The Celtics Will Win The NBA Championship

[angryguy77]

We're done.

Don't you know? Championships are lost when you don't have the best record or  slump. Its also lost when you trade a guy who didn't play for 99% of the season but is somehow still responsible for motivating 3 HoF to play great....from the bench. He must know how to use the force.

Games during the season count more than...you know...actual playoff games.
 

[JSD]

When is the last time that a #3 seed without HCA after the first round won the NBA championship?

I'm not trying to be flippant, I'm legitimately curious.

San Antonio in 2007 was the third seed...although they had HC over the Cavs.

Last one was the Detroit Pistons in 04 I think. Didn't have homecourt after the first round and beat the #2 Nets, the #1 Pacers, and then the #2 Lakers.

That's probably the closest comparison we can hope for.  We don't have a '95 Hakeem or even an '07 Duncan on this team (though maybe Rondo could be '07 Parker).  I'm not convinced this team is as talented as the Pistons were, either.  

How many teams have won the title without HCA in the Finals since the introduction of the 2-3-2 format?

Thanks for the congrats!

I think that format came in in 1985?

Were the back to back Pistons HC?

The 3peat Bulls had HC.

95 Rockets went to Orlando.

3peat Bulls had home court.  Questioned 98 until I thought of Jordans "still gotta come through Chicago" speech.

99 Spurs had HC

3peat Lakers were home

Spurs 03 (and 05) were HC

04 Pistons went to LA

Did Miami have HC against Dallas? I don't think they did.

[PseudoElite]

It's doable without homecourt, just harder.

I'm more concerned with the Celtics playing well and the bench gelling than homecourt honestly.

[PosImpos]

When is the last time that a #3 seed without HCA after the first round won the NBA championship?

I'm not trying to be flippant, I'm legitimately curious.

San Antonio in 2007 was the third seed...although they had HC over the Cavs.

Last one was the Detroit Pistons in 04 I think. Didn't have homecourt after the first round and beat the #2 Nets, the #1 Pacers, and then the #2 Lakers.

That's probably the closest comparison we can hope for.  We don't have a '95 Hakeem or even an '07 Duncan on this team (though maybe Rondo could be '07 Parker).  I'm not convinced this team is as talented as the Pistons were, either. 

How many teams have won the title without HCA in the Finals since the introduction of the 2-3-2 format?

I believe it's only been 6 teams since 1985.

Looked it up because I was curious...the teams were: the 1985 Lakers, the 1993 Bulls, the 1995 Rockets, the 1998 Bulls, the 2004 Pistons and the 2006 Miami Heat.

So it will definitely be difficult, but not impossible. Although having Jordan or Magic would help.

Yeah, see that's my big concern - we won't have HCA and we don't have a Kobe, a Magic, a Jordan, a Wade, a Hakeem.  The best we can hope to be is the '04 Pistons, but I think they were a once in a generation team that had one great, fortuitous run.

[Onslaught]

Boston will win the NBA Championship. But I don't know what year it will be.

[Bahku]

I still believe ... absolutely. All of these same negative things were being said last year ... "Thay can't turn on the switch ... too many ifs ... too old", etc.. This year's post-season will be another such positive surprise, and we'll make it to number 18.

Experience almost always prevails when it comes down to the nitty-gritty, and I think it will in this instance as well. Yes, I am one of the "half-full" people here, but I am also moderately knowledgeable when it comes to hoops, and I think they'll flip the switch again.

[b13special]

I still believe!

[Onslaught]

I still believe ... absolutely. All of these same negative things were being said last year ... "Thay can't turn on the switch ... too many ifs ... too old", etc.. This year's post-season will be another such positive surprise, and we'll make it to number 18.

Experience almost always prevails when it comes down to the nitty-gritty, and I think it will in this instance as well. Yes, I am one of the "Hal-full" people here, but I am also moderately knowledgeable when it comes to hoops, and I think they'll flip the switch again.

Problem is the Lakers have experience too. And now if Boston keeps this up HCA.
And they've flipped their switch already so they don't have to worry about anything.

[jdpapa3]

We just have to be the '10 Celtics and hope that the refs are a little more lenient of soft calls on Pau, Fisher doesn't pull the game of the life out of his behind, and that we don't lose a starter for the last 2 games of the Finals. Don't think the Lakers could've done it had Bynum fell in Game 6 in the first quarter. Winning it all is such a delicate thing.

The path is obviously going to be different and we'll have a better feel when the seeds play out, but I think we lift the Larry O'Brien at the end of the season.

5k...good stuff!

[PosImpos]

I still believe ... absolutely. All of these same negative things were being said last year ... "Thay can't turn on the switch ... too many ifs ... too old", etc.. This year's post-season will be another such positive surprise, and we'll make it to number 18.

Experience almost always prevails when it comes down to the nitty-gritty, and I think it will in this instance as well. Yes, I am one of the "half-full" people here, but I am also moderately knowledgeable when it comes to hoops, and I think they'll flip the switch again.

That's the thing, though, Bahku.  I believe they can flip the switch again, I really do.  But flipping the switch wasn't enough last year.  It was enough to get them farther than any of us realistically thought they'd go after what we saw in the regular season, but nevertheless it wasn't enough to get all the way to the finish line. 

