If the celtics lose to cleveland in 7 games, is this season a failure?

[hpantazo]

So, now that we are here, if the celtics lose to the cavs in 7 in a hard fought series, is this a failed season? Is it time to rebuild, especially after a poor regular season? I believe that cleveland is our biggest roadblock to banner 18, and losing to them in the second round in a close series is nothing to be ashamed of, especially considering the 2008 team barely got by a cleveland team in round 2 that was much weaker than this one. I think this celtics team has come to play in the playoffs and can go for it again next year, especially as the landscape of the nba changes this summer and teams need to adjust, the celtics keeping their core would be a big advantage, especially with KG getting even healthier next year. What do you guys think? Hopefully, we will beat the cavs and not have to wonder about this.

[Donoghus]

The window is getting smaller.  I want championships.  Anything less is a letdown.  We already have one with this core so I think the expectation should remain for a championship. 

[Roy Hobbs]

I'll cross that bridge if we get there.  Right now, I'm predicting victory.

[RAcker]

I think that anything less than a championship is a failure and that is why I cheer for the teams I cheer for.  I expect them and I don't think that there is anything wrong with that.

[Onslaught]

As a Boston Celtics fan I thought any year that didn't end in a banner was looked on as a failure?

[fairweatherfan]

It's a failed season to some degree if we don't win a title, because that was the goal of the season. 

I guess whether it'll be a satisfying run without a title is the real question.  In the short run probably not, but in the long run if we scrap and fight and take a team to the brink I think we'll at least partially redeem a crappy regular season.

A long way to go before we know that, though.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I'll just say this, this Celtics team losing against this Cleveland team should not be considered a failure. Disappointed? Sure. But I don't think it would be a failure.

With all that said, it depends on how we actually come out and play and how Cleveland come out and play.

But, we'll win this series, so this is all moot.

[Who]

I'll just say this, this Celtics team losing against this Cleveland team should not be considered a failure. Disappointed? Sure. But I don't think it would be a failure.

With all that said, it depends on how we actually come out and play and how Cleveland come out and play.

Agreed

[Mr October]

So, now that we are here, if the celtics lose to the cavs in 7 in a hard fought series, is this a failed season? Is it time to rebuild, especially after a poor regular season? I believe that cleveland is our biggest roadblock to banner 18, and losing to them in the second round in a close series is nothing to be ashamed of, especially considering the 2008 team barely got by a cleveland team in round 2 that was much weaker than this one. I think this celtics team has come to play in the playoffs and can go for it again next year, especially as the landscape of the nba changes this summer and teams need to adjust, the celtics keeping their core would be a big advantage, especially with KG getting even healthier next year. What do you guys think? Hopefully, we will beat the cavs and not have to wonder about this.

Woah, I just had a deja vu moment. I might at well continue responding as I planned, as I liked the results of that moment. 

If the C's just barely loose in 7 games, then I think you need to go for it again next year. Rebuilding is a long road, and not a sure thing by any means. If the C's can match punches with the best team in the NBA, you gotta tweak/retool and try to get them next year. They are so close to remaining elite.

The one weakness is paramount: the Celtics need more speed and energy players - especially in the 3,4 and 5 slots. Pierce, KG, Perkins, Wallace, Scal, Daniels and Finley are slow at this point and getting slower.

Ray's got the conditioning to keep going for another few years and is a great back court match with Rondo. Tony Allen and Glen Davis have provided a lot of good energy. The C's need more of that.

[indeedproceed]

I hate these kinds of conversations...if you were going to play a game and looked around at all your teammates and asked "If we lose this big game tonight, is all our work for nothing?" what would they say?

Of course it is...at that moment. Rationalizing is something losers do after the game is over. We can wait until then if we need to do it, right?

[Q_FBE]

Losing is not an option for me or for this team.

I take these playoffs one possestion at a time and yes I was not happy in the later part of the 3rd qtr.

I don't have to answer this question because there is a great opportunity to do something special here. This is Glory's Last Shot.

[incoherent]

Losing = Fail

[ManUp]

Yes, winning the championship was the goal of this team.

We are built to win now, and there is no silver lining to losing.

A deep decent play-off run has no benefit for us like it would a younger team.

[slamtheking]

losing in that manner would be a failure.  the assumption is that the home court mattered for that last game and because this team didn't give it's all to get that advantage during the season, I'd consider it a failure on their part to deliver. 
They've stated right along that they can win on the road in a series so there's no excuse if Cavs get the win with the assist of home-court calls.  That, to me, would make it a failure rather than just a disappointment.

Home court advantage does matter, hopefully it won't play a part in this series.

[PosImpos]

At the start of the season, I would have said yes.  After the regular season - the latest series notwithstanding - I say no, it would not be a failure.  Pushing the fairly stacked and hungry Cavs to 7 games after a disappointing 50 win season filled with injuries and lackluster contributions from new additions would be acceptable.

Of course, I won't be "happy" if the Celtics get bounced before winning the championship, but I couldn't reasonably be disappointed if they took the Cavs to 7.