When do we start worrying?

[SHAQATTACK]

Probably not until mid February.

This team is still out of shape and will round into form within the next couple weeks. In short order we could be 4-8.

But we then have a schedule with a lot of games but against teams that should be beatable:


Toronto - WIN
Phoenix - LOSS
@ Washington - WIN
Orlando - WIN
@ Orlando - WIN
Indiana - WIN
Cleveland - LOSS
@ Cleveland - WIN
Toronto - WIN
New York - WIN
Memphis - WIN
Charlotte

That's 12 games where I could see the Celtics easily going 8-4 and possibly 10-2 as they get in better shape and their roles become more defined.

If after that stretch they are in mid February and have a .500 record or better and are playing winning basketball, I can still see a third or 4th seed from winning the Atlantic and a strong playoff push.

If after that stretch they are still struggling and are more than 2 games below .500, not only is it time to worry, its time to think about trading expiring contracts for young assets and draft picks.

So who here is still worried?

I said 8-4 to 10-2 and stick by that. I'm now leaning towards the 10-2 part as it appears KG and Pierce have gotten into shape and that we might actually have two young guards in Moore and Bradley to provide Doc some really nice and different tools off the bench.

God I love being right.

I'm sooooooooooooooo glade you called it.  Lets keep rolling

[Redz]

Probably not until mid February.

This team is still out of shape and will round into form within the next couple weeks. In short order we could be 4-8.

But we then have a schedule with a lot of games but against teams that should be beatable:


Toronto - WIN
Phoenix - LOSS
@ Washington - WIN
Orlando - WIN
@ Orlando - WIN
Indiana - WIN
Cleveland - LOSS
@ Cleveland - WIN
Toronto - WIN
New York - WIN
Memphis - WIN
Charlotte

That's 12 games where I could see the Celtics easily going 8-4 and possibly 10-2 as they get in better shape and their roles become more defined.

If after that stretch they are in mid February and have a .500 record or better and are playing winning basketball, I can still see a third or 4th seed from winning the Atlantic and a strong playoff push.

If after that stretch they are still struggling and are more than 2 games below .500, not only is it time to worry, its time to think about trading expiring contracts for young assets and draft picks.

So who here is still worried?

I said 8-4 to 10-2 and stick by that. I'm now leaning towards the 10-2 part as it appears KG and Pierce have gotten into shape and that we might actually have two young guards in Moore and Bradley to provide Doc some really nice and different tools off the bench.

God I love being right.

Go Nick!

[celtics2]

We should have started worrying months ago. We'll rue the day we didn't or couldn't make moves to improve in the long term. Right now we're a hair better than the 500 clubs. That plus the schedule coming up spell lots of losses. The only thing I like about the present team now is the possible growth of some of our newer players. The stuff like injuries and out of gas problems are right around the corner. Instead of 8 minutes at a time for KG it will be 4 when these doubles kick in.

[theswitch]

How'd we lose to Phoenix and Cleveland? That hurts, man.

[Chief]

 I worry more about this stretch. I say 4-4. They have been playing .500 ball all season.

 February 9 Los Angeles Lakers 
 February 10 @ Toronto Raptors 
 February 12 Chicago Bulls   
 February 15 Detroit Pistons   
 February 16 @ Chicago Bulls 
 February 19 @ Detroit Pistons   
 February 20 @ Dallas Mavericks 
 February 22 @ Oklahoma City Thunder   

[theswitch]

I worry more about this stretch. I say 4-4. They have been playing .500 ball all season.

 February 9 Los Angeles Lakers 
 February 10 @ Toronto Raptors 
 February 12 Chicago Bulls   
 February 15 Detroit Pistons   
 February 16 @ Chicago Bulls 
 February 19 @ Detroit Pistons   
 February 20 @ Dallas Mavericks 
 February 22 @ Oklahoma City Thunder   

I'd like to think that we'll take the Raptors and Pistons games pretty easily, but you never know. Then hopefully steal 2 of the Bulls, Mavs, Thunder and Lakers - I would think that 5-3 is possible but 4-4 is probably likely. Still, assuming we take down the big bad Bobcats tonight, that takes us to 18-14 and still in the mix for the 5 or 6 seed - that's all I can really ask for until the playoffs. It'd be nice to steal 5 or 6 of those though.

[nickagneta]

I worry more about this stretch. I say 4-4. They have been playing .500 ball all season.

 February 9 Los Angeles Lakers 
 February 10 @ Toronto Raptors 
 February 12 Chicago Bulls   
 February 15 Detroit Pistons   
 February 16 @ Chicago Bulls 
 February 19 @ Detroit Pistons   
 February 20 @ Dallas Mavericks 
 February 22 @ Oklahoma City Thunder   

I would say minimum 5-3 and probably 6-2.

Call me nuts but I was right about the last stretch.

[Donoghus]

Got tix to the Feb. 16th game in Chicago.

Can't wait!

[Q_FBE]

This early in the season and we are already bringing out the 68-69 Celtics! 

Well, it beats the 78-79 Celtics.

I think most Celtics teams beat the 78-79 Celtics. God, I hated that team and I went to school in upstate New York and was getting razzed on by the New York Kanick Fans and Philadelphia 76er fans. I got the last laugh two years later, however proudly wearing my green tee shirt with the number 33 on it everyday for two months.

Fast forward to today, winning tonight makes 10 out of 12 and we did beat a good Memphis team soundly. I would like to win the next five and put us at 18-10 ideally to give us a cushion going on the five game road test Feb 16 to Feb 28 which includes the All Star Break. Hopefully our good form will continue. Keep winning, no worries  

[Greenbean]

I worry more about this stretch. I say 4-4. They have been playing .500 ball all season.