Why will this season be different?  Why, when the Big 3 are a year older and the team is apparently no deeper than it was last year, despite the off-season additions and mid-season trades?

[Onslaught]

We just have to be the '10 Celtics and hope that the refs are a little more lenient of soft calls on Pau, Fisher doesn't pull the game of the life out of his behind, and that we don't lose a starter for the last 2 games of the Finals. Don't think the Lakers could've done it had Bynum fell in Game 6 in the first quarter. Winning it all is such a delicate thing.

The path is obviously going to be different and we'll have a better feel when the seeds play out, but I think we lift the Larry O'Brien at the end of the season.

5k...good stuff!

Yes, But LA WILL get these calls at home. We all know they will.

[Bahku]

I still believe ... absolutely. All of these same negative things were being said last year ... "Thay can't turn on the switch ... too many ifs ... too old", etc.. This year's post-season will be another such positive surprise, and we'll make it to number 18.

Experience almost always prevails when it comes down to the nitty-gritty, and I think it will in this instance as well. Yes, I am one of the "half-full" people here, but I am also moderately knowledgeable when it comes to hoops, and I think they'll flip the switch again.

That's the thing, though, Bahku.  I believe they can flip the switch again, I really do.  But flipping the switch wasn't enough last year.  It was enough to get them farther than any of us realistically thought they'd go after what we saw in the regular season, but nevertheless it wasn't enough to get all the way to the finish line.  

Why will this season be different?  Why, when the Big 3 are a year older and the team is apparently no deeper than it was last year, despite the off-season additions and mid-season trades?

Actually, it was enough, (IMHO) ... I hate to bring it up again, (because people say it's just an excuse), but the officials robbed us ... that was the difference. In my many, many years of watching the NBA, I can't remember ever seeing a game where the 4th quarter was so incredibly unbalanced with trips to the line.

It was absolutely absurd, and we could just as easily have won that game if it had been called even remotely balanced in the final quarter. Plain and simple, we were robbed ... big time. (Man I hope this doesn't start another firestorm of "Don't blame the refs!" posts ).

Another reason I think it will be different, is because KG, Paul and Ray are ALL in better shape this year, and until this recent funk, have been looking much better than last year. And this is just a funk ... it won't last long, and every team has them ... better now than in the post-season.

[jdpapa3]

Yes, But LA WILL get these calls at home. We all know they will.

Eh, that's probable. I just think one of those 3 factors change and we might be looking to repeat.

Like I said, winning is so sensitive. That jump ball against Cleveland in game 7 in 08 goes a different way and we are looking at a ringless Big 3. I think our team of last year would've beat 08's team, but that's an argument for a different day. 

[PosImpos]

I still believe ... absolutely. All of these same negative things were being said last year ... "Thay can't turn on the switch ... too many ifs ... too old", etc.. This year's post-season will be another such positive surprise, and we'll make it to number 18.

Experience almost always prevails when it comes down to the nitty-gritty, and I think it will in this instance as well. Yes, I am one of the "half-full" people here, but I am also moderately knowledgeable when it comes to hoops, and I think they'll flip the switch again.

That's the thing, though, Bahku.  I believe they can flip the switch again, I really do.  But flipping the switch wasn't enough last year.  It was enough to get them farther than any of us realistically thought they'd go after what we saw in the regular season, but nevertheless it wasn't enough to get all the way to the finish line. 

Why will this season be different?  Why, when the Big 3 are a year older and the team is apparently no deeper than it was last year, despite the off-season additions and mid-season trades?

Actually, it was enough, (IMHO) ... I hate to bring it up again, (because people say it's just an excuse), but the officials robbed us ... that was the difference. In my many, many years of watching the NBA, I can't remember ever seeing a game where the 4th quarter was so incredibly unbalanced with trips to the line.

It was absolutely absurd, and we could just as easily have won that game if it had been called even remotely balanced in the final quarter. Plain and simple, we were robbed ... big time. (Man I hope this doesn't start another firestorm of "Don't blame the refs!" posts ).

Another reason I think it will be different, is because KG, Paul and Ray are ALL in better shape this year, and until this recent funk, have been looking much better than last year. And this is just a funk ... it won't last long, and every team has them ... better now than in the post-season.

As jd pointed out, there's a major reason that 4th quarter was called the way it was - it was game 7 of the finals in LA.  if we make it to the finals again, it's likely we'll be playing in LA, or SA, or Dallas.  We'll probably have to deal with the same stuff again.

[chambers]

This is my 5000th post.

I just want to say I'm still convinced the Celtics will win it all this season. They're a team built for the chess match that is the playoffs.

werd.
Everything is coming together,
The two key big guys (solid meat head big guys) with attitude and toughness are going to be back just in time for the playoffs with a little warming up period in between.
Rondo is starting play a little better.
West is playing great. Green is settling in. Paul and Ray and KG are just doing what they do and Baby is better.
As OP stated- this team is built for a playoff run.
they thrive under the bright lights.
They appear to understand the sense of urgency and I think they enjoy being the underdogs.
Things will click eventually- the comfort factor of having the two monsters in the paint back will be very evident over the next 10 games I think.