Who's the best team in the league?

[ScoobyDoo]

Here's something to think about. If you gave the Lakers, Mavs, OKC, Spurs, Heat, Bulls and the Magic the same level of injuries that the Celtics have had this season, I argue they'd all have 10 fewer wins. There is no way any of those teams would have a record close to our current one. 

It's amazing the Celts are hanging on to the 2nd / 3rd overall seed right now, given our injuries this year. We're only in 2nd / 3rd spot right now because we've missed our enforcer presence over the last two weeks because Perk and Semih were traded and we did not get Shaq and/or Jermaine back yet - and we've taken a beating inside because of that.

If we get Shaq and JO back and they stay healthy - or further, if we had two healthy centers all season, even with all our other injuries, isn't safe to say we'd probably have the best record, even if these other top teams had not one injury all season? 

That is a pretty fair statement.

I say, we get Shaq and Jo back, we start rolling again. If not, we wont' make the finals most likely.

[slamtheking]

Here's something to think about. If you gave the Lakers, Mavs, OKC, Spurs, Heat, Bulls and the Magic the same level of injuries that the Celtics have had this season, I argue they'd all have 10 fewer wins. There is no way any of those teams would have a record close to our current one. 

It's amazing the Celts are hanging on to the 2nd / 3rd overall seed right now, given our injuries this year. We're only in 2nd / 3rd spot right now because we've missed our enforcer presence over the last two weeks because Perk and Semih were traded and we did not get Shaq and/or Jermaine back yet - and we've taken a beating inside because of that.

If we get Shaq and JO back and they stay healthy - or further, if we had two healthy centers all season, even with all our other injuries, isn't safe to say we'd probably have the best record, even if these other top teams had not one injury all season? 

That is a pretty fair statement.

I say, we get Shaq and Jo back, we start rolling again. If not, we wont' make the finals most likely.

I think that's a fair assessment.

[StartOrien]

I would say that right now it's the Celtics. I may be biased, but it's my honest opinion.

Outside of that, I'm going to go completely off the grid and say the Blazers. I like their versatility and depth.

[GreenFaith1819]

The Boston Celtics.

And to quote one of my all-time favorite PFs in Charles Barkley:

"I may be wrong, but I doubt it."

(I'm glad that the networks have finally limited that commercial. It's fun, but grates on you after about 10 showings)

[TheTruthFot18]

The only real comparison I can think of is Chicago. Boozer out beginning of the season (1-2 months?) and however long Noah was out recently. They were out at separate times but that means their starting 5 of Rose, Bogans, Deng, Boozer, and Noah have played as many games together as our old starting 5 this season (a few more by CHI but you get the point)

Anyway I point this out because having KG and/or Shaq/Perk/JO out has obviously had an effect on us (albeit above players do not come close to a Boozer or Noah). And Deng and Rose could really only do so much with one of them out.

[barefacedmonk]

Based on performace alone...right now, I would have to say the Lakers. A healthy Celtics team can kick Lakers' butt any given day.

[Donoghus]

Right now?  The Lakers.

When healthy?  I still the Celtics are the best team but right now health is looming as a very big "If".

[Yvette]

A very complete and healthy Boston Celtics!!!....

[JSD]

By far, the Celtics with Shaq.

[indeedproceed]

Lakers til someone beats them 4 games outta 7 in the playoffs. THat's what winning a chip means.

[jambr380]

Everybody (except IP) says the Celtics? That is faith in the hometeam. I am all about Boston winning the championship, but things have to go the right way for that to happen. The Lakers don't have to change anything.

[PosImpos]

If everybody is totally healthy and playing at the top of their game, I think it's a toss-up between the Spurs, Lakers, and Celtics.  I'm honestly not sure which of those three is the best if all things are equal (which they almost always aren't).


Since life isn't fair and things aren't equal, the Lakers are the best team in the league right now.  Mostly healthy and locked in (finally).  At least the Thunder are playing really well right now (and they're healthy), so if they ever face the Lakers it should be a good fight, at least.  And I still have a lot of faith in the Spurs.

[Celtics18]

In my completely unbiased opinion it's gotta be the Boston Celtics.

[Green Hell]

Here's the thing about saying "if we are healthy"...

Health, or in this case our seeming inability to stay healthy, is a part of who this team is. Just like the way you have to give credit to Ray for maintaining his health, that being a major factor in why he is such a great shooter, you can't very well go on to say "Greg Oden is the best center in the league as long as he's healthy" because you're using the same qualifier.

Qualifying the statement that we're the best team in the league by excluding one of our biggest flaws, age, is like saying we're the best team in the league when we play our A game. Any team in the league can be the best team when players play up to their potential.

What matters is showing you can maintain all the components of who you are on a consistent basis. All you have to do is look back to game 7, where our two biggest flaws came back to kick us in the ass, that being our inability to stay healthy (Sheed/Perk/KG) and our uncanny inability to close out games.

This team is showing a lot of the same bad habits as last year and know one here can very well claim we have overcome those problems. Until they're dethroned, the Lakers have shown they know how to stay healthy, gut out close and important games and play championship caliber basketball. The Celtics have only show they can play championship caliber basketball. If you're really being honest with yourself, who do you think is the best team in the league?

Until proven otherwise of course

[celtics2]

LA until proven otherwise. No one holds Bryant down long. One of the best Managements and Coaches ever. Celtics over boast about Celtic Pride but LA gets it done. I'm a Celtic fan that always respected the Lakers.