So we are not contenders anymore,right?

[cornbreadsmart]

     I thnk the window has in fact closed but I have heard some fans saying how starting Green could work. I DO understand how that should help Green's game but in no way do I believe this counters the big 3 getting another year older. I don't think the problem is the big 3 tiring at the end of games as it will be each of these guys is just a little bit slower,their vertical is a little lower etc. All the stuff that happens to all the greats.While I think we would be better with a better bench, who here believes we can really win the championship with the same guys being our best players? I love these guys but I don't think it's realistic.   

[GreenFaith1819]

     I thnk the window has in fact closed but I have heard some fans saying how starting Green could work. I DO understand how that should help Green's game but in no way do I believe this counters the big 3 getting another year older. I don't think the problem is the big 3 tiring at the end of games as it will be each of these guys is just a little bit slower,their vertical is a little lower etc. All the stuff that happens to all the greats.While I think we would be better with a better bench, who here believes we can really win the championship with the same guys being our best players? I love these guys but I don't think it's realistic.   

And I think you are right.

I say this because even with Jeff Green, Nenad and JO returning, we still need:

A re-signed and more committed Glen Davis - at a price that's right for Boston and fair to Glen. If he decides to leave I'll miss him, but in that scenario I'd love to go with - another Center and PF, preferably Samuel Dalembert and Landry. I saw this on ESPNBoston's Peter May article today.

http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nba/columns/story?columnist=may_peter&id=6556219

I'm starting to think along the lines that we in fact need more...even with a healthy Rondo returning.

Not sure if this could be done financially, but my dream team for 2011-2012 is:

PG - Rondo/DWest/Bradley
SG - Ray/DWest/Wafer
SF - Paul/Green
PF - KG/Glen???/Landry
C -  JO/Dalembert/Nenad

Maybe bring back Sasha and Murph to round us out?

[MBz]

I think we can still be contenders, but it's going to take a lot of luck with free agency.  We can't even predict what's going to happen there due to the CBA expiring.  We do have a lot of holes which will need to be filled.  I think those holes can be filled in free agency, through sign and trades and with the draft, but if our roster is similar to this seasons we wont be contenders.

[jaybahs]

I love this stuff ... This team is gonna be just fine ... RELAX.

[LooseCannon]

I have a hard time saying the Celtics are not contenders when it feels like they easily could have been up 3-2 on the Heat.  Maybe not favorites, but still contenders.  A 5% chance of winning next season is still a chance.

[CoachBo]

If the Big 4 return intact, I'd say that we are no longer contenders. Injuries, diminished scoring, inability to score - outcome's not going to change next year.

[StartOrien]

There's obviously some reason for concern, but at the same time we might have to all take a step back and realize that the Heat beat us in a closely fought 5 game series where our starting PG was playing with one arm, our starting center was playing with a broken wrist, our highly bankable reserve PF/C got his talents taken from him by the Monstars, all while without our backup center.

There's reason for concern, and I'd like to see them make some moves, but I think it'd be silly to completely write this team off next season if they were to return with the Core 4.

[KJ33]

If the Big 4 return intact, I'd say that we are no longer contenders. Injuries, diminished scoring, inability to score - outcome's not going to change next year.

So you are counting on Rondo playing with 1 arm all of next year?  Is it really hard to comprehend that the Celts could easily have been up 3-2 if Rondo doesn't get hurt?  In fact, if he never returned, as seemed likely, I am sure almost everyone here would state that as the main reason the C's lost. 

The fact that he came back and played with one arm and the C's fell just short in Games 4 and 5, makes everyone focus on the age of the big 3.  By far Rondo was regarded as the main key in beating the Heat and even the Celts success in the playoffs.  Doesn't mean they would have won it all, but they certainly would have contended far longer with a healthy Rondo and there is no reason to believe they can't content again next year.

[clover]

Nope.  The buzzword in the league for them next year is "still dangerous"--which is not how you describe a contender.

[PosImpos]

If the Big 4 return intact, I'd say that we are no longer contenders. Injuries, diminished scoring, inability to score - outcome's not going to change next year.

Agreed.

[thirstyboots18]

I contend that any team which makes the Playoffs is a contender.  Probabilities exist, but so do possibilities.

[Celtics18]

I contend that any team which makes the Playoffs is a contender.  Probabilities exist, but so do possibilities.

I agree, with the possible exception of this season's Knicks and Pacers. 

[Chris]

We are absolutely still a contender next year.  We still have some work to do to fill out the roster, but the C's were a lucky bounce away from being tied 2-2 in that series against the Heat, which could have changed everything. 

I don't think the C's will be the favorites anymore next year, but they will absolutely be a contender, and, with some chemistry clicking, and some luck, they will have a decent chance at another championship. 

[Marcus13]

We're the Spurs

Everyone has a different determination of the word "contendor"

[coco]

I think we can contend, but to say we are close to being the favorite would be a strech.  I think we have dropped at least a couple of spots....at least.