Does this feel like the Championship Team?

[nba is the worst]

It certainly "feels" like it.

The depth is what makes this season different.  Really, KG is the only guy that the C's can't afford to have hurt in the playoffs.

The Heat are playing better, but defense will still work on them in May.

[LB3533]

There is no doubt in my mind that once we get all our injured soldiers back healthy, we are the best team in basketball.

But right now, at this very moment, the Heat are the best team IMO.

In the month of December the Heat have beaten 4 good teams by double digits.

The Celtics have beaten 2 by double figures this month.

[indeedproceed]

There is no doubt in my mind that once we get all our injured soldiers back healthy, we are the best team in basketball.

But right now, at this very moment, the Heat are the best team IMO.

In the month of December the Heat have beaten 4 good teams by double digits.

The Celtics have beaten 2 by double figures this month.

Having the Heat, a team that has been beaten by the Celtics twice, and has an inferior record, as "the better team" because of margin of victory during a 12 game winning streak while our starting PG, best bench wing, starting center, second string center, and third string center are all missing time due to injury..well it just seems logically untenable.

If John Holinger is the only guy who agrees with you, it might be worth further consideration.

[LB3533]

There is no doubt in my mind that once we get all our injured soldiers back healthy, we are the best team in basketball.

But right now, at this very moment, the Heat are the best team IMO.

In the month of December the Heat have beaten 4 good teams by double digits.

The Celtics have beaten 2 by double figures this month.

Having the Heat, a team that has been beaten by the Celtics twice, and has an inferior record, as "the better team" because of margin of victory during a 12 game winning streak while our starting PG, best bench wing, starting center, second string center, and third string center are all missing time due to injury..well it just seems logically untenable.

If John Holinger is the only guy who agrees with you, it might be worth further consideration.

Every team has injuries.

It's not like the Heat are immune to the injury bug.

If we are full strength, we probably blow opponents out by double digits as well...but we aren't full strength and we aren't winning many games by double digits.

The point is, the Heat are hurting as well and yet they are still winning by double figures.

[indeedproceed]

There is no doubt in my mind that once we get all our injured soldiers back healthy, we are the best team in basketball.

But right now, at this very moment, the Heat are the best team IMO.

In the month of December the Heat have beaten 4 good teams by double digits.

The Celtics have beaten 2 by double figures this month.

Having the Heat, a team that has been beaten by the Celtics twice, and has an inferior record, as "the better team" because of margin of victory during a 12 game winning streak while our starting PG, best bench wing, starting center, second string center, and third string center are all missing time due to injury..well it just seems logically untenable.

If John Holinger is the only guy who agrees with you, it might be worth further consideration.

Every team has injuries.

It's not like the Heat are immune to the injury bug.

If we are full strength, we probably blow opponents out by double digits as well...but we aren't full strength and we aren't winning many games by double digits.

The point is, the Heat are hurting as well and yet they are still winning by double figures.

Well the Heat aren't even missing a starter. We're missing 2, one of them being our most talented players. Also we, like the Heat, are also missing our best wing sub, along with our 2nd and 3rd string centers (beyond our starter).

On top of that we've beaten them twice. I simply do not see the case how they're 'better'.

I guess you could argue that if Rondo, Shaq, Delonte, and JO are all out, they'd beat us. But, even that is not a sure thing. I simply don't think see the reasoning there beyond margin of victory.

[wdleehi]

Yes.

[fairweatherfan]

Yes it does.  That "ubuntu" feeling is back, we're playing as a team and playing with energy every night.

Remember our hot start last year was fueled by ridiculous 3 pt shooting, especially from Sheed.  When the jumpers stopped hitting, we started losing games.  This year we're doing it in the paint, with Ray and Pierce the only ones who are shooting a lot of 3s.  Much different attack, and should be more successful in the long run.

[BballTim]

There is no doubt in my mind that once we get all our injured soldiers back healthy, we are the best team in basketball.

But right now, at this very moment, the Heat are the best team IMO.

In the month of December the Heat have beaten 4 good teams by double digits.

The Celtics have beaten 2 by double figures this month.

Having the Heat, a team that has been beaten by the Celtics twice, and has an inferior record, as "the better team" because of margin of victory during a 12 game winning streak while our starting PG, best bench wing, starting center, second string center, and third string center are all missing time due to injury..well it just seems logically untenable.

If John Holinger is the only guy who agrees with you, it might be worth further consideration.

Every team has injuries.

It's not like the Heat are immune to the injury bug.

If we are full strength, we probably blow opponents out by double digits as well...but we aren't full strength and we aren't winning many games by double digits.

The point is, the Heat are hurting as well and yet they are still winning by double figures.

  Take away their best player, or have him play with injuries hampering his movement. Still seeing any double digit wins? Me neither.

[Roy H.]

The 2008 team was unique, but I do think this team is championship caliber.  There definitely is a special something about this team that I didn't see in 2009 or 2010 (although last year's team obviously was very impressive in the playoffs and ended up showing a lot of heart.)

[get_banners]

its gritty, that's for sure. it also feels a lot like the championship squad...unselfishness everywhere, lot of team spirit...the way the stars have treated erden really says it all, actually. they've taken this kid, mr. irrelevant, fully under their wings. rondo's on a different level right now, too...and his jumper looks really good, form-wise, for the first time ever. if everyone is healthy at the end of the year, i think we're unstoppable.

[celtics2]

It certainly feels like Championship team. Most of us know what it takes as far as talent. Now we need the luck most Championship Teams get. Health for the playoffs. Home Court would be helpful at least for the ECF's. We're a good travel team. Last Spring we beat LA if we had Perk. We lost the Boards and the Title. So I'm confidently carefully confident. Best to take it one game at a time. Right now things are the best.

[BigAlTheFuture]

I feel a lot more confident about this team compared to the last two years. I feel like the swagger is there. I don't see any team beating us in a 7-game series, this year.

[Neurotic Guy]

Jinx thread. Abort quickly.

[birdwatcher]

I think we have some intangibles that don't show up on paper with this year's roster. We're looking at 4, maybe 5 starters that will end up in the hall of fame. Our current starters have all won rings, we have a couple league MVPs, a couple finals MVPs and guys who really fit into their roles. We may be old and beat up, but I agree that there's not many teams I would fear in a 7 game series. It's really just the road between now and the playoffs that concerns me, cause of injuries and the amount of minutes guys are going to get. Rondo will never be 100% this year if he can't sit for a while, and now we run the risk of Nate injuring himself again. But that said, I guess every team has the same problem.

[incoherent]

The quick answer is yes, it feels like a chip team.

So did 07-08 (26-3 thru december)
So did 08-09 (27-2 until L to lakers)
So did 09-10 (23-5 thru christmas)

1 outta 3 ain't bad I guess. We'll see how we handle the waters in Jan.

Rasheed Wallace launching threes and KG limping around on one leg last year didnt feel right to me.

Thank god those days are over.

Getting to game 7 in the Finals didn't feel right to you?

Last season was a bit messed up, I admit.. but once the playoffs started I thought for sure we were a championship team.