If Celtics lose this series the window is officially closed

[Who]

First of all, the Celtics right now are the worst team left in the postseason. I honestly think we would lose a 7 game series against every other team that is left.

I disagree. At the very minimum, the Celtics are a better team than (1) Atlanta (2) Chicago (3) Memphis

Which makes them, at the very minimum, a top 5 team in the NBA.

[Jeff]

Probably right.  I still think I'd explore a Rondo + Clippers pick for CP3 deal, though.  Adding Paul to this team might be enough to get us over the hump one last time.

yeah, I think you have to at least explore that ave.

also, I'd be ringing Otis Smith's number just to test the waters

[the_Bird]

Probably right.  I still think I'd explore a Rondo + Clippers pick for CP3 deal, though.  Adding Paul to this team might be enough to get us over the hump one last time.

yeah, I think you have to at least explore that ave.

also, I'd be ringing Otis Smith's number just to test the waters

Dwight's not going anywhere this summer. 

Next year, though...  assuming that Orlando doesn't get any better.  You might get Dwight for KG's contract and some other pieces...  but you'll have to take some other deadweight off their books as well.  Welcome to Boston, Gilbert Arenas!   

[Kuberski33]

Any attempt to extend the window needs to involve a physical presence at center, and an upgrade over the current version of Glen Davis.  Also a retooling of the rest of the bench.

Strikes me that that first one is going to be the toughest to accomplish

[Green Hell]

[Eddie20]

Overall, I think the Heat are going to be a force for the next 10 years

Wow! This really jumped out at me. Wade and James are 2 guys that rely heavily on pure athleticism. To think they can continue this level of play in their early 30's is highly doubtful.

At year's end, James will be 27, Wade 29, and Bosh 27. 5 years as a "force" is much more reasonable.

[PosImpos]

Overall, I think the Heat are going to be a force for the next 10 years

Wow! This really jumped out at me. Wade and James are 2 guys that rely heavily on pure athleticism. To think they can continue this level of play in their early 30's is highly doubtful.

At year's end, James will be 27, Wade 29, and Bosh 27. 5 years as a "force" is much more reasonable.

They'll be great for at least another 5 years and quite good (Celtics territory) for a few more years after that.

Although Wade and James rely a lot on athleticism, it's not unreasonable to think that both of them could reshape their games as they get older as Jordan / Kobe did to rely more on skill and strength.


The team I expect to be a "force" for the next ten years is the Thunder.  Look at all of the great pieces they have, all of them in their early to mid 20s.

[Celticsfan336]

This hasnt been the worst postseason, Its been the worst 2 game stretch.

HYPOTHETICALLY SPEAKING (I still think we win the series in 7)
WE LOSE THIS POSTSEASON,

Our window isn't necesarily closed, we will still be a contender. I think Danny will make some moves in the offseason if we aren't champions, but still....we have a chance at a limited season, and our bench is more talented than years past, and an offseason of practice would be beneficial beyond words.

I am not counting the Celtics out for a couple of years, as long as the big 4 is still starting we are contenders.

[Marcus13]

Probably right.  I still think I'd explore a Rondo + Clippers pick for CP3 deal, though.  Adding Paul to this team might be enough to get us over the hump one last time.

I wouldn't disagree with that, assuming CP3 continued to return to his pre-injury form.  However, do you think there's a realistic chance the Hornets would go for that kind of offer?  Is that really the best they could do for CP3?  Even if we offered Rondo, Bradley, Green and the Clippers pick for CP3, Ariza, and filler, I have to imagine they could get offers with better picks and prospects.

You also need to consider that Chris might have his heart set on NY and would state, like Melo before him, that he'd only sign an extension with the Knicks.

I honestly think Rondo is the best player they could hope to get for CP3.  They're more likely to end up with a package of 3 mediocre players like the Lakers got for Shaq or the Jazz got for Deron.

IMO Rondo and the potential of that pick beats those packages

[Marcus13]

Thats all sorts of sad

[PosImpos]

Probably right.  I still think I'd explore a Rondo + Clippers pick for CP3 deal, though.  Adding Paul to this team might be enough to get us over the hump one last time.

I wouldn't disagree with that, assuming CP3 continued to return to his pre-injury form.  However, do you think there's a realistic chance the Hornets would go for that kind of offer?  Is that really the best they could do for CP3?  Even if we offered Rondo, Bradley, Green and the Clippers pick for CP3, Ariza, and filler, I have to imagine they could get offers with better picks and prospects.

You also need to consider that Chris might have his heart set on NY and would state, like Melo before him, that he'd only sign an extension with the Knicks.

I honestly think Rondo is the best player they could hope to get for CP3.  They're more likely to end up with a package of 3 mediocre players like the Lakers got for Shaq or the Jazz got for Deron.

