According to ESPN analysts, we "lost" big baby, and have a shallow bench...

[Eddie20]

Any Van Gundy predictions yet? I'm thinking he says Heat go 64-2.

[bfrombleacher]

Any Van Gundy predictions yet? I'm thinking he says Heat go 64-2.

Haha TP.

[slamtheking]

Any Van Gundy predictions yet? I'm thinking he says Heat go 64-2.

That's 66-0.  Obviously you didn't see the fine print Stern added in the CBA where Bron isn't allowed to lose this year and will be given a free pass to the title in order to justify the hype machine that's been running amok since he came into the league

[mqtcelticsfan]

Looking across the league, there simply aren't too many better benches out there. Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Miami, Minnesota, Oklahoma City, San Antonio and maybe Orlando and Philadelphia and Utah are the only real deep squads.

Right away, Denver, Detroit, Minnesota, Philly and Utah are not exactly contenders, and just suffer from the disease of having a whole lot of decent players and not enough truly good ones. Orlando and San Antonio are teetering close to the edge of ending up on the list of non-contenders as well, due to a lack of quality starters.

So, if you were to tell me that Chicago, Dallas, Miami and Oklahoma City were the only contenders that I would argue look as strong or stronger than Boston from a depth perspective when the off-season started, I'd be pretty okay with that.

[PosImpos]

Chicago, Dallas, Miami and Oklahoma City were the only contenders

I would argue that those ARE the only true contenders, though.  Other than those teams, I'm not sure who I'd give a really significant chance at a title this season.  

The Lakers, Spurs, and Celtics have both dropped down to the 2nd tier, and I don't think teams like the Clips, Grizz, and Knicks are quite there yet.


Point being, it's a big deal if Boston's depth doesn't compare favorably with those handful of top teams, because those are the teams the Celtics are going to need to worry about if they want to prove they can seriously contend this season.

[mqtcelticsfan]

Chicago, Dallas, Miami and Oklahoma City were the only contenders

I would argue that those ARE the only true contenders, though.  Other than those teams, I'm not sure who I'd give a really significant chance at a title this season.  

The Lakers, Spurs, and Celtics have both dropped down to the 2nd tier, and I don't think teams like the Clips, Grizz, and Knicks are quite there yet.


Point being, it's a big deal if Boston's depth doesn't compare favorably with those handful of top teams, because those are the teams the Celtics are going to need to worry about if they want to prove they can seriously contend this season.

I very much agree with you about the top 4. I just think that the second tier is a little more wide open than you suggest. I'd put the Celtics, Lakers, Spurs, Magic, Knicks, Clippers, Grizz and Pacers all as teams I wouldn't be tremendously surprised to see win it all.

That group of teams is all very much capable of knocking out one of the true contenders this year, in my opinion. It really comes down to some luck of not having to run into 3 of the 4 along the way. 

[ManUp]

Our bench is decent, only a Celtic fan would consider it deep. I don't consider a bench deep until it has 1 or 2 guys capable of starting coming off the bench. Nobody gets excited by the name of marquis Daniels, keying dooling, or Chris Wilcox. Hate to put it this way, but we were a Jeff Green and Brandon Bass combo away from being deep. The rookies are an unknown so you can't expect them to be put into consideration.

[bfrombleacher]

Contrary to what ESPN said, we have depth (even more so now that we have Pietrus) and are well rounded with a weakness at the center, which most teams have anyway. There also aren't many teams with good offensive centers so I'm not worried about that.

Miami is going to make a bunch of highlight reels, which ESPN loves, but they have significant weaknesses at two positions with very little depth. They also loved the Cavs when LeBron James was there.

OKC, Chicago and the Mavs would be my favorites to win this year. They're one of the few only truly well rounded, well built teams. Even then, OKC and Chicago are young as heck and Rip Hamilton will have to stay really healthy for Chicago. The playing field is still fairly level at this point.

[ManUp]

Contrary to what ESPN said, we have depth (even more so now that we have Pietrus) and are well rounded with a weakness at the center, which most teams have anyway. There also aren't many teams with good offensive centers so I'm not worried about that.

