I predict 65 to 70 wins

[Assassin70]

I think we'll see something similar to last year.  The team will start out hot, and then will take its foot off the gas to conserve health and energy for the playoffs.  I'm predicting 56 wins and 3rd in the East.

I agree. If we need to slow down at some point in order to get healthier and in better shape to the playoffs then we should definitely do it. Just like last season.

I also agree with this.

And after looking at the schedule 63 wins would be the max we could win realistically.

65-70 wins would be...Aladdin (AKA wishful thinking)

[clover]

60 wins.

[GreenEnvy]

If I'm Doc and I want the best possible record I can get for Home court advantage throughout the playoffs, I'm thinking I can pace my Vets who defiantely will need more rest ( KG, Pierce, Ray, Shaq and maybe Jermaine).

But I load up on Nate, DWest, Marquis, Baby, Erden, etc. and I think I can win alot of those games I lost last year, bring these young guys alot further along and be stronger as a team because of it come playoff time.

I'm upping it to 162 wins. In the regular season.  

Winning on the road wasn't a problem in Cleveland or Orlando, why is it now? We lost to a great team when we ran out of gas (and players....Sheldon Williams? Ugh.), regardless of where we were.

We proved we can win anywhere, so I wouldn't push them too hard for just HCA.

[GreenEnvy]

I think we'll see something similar to last year.  The team will start out hot, and then will take its foot off the gas to conserve health and energy for the playoffs.  I'm predicting 56 wins and 3rd in the East.

I agree. If we need to slow down at some point in order to get healthier and in better shape to the playoffs then we should definitely do it. Just like last season.

I also agree with this.

And after looking at the schedule 63 wins would be the max we could win realistically.

65-70 wins would be...Aladdin (AKA wishful thinking)

Which 19 games will we definitely lose?

Sure there are some tough teams out there, but there is no game on the schedule that I don't believe the Celtics can't win.

[KobeGotRondoD]

53 wins. 3rd in Eastern Conference

2010-2011 NBA Champions

[RAcker]

I think we'll see something similar to last year.  The team will start out hot, and then will take its foot off the gas to conserve health and energy for the playoffs.  I'm predicting 56 wins and 3rd in the East.

While I agree to some degree, Roy, I also think this team will take the getting Home Court advantage thing a lot more seriously this year because of what happened in The Finals.

Yes, Home Court is not a "must have", but it would be a great luxury with this older team.

[Roy H.]

I think we'll see something similar to last year.  The team will start out hot, and then will take its foot off the gas to conserve health and energy for the playoffs.  I'm predicting 56 wins and 3rd in the East.

While I agree to some degree, Roy, I also think this team will take the getting Home Court advantage thing a lot more seriously this year because of what happened in The Finals.

Yes, Home Court is not a "must have", but it would be a great luxury with this older team.

It's hard to say.  We got by the Magic and Cavs fairly easily without home court, and won a road game against the Lakers in the Finals (and could have easily won Game 7).

To have home court throughtout the playoffs, the Celts will probably have to win around 65+ games.  That means keeping the team's foot on the gas pedal all year long.  Is it reasonable to push an old team at that pace?  I'm not sure.

[Q_FBE]

I'm upping it to 162 wins. In the regular season.  

162!!! I did not know the Celtics became the 2nd baseball team in town. Maybe there was something to that team softball game in Fenway Park that day.

Seriously, though, I think they will win more than 50 games particularly if they are pushed in the division. I liked getting Delonte West back and this Semih Erdin kid looks like he could be a solid role player and an improvement over Dutch Boy (Sheldon Williams). Marquis Daniels came back and I think he will have a bounce back type season. And don't sleep on the Shaqster either.

[Eddie20]

I don't see why 65 would be so unrealistic when you consider the following:

Depth

Last year, our team would struggle with an injury to any of our starting 5. Not so much that Sheed, Baby, or TA were bad, but it would push fringe NBA players up the depth chart. So instead of Shelden Williams being the 5th big he would be thrown into part of the rotation and become our 4th big. Same happened when Pierce missed 10 games or so.

To start the season we currently have Erden, who is better than Williams, as our 5th big and, barring injury, most likely  will be headed to the NBDL once Perk returns. Robinson is an upgrade over last year's Eddie House. Maybe not the 2007-09 version, but House's game, and shot, has really fallen off. In addition, perhaps West isn't the defender TA is, but at least he allows Doc the ability to play him alongside Rondo because of his shooting ability.

