Where's the Faith?

[aHeroTellsTheTruth]

I have been reading multiple posts and see a ton of negative reactions and little faith about the big three(assuming we sign ray), i mean i understand their getting older, but from my own personal opinion I like to have an optimistic point of view. I mean weren't these guys all once superstars who carried their respective teams? Aren't they supreme athletes who have access to the best medical attention available? If we can't squeeze one more run with Rondo at the helm then I don't know what to believe in anymore. I BELIEVE, do you?

[kg is king]

No doubt they were once supreme players, but age catches up to everyone and sadly they showed signs of aging last year. It is very obvious to notice if you watch the games closely. Ray cannot consistently shoot well anymore. He became a streak shooter (see NBA Finals). KG cannot rebound as well, jump as well, or move laterally as well. Pierce lost a step and looks mighty slow on his drives, and his ability to close out games have faded as well (aside from the Miami game).

[Kiorrik]

I have been reading multiple posts and see a ton of negative reactions and little faith about the big three(assuming we sign ray), i mean i understand their getting older, but from my own personal opinion I like to have an optimistic point of view. I mean weren't these guys all once superstars who carried their respective teams? Aren't they supreme athletes who have access to the best medical attention available? If we can't squeeze one more run with Rondo at the helm then I don't know what to believe in anymore. I BELIEVE, do you?

Yup, believer here!

A bit of criticism here and there keeps even us optimists realistic, try to look at it that way

[Jon]

No doubt they were once supreme players, but age catches up to everyone and sadly they showed signs of aging last year. It is very obvious to notice if you watch the games closely. Ray cannot consistently shoot well anymore. He became a streak shooter (see NBA Finals). KG cannot rebound as well, jump as well, or move laterally as well. Pierce lost a step and looks mighty slow on his drives, and his ability to close out games have faded as well (aside from the Miami game).

I think we can do it, but we have to find ways to slow down the effects of age.  I think Danny did a masterful job last year with Sheed and BBD backing up KG and Perk.  Having 4 quality bigs (up until the last game) allowed Doc to give KG and Perk big rests and keep them out of dangerous foul situations.  Unfortunately, we only had 1 quality backup for Pierce and Allen by the end of the year (TA), and I'd argue he's below Sheed and BBD on Doc's depth chart at that.  That's why I really think we need to find a way to get a very good wing here next year.  I wouldn't hesitate to offer Mike Miller 4 years at the MLE right now.  

The tricky thing of course, is that with Perk's injury and Wallace potentially retiring, we'd then need to find two bigs without the MLE.  I think that's doable though.  This team would make the playoffs with Brian Scalabrine and Mikki Moore as those bigs (though they wouldn't get very far).  So if we can get 1 pretty good big at the minimum, we should be fine (I wouldn't be shocked to see Miller used in a Posey-like role at the 4 at times if he came here).  All we really need is someone to take Rasheed's minutes come playoff time.  And with BBD continuing to improve, those "Rasheed minutes" may be 10 or less come playoff time.  

If we can do those things, I think we have a very good shot, as our bench would be good enough not to overextend our starters before crunch time.  

[dark_lord]

I have been reading multiple posts and see a ton of negative reactions and little faith about the big three(assuming we sign ray), i mean i understand their getting older, but from my own personal opinion I like to have an optimistic point of view. I mean weren't these guys all once superstars who carried their respective teams? Aren't they supreme athletes who have access to the best medical attention available? If we can't squeeze one more run with Rondo at the helm then I don't know what to believe in anymore. I BELIEVE, do you?

i hear u!  there were a lot of "realists" around here who ate crow this season tho 

[Who]

I think it is too early to say how good a chance the C's have of winning the East again. Need to wait and see how free agency plays itself out.

The Celtics could be the frontrunners or they could be the third best team in the Conference. Too early to say anything concrete.

[Redz]

As hard as it was to stomach some of the games during the regular season, I never count my team out until the final buzzer sounds. 

I hold that true for any team I pull for.  Sometimes this requires blind optimism, but so be it.  Even during the midst of the 18 game losing streak a few years ago, I was always hopeful that they'd win.

With a team of this quality, you don't need quite as much blind optimism, but a little faith (as the OP says).  I still believe these guys can pull through again, until proven otherwise.

BEAT LA!

[hpantazo]

I have been reading multiple posts and see a ton of negative reactions and little faith about the big three(assuming we sign ray), i mean i understand their getting older, but from my own personal opinion I like to have an optimistic point of view. I mean weren't these guys all once superstars who carried their respective teams? Aren't they supreme athletes who have access to the best medical attention available? If we can't squeeze one more run with Rondo at the helm then I don't know what to believe in anymore. I BELIEVE, do you?

excellent first post. TP for you.

[Mike-Dub]

As hard as it was to stomach some of the games during the regular season, I never count my team out until the final buzzer sounds. 

I hold that true for any team I pull for.  Sometimes this requires blind optimism, but so be it.  Even during the midst of the 18 game losing streak a few years ago, I was always hopeful that they'd win.

With a team of this quality, you don't need quite as much blind optimism, but a little faith (as the OP says).  I still believe these guys can pull through again, until proven otherwise.

BEAT LA!

Redz I couldn't have said it better myself.  You took the words out of my mouth TP.  And TP to aHeroTellstheTru excellent first post here I couldn't agree with you more.

Throughout the year, no matter how tough some of the losses were, I never loss faith and belief.  The sad thing is is that the majority of Celtics fans did.  No matter, our guys track record and what they did before, people were riding them off and counting out the heart of a champion. 

To be honest as a fan base, we didn't deserve a championship this year (The players, coaching staff, and front office definitely did though!), heck we as a fan base didn't deserve making it to the finals, better yet beating Cleveland.  I couldn't believe all our fans that stopped believing and giving up faith and it was extremely disgusting to see. 

I hope that our fan base can learn from it and always have faith, never stop believing, and to never give up on our team.  The sad thing is I already see that we're not!  If we as a fan base can do that, then yes we will deserve a championship, but if we can't we don't. 

Who is right though, we do have to see how everything shakes out in  free-agency, but even if players sign to the Bulls or the Heat and no matter how bad it looks for us we need to remember to never give up our belief and faith and trust in the guys!

Like Coach Red said, "Never underestimate the heart of a champion!". 

And Never Stop Believing!

[ACF]

Last season showed us that no matter what we think, the KG/Allen/Pierce era Celtic team is a team of winners. Add the right pieces and let's get back to the Finals and kick those Monkey Butts. Celtic Pride is stroooooong, baby!

[Mike-Dub]

Last season showed us that no matter what we think, the KG/Allen/Pierce era Celtic team is a team of winners. Add the right pieces and let's get back to the Finals and kick those Monkey Butts. Celtic Pride is stroooooong, baby!

Love the Celtics Pride ACF!

TP!

[celtics2]

I have been reading multiple posts and see a ton of negative reactions and little faith about the big three(assuming we sign ray), i mean i understand their getting older, but from my own personal opinion I like to have an optimistic point of view. I mean weren't these guys all once superstars who carried their respective teams? Aren't they supreme athletes who have access to the best medical attention available? If we can't squeeze one more run with Rondo at the helm then I don't know what to believe in anymore. I BELIEVE, do you?

Personally I wish we could or would make another run at a Championship. I just try to be sober in thought that it most likely won't happen because of our age and the History of last season will haunt us again. Now a nifty move by Ainge for a couple reliable bodies to spell the Big 3 and I'll look at my assessment again. Doc would have to forget winning the East. Concentrate on fresh legs for the Playoffs.