Like many I have league pass and I have watched all of the top teams games. As of today I would argue that Chicago and Miami have to be ahead of us based on last year, how Chicago came back against LA, how Miami looks now, and the fact they had little to no turnover. I would say we are tied with OKC for 3rd and then any of the rest of these teams could be the fifth team - Lakers, Clips, Mavs, or Spurs.
A healthy Spurs team should never be counted out. Last year's regular season shows that. However they aren't better then Boston.
Memphis has issues bringing Gay back into the fold. Randolph has shown up overweight. This team has a lot of work to do and little practice time to do it. Memphis isn't better.
Lakers will be a tough team. Bynum is the healthiest he has been. Kobe has more lift then last year but his body is already taking hits. New system, new coach (voice), no Lamar. There a worse team then last year. Artest as a sixth man doesn't really improve the team. Not better then us.
Dallas. Lot's of new faces. Lost a lot of toughness in Chandler and Stevenson. Doesn't have an identity. There is turmoil in Big D. Plus I just don't know if they can get over the fact they won last year. Don't think they are better then us.
OKC. Young, hungry, and talented. Are they tough enough? I think they are just as good as us. Better? Not sold on that.
Knicks? Nope. Clippers? Can't say. Magic? Nope. Hawks? Nope.
Bulls. Would love to see them in the second round instead of Miami. We match up well with them. We are on their level. They got better with Rip, but at full strength we are better then the team that finished the season last year.
Heat. They're more talented and athletic. However the Battier addition is a minimal one. Pietrus can offset that. They still seem like a front running team to me. Only a team that is selfless, calculated, tough, and diverse can beat them.
No one models the Mavericks of last year more then us. When we ran the zone last night with KG playing the role of Chandler, we held their offense in check. Some iffy calls and poor decisions did us in.
We can beat that team in a 7 game series. Pierce, Pietrus, and the rest must be healthy. Rondo must be playing at his best. Ray has to be in a groove, and KG has to be aggressive, but we can beat that team.
I like this Celtic's team. I like Bass and I like Dooling. Most of all I like what I have seen from Rondo. He is attacking the paint. He has responded well to the trade rumors and he can be that catalyst that defeats Lebron James just like he was in 2010. I know our big 3 will make their big 3 work for everything they get.
We have seen the matchups.
Pierce V James - All Star V Superstar
Ray V Wade - All Star V Superstar
KG V Bosh - All Star V All Star
Bass V Haslem - even
Dooling V Chalmers - even
Pietrus V Battier - likely even
Daniels V Miller - potentially even
JO/Wilcox V Anthony - likely even
Rondo V Cole is a huge mismatch in a playoff series that goes Boston's way. I argue it is a bigger advantage for us then James and Wade over Pierce and Ray.
Topic: Celtics are a top 5 team in the NBA presently (Read 11998 times)