I predict 65 to 70 wins

[thirstyboots18]

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...

I didn't notice homecourt being any advantage last year...

[LooseCannon]

The Celtics won 50 games last year.

Pierce and Allen may now be past their peak, but I don't expect either to fall off a cliff.  I don't expect Rondo to regress.  So, let's say that, if as healthy as the past couple of seasons, there's not going to be that much difference in production from the trio between this and last.

We have a possibly rejuvenated Kevin Garnett and Shaquille O'Neal and Jermaine O'Neal in the front court vs. a recovering KG, Perkins, and Sheed.  I'm not sure what the difference is there.

A full season of Nate Robinson with Doc's confidence vs a slumping Eddie House and Robinson working his way into the system should be an increase of at least a win.

Avery Bradley, Semih Erden, and Luke Harangody replacing Bill Walker, JR Giddens, and Lester Hudson as the young players to start the season?  I see this as an improvement worth at least 2-3 wins.  I foresee one of these players disproving the notion that Doc won't play rookies.

Marquis Daniels and Glen Davis had injury problems last season.  I predict collective improvement between the two that is worth at least two wins.

Delonte West replaces Tony Allen.  West is much more capable on offense, but TA has a legitimate claim to being in the conversation for the best defensive shooting guard in the NBA.  It's hard to guess at what improvement, if any, there is.  For now, I'll say this is a wash with a high standard deviation.

I'll also count the 15th roster spot vs Scalabrine as a neutral swap.

So, I'm predicting that the roster changes are worth at least 5 wins of improvement on a 50-win squad.  Only the Cavs, Magic, and Lakers had more than 55 wins last season.  Then, I'll add a couple more wins because I think the Celtics want it more this season and they won't seem as unlucky as last season. 

[cornbreadsmart]

I really think not having Rasheed around is huge for us. He disgarced the uniform during the regular season with his lack of effort.

[moiso]

I really think not having Rasheed around is huge for us. He disgarced the uniform during the regular season with his lack of effort.

Cosign.  We had this discussion last year, and I still believe his laziness rubbed off on some of the other guys for a few months.

[Timdawgg]

I say 62, no more no less.

[wahz]

1. Id expect fewer injuries because of the depth
2. Id expect as good an away record because of the depth
3. Id expect to revert to being a better team at home than on the road(we were 24-17 at home!!)

To touch on that depth:

1. Losing Perk until March while playing JO, and Shaq with some minutes from Semih, there is no drop off there imho and much better bench strength
2. Baby looks to be healthy this year, so far.
3. KG will be better
4. We'll hope Marquis spells PP without trouble
5. Even if he doesn't spell him as well as hoped, DWest can rotate with Ray, and PP is need be.
6. I supect Bradley will be a steal in case we need to play him. If not, Nate for the full year help

Those 24 home wins become 36 home wins


62-20

[Jon]

The thing is, there are probably going to a whole host of injuries this year.  Not just because of the age, but also because Danny and the rest of the front office aren't going to take any chances.  If KG so much as gets a cramp in his leg, he's going to sit 5 games.  Given that that's the case, even with our strong bench, we're likely going to see fringe players like Edren, Harangody, and Bradley get minutes this year, because with a couple rotation players down, Doc isn't going to tighten the rotation.

For that reason, I don' think we crack 60 games.

However, if by some act of God our top 10 play all 82 games (or darn close) I could see 65 wins.

I just don't see them trying hard enough for 70, even with the best of injury luck. 

[jimmehx]

Bold prediction indeed.

I can't see us winning all those purely because the players know its not necessary. We found the switch last season and chances are we do it again this season.

Regardless, I agree that "it's sick" that we have our bench mob as a second unit. They're just such a good group.

These season is the most fun I can remember. I just can't wait to watch the games.

[mzepol]

I'm predicting a 61-21 record.

[CelticSooner]

I say 65 is a reasonable goal but anything over that not so much. I think the C's will finish somewhere around 60-65 wins. Hopefully that is enough wins to claim homecourt over Miami and LA. I think both of those teams will probably take the C's to 7. Winning a game 7 in Miami and LA when the opponent has the best player on the court is never a good situation to be in. With that said everything is just a guess right now.

[Mike-Dub]

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.

We should try to get home court, but not at the expense of the team's health.  Last season we would have won it all had it not been for awful luck and terrible officiating by the zebras.  We did the right thing worrying about health over homecourt and a player you wouldn't expect to get injured as much as the big three did, unfortunately.

Yes, IMO the outcome of the finals would have been different had we had homecourt, but it also would have been different had Perk not gotten hurt and the zebras gave the Lakers a 22-6 free-throw advantage in the fouth quarter.

[GreenEnvy]

I'm predicting a 61-21 record.

I think that is the most logical expectations at this point.

And a TP for your great avy and sig. Love them.

[mgent]

It all depends on how many injuries, who those injuries are to, how long they affect the player, and whether or not their replacement and/or the rest of the team steps up when they happen.  If the team has limited injuries and the play all out every game I wouldn't put 72 wins out of reach.

[makaveli]

Anything under 60 would be a surprise, I just don't want to see those ugly 2nd half or 4th qtr collapses like we had last season, that was so frustrating.
Considering that our entire bench could start somewhere else last season won't repeat itself. 

[mzepol]

I'm predicting a 61-21 record.

I think that is the most logical expectations at this point.

And a TP for your great avy and sig. Love them.

Thanks. I'd give a TP right back at ya, but I just gave you one on the KG thread, so we'll have to wait a while for the next one.