We are gunna be tough to beat.

[WeMadeIt17]

I am just sitting here thinking and the team we are putting out next year is going to be very good. Yes the Heat have the thrice and don't get me wrong will be very tough to beat. BUT I just have a real good feeling about next year. I mean we still have Pierce and Ray still healthy yes old but healthy. We have KG who is coming off a year of surgery who will be better and stronger/more confident in his knee (as you could see in as playoffs progressed.) Rondo who is looking like will take that leap to top 2/3 pg's in the league. We have Shaq. A Beast down low. Who can more then likely score at will on this team because if he chooses to pass to an open pierce/KG/Ray its gunna be money. We have Jermaine O'neal who can still be a very good post presence every night and a strong defender. We have Nate who will be energy off the bench every single night. BBD who we know can just beast it night in and night out. I mean I am very excited about this up-coming season everybody! I am so pumped. Also Daniels will be healthy and will contribute like he did at the beginning of the season. Von wafer could be another steal pick up if he shows that he can be another spark plug off the bench. I am sorry but yes the heat have their 3 players but we have a very very deep team this year. I haven't seen a thread like this so I needed to boost up some people in here! I did it a few times last season and I am Doing it now! The Celtics are going to be very very good next year guys and even tougher in the playoffs! I cant Wait! If you cant wait either let me get a CELTICS HOORAH! GO CELTICS!!!!

[Bahku]

Absolutely (TP) ... I'm almost as excited as I was in the fall of 2007, and that's saying a lot. I think many pundits are taking this team much too for granted, and I love that we're such a big underdog ... we're gonna turn some heads this year, and silence a ton of critics, and I can't wait to see it happen! Go Celtics!

[GreenEnvy]

I'll give you a CELTICS HOORAH!

I too am very excited about this team. I have been excited, like most, for the last 4 teams we started the season with. On paper, this is definitely the deepest team top to bottom we will start a season with in a very long time. Each season, we always have something to prove, but this season there is the revenge factor. Every player, from the Big Three + One to Shaq to Daniels to Wafer to Perk, even Doc, everyone should have a chip on their shoulder. October 26th cannot come soon enough.

Hopefully next June OP will have to change his name to WeMadeIt18!

[thirstyboots18]

"the Heat have the thrice"   ha ha haha ha...I love it!  Sounds like a rash!!!     That is what I will call that trio from now on...TP for you

[jimmehx]

It's going to be a really fun season.

Wish it would hurry though...

[manl_lui]

TP

I actually like the fact we got Shaq coming off the bench, if he was to start with our big 3 and rondo, he will not get as much touches as the big 3...which will greatly limit his production in scoring

if he comes off the bench with Nate and BBD, thats instant offense on any given possession, at this point, Shaq i would say is still a threat as a starter, but as a bench player...whos bench has a better center than Shaq?

As great as Miami has become with their 3 kings, i only see 2 kings against us, Bosh will be neutralized by our bigs...

If Shaq can give us 10 and 8 off the bench like last year i like our chances a lot...not to mention Nate can feed him a lot of good passes

[Mike-Dub]

Absolutely (TP) ... I'm almost as excited as I was in the fall of 2007, and that's saying a lot. I think many pundits are taking this team much too for granted, and I love that we're such a big underdog ... we're gonna turn some heads this year, and silence a ton of critics, and I can't wait to see it happen! Go Celtics!

Agree completely Bahku... Except that is how I feel every year since '07 and that is why it hurts so much.

Ugh KG and Perk your knees... I love you guys and we would be raising 18 had both of you guys not gone down with injuries (KG's is more understandable because of his age and Perks is to an extent because of the weight on his body... BUT WHY??) ...  And if the zeebras didn't have to hand the Lakers 22 free-throws to our 6 in the fourth quarter and give them the game. 

We're getting it done this year and the rightful team is going to be crowned champs again!

[ducksawce]

Absolutely!  Our depth this year is going to be absurd.  The team's biggest problem last year was the occasional (or frequent) offensive drought...followed closely by rebounding.  You know what, perhaps I'll reverse those two issues in order of importance...

Either way though, what the team has done in the off-season has addressed those basically to the max.  We'll have renewed rebounding from Shaq, Jermaine, and an even healthier KG.  We'll have consistent scoring threats at all 5 (five!) positions amongst the starters (unlike last year with Perk...sorry Perk...love ya, but you're an offensive liability!)...and Shaquille freaking O'neal off the bench with the Nate Robinson!!! 

Man oh man.  Beyond that, Rondo will likely take ANOTHER step forward...Paul and Ray will do their thing as always...but THIS time, without the having to carry the burden of 40 plus minute game averages.  Lower minutes for those guys = fresher legs for the playoffs, and more consistent (more Big 3-like) results.

The Celtics of this year have revenge upon their minds.  Frankly, I'll be shocked if they don't at least get to the finals.

[The_Big_Shamcock]

[Edited]

[GreenFaith1819]

Thanks for post, WeMadeIt17 (TP4U).

And the icing on the cake? We get Perk back in Feb or earlier! Rest up, Big Fella!

[Witch-King]

I expect the Celtics to play with a huge chip on their shoulder.

The younger, more athletic teams in the league might still give us some trouble during the regular season (Hawks,76ers, Grizz, Heat, Wizards, maybe even some western conference teams) though our vastly improved front-court and team defense combined with the perimeter shooting from Ray and Pierce, as well as Rondo's play-making ability should be enough to we're we'd have the opportunity to improve on last season's win-loss record without too much difficulty.

Last season we were able to make it to the finals with relative ease despite not having home-court advantage from the second round onward. We can't take for granted the fact that our team is able to edge-out victories in 'hostile' environments. It would be in our favor if we could secure a solid playoff seed in order to avoid the feeling that our team is going 'on tour' once the playoffs start.


http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=36355.0