 February 9 Los Angeles Lakers 
 February 10 @ Toronto Raptors 
 February 12 Chicago Bulls   
 February 15 Detroit Pistons   
 February 16 @ Chicago Bulls 
 February 19 @ Detroit Pistons   
 February 20 @ Dallas Mavericks 
 February 22 @ Oklahoma City Thunder   

I would say minimum 5-3 and probably 6-2.

Call me nuts but I was right about the last stretch.

Right now, this team is trending to a dominant defensive season.

I know the comp hasn't been great, but to be quite honest, we can match up with Chicago right now. If we continue to pressure ball handlers (Bradley should harass DRose for at least 25 minutes) and work towards limiting turnovers, this team can compete with the NBA's elite.

[Reyquila]

Im past the stage of starting to get worried. I know whats in store; no need to get worried.

[Chief]

I worry more about this stretch. I say 4-4. They have been playing .500 ball all season.

 February 9 Los Angeles Lakers 
 February 10 @ Toronto Raptors 
 February 12 Chicago Bulls   
 February 15 Detroit Pistons   
 February 16 @ Chicago Bulls 
 February 19 @ Detroit Pistons   
 February 20 @ Dallas Mavericks 
 February 22 @ Oklahoma City Thunder   

I would say minimum 5-3 and probably 6-2.

Call me nuts but I was right about the last stretch.

Right now, this team is trending to a dominant defensive season.

I know the comp hasn't been great, but to be quite honest, we can match up with Chicago right now. If we continue to pressure ball handlers (Bradley should harass DRose for at least 25 minutes) and work towards limiting turnovers, this team can compete with the NBA's elite.

If Bradley plays that pressing defense against Rose, he will foul out in 10 minutes. No way an NBA referee will let NBA MVP be harassed.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I worry more about this stretch. I say 4-4. They have been playing .500 ball all season.

 February 9 Los Angeles Lakers 
 February 10 @ Toronto Raptors 
 February 12 Chicago Bulls   
 February 15 Detroit Pistons   
 February 16 @ Chicago Bulls 
 February 19 @ Detroit Pistons   
 February 20 @ Dallas Mavericks 
 February 22 @ Oklahoma City Thunder   

I would say minimum 5-3 and probably 6-2.

Call me nuts but I was right about the last stretch.

Right now, this team is trending to a dominant defensive season.

I know the comp hasn't been great, but to be quite honest, we can match up with Chicago right now. If we continue to pressure ball handlers (Bradley should harass DRose for at least 25 minutes) and work towards limiting turnovers, this team can compete with the NBA's elite.

If Bradley plays that pressing defense against Rose, he will foul out in 10 minutes. No way an NBA referee will let NBA MVP be harassed.

Main problem will be Rose getting by him fairly easily. I think Bradley needs to find a balance of when to attack the ball vs. keeping his mand in front of him, else superior and quick ball-handlers are going to make his defense irrelevant.

[Q_FBE]

I worry more about this stretch. I say 4-4. They have been playing .500 ball all season.

 February 9 Los Angeles Lakers 
 February 10 @ Toronto Raptors 
 February 12 Chicago Bulls   
 February 15 Detroit Pistons   
 February 16 @ Chicago Bulls 
 February 19 @ Detroit Pistons   
 February 20 @ Dallas Mavericks 
 February 22 @ Oklahoma City Thunder   

I would say minimum 5-3 and probably 6-2.

Call me nuts but I was right about the last stretch.

Right now, this team is trending to a dominant defensive season.

I know the comp hasn't been great, but to be quite honest, we can match up with Chicago right now. If we continue to pressure ball handlers (Bradley should harass DRose for at least 25 minutes) and work towards limiting turnovers, this team can compete with the NBA's elite.

If Bradley plays that pressing defense against Rose, he will foul out in 10 minutes. No way an NBA referee will let NBA MVP be harassed.

Main problem will be Rose getting by him fairly easily. I think Bradley needs to find a balance of when to attack the ball vs. keeping his mand in front of him, else superior and quick ball-handlers are going to make his defense irrelevant.

Like I say I would like to Beat LA and then win the next three games going into our 1st major road test starting Feb 16. How we play against the Bulls will hopefully tell us a lot about the capabilities and potential for this team to go further than the 2nd round. As far as at Dallas and at Oklahoma, we probably have a better shot in Dallas to win but we have always played tough in Oklahoma. At Cleveland right after the All Star Break is no gimme either. They have been a tough matchup.

[PosImpos]

Probably not until mid February.

This team is still out of shape and will round into form within the next couple weeks. In short order we could be 4-8.

But we then have a schedule with a lot of games but against teams that should be beatable:


Toronto - WIN
Phoenix - LOSS
@ Washington - WIN
Orlando - WIN
@ Orlando - WIN
Indiana - WIN
Cleveland - LOSS
@ Cleveland - WIN
Toronto - WIN
New York - WIN
Memphis - WIN
Charlotte

That's 12 games where I could see the Celtics easily going 8-4 and possibly 10-2 as they get in better shape and their roles become more defined.

If after that stretch they are in mid February and have a .500 record or better and are playing winning basketball, I can still see a third or 4th seed from winning the Atlantic and a strong playoff push.

If after that stretch they are still struggling and are more than 2 games below .500, not only is it time to worry, its time to think about trading expiring contracts for young assets and draft picks.

So who here is still worried?

I said 8-4 to 10-2 and stick by that. I'm now leaning towards the 10-2 part as it appears KG and Pierce have gotten into shape and that we might actually have two young guards in Moore and Bradley to provide Doc some really nice and different tools off the bench.

God I love being right.

Go Nick!

One fly in the ointment:  Sixers are 18-7 and show no signs of relinquishing the division lead.