People need to remember we are kinda still in preseason.

[Sketch5]

 I hate seeing the C's loose as much as any one. The first two you could come out with some good notes from the games, but that lose to the Hornets just sucked. Some of it was bad ref's. Kinda funny considering that the league owns the team and wants to sell it. But I think that could be an other tread.

 But what people don't really seem to get is, there was less than two weeks of preseason, with out a full team. A completely new bench to learn a system and two games to get in shape and figure out rotations, with out a key player to boot.

 Then why isn't Miami and NY tanking it as well??? Well they are young and playing off of that, and not skill. Their offense wasn't anything great, and bad D rotations let them get to the hoop. I remember being 20 something and it would only take a couple weeks to get back into shape. Now in my 30's it feels like months.

 So PP and Pietrus comes back in the next couple of games, is should take a couple more weeks to get the team on track. So until that happens we really don't know if this team sucks or not. KG will take a few more weeks to get in shape. Allen is closer(he's a freak of nature) and PP will take a little longer, but once the team has been able to play for a couple weeks all together we really can't decide how good this team can be.

I mean with all the crap that happened in the Preseason you'd think we get some luck coming our way!

[cman88]

actually, the knicks are 1-2 so they arent off to hte best start either.

but I agree on your points. this isnt a normal season and it may take time for some of these teams to Jel. its interesting its the older teams like dallas, celtics struggling early on. but I have to imagine they will be up there in the end

[CoachBo]

I think that you want to be careful about dismissing the first three games as the "preseason."

Here's why:

1. This team can't play man - against anyone. The legs are gone and I don't think any of us know whether that's conditioning ... or whether that's age.

2. Paddy O'Blount would be an improvement at the 5. If that doesn't tell you how bad the 5 has been, nothing will.

3. These three games have featured some of the worst half-court C's offense I've seen in decades. Maybe that's preseason. Maybe that isn't.

4. There's no one I've seen capable of creating their own offense. Attempts at that have resulted in disaster.

It isn't the losses. It's the issues within the losses.

And I am not convinced at this point all of them can be overcome.

[greenpride32]

actually, the knicks are 1-2 so they arent off to hte best start either.

The NYK are the only team we even came close to beating and we had to come back from 17 points down.  If they aren't even a good team, where does that put us? 

[Eja117]

I think this kind of thinking did in the Red Sox a bit this year....sorry.

[slamtheking]

I think that you want to be careful about dismissing the first three games as the "preseason."

Here's why:

1. This team can't play man - against anyone. The legs are gone and I don't think any of us know whether that's conditioning ... or whether that's age.

2. Paddy O'Blount would be an improvement at the 5. If that doesn't tell you how bad the 5 has been, nothing will.

3. These three games have featured some of the worst half-court C's offense I've seen in decades. Maybe that's preseason. Maybe that isn't.

4. There's no one I've seen capable of creating their own offense. Attempts at that have resulted in disaster.

It isn't the losses. It's the issues within the losses.

And I am not convinced at this point all of them can be overcome.

All valid points.  One other point to toss in there: Every other team is in the same boat in terms of lack of practice and condensed schedule.  Not everyone is having these same issues which leads to the question, is it the players for not being conditioned or talented enough OR is it the coaching staff for not having their core players on the same page with each other or getting their players prepared to play as a team.

[mgent]

What people really need to remember is that we've opened for 3 teams, and haven't played at home ourselves yet.  Playing in your own arena for the first time gives the other team a pretty decent advantage.

[dark_lord]

this mentality might help a fan cope with their struggle, but i hope to god the team doesnt carry this mentality. if they do, we are in trouble. that type of mentality for a team leads to complacency.  the reality for the team, although they didnt have a full camp or preseason, is that the season has started and the games count.

[Sketch5]

I think that you want to be careful about dismissing the first three games as the "preseason."

Here's why:

1. This team can't play man - against anyone. The legs are gone and I don't think any of us know whether that's conditioning ... or whether that's age.

2. Paddy O'Blount would be an improvement at the 5. If that doesn't tell you how bad the 5 has been, nothing will.

3. These three games have featured some of the worst half-court C's offense I've seen in decades. Maybe that's preseason. Maybe that isn't.

4. There's no one I've seen capable of creating their own offense. Attempts at that have resulted in disaster.

It isn't the losses. It's the issues within the losses.

And I am not convinced at this point all of them can be overcome.

My whole point is not to count the team out right off. Think those points were being missed. Not much of an argument to prove that its rust and lack of conditioning with your points.

They haven't even played  a full preseason worth of games. they haven't had any practice time. And haven't had their best scorer on the floor, which makes a huge difference. You can loose KG for a few weeks and find a guy like Bass to take his place. Peirce is a whole different monster. He's were they are lacking the the creating offense at the end of the shot clock. and he opens up KG and Allen a little more.

you are right, they might be old, but we don't know yet, like I said, its kinda still preseason. When you don't do some thing for a week, like running, that mile that was easy a week ago is now hard. Now they haven't really played for 6 months. You think that comes back over night??? Theres times you see the old C's play, and then theres times you get the guys who forgot how to play with each other. Most of the time there is an other player that wasn't on the team last year on the floor when the mistakes happen, or when its just one of the starters on the floor the team doesn't gel. They've only had 3 weeks with each other . Some of that time they couldn't scrimmage because of lack of players.

So you argument is good, but not for right now. Wait a few more weeks like I said. If the team is still struggling, then you have some legit points.

Old teams are like old cars. The start hard, but once they get warmed up and moving they can run like a dream...

