First off, obviously another year means another year older, but even last year, they were right there with the Heat they just really fell off after Rondo's injury. This year however, we are better than last. DA has built a stronger bench, (Still a little slim at SG but other than that it's solid). We will have more time to integrate Jeff green who will only get better from last year, we will have players like Bass who can legitimately score off the bench, Dooling who is a very solid backup to Rondo, and who knows about Wilcox and JJJ? Maybe one of them surprises us.
All I'm saying is that there is a chance for 18. Nobody expected the Mavs to win it all last year and look what happened. Maybe Lebron breaks his leg. Who knows. I think we can beat the Bulls and if we can somehow win a series against the Heat then we can make it to the Finals.
What I do know is the Pierce, Garnett, and Allen will give us everything they have, because they are class acts and have nothing to lose.