I think you guys are underestimating the Celtics...

[hpantazo]

Tyson Chandler put New York over us IMO.  Our post is just so weak.

Even that addition cant solve the Knicks problem of "Knicks basketball: Where defense doesn't happen"

He can't fix Amare and Carmelo's flaws. However they definitely improved with him

I'm so afraid of NY now, they lost a great pg in Billups so I think Ray Ray and Rondo will end up killing them in those 2 positions, KG got Amar'e

Tyson improves their rebounds, ok great, but it doesnt put them over the top

I don't fear NY, DiAntoni is still the coach, so defense is not going to happen with or without Chandler. TC is not KG by any stretch. Defensive mentality on that team has to come from the coach.

[Celtics18]

Tyson Chandler put New York over us IMO.  Our post is just so weak.

Even that addition cant solve the Knicks problem of "Knicks basketball: Where defense doesn't happen"

He can't fix Amare and Carmelo's flaws. However they definitely improved with him

I'm so afraid of NY now, they lost a great pg in Billups so I think Ray Ray and Rondo will end up killing them in those 2 positions, KG got Amar'e

Tyson improves their rebounds, ok great, but it doesnt put them over the top

Toney Douglas at the point is gonna be tough for them.

[Jon]

I am pretty depressed West fell through. Still, I think there is hope.

Green still has a shot to be special and Wilcox and Johnson will be better fits for this team than most people think.

My biggest dark horse for impact player is Jermaine. Yes, he's injury prone and will miss games; however, when he's healthy he is one of the better defensive centers in the NBA and better offensively than most people give him credit for. Now, he may miss 1/3 of the season due to injury. But if he integrates himself with the team and is healthy for the playoffs, I think he can still be an impact player.

Remember he is only PP's age and has always been injury prone. I don't see the injury prone thing going away, but when healthy I think he can be highly effective still.

[BostonArizona]

If quis stays healthy(big if), or moore proves to be a rotation caliber player, I love this squad.

Can't overstate the chemistry of this team(best in the NBA IMO) and honestly, even with JO as our starting 5 we probably still have the best starting lineup in the NBA...1-5

[Inside-Out]

I don't mind our lineup at all.  We've got a puncher's chance at the whole thing, but probably aren't favorites.  If we face a team with a weakness somewhere, though, we can probably exploit it.

If JO starts, our bench consists of

Dooling:   solid defensive backup PG
Quisy:     known entity, smart player, injury risk
JGreen:    has Lamar Odom upside.  6th man candidate?
Bass:      a more athletic BBD and upgrade at PF
Wilcox:    veteran journey man rebounder/blocker.

Looks like the bench is both healthier overall and much improved.  If either Paul or Ray gets some time with the 2nd unit (replacing Quisy), I think they could score resonably well with Green feasting inside and Bass and PP/Ray spreading it out.

I'd say we've got an outside shot at the whole thing.

[MBunge]

I don't mind our lineup at all.  We've got a puncher's chance at the whole thing, but probably aren't favorites.  

That's a great way to describe this team and I don't think anyone could've expected more than that starting year 4 of the New Big 3.  This team got one ring and came within two knee injuries of two more.  Hopefully, Rondo will lead one last charge and Danny won't feel the need to deal either Ray or KG before the deadline.

Mike

[Smokeeye123]

I don't mind our lineup at all.  We've got a puncher's chance at the whole thing, but probably aren't favorites.  

That's a great way to describe this team and I don't think anyone could've expected more than that starting year 4 of the New Big 3.  This team got one ring and came within two knee injuries of two more.  Hopefully, Rondo will lead one last charge and Danny won't feel the need to deal either Ray or KG before the deadline.

Mike

I'd rather Lose with Ray than win a few more games with some meh player we get in return.

Ray Allen is the epitome of class and excellence.

[bfrombleacher]

Many Celtics fans are skeptical realists, many times more skeptic than realist.

[BASS_THUMPER]

ive been thru good times and bad times with my team..

but my most exciting time was after walker and before ray and garrnet

Paul P is the Celtic's...i dont underestimate him

[CelticG1]

I am pretty depressed West fell through. Still, I think there is hope.

Green still has a shot to be special and Wilcox and Johnson will be better fits for this team than most people think.

My biggest dark horse for impact player is Jermaine. Yes, he's injury prone and will miss games; however, when he's healthy he is one of the better defensive centers in the NBA and better offensively than most people give him credit for. Now, he may miss 1/3 of the season due to injury. But if he integrates himself with the team and is healthy for the playoffs, I think he can still be an impact player.

Remember he is only PP's age and has always been injury prone. I don't see the injury prone thing going away, but when healthy I think he can be highly effective still.

Tp .....thinking the same thing about jo. He's become such an after thought but I.think he could play a large role if healthy. If he misses significant time again probably wont get much more than last year. But if he can stay relatively healthy for him I think he can be a lot better than
he was in the playoffs. He'll be in better shape, know the system better and will be healthier

[ManUp]

Impossible no, highly improbable yes. I think we can take any team in the East except for the Heat. I'm not one of those people who is going to act like he saw a close series between us and the Heat. We were cooked the moment Wade decided he wasn't playing around with Ray anymore. Game 3 was all heart and pride, something that I'm not sure they could duplicate another three games healthy Rondo or not. Sorry, if you feel I'm being negative or what ever, but it's how I honestly feel.

[bfrombleacher]

Impossible no, highly improbable yes. I think we can take any team in the East except for the Heat. I'm not one of those people who is going to act like he saw a close series between us and the Heat. We were cooked the moment Wade decided he wasn't playing around with Ray anymore. Game 3 was all heart and pride, something that I'm not sure they could duplicate another three games healthy Rondo or not. Sorry, if you feel I'm being negative or what ever, but it's how I honestly feel.

Everybody's entitled to their own opinion and it's all good.

Here's what I think though: As everyone's been saying, we were playing 5 on 4 on offense but not because of Rondo. We basically played the series with the big 4 with Jermaine O'Neal and Jeff Green rotating in and out. Jermaine was playing one of his first games of the season and Jeff Green was lost. It would've been closer but everything that could have went wrong, did.

We have a similar amount of depth and setup this time as we did last year, except this time the players aren't as fragile.

[Liam W]

I cant see us getting past Round 2 really

The Heat have really reloaded this past week with Battier + Curry + The Bulls are still there like a sleeping giant

The Knicks dont play any defense so im not worried about them.

The Pacers could be a sleeper this year. I spoke to friends and they think they could get the 4th spot. I dont disagree with them either.

And the Magic are all over the place atm. They dont know which way is up at the moment. haha

[WeMadeIt17]

I think everyone underestimates as well. Although I would like to add another shooter like a Mike Redd to the team. I think if were heathly we can win 18 this year. JO I truely beleive is the big important man to come through though, If he cant stay heathly then we are screwed down low. If he does he has good touch around the rim and can block shots. I say ask Dooling to get his teamate Redd to Boston and call it an off-season. You would have a nice Rotation of

Rondo/Dooling/Bradly
Ray/Redd/Moore/Bradly/Daniels
Pierce/Green/Daniels
KG/Bass/JJ
JO/Wilcox/JJJ

I like our bench a lot more then last year as well. Good shooter with Dooling,and hopefully Redd

[stylo617617]

we'll be good defensivly but i just dont know where our scoring will come from yeah we'll play good team ball for the 1st 45 mins but who are we going to in the final 3? can rondo be the nba version of tim tebow? horrible shooter/scorer untill crunch time ? lol