If we meet the Lakers in the finals this year...we are favorites right?

[BballTim]

There is no bench in the playoffs. It's an 8 man rotation (with spots minutes for one or two more bench players).

Odom, Barnes and Brown vs. Baby, Green and Delonte favors us slightly but nowhere near enough to tip the scales.

Its going to come down to our frontcourt against theirs, plain and simple. That and whose "stars" are able to rise to the occasion.

But come on now, going to LA after losing on their home court last year, having the same problems down the stretch, injuries, trading away Kendrick "never been been defeated in a playoffs series" Perkins, having to rely on Shaq... and still you have the nerve to presume anyone in their right mind would call us the favorites?

Like I said, take em off.

  Again, what does being favored matter? Not everyone shares your fear of the Lakers. When Shaq was starting for us we were the best team in the league and probably favorites to win it all. I don't see why the Lakers current hot streak is any more exciting that similar streaks by the Spurs, Bulls or Heat at different points in the season. But feel free to give up on things.

[Roy H.]

If we reach the Finals, it obviously means we're playing pretty well.  Of course, the Lakers will have continued their roll, as well, and will have home court advantage.

At that point, I think the Lakers would be the favorites with the media and in Vegas, while in reality the series would be a toss up.

[thirstyboots18]

Just going by past performance, I would say the Celtics would be favored in Boston, and the Lakers would be favored in L.A.    As far as Vegas odds, the Lakers are still Champions and have been on a very good run lately.  The Celtics would be the Challengers...my guess, Vegas odds favor the Lakers in the event we both make it to the finals. 

[celtics2]

Ya gotta be kidding right? Depends upon which historical view of the Celtics one looks at. Right now I say we're done in 6. If we get that far.

[mgent]

Aren't the Lakers always automatically favorites?

Who cares we'll kill them as long as they don't seriously injure one of our starting 5.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

Based on current play, we won't get close to the Finals. If, on the other hand, Boston gets its act together and makes it there, along with L.A., the favorite would be whoever's playing better at that point.

[ACF]

Time to take em off my friend.

You may (or you may not) be right but I still can't understand why you chose those words in your sig.

[Tai]

Yea, I agree with BBallTim. If the Lakers (or anyone for that matter) beat us, they beat us. All these good teams have went on streaks at one point in the season. That's why the Celtics are virtually guaranteed at least a #3 seed (and can still possibly get a #2 seed) and already have more regular season wins than last season with 7 games to go.

[Green Hell]

I believe in this team but that doesn't mean I have to turn into Homer Simpson like some of the posters on this board.

I believe in God but that doesn't mean if I step in front of a train, I expect him to send Superman to save me at the last second.

Me, Doc, the fans, the media, the standings, history: we all keep yelling "Train! Watch out for that ****ing train!" but the Celtics don't seem to want to hear it.

I hope they know something we don't.

[PosImpos]

No, we aren't.  Especially without HCA.

[BballTim]

I believe in this team but that doesn't mean I have to turn into Homer Simpson like some of the posters on this board.

  Yes, it's much more fun to spend the next couple of months running around wringing your hands and claiming the sky is falling. How dare people not panic, especially after not panicking when the Spurs/Heat/Bulls/<name your team> went on a hot streak.

[vinnie]

So if a Celtics fan says he/she doesnot think the Celtics are going to win the championship this year or that they won't be favorites to win it, then that means they are saying the sky is falling? 

[angryguy77]

Media won't favor us, but on paper we would be.

I have the utmost confidence we will make it back and take the title back to Boston.
 
If we see LA, it means we're healthy and I don't think the can match us this time. The only reason they are looking better right now is because they are healthier. I believe our guys will be back when it counts so this will even out.

Secondly, LA decided to come and play, where we are still on break.

We have problems, but we have enough time to iron those out.

[BballTim]

So if a Celtics fan says he/she doesnot think the Celtics are going to win the championship this year or that they won't be favorites to win it, then that means they are saying the sky is falling? 

  It's the flip side of anyone who thinks the Celts have a decent chance of winning being blind homers with green colored glasses, much like last year. Not that I mind, it's always great to have more room on the bandwagon after it empties out late in the season.

[Green Hell]

So if a Celtics fan says he/she doesnot think the Celtics are going to win the championship this year or that they won't be favorites to win it, then that means they are saying the sky is falling? 

  It's the flip side of anyone who thinks the Celts have a decent chance of winning being blind homers with green colored glasses, much like last year. Not that I mind, it's always great to have more room on the bandwagon after it empties out late in the season.

Right... because thinking we have a "decent chance of winning" is the same as declaring ourselves the prohibitive favorites against the 2x Defending Champions.

I don't know why is its so hard to swallow for some of you. Theres nothing complicated about it and its not really even up for debate.

It's a lot easier to drink the green kool aid and say "yeah, we're the favorites" while calling out anyone who disagrees as long as no one asks you to back it up with any substantial evidence.

And for the record, yeah, I think we have more than a decent chance of winning it all but that sure as hell doesn't make us the favorites and the only one who would think we are is a homer, plain and simple. Now if we had HCA and a healthy center, I'd be singing an entirely different tune.