[slamtheking]

I think that you want to be careful about dismissing the first three games as the "preseason."

Here's why:

1. This team can't play man - against anyone. The legs are gone and I don't think any of us know whether that's conditioning ... or whether that's age.

2. Paddy O'Blount would be an improvement at the 5. If that doesn't tell you how bad the 5 has been, nothing will.

3. These three games have featured some of the worst half-court C's offense I've seen in decades. Maybe that's preseason. Maybe that isn't.

4. There's no one I've seen capable of creating their own offense. Attempts at that have resulted in disaster.

It isn't the losses. It's the issues within the losses.

And I am not convinced at this point all of them can be overcome.

My whole point is not to count the team out right off. Think those points were being missed. Not much of an argument to prove that its rust and lack of conditioning with your points.

They haven't even played  a full preseason worth of games. they haven't had any practice time. And haven't had their best scorer on the floor, which makes a huge difference. You can loose KG for a few weeks and find a guy like Bass to take his place. Peirce is a whole different monster. He's were they are lacking the the creating offense at the end of the shot clock. and he opens up KG and Allen a little more.

you are right, they might be old, but we don't know yet, like I said, its kinda still preseason. When you don't do some thing for a week, like running, that mile that was easy a week ago is now hard. Now they haven't really played for 6 months. You think that comes back over night??? Theres times you see the old C's play, and then theres times you get the guys who forgot how to play with each other. Most of the time there is an other player that wasn't on the team last year on the floor when the mistakes happen, or when its just one of the starters on the floor the team doesn't gel. They've only had 3 weeks with each other . Some of that time they couldn't scrimmage because of lack of players.

So you argument is good, but not for right now. Wait a few more weeks like I said. If the team is still struggling, then you have some legit points.

Old teams are like old cars. The start hard, but once they get warmed up and moving they can run like a dream...

What you seem to be ignoring is that every other team is in the same boat but yet few have looked as inept as the C's so far.  Granted, better (or specifically, impartial) officiating in the first 2 games could have resulted in wins but the C's dug themselves major holes by continuing to do what they've done for the past 3 seasons where they've had training camps.

I'm not ready to throw them under the bus at this point.  I think a better measure of this team will be at the 20-25 game mark.  Excuses for lack of preseason games, training camp and players out for injuries will no longer hold any water (as if they did at this point) because the truly top teams/contenders will be rising to the occasion in this short season and the also rans will start falling by the wayside.

[Reyquila]

The problem with that assumption is that by the time this "preseason" is over, the regular season will be over too. lolololo

[Bankshot]

I can't get excited about our team this year.  I just don't think they are that good anymore. I'm hoping they prove me wrong.

[celts55]

Okay, so I've always been one of those guys who laughed at people who thought the Celtics were awful and needed to blow it up after every loss, or 2 or 3 losses in a row. The truth be told, I'm not laughing at them this year. This team looks legititly bad this year. Yea, I know they are intergrating new players, and missing Pierce, but they really look old. I think that's the only way to put it, old and soft. They scored over 100 points in the first 2 games and they still weren't really close. While Ray and KG can still hit jump shots, neither can play defense anymore. Rondo is getting burned by the likes of Jack, and I don't even want to start talking about JO or the lack of anything better in the middle. The shortened season with tons of back to back games certainly isn't going to help.

Listen, it happens, teams get old and have rebuilding years. I think that's what we're in for this year. The GOOD thing is they are in pretty good shape, money wise to be a good team again by next year.

As for it stil being preseason; it's the same for every team. It was preseason for NOLA and they kicked butt with a bunch of new players and no Gordon. It certainly didn't look like preseason for Miami.

No, I'm afraid it is what it is. A rebuilding year. There are 2 bright spots, however. One, it's a short season, the the pain won't last as long. Two, could be a really high draft pick next year.

Happy New Year to all.

[cman88]

The defending champ Dallas mavericks are 0-3. the lakers are 2-2, the New York Knicks are 1-2

the celtics are hardly the only team struggling out of the gate. its hard to discount the effect of a shortened offseason/training  camp as being part of the struggles.

I think its rust and needing to get back into basketball shape. look at all hte player injuries in the NFL this year because players werent yet in football shape.

training camps/preseason games are more important than people think for getting the players in shape

[Q_FBE]

Okay, so I've always been one of those guys who laughed at people who thought the Celtics were awful and needed to blow it up after every loss, or 2 or 3 losses in a row. The truth be told, I'm not laughing at them this year. This team looks legititly bad this year. Yea, I know they are intergrating new players, and missing Pierce, but they really look old. I think that's the only way to put it, old and soft. They scored over 100 points in the first 2 games and they still weren't really close. While Ray and KG can still hit jump shots, neither can play defense anymore. Rondo is getting burned by the likes of Jack, and I don't even want to start talking about JO or the lack of anything better in the middle. The shortened season with tons of back to back games certainly isn't going to help.

Listen, it happens, teams get old and have rebuilding years. I think that's what we're in for this year. The GOOD thing is they are in pretty good shape, money wise to be a good team again by next year.

As for it stil being preseason; it's the same for every team. It was preseason for NOLA and they kicked butt with a bunch of new players and no Gordon. It certainly didn't look like preseason for Miami.

No, I'm afraid it is what it is. A rebuilding year. There are 2 bright spots, however. One, it's a short season, the the pain won't last as long. Two, could be a really high draft pick next year.

Happy New Year to all.

So you are lowering your expectations to 28 wins and 38 losses good for the 10th worst recored in the league and picking number 10 in the draft?