Are the celtics contenders yet?

[Neurotic Guy]

Contenders? Yes.

But... I said before the series that I expect Cleveland to win 1 of the 2 games in Boston.  That's why winning Game 2 was so critical.   To win this series, Boston will need to win another in Cleveland (IMO) and that is why I think Cleveland is stil the favorite in this series.

I think it goes without saying that the C's are contenders. They are 1 of only 4 teams from the East who will play in the Finals.  The Bruins are 'contenders' -- that doesn't mean they are likely to win it all.

[FallGuy]

if it goes 7, the Celtics will lose.  The Celtics have to win in 6 or less.

Because we can't win in Cleveland?

I'd say it's because of the corrupt refs. LBJ can keep it to 10-15 pts, in his homecourt, but then, the non-calls and bogus calls will clip the C's in the end. Thus, it's better to complete the job at home.

It'll be brutal trying to win a game 7 in Cleveland. I think Boston needs three of the next four to get this done.

[thirstyboots18]

Have feelings changed at all? Have the Boston sports fan cliff jumpers backed away from the edge? Are the realists feeling any more optimistic about our overall chances?

  The realists were the ones that thought the Celts had as good a chance as anyone else at winning the title, not the people you speak of.

TP!  I have never given up on the Celts or Doc, and it looks like Doc's handling of his injured players is paying dividends now.  I also thought other teams might not be so healthy at the end of the season.  I think I am a realist!    I am very interest to see how far we can go, and I wouldn't be surprised to see us in the finals, where "Anything is Possible!"

[mobilija]

I have been a pessimist and I think I still have reason to be a pessimist.  The Celts have still shown plenty of the tendencies that made us question them in the regular season recently.  Both games against the Cavs they blew large leads, stopped moving the ball, stopped attacking the rim and did not play well for a 48 minute stretch.

Are they contenders?  Sure - anyone left at this point is a contender.  Are they favorites?  I don't think so.

Thanks for showing up(TP)! I think you have a valid gripe that some of the tendancies from the regular season have shown up. namely that they don't put forth a solid 48 minutes. I'm not sure they quite have the legs to do it, and I think that could ultimatly be their downfall. Especially if they make it through to face Orlando, alot of athletes on that team.

However, they've shown a TON more heart and on a game by game basis have been the agressors for most of every single playoff game.

By the way, what has to transpire for you to start seeing the glass as half-full? When will you believe that banner 18 is a distinct and real possibility?

[mobilija]

Contenders? Yes.

But... I said before the series that I expect Cleveland to win 1 of the 2 games in Boston.  That's why winning Game 2 was so critical.   To win this series, Boston will need to win another in Cleveland (IMO) and that is why I think Cleveland is stil the favorite in this series.

I think it goes without saying that the C's are contenders. They are 1 of only 4 teams from the East who will play in the Finals.  The Bruins are 'contenders' -- that doesn't mean they are likely to win it all.

Only the most blind optimists think that the celts are the favorites, in the playoffs or this series. However, I think their chances look a lot better than most people thought they would at this point. If a month ago, someone would have stated that the Celtics would dust off Dwayne Wade and Co. in 5 and stolen home court advantage from the Lebrons with a dominating performance, well... you might be called delusional.

I'm liking our chances right now. The Cavs are gonna come out hard in game 3. It will be very telling if we can hang on and take real control of this series.