We are clearly not a great team. Average, just like our record

[Rondo2287]

If these keeps up I wouldnt be surprised if we are contracted by the NBA...

[BballTim]

There are 12-15 teams better than the Celtics right now and there will be at least 8-10 better than them by the end of the year.

The bench is not horrible, but it is not very good. Chris Wilcox looks like he could be the new waste of money on the bench, while Keyon Dooling has no clue how to run an offense. Avery Bradley plays solid D, but is a disaster on offense. Stiemsma blocks shots, will occasionally hit a jumper and has been a nice surprise. Bass has been the only dependable guy off the bench. Quisy, in a word, has been awful.

We need to see more of Pietrus -- he was a nice little spark last night and played solid D.

  I think you need to take a look at the benches of other benches before you condemn ours. If Pietrus plays halfway decently I'd say this would probably be the best bench this team's had by a decent margin.

[kgiessler]

We are currently in the eighth seed. We are a game and half out of the seventh seed. We have no wins against teams that have better than a .500 record.

This team is old, has a horrible bench because we were capped out and is not winning anything this year.

Time to sell off parts and rebuild.

Seriously, does anyone really think we are winning a title this year?

What will you say after an eight game Celtics winning streak? Number Eighteen here we come? All teams have slumps.

If this team went on an 8 game winning streak now, its record still wouldn't be as good as it has been after 17 games in the previous 4 years. (15-2, 15-2, 13-4, 13-4).

That would be exciting if they did that though.

[JOMVP]

The bench is at least playing with some intensity and aggressiveness, the bench + KG is what kept the Celtics into that game last night as I believe they came from 10 down with Dooling, Bradley, Pietrus, Bass and KG on the floor. The starters have not gotten it together yet, and I have to believe that at least they will figure out something to get themselves on the right page again.

I don't believe as constituted that this team is a serious contender, but I do believe they will at least make the 5th or 6th seed and if they can start playing better together (and stay healthy) they can be a dangerous sleeper team in the playoffs to make one last run.

There is no point in blowing up this team when in the offseason your best assets are the expiring contracts that you already own. Danny needs to at least try to make a big splash in the offseason and make a push for Howard, even if it doesn't seem probable. If he doesn't get Howard, then this team can move forward and go young.

[kozlodoev]

For the time played he outplayed him, most definitely.  Give Dooling another ten minutes and he would have most definitely.  He got his in 13 minutes not close to 30.

Dooling was a disaster as a PG.  He played decent pressure defense and hit some key 3s, but he was an abject failure as a floor general.

Bewildered at Ainge/Doc's preference for Dooling over West, unless they were scared of Delonte's health. 

Because the NBA is full of "floor generals" coming off the bench.

[Tone]

yeah this team is very average 5th-8th seed at most just dont have the roster depth.also the team imo should start rebuilding process from now to see what pieces we can get.

[vinnie]

There are 12-15 teams better than the Celtics right now and there will be at least 8-10 better than them by the end of the year.

The bench is not horrible, but it is not very good. Chris Wilcox looks like he could be the new waste of money on the bench, while Keyon Dooling has no clue how to run an offense. Avery Bradley plays solid D, but is a disaster on offense. Stiemsma blocks shots, will occasionally hit a jumper and has been a nice surprise. Bass has been the only dependable guy off the bench. Quisy, in a word, has been awful.

We need to see more of Pietrus -- he was a nice little spark last night and played solid D.

  I think you need to take a look at the benches of other benches before you condemn ours. If Pietrus plays halfway decently I'd say this would probably be the best bench this team's had by a decent margin.

Pietrus could be a big help, I agree. However, you must be rating guys like Dooling, Wilcox, Bradley, Daniels et al much higher than I do. I see Bass and Pietrus as potential weapons off the bench. That is about it. Plus, the bench HAS to be much better given that the older starters have clearly lost a step or two (other than Ray so far).

[Marcus13]

I dont know why anyone would have expected anything more or anything less with the lack of talent and depth on this roster

Looking at the names on the roster and what theyve done in the past instead of objectively considering the level of current talent relative to other teams in the league.

Exactly.  Our superstars are now very good roleplayers.  Additionally, the bench has given us NOTHING outside of Bass (who is inconsistent).  This is a star's league - no question about it.  Great team play just can't get the job done

[Donoghus]

This team is built for the playoffs, not a condensed regular season.  Been preaching that for a while and stick by it.

We'll be a mid-range seed and then it's on. 

[ManUp]

This team is built for the playoffs, not a condensed regular season.  Been preaching that for a while and stick by it.

We'll be a mid-range seed and then it's on. 

If a teams built for the play-offs the regular season should be relatively easy.

[Donoghus]

This team is built for the playoffs, not a condensed regular season.  Been preaching that for a while and stick by it.

We'll be a mid-range seed and then it's on. 

If a teams built for the play-offs the regular season should be relatively easy.

Not really when you're coming out of a lockout and playing a ridiculous condensed schedule with a significant number of important players being over the age of 30.

[csfansince60s]

This team is built for the playoffs, not a condensed regular season.  Been preaching that for a while and stick by it.

We'll be a mid-range seed and then it's on. 

If a teams built for the play-offs the regular season should be relatively easy.

Not really when you're coming out of a lockout and playing a ridiculous condensed schedule with a significant number of important players being over the age of 30.

Agree.

 No question the teams with the younger legs came out of the gate faster. (Heat, Bulls, '6ers, Pacers, Thunder, Blazers, Clips).

Pierce and Garnett were lobbying hardline union and I really believe both thought there would be no season and so aren't in game shape yet.

Far too early to write this team off for the playoffs.

[ManUp]

If the excuse is tired legs now why are we to expect them to be less tired after 66 games on a condensed schedule? There's a reason for the regular season and it does mean something. Btw, the spurs are pretty old and they started just fine.

[TA9]

I admit that i have lost a lil faith in our team. Hopefully we can get it going later in the season.

[Meadowlark_Scal]

Just remember though..they ARE out of shape..that explains a lot....and I bet this year, they realize WHY players in their 30's need to stay in shape, all the time, to be ready for game shape....guarding 22-25 year olds...!