Enjoy the next week...

[LarBrd33]

Then prepare to tune out this team until the playoffs.  If this season is anything like the previous seasons... we're headed for another post-Christmas collapse.   Probably play uninspired, going-through-the-motions, injury plagued .500 basketball for the rest of the regular season and then hopefully get our crap together when the playoffs come. 

So anyways... enjoy the next week... prepare for the free-fall... prepare for everyone to write off this team and completely totally forget their hot start... prepare for countless "trade Ray, trade Pierce, trade KG, etc" threads... prepare to actually start buying into the idea of blowing up the aging squad and actually selling yourself on a couple rumored deals... prepare for a couple embarrassingly brutal blowouts to the hands of the Lakers/Heat... then prepare for the "shocking" playoff run...  it's all coming.

[CelticSooner]

Not sure if this is sarcasm or not...

C's can't afford to hand over homecourt this year.

[Witch-King]

You're joking, right? 

 I'm thinking that the Celtics will be able to earn at least a few more than 50 games this season. Last season the concern was to have all of our players healthy by the playoffs. This year we have a deeper roster so finishing near the top of the Eastern Conference should not be as far out of reach as it was last season. Stop being such a spoil-sport. 

[mgent]

Doesn't matter how they do I'm not gonna be tuning them out.

[vinnie]

The only reason this might happen is if the injuries keep piling up. I can see this team going into a bit of a skid unless players start getting healthy. That said, however, this appears to be a far different team with a far different attitude than that of last year's squad.

[PosImpos]

The only reason this might happen is if the injuries keep piling up. I can see this team going into a bit of a skid unless players start getting healthy. That said, however, this appears to be a far different team with a far different attitude than that of last year's squad.

As usual I agree with Vinnie on this one.

[BballTim]

Then prepare to tune out this team until the playoffs.  If this season is anything like the previous seasons... we're headed for another post-Christmas collapse.   Probably play uninspired, going-through-the-motions, injury plagued .500 basketball for the rest of the regular season and then hopefully get our crap together when the playoffs come. 

So anyways... enjoy the next week... prepare for the free-fall... prepare for everyone to write off this team and completely totally forget their hot start... prepare for countless "trade Ray, trade Pierce, trade KG, etc" threads... prepare to actually start buying into the idea of blowing up the aging squad and actually selling yourself on a couple rumored deals... prepare for a couple embarrassingly brutal blowouts to the hands of the Lakers/Heat... then prepare for the "shocking" playoff run...  it's all coming.

  You tune them out. See you in April.

[Change]

Anticipatory Coping, interesting... 

au revoir monsieur

[18isGREATERthan72]

I think the collapse last year had a LOT to do with KG not being 100% (Obviously not the case this season.)  If memory serves me correctly, the Celtics actually had a pretty good January 09, but KG got injured the next month?  Then they were battling uphill.  He comes back the next season, and isn't 100%, so it obviously has an effect.  Not saying it won't happen, but I'm a little more optimistic about this seasons January-March schedule.

[Rondo_is_better]

Statement that affirms my fanhood and questions the OP's.

[GreenFaith1819]

I'll be enjoying the next 6 1/2 months, all the way up until we take back from LA what was stolen from us.

I'll be enjoying getting DWest and Perk back, too.

[guava_wrench]

Questionable thread idea. As others have mentioned, we will begin getting players back in the upcoming weeks. Shaq perhaps against Indy, JO perhaps in a week, West mid January, Perk in Feb.

JO, West and Perk are going to want to go full bore to get in shape and in rhythm.

Keep in mind that January was our least successful month in past years, but it was only last year that we were bad Feb-May.

[Bahku]

Completely disagree ... there is a much different chemistry and aura to this team, and it's one of winning, not just in the playoffs, but the regular season as well. I don't think Danny and Doc have remotely the same mind-set as last year, nor do they need to ... this team is very deep and very talented, and we're going to continue to surprise the rest of the NBA, injuries or not.

[LarBrd33]

Same ol same ol.   Tune em out until the playoffs.  Predicable Christmas failure.  They'll coast until the games matter.  Get ready for some thrilling apathetic .500 basketball.

[Kane3387]

I wouldn't go that far but we have to play with heart. We weren't up for this game and we didn't give it the respect it deserved. Rondo would have helped but Orlando will improve. Both teams should be different and improved in April and May. That said we have to play with heart. No one came to work today besides KG.