Miami is going to make a bunch of highlight reels, which ESPN loves, but they have significant weaknesses at two positions with very little depth. They also loved the Cavs when LeBron James was there.

OKC, Chicago and the Mavs would be my favorites to win this year. They're one of the few only truly well rounded, well built teams. Even then, OKC and Chicago are young as heck and Rip Hamilton will have to stay really healthy for Chicago. The playing field is still fairly level at this point.

I forgot about Pietrus if he comes back the same player he's a very nice addition to the bench. Dooling, Daniels, Pietrus, Bass and Wilcox is a pretty solid second unit. Probably one of the best we've had in a while. It all depends on health, but we are pretty much set bench wise.

[wahz]

First I want to say Ive read all the posts here which includes the ones that think we aren't deep...even after Pietrus

I suspect some folks don't realize Dooling has hit 40% of his threes the last three years and is an above average defender

Peitrus is a solid wing defender and truly does play a lot like Posey

Pooh Pooh Daniels but he has been a good player in this league when healthy.

Bass could start for the majority of teams and he would be a first guy off the bench for almost all the others.

Wilcox is just ok. With little expected of him but d, rebounding and being a general pain in the butt, I suspect that is what he'll provide.

The minutes flow chart looks great

Jo 24, Wilcox 14
KG 28 Bass 24
PP 30, MP 24
Ray 32 Marq 16
Rajon 35 Dooling 13

You have 5 starters who are nearly as good as anyones. You have 5 bench players who fit well. No one has to get tired.. and in the case we blow some folks out we have some other youngsters to gobble up time

[Moranis]

Contrary to what ESPN said, we have depth (even more so now that we have Pietrus) and are well rounded with a weakness at the center, which most teams have anyway. There also aren't many teams with good offensive centers so I'm not worried about that.

Miami is going to make a bunch of highlight reels, which ESPN loves, but they have significant weaknesses at two positions with very little depth. They also loved the Cavs when LeBron James was there.

OKC, Chicago and the Mavs would be my favorites to win this year. They're one of the few only truly well rounded, well built teams. Even then, OKC and Chicago are young as heck and Rip Hamilton will have to stay really healthy for Chicago. The playing field is still fairly level at this point.

I forgot about Pietrus if he comes back the same player he's a very nice addition to the bench. Dooling, Daniels, Pietrus, Bass and Wilcox is a pretty solid second unit. Probably one of the best we've had in a while. It all depends on health, but we are pretty much set bench wise.

At the start of last season, the Celtics expected bench was Shaq, O'Neal, Davis, Daniels, Robinson, West, and Von Wafer.  Much deeper going into last year though injuries were there at the start.  That is a much deeper bench.  Even the bench heading into the post season (even without Shaq) was probably deeper/better with Krstic, Davis, Green, and West.

The year before the bench was Rasheed, Davis, House, Allen, Daniels, and Sheldon Williams.  Pretty deep and good bench.  The playoff bench was Rasheed, Davis, Allen, Finley, Robinson, and Daniels.  Much better than what is currently on the roster.

The same is true the year before and the year before.  The Celtics have no one on the bench this year that you would consider a starter level on a contending team.  And O'Neal who is starting this year was the third string center entering last year. 

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

Contrary to what ESPN said, we have depth (even more so now that we have Pietrus) and are well rounded with a weakness at the center, which most teams have anyway. There also aren't many teams with good offensive centers so I'm not worried about that.

Miami is going to make a bunch of highlight reels, which ESPN loves, but they have significant weaknesses at two positions with very little depth. They also loved the Cavs when LeBron James was there.

OKC, Chicago and the Mavs would be my favorites to win this year. They're one of the few only truly well rounded, well built teams. Even then, OKC and Chicago are young as heck and Rip Hamilton will have to stay really healthy for Chicago. The playing field is still fairly level at this point.

I forgot about Pietrus if he comes back the same player he's a very nice addition to the bench. Dooling, Daniels, Pietrus, Bass and Wilcox is a pretty solid second unit. Probably one of the best we've had in a while. It all depends on health, but we are pretty much set bench wise.