Philosophy

I'm so glad that Doc has made it a point to play inside/out. I feel that a key to us losing a lot of games was our inability, or unwillingness, to play off of post players. This made our offense very simplistic and more often that not we didn't capitalize on our size advantage over teams. Sheed was unwilling to post up, KG didn't have the health or confidence to, Perk doesn't have the skill-set, and Baby is too small. Now, KG looks more confident being in the post, Shaq lives there and JO has a nice up game. Also, while Baby didn't grow over the summer, his mid-range jumper looks much improved and this will allow better spacing for whichever big he is paired up with.

Guys, let's not forget that we also play in the awful Atlantic Division and play NY, NJ, Toronto, and Philly 4 times each. If we go 15-1 or 14-2, something that's pretty realistic, this means we have to go 50-16 to reach 65. Are either of these things so unbelievable to accomplish?

[thirstyboots18]

I have said it elsewhere and I have to stick with it.  60 wins.

[Assassin70]

I think we'll see something similar to last year.  The team will start out hot, and then will take its foot off the gas to conserve health and energy for the playoffs.  I'm predicting 56 wins and 3rd in the East.

I agree. If we need to slow down at some point in order to get healthier and in better shape to the playoffs then we should definitely do it. Just like last season.

I also agree with this.

And after looking at the schedule 63 wins would be the max we could win realistically.

65-70 wins would be...Aladdin (AKA wishful thinking)

Which 19 games will we definitely lose?

Sure there are some tough teams out there, but there is no game on the schedule that I don't believe the Celtics can't win.

Obviously, the Celtics can beat any team.

I guess you are missing the point of my post and the ones before it I agreed with.  Look @ the schedule, and the makeup of our team, and see for yourself why I came to the conclusion I did.

Or will you look at it and say, wow we can beat that team, we can beat that team...and keep going down the list.  If you did that your count will come up to the Celtic's being 82-0 

We are old, we have nothing to prove by winning that man games in the regular season 

Do the Celtic's, Heat, and Lakers have the drive and talent to win 65-70 wins this year.  Of course they do.

But not even putting those other teams in the picture...take a look at our schedule and tell me this team of older players is going to win 65-70 games this year.

Would I love to see it happen, of course.

I tell you what, if it happens.  I will buy ever single poster in this thread who predicted 65-70 wins 2 rounds of beer @ the Celtics victory parade in June!  (granted we win the title after killing ourselves in the regular season)

[nyceltsfan]

Doc has also been forcing the point of “If game 7 was in Boston we’d be champions”

I think that could make them come out of fire.

Someone should tell Doc that if the team could box out, they'd be champions.  I loved the fight the Celts showed last season, but the rebounding did them in, not lack of homecourt.

That being said, maybe they would not have been in the penalty 2 minutes into the 4th quarter if they had homecourt...

[Assassin70]

Assassin's free Beer disclaimer.

1.  Celtics must win the title.

2.  You must be of age to drink.

3.  You must attend the parade, or be in Boston the day of the parade.

4.  You must meet me @ Boston Beer Works (which one will be decided on prior to our victory) from 3-6PM.

[Drucci]

I think we'll see something similar to last year.  The team will start out hot, and then will take its foot off the gas to conserve health and energy for the playoffs.  I'm predicting 56 wins and 3rd in the East.

I agree. If we need to slow down at some point in order to get healthier and in better shape to the playoffs then we should definitely do it. Just like last season.

I also agree with this.

And after looking at the schedule 63 wins would be the max we could win realistically.

65-70 wins would be...Aladdin (AKA wishful thinking)

I'm not sure we will start the season as well as before, primarily because our early schedule is way tougher than last year's. I think we will win the most games during December/January and then maybe "coast".

I predict 57 wins, unfortunately I think injuries will be very present this year too but the depth should help to deal reasonably with them.

[ScoobyDoo]

That's a great point nyceltsfan. I can't remember how many times I watched Gasol waltz into the lane unmolested for a rebound. Or any number of other Lakers for that matter.

I know their are defensive rotations that can affect positioning. But I watched Gasol walk right by KG or Perkins over and over again.

Ball goes up, find "someone" and lay a body on them, then worry about the rebound.