IMO Rondo and the potential of that pick beats those packages

You may be right.  I think the biggest obstacle to the trade could be that CP3 wants to go to the Knicks and will only sign a contract extension there.

[Roy H.]

Probably right.  I still think I'd explore a Rondo + Clippers pick for CP3 deal, though.  Adding Paul to this team might be enough to get us over the hump one last time.

I wouldn't disagree with that, assuming CP3 continued to return to his pre-injury form.  However, do you think there's a realistic chance the Hornets would go for that kind of offer?  Is that really the best they could do for CP3?  Even if we offered Rondo, Bradley, Green and the Clippers pick for CP3, Ariza, and filler, I have to imagine they could get offers with better picks and prospects.

You also need to consider that Chris might have his heart set on NY and would state, like Melo before him, that he'd only sign an extension with the Knicks.

I honestly think Rondo is the best player they could hope to get for CP3.  They're more likely to end up with a package of 3 mediocre players like the Lakers got for Shaq or the Jazz got for Deron.

IMO Rondo and the potential of that pick beats those packages

Yeah, I agree.  With Rondo, you're getting a young, all-star guy who at times looks like a superstar.  He's locked up on a reasonable deal.  Add to that a potential lottery pick, and it's as close to fair value as most teams get these days.

There are only a handful of young guys in the NBA who are as good as Rondo, and even fewer who are most likely available. 

[Lucky17]

I think it's time to face facts.

I think it's time to stop overreacting.

There is still one year remaining on Ray's contract. JO and Shaq are both signed for next year, as are Rondo, KG, and Pierce. That makes 6 rotation players coming back to a top 3 team in the East.

Assuming the MLE is still available, that is another avenue to bring another quality player to the roster.

And if neither are kept, the rights to Green and Davis are chips that can be used to land additional roster help.

The Boston Celtic roster for 2011-12 still projects as that of a high playoff seed.

[Marcus13]

Probably right.  I still think I'd explore a Rondo + Clippers pick for CP3 deal, though.  Adding Paul to this team might be enough to get us over the hump one last time.

I wouldn't disagree with that, assuming CP3 continued to return to his pre-injury form.  However, do you think there's a realistic chance the Hornets would go for that kind of offer?  Is that really the best they could do for CP3?  Even if we offered Rondo, Bradley, Green and the Clippers pick for CP3, Ariza, and filler, I have to imagine they could get offers with better picks and prospects.

You also need to consider that Chris might have his heart set on NY and would state, like Melo before him, that he'd only sign an extension with the Knicks.

I honestly think Rondo is the best player they could hope to get for CP3.  They're more likely to end up with a package of 3 mediocre players like the Lakers got for Shaq or the Jazz got for Deron.

IMO Rondo and the potential of that pick beats those packages

You may be right.  I think the biggest obstacle to the trade could be that CP3 wants to go to the Knicks and will only sign a contract extension there.

This is exactly what I hate about where the NBA is headed.  Not just in this case, I hated it with Melo this year, too.

The NFL wouldn't allow the players to control the league in the way that players in the NBA seem to be able to

[Arok325]

Overall, I think the Heat are going to be a force for the next 10 years

Wow! This really jumped out at me. Wade and James are 2 guys that rely heavily on pure athleticism. To think they can continue this level of play in their early 30's is highly doubtful.

At year's end, James will be 27, Wade 29, and Bosh 27. 5 years as a "force" is much more reasonable.

They'll be great for at least another 5 years and quite good (Celtics territory) for a few more years after that.

Although Wade and James rely a lot on athleticism, it's not unreasonable to think that both of them could reshape their games as they get older as Jordan / Kobe did to rely more on skill and strength.


The team I expect to be a "force" for the next ten years is the Thunder.  Look at all of the great pieces they have, all of them in their early to mid 20s.

Ok, well I agree that maybe I was a bit callous with my use of the word "force," I still think my point stands. They will be an extremely good team for the next 8-10 years basically if they keep Lebron on their team. He's the best player in the league and he's entering his prime. I truly think that he will keep the Heat viable for a long time.

To those who think we're a better team than other teams in the playoffs I still disagree.

The Hawks are a better team than us right now. They made the Bulls look downright pedestrian the other night. Does anyone think we would do that? They're a better version of the Hawks team that gave us fits in the playoffs three years ago.

The Bulls? Maybe. We could matchup with them fairly well but I think in a 7 game series there is a legitimate chance they thwomp us. If Rose is healthy I think they're better by a significan7 margin at this point.

The Grizzlies? Forget it! They upset the Spurs (our Western counterpart) fairly easily. Their biggest strength is their athleticism, their ability to rebound and pound it inside to score. If you think about it they're our nightmare matchup! They're a very solid team. The only team that may be better than them in the West is the Thunder and the stronger team will come out of that matchup.

Between the Mavs and the Lakers who knows. Both teams are probably fair matchups for us though I think we have some holes in our roster that they would be able to exploit.