne other Celtics fan.

[barefacedmonk]

I didn't bother reading this thread because I still believe unlike people like you PosImpos, but I didn't notice the word inconsistent thrown around a lot in it.

And when the word inconsistent comes to mind it makes me automatically think of how you are a fan for this team.

Go be a fan of another team if you are just gonna give up on this one.  We don't need fans like you who give up on the Celtics. 

After the season post all the stuff you want life this if we don't win it, but not while we still have a chance too with the season not being over by a long shot.

Mike, I'm one of those who will never give up on this team....a blind optimist(whatever that means), kool-aid drinker etc....but I have to disagree with your post. Just like everyone else, PosImpos has every right to share his opinions...you can't ask someone to leave because you disagree with them. If you don't like what he has written, post something to counter his views/opinions.....or else ignore it. I know its been a tough season and after every loss the negativity on this blog spreads like wildfire...all we can do is try to douse it or ignore it.

[Donoghus]

Knock it off and let's leave the labels out of this one.  Last I checked, there isn't a playbook and what and what doesn't construe a fan.  Its all a matter of opinion so let's try and respect each other.

[Mike-Dub]

I didn't bother reading this thread because I still believe unlike people like you PosImpos, but I didn't notice the word inconsistent thrown around a lot in it.

And when the word inconsistent comes to mind it makes me automatically think of how you are a fan for this team.

Go be a fan of another team if you are just gonna give up on this one.  We don't need fans like you who give up on the Celtics. 

After the season post all the stuff you want life this if we don't win it, but not while we still have a chance too with the season not being over by a long shot.

Mike, I'm one of those who will never give up on this team....a blind optimist(whatever that means), kool-aid drinker etc....but I have to disagree with your post. Just like everyone else, PosImpos has every right to share his opinions...you can't ask someone to leave because you disagree with them. If you don't like what he has written, post something to counter his views/beliefs.....or else ignore it. I know its been a tough season and after every loss the negativity on this blog spreads like wildfire...all we do is try to douse it or ignore it.

You're right I overreacted and I'm sure PosImpos had some good points but I completely disagree with him with this point in believing that the Celtics can win the title!

[Mike-Dub]

I didn't bother reading this thread because I still believe unlike people like you PosImpos, but I didn't notice the word inconsistent thrown around a lot in it.

And when the word inconsistent comes to mind it makes me automatically think of how you are a fan for this team.

Go be a fan of another team if you are just gonna give up on this one.  We don't need fans like you who give up on the Celtics. 

Why don't you just leave like Brickowski, another fan who has given up.

Hmm, so who is less pleasant to have around, somebody who carefully articulates a certain viewpoint in order to create discussion, or a narrow minded instigator who doesn't read posts with titles he doesn't like and then tries to end discussion by telling other posters to leave?

Why don't you leave?  Or at least, try not to be such a

Sorry PosImos, I'm sure you had good points in your post and you deserve to voice your opinion, but I just don't feel like reading on why the team can't win it to be honest.

There is one thing I do disagree with though  I believe completely that we still can win this thing but a lot has to go right for that to happen.

TP to you PosImos for me attacking you when it was uncalled for.

[jdpapa3]

It's been the same story all season:

1) Poor rebounding - in part because our bigs don't block out and in part because our team has a general lack of athleticism.

2) Lack of interior scoring.  Our most reliable scorer within 5 feet is Perk, and he can't succeed on offense unless everybody else is hitting shots so he is left open.  He can't score 1 on 1.  KG is now primarily a mid-range jumpshooter and Rasheed...well, Rasheed is different things on different nights but in general he's not reliable from anywhere.  Davis is too stumpy to finish around the rim in traffic consistently, especially when the defense pays attention to him.  Shelden Williams is just not a good offensive player.

3) Inconsistent outside shooters.  There are games (like the latest game against the Spurs) when all of our shooters go cold and we can't hit anything from beyond the arc.  The C's almost always lose those games, especially against decent teams. Unlike Orlando, the Celtics don't have the best rebounder and put-back-er in the league to help them out when the outside shots aren't falling.

4) Lack of bench offense - nobody on the bench can create their own shot.  Thought Nate would be an improvement but he hasn't been.

5) Inconsistent slashers.  At times, Rondo takes over games with his ability to drive to the hoop.  Occasionally, Paul Pierce does the same.  Indeed, even Ray Allen gets in on that action sometimes.  We've seen Marquis Daniels have some good games cutting to the rack, as well as TA.  But we've also seen far too many games - important games against good opponents - where most or all of those players disappear in that regard.  I don't think I've seen a game yet where Rondo is able to drive the lane for the whole game even when the opposing defense starts trying to clamp down; in fact, as soon as the defense game-plans for Rondo, he seems to stop scoring.  Paul Pierce used to be our main option for driving the lane, and he could do it very well, but this year with the decline in his speed, athleticism, and overall game he's become more and more an outside player and those cuts to the rack have become rarer.

6) No superstar.  When things get tough, when the opposing defense really clamps down, when the offensive sets aren't working, the Celtics really need somebody who can just step up and take over the game - somebody who can will the team to victory.  The Miami Heat are not a very good team but they're still managing 40 wins and are heating up late in the season because they have a player who wins them games on his own.  The Lakers have won quite a few close games this season because Kobe takes over late in the fourth when the rest of the team fades.  LeBron is a one man team.  When everything goes right, it is possible for a team of great players without a superstar to play very good team basketball and win when it matters.  It happened for Detroit in '04, and we saw it happen for us in Boston in '08.  I just don't believe the '10 Celtics are that kind of team.  Indeed, there really isn't a team in the league like that this year, in my opinion.  In June, a superstar will hoist the trophy.

1. Poor rebounding is simply false. 11th in the NBA in defensive rebounding isn't "poor". And if you believe that offensive rebounding is important, check out the top 10 teams at offensive rebounding and you might realize that offensive rebounding is possibly detrimental or inconsequential to the success of a team.

2. Lack of interior scoring. Did we have this in the championship year? Are you going to cite KG's 2.5 baskets per game inside the paint or Leon Powe's 10 mpg as interior scoring? The team definitely lacks interior scoring, but I don't see how that can kill a team.

3. Inconsistent outside shooters. This is every team in the league's problem. I'd be shocked if you could find me a team that shoots around the same % every game.

4. Lack of bench offense. Nate HAS shown he can do this. He has even won us a few games. You're just going about a "what have you done for me lately?" type of approach with Nate. The general problems coming from the bench will be mitigated greatly when they are mixed and matched in the playoffs with a shortened rotation.

5 and 6. Guess you haven't been watching too much of Paul Pierce lately.