How about some positive spin?

[angryguy77]

I think the lack of practice for the starters is way understated. No matter what Iverson says, practice matters.
People act as though it was a given we would win it all with Perk. If Shaq doesn't comeback, it wouldn't have mattered if we had Perk.

Also, we haven't had much production from Rondo the past few weeks. We know how vital it is for him to play well. The team goes as he does.
 
We may just be in a slump too more so than having chemistry issues. Every team goes through these. The timing sucks, but we have to deal with it.

Btw, chicago is in a fight with the bucks. If they lose, I guess their chances are as bad as ours if we go by the prevailing logic we have in some of these threads.

[barefacedmonk]

How about some positive spin?

Danny agrees.

[alley oop]

...
People act as though it was a given we would win it all with Perk. If Shaq doesn't comeback, it wouldn't have mattered if we had Perk...

Indeed; no Shaq, no ring, with or without Perk.

[PosImpos]

Chicago would need to lose to the Bucks and then drop 3 of their next 5 games to be in a similar state of affairs as the Celtics currently are.

[gar]

Doc does not sound very up beat. Doc has never called these guys out the way he has recently. First he called them soft and then he challenged them for being selfish. Those are mighty harsh words to a Celtic and I hope it does not backfire; but you have to sense that something big must be happening chemistry wise to cause Doc to use those words.

The Celtics have put in some gutsy performances this year. I know they can do it. Is up to the big three and Rondo to get with the program.

[Prof. Clutch]

TP to the OP for this thread.

I was thinking about taking a screen shot of the "Latest Forum Topics" the other night because it was one of the most comically over reactionary and negative grouping of thread titles I had ever seen here (and that's saying something.)

I usually don't even bother coming to Celticsblog the night of a loss since logic seems to go right out the window and so many are unwavering in their belief that the sky is falling.  

Yes the Celtics are struggling, but they also have the second best record in the Eastern Conference and track record of turning it on when it really matters the most (a.k.a. the playoffs.)

They turned it on last year. One year does not make a track record.

I disagree,  I think the Celtics have really embraced the challenge once the playoffs arrived three straight years during the playoffs.  Even with a major injury or a tough series, they've turned it on when they've needed it most.  It hasn't always lead to the ultimate goal  of winning a championship, but its gotten them pretty darn close.

[BballTim]

TP to the OP for this thread.

I was thinking about taking a screen shot of the "Latest Forum Topics" the other night because it was one of the most comically over reactionary and negative grouping of thread titles I had ever seen here (and that's saying something.)

I usually don't even bother coming to Celticsblog the night of a loss since logic seems to go right out the window and so many are unwavering in their belief that the sky is falling.  

Yes the Celtics are struggling, but they also have the second best record in the Eastern Conference and track record of turning it on when it really matters the most (a.k.a. the playoffs.)

They turned it on last year. One year does not make a track record.

  You're not going to get much of a track record out of this group, a lot of the guys are only on two year contracts.

[GranTur]

Tp good post, OP

[More Banners]

A nice post by the OP.

Perhaps we've gone through a mini-preseason with the newbies?  With them getting minutes when they wouldn't have in the "real" season?

5 guys shipped out, with only Perk a threat to get minutes, and with him having not played much to begin with = not much of a loss.  

We gave up an underperforming Nate, out for the season/maybe life Quisy, and roster fodder.  We took back a bunch of players that we're now trying to figure whether they'll make the rotation.  Aside from JG and Krystic, the rest might ride the bench.  THat's only two players to really work into the rotation, and then 3 more to try out and see what they have (Murphy, Arroyo, and Pavlov).

So let's all relax and know that the starting 5 in the playoffs will be the same as the starting 5 on opening night.

And let's all take comfort in the fact that Doc is a different coach in the playoffs, most notably that he shortens the rotation and is much quicker to give the hook.

The only important things to watch going forward will be the comeback of Shaq, the fitting in of JGreen and Krystic, and the position battle that will determine whether Arroyo or Delonte gets the 10 backup PG minutes available in the playoffs (my prediction:  Arroyo by default).

EDIT:  And Doc seems to be going into the "prep for playoffs" mode.  He's criticized the team's defense (soft) and now the offense (selfish).  I'd say he's trying to tune up on both ends for the playoffs.

[mgent]

...
People act as though it was a given we would win it all with Perk. If Shaq doesn't comeback, it wouldn't have mattered if we had Perk...

Indeed; no Shaq, no ring, with or without Perk.

I don't get why people say this.  We won with a much worse Perk 3 years ago.  Our roster was completely capable of winning pre-trade.

Also, Shaq alone won't fix all our problems.  We're not playing like a team, the lack of chemistry is hurting us just as much as Krstic at center.

[Jon]

My old high school soccer coach used to tell us that usually nothing is ever as bad as it seems, but conversely nothing is ever as good as it seems. 

This almost always rings true in the world of sports.  We weren't without problems earlier this year when things looked great and things certainly aren't as bad as we think now.  Teams almost always going through droughts at some point in the season. 

Things are going about as dysfunctionally as possible for the C's right now and about as good as possible for the Bulls.  However, despite what the media always likes to pretend, current trends likely won't last indefinitely.  The Bulls will likely come down to earth and the C's will likely get better. 

Doesn't mean that we definitely win #18; however, it does mean that we still have a chance. 

I also second the notion from the OP that JO is a darkhorse that shouldn't be discounted.  He's only 31 and the team has been very conservative with him.  While it'd be ridiculous to imagine that he'd play 35 mpg and put up 20 and 10 like he did (only a few years ago), I don't think it'd ridiculous to think he could put up a prorated 13/7/2 like he did last year. 

And he is perhaps out most well-rounded big man on the team (other than KG) as he can hit the jumper almost as well as BBD and Krstic (and far better than Shaq) and is the best defender and shot blocker of them all.  Also, unlike Shaq, he can hit a free throw, which makes him an interesting option to close games out. 

[Celtic#9]

If it makes anybody feel better Shaq and the Big 4 never lost a playoff series either

[LarBrd33]

If it makes anybody feel better Shaq and the Big 4 never lost a playoff series either

Good point

I didn't watch tonight's game, because I fully expected more of the same.  I'll start watching again when JO or Shaq suits up. 

I do think it's funny that everyone is in panic mode and flipping out about our troubles when a key piece of our team is being saved (our big men).  Everyone's jealous of how well Chicago and OKC is playing. I could care less.  I'd rather see us peak in the playoffs.

[Mazingerz]

Think Mavs of yesteryears or Cavs (who won 70 games in a season). They peaked too early.

[LarBrd33]

Think Mavs of yesteryears or Cavs (who won 70 games in a season). They peaked too early.

Once the full team is in place, I think the collective energy goes up.  This has pretty much been confirmed by quotes from Doc.  He admitted that players were talking about Shaq returning and he tried to splash some cold water on their faces and tell them not to expect Shaq to return.  As a coach, you expect him to do this.  YOu don't want your players using an excuse for the struggles they are going through.  I fully expect Doc to tell these guys "Don't expect Shaq to return".   However... it's just basic human psychology... I can't expect these guys to lock in playoff-level focus and intensity until the playoff team is solidified as a unit.  Doc can (and should) bark at them to get it together now, but I don't expect things to really start clicking until the big fella rejoins the team.   Then it'll be go-time. 

Our last 5 games of the regular season take place over the span of a week 11 days from now.  It will include games against Chicago, Miami and New York.   If our energy is still down at that point, I'll come on here and and peddle doom with the rest of ya.