At the start of last season, the Celtics expected bench was Shaq, O'Neal, Davis, Daniels, Robinson, West, and Von Wafer.  Much deeper going into last year though injuries were there at the start.  That is a much deeper bench.  Even the bench heading into the post season (even without Shaq) was probably deeper/better with Krstic, Davis, Green, and West.

The year before the bench was Rasheed, Davis, House, Allen, Daniels, and Sheldon Williams.  Pretty deep and good bench.  The playoff bench was Rasheed, Davis, Allen, Finley, Robinson, and Daniels.  Much better than what is currently on the roster.

The same is true the year before and the year before.  The Celtics have no one on the bench this year that you would consider a starter level on a contending team.  And O'Neal who is starting this year was the third string center entering last year. 

Wait, so you wanted "starter level on a contending team" to fill our bench? Glad you are putting up money to bring in guys like LeBrinda, Dirk, Pierce, Westbrooke, and Melo to come off our bench! We know none of the guys on our BENCH aren't good enough to start on contenders, that's why they are BENCH players!! They may not be starters for true contenders but Dooling and Bass could start for some good teams! On all the other teams who are contenders the only people on any of the benches who could start for them are Jason Terry and Lamar Odom and they are on the same team! We have a very strong bench (on paper for now) considering the money we had and w/ the loss of Green! I'm sorry, the bench we had was NOT deeper or better last season... sure, technically Shaq would have been a bench player if Perk was to play but he was the starter, so you can't add him to the bench just because he was suppose to be there! So our bench was... JO (playoffs actually, so it was more like Erdin), Davis, Daniels, Robinson, West, and Von Wafer! Really... that's better than what we have now?? Come on man, just stop!

[thenotoriousjts]

Our bench is a lot better now than it was with Murphy, Arroyo, and Wafer warming the bench. I feel like I'm forgetting someone.

[nickagneta]

Lost him?

Did he fall out of our pocket and get wedged between the cushions of the couch? Did we leave him on the counter at the store and when we went back he was gone? Did the dog take him off the table and hide him somewhere around the house and now we can't find him?

How exactly did we lose something as big as Big Baby?

Oh that's right he's the guy we traded away and got Brandon Bass for, a trade so lopsided in the Celtics favor at least two ESPN analysts called the move a steal.

You would think the question those ESPN analysts would be asking would be how exactly did we steal Brandon Bass from the Magic?

[greg_kite]

Contrary to what ESPN said, we have depth (even more so now that we have Pietrus) and are well rounded with a weakness at the center, which most teams have anyway. There also aren't many teams with good offensive centers so I'm not worried about that.

Miami is going to make a bunch of highlight reels, which ESPN loves, but they have significant weaknesses at two positions with very little depth. They also loved the Cavs when LeBron James was there.

OKC, Chicago and the Mavs would be my favorites to win this year. They're one of the few only truly well rounded, well built teams. Even then, OKC and Chicago are young as heck and Rip Hamilton will have to stay really healthy for Chicago. The playing field is still fairly level at this point.

I forgot about Pietrus if he comes back the same player he's a very nice addition to the bench. Dooling, Daniels, Pietrus, Bass and Wilcox is a pretty solid second unit. Probably one of the best we've had in a while. It all depends on health, but we are pretty much set bench wise.

At the start of last season, the Celtics expected bench was Shaq, O'Neal, Davis, Daniels, Robinson, West, and Von Wafer.  Much deeper going into last year though injuries were there at the start.  That is a much deeper bench.  Even the bench heading into the post season (even without Shaq) was probably deeper/better with Krstic, Davis, Green, and West.

The year before the bench was Rasheed, Davis, House, Allen, Daniels, and Sheldon Williams.  Pretty deep and good bench.  The playoff bench was Rasheed, Davis, Allen, Finley, Robinson, and Daniels.  Much better than what is currently on the roster.

The same is true the year before and the year before.  The Celtics have no one on the bench this year that you would consider a starter level on a contending team.  And O'Neal who is starting this year was the third string center entering last year. 

I think on paper those teams look better but the current bench seems to be a better fit.  The bigs are better finishers and the guards are unselfish, defensive minded, efficient and know they are role players.
It would be better having Shaq and Green in the fold, but they aren't available.  Considering the team resources it's amazing how deep the bench is.