An Attempt at Optimism

[Evantime34]

I am hearing a lot of talk that the Celtics are done, that the window is closed. This is something that we should hear from the national media, not our fans. If the C's had played in the post season the same way they had in the regular season the window would be closed. Showing what they did in the playoffs we have to believe that they can do it again. Here are my reasons in no particular order why the Celtics will be contenders next year.

1. Rondo will get better, he's gotten better every year and that will continue.
2. Big Baby will get better, this years playoffs were better than last years (last year he shot well, this year he scored and rebounded) next years playoffs will be better than this years.
3. KG is going to be a year off of knee surgery. Lots of guys lose explosion their first year after knee surgery, he works too hard to not be better.
4. We will get a good player to help at #19 this is a deep draft and I expect a contributor out of that spot.
5. End of bench. Out: Quis, Shelden and Finley in 3 vets who will help us more.

If anyone can think of other reasons why we will be good next year let's hear em. People can pick apart these comments if they like but I would wager that you will feel a lot better thinking positively.

[rjsuperfly67]

Its one thing to say KG a year off of knee surgery, but that also means hes a year older, meaning the legs gonna be more tired anyway.

I think skill-wise, Rondo has just about hit his ceiling.  If only he can get more consistent.

Same with Baby.  Hes too undersized, like Rondo needs consistency.

[Evantime34]

Rondo has clearly gotten better every season. He has tangible things that you can point to that need improving (his shooting being the biggest problem). Every year he has been in the league he has also gotten more athletic, he was jumping higher this year than I've ever seen him do. If there is an upward moving trend in an NBA player and the player is only 24 to say he hit his ceiling is hard to believe.

Big Baby is less clear. I think he's made strides every year. Everyone says he is undersized but he seemed to finish just fine in this years playoffs. In the finals he finished strong at the hoop against the biggest front line in the league. So since he has been in the league he has improved his defense, rebounding, finishing and shooting.He is still a young player I think he will continue to improve.

[housecall]

I am hearing a lot of talk that the Celtics are done, that the window is closed. This is something that we should hear from the national media, not our fans. If the C's had played in the post season the same way they had in the regular season the window would be closed. Showing what they did in the playoffs we have to believe that they can do it again. Here are my reasons in no particular order why the Celtics will be contenders next year.

1. Rondo will get better, he's gotten better every year and that will continue.
2. Big Baby will get better, this years playoffs were better than last years (last year he shot well, this year he scored and rebounded) next years playoffs will be better than this years.
3. KG is going to be a year off of knee surgery. Lots of guys lose explosion their first year after knee surgery, he works too hard to not be better.
4. We will get a good player to help at #19 this is a deep draft and I expect a contributor out of that spot.
5. End of bench. Out: Quis, Shelden and Finley in 3 vets who will help us more.

If anyone can think of other reasons why we will be good next year let's hear em. People can pick apart these comments if they like but I would wager that you will feel a lot better thinking positively.

TP...I agree with all you stated,especially the bench part.I never felt comfortable with the way the bench was constructed.

[Evantime34]

I am hearing a lot of talk that the Celtics are done, that the window is closed. This is something that we should hear from the national media, not our fans. If the C's had played in the post season the same way they had in the regular season the window would be closed. Showing what they did in the playoffs we have to believe that they can do it again. Here are my reasons in no particular order why the Celtics will be contenders next year.

1. Rondo will get better, he's gotten better every year and that will continue.
2. Big Baby will get better, this years playoffs were better than last years (last year he shot well, this year he scored and rebounded) next years playoffs will be better than this years.
3. KG is going to be a year off of knee surgery. Lots of guys lose explosion their first year after knee surgery, he works too hard to not be better.
4. We will get a good player to help at #19 this is a deep draft and I expect a contributor out of that spot.
5. End of bench. Out: Quis, Shelden and Finley in 3 vets who will help us more.

If anyone can think of other reasons why we will be good next year let's hear em. People can pick apart these comments if they like but I would wager that you will feel a lot better thinking positively.

TP...I agree with all you stated,especially the bench part.I never felt comfortable with the way the bench was constructed.

TP right back at you.

[housecall]

It wasn't a real rivalry between this bunch of Lakers vs Celtics until now,the series is 1-1.I would hope this core group all come back next season to go 1 up on them.If both teams make it to the finals next season the team who wins  will tell which team is the true champion of this newly formed rivalry.

[twinbree]

TP. Excellent points.

Our core of young guys - Rondo, Perk, and Baby should get better because they're young and have a lot of areas they can improve in. Even after the shoulder surgery that Perk managed to come back better last season.

TA probably stays the same but if he's here and gives us what he gave this season that'll be great.

The vets will be older but if we strike the right balance between lightening their load while letting the young legs pick up the slack, we should be OK.

Hopefully Doc stays and Danny can pick up some impact players in FA. I don't have much hope for our draft pick contributing next season.

[droopdog7]

It seems to me that to really be able to contend, we will need to infuse some talent on this team, some way some how.  I just don't see how it happens?  The 19th could bring someone to help.  Wouldn't mind PG. 

But I agree that BBD has pretty much gotten as good as he will be (which isn't bad).  Rondo would improve if his jump shot were to improve but I have my doubts. 

We won't have any money under the cap so we will have to settle for the exceptions, assuming someone still wants to sugn with us?

[Eja117]

Because I don't trust Bynum's knee any more than I can tap it

[crafty213]

Couldn't agree more.  I think people will be a bit surprised with how well KG plays next year.  The key for me is to add enough depth to limit the minutes of KG, Pierce, & Allen.  They can all still get it done but just not for the same amount of minutes at this point of their careers.

Rondo needs to shoot better from the line to take advantage of his ability to get to the rim and hopefully draw more fouls.  

[Evantime34]

It seems to me that to really be able to contend, we will need to infuse some talent on this team, some way some how.  I just don't see how it happens?  The 19th could bring someone to help.  Wouldn't mind PG. 

But I agree that BBD has pretty much gotten as good as he will be (which isn't bad).  Rondo would improve if his jump shot were to improve but I have my doubts. 

We won't have any money under the cap so we will have to settle for the exceptions, assuming someone still wants to sugn with us?

The MLE is a decent chunk of change to get one impact player. If we resign our own, grab someone at the full MLE and draft an impact rookie we are good to go.

[incoherent]

Now that the series is tied we can not go into 'rebuilding' mode yet.  Look at the list of players that we have under contract next year, that team is still very good and skilled. 

The window hasn't closed yet.  How can people say that? The window closes when you get knocked out of the 1st or 2nd round without much a fight.

The window doesn't close when you lose game 7 of the NBA Finals.

[Eja117]

Here's an attempt at some positive thinking. I am very very happy I don't have to hear Phil Jackson blame officiating. Does he ever not do that when his team loses? Ever? Like he really thinks he doesn't get the calls? He's such a baby. I can't take him seriously.

[Eja117]

I guess this made me feel .01% better. For a nano second I think I had more tommy points than Roy

[PosImpos]

Maybe Paul was battling injury issues for most of the playoffs and that's why he was more often mediocre than great...maybe KG really will actually improve from this year now that he's had over a year to recover from the surgery.

I don't know, though.  Assuming the team doesn't get a major facelift (blow-up) and instead gets reloaded a bit, I'll need to see the first third or so of next season before I know how I feel about their chances of actually getting deep into the playoffs again.

It's just hard to believe that the age of the key players won't hit them even harder than it did this season, considering it hit them harder this season than it did the season before (overall).