Hooray! We are in the Lottery!

[CelticsFanNC]

  Honestly, the lottery wouldn't be the worst thing that could happen to this team.

  I'll watch every game and hope they win them all but that's not realistic at this point.  

  Backing into the playoffs and a first round exit would almost be a negative in our situation.  We need young athletes and the best way to get them is in the lottery.

  Think San Antonio when they dipped into the lottery due to age and injuries but still had a good roster, landed Duncan and the rest is history.  Course that's best case scenario.

[vinnie]

Really? C'mon dude.

2 of those losses have come to some of the best teams in the league: Heat and Bulls.

3 of those losses have come to surefire playoff teams that may make some noise: Mavs, Knicks, and Pacers

They've had a tough schedule with a lot of close losses. It's clear they're not a great team, but they're not a lottery team.

And who did we beat? Pistons...Wizards twice...and the Nets!
Our schedule will only get tougher.

That's a valid point, however you also fail to point out that this team didn't have a preseason and a few teams that were supposed to be good are off to slow starts too. The Celtics also lost Jeff Green who was supposed to be a big part of the team, lots of new pieces to integrate in such a short period of time.

Let me ask this again? Are the Celtics the only team in the NBA that didn't have a preseason?

[Celticjay]

 Honestly, the lottery wouldn't be the worst thing that could happen to this team.

  I'll watch every game and hope they win them all but that's not realistic at this point.  

  Backing into the playoffs and a first round exit would almost be a negative in our situation.  We need young athletes and the best way to get them is in the lottery.

  Think San Antonio when they dipped into the lottery due to age and injuries but still had a good roster, landed Duncan and the rest is history.  Course that's best case scenario.

I completely agree.  Unless DA is able to acquire an impact player soon, someone who can score and rebound we have little chance of getting past the 2nd round.  I would rather sacrifice this season if it means we are competitive for years to come.  We have tons of cap space 2 1st rounders, I think if DA is able to flip KG, RAY, and Pierce for some young athletic players or Assets he should.  For one we would lose more games and get a top 10 pick this year.  It would also be nice to see some young legs out there playing more uptempo basketball.  

Celts offense is offensive. Seems it is basically just Ray running around screens and barely getting a shot off, or Rondo driving in the paint and kicking it out to someone to try a fade away.  

I say bring in some fresh meat and young legs and let Rondo do his things.  We might not win this year but it would be fun to watch.

Give JJ, Moore, Bradley more minutes and steimsma...  

Future is now.  Big 3's time has come to an end.  It was fun while it lasted.  

[celtics2]

No no no we can't be in the Low-tery yet we haven't bled enough green yet. Something similar has to happen like that wake for the N.Korean dude. Crying, fainting, etc....I'll start it....BAAAAAWWAAAAAAHHHHHHH, sorry can't go on. Much too emotional. 

[tyrone biggums]

Really? C'mon dude.

2 of those losses have come to some of the best teams in the league: Heat and Bulls.

3 of those losses have come to surefire playoff teams that may make some noise: Mavs, Knicks, and Pacers

They've had a tough schedule with a lot of close losses. It's clear they're not a great team, but they're not a lottery team.

And who did we beat? Pistons...Wizards twice...and the Nets!
Our schedule will only get tougher.

That's a valid point, however you also fail to point out that this team didn't have a preseason and a few teams that were supposed to be good are off to slow starts too. The Celtics also lost Jeff Green who was supposed to be a big part of the team, lots of new pieces to integrate in such a short period of time.

Let me ask this again? Are the Celtics the only team in the NBA that didn't have a preseason?

No but when you do have a younger team their bodies are much easier to adapt to the grind of a season. For example, look at Dallas...the defending champs are a .500 team. Are they in reality? Absolutely not. But they have a few new parts that need to learn the system and integrate those.

Boston has Pietrus, Bass, Sasha (was here for about 20 games last year), Steamer, JJJ, Wilcox, ETWaun Moore, and Dooling. All new faces on this team and Jeff Green was supposed to be a big part of this team as well. Pretty much this whole team other than the starting 5 was turned over so you obviously need a few games for the team to get into a rhythm.

But again, you and the blow it up crowd will neglect to see this and just ignore it.

[Celticjay]

2-3 more weeks we will know what we have. I'm sure ainge will make a decision on the direction of things then..  Plus at the moment the only players of value are Rondo and Ray, perhaps Bass.  Nobody takes Pierce or KG with their current play..

[tyrone biggums]

 Honestly, the lottery wouldn't be the worst thing that could happen to this team.

  I'll watch every game and hope they win them all but that's not realistic at this point.  

  Backing into the playoffs and a first round exit would almost be a negative in our situation.  We need young athletes and the best way to get them is in the lottery.

  Think San Antonio when they dipped into the lottery due to age and injuries but still had a good roster, landed Duncan and the rest is history.  Course that's best case scenario.

I completely agree.  Unless DA is able to acquire an impact player soon, someone who can score and rebound we have little chance of getting past the 2nd round.  I would rather sacrifice this season if it means we are competitive for years to come.  We have tons of cap space 2 1st rounders, I think if DA is able to flip KG, RAY, and Pierce for some young athletic players or Assets he should.  For one we would lose more games and get a top 10 pick this year.  It would also be nice to see some young legs out there playing more uptempo basketball.  

Celts offense is offensive. Seems it is basically just Ray running around screens and barely getting a shot off, or Rondo driving in the paint and kicking it out to someone to try a fade away.  

I say bring in some fresh meat and young legs and let Rondo do his things.  We might not win this year but it would be fun to watch.

Give JJ, Moore, Bradley more minutes and steimsma...  

Future is now.  Big 3's time has come to an end.  It was fun while it lasted.  

JJJ is not ready, if he was he would be out there. Putting players out there too early can bring disaster. I mean unless if you don't care about developing the player and just want to get the worst possible result on the court to serve the bigger picture, which in this case is the #1 pick. I prefer to see how this all plays out, call me when the season is 25 games in and the Celtics are still under .500.

[tyrone biggums]

2-3 more weeks we will know what we have. I'm sure ainge will make a decision on the direction of things then..  Plus at the moment the only players of value are Rondo and Ray, perhaps Bass.  Nobody takes Pierce or KG with their current play..

I doubt Pierce is done, but if he is then we just amnesty him in the offseason. Next year will be big if this year doesn't go well. The FA class is pretty darn solid, I believe Danny won't overpay anyone to come either. Rondo is still a much better building block than what a lot of teams have.

[vinnie]

Really? C'mon dude.

2 of those losses have come to some of the best teams in the league: Heat and Bulls.

3 of those losses have come to surefire playoff teams that may make some noise: Mavs, Knicks, and Pacers

They've had a tough schedule with a lot of close losses. It's clear they're not a great team, but they're not a lottery team.

And who did we beat? Pistons...Wizards twice...and the Nets!
Our schedule will only get tougher.

That's a valid point, however you also fail to point out that this team didn't have a preseason and a few teams that were supposed to be good are off to slow starts too. The Celtics also lost Jeff Green who was supposed to be a big part of the team, lots of new pieces to integrate in such a short period of time.

Let me ask this again? Are the Celtics the only team in the NBA that didn't have a preseason?

No but when you do have a younger team their bodies are much easier to adapt to the grind of a season. For example, look at Dallas...the defending champs are a .500 team. Are they in reality? Absolutely not. But they have a few new parts that need to learn the system and integrate those.

Boston has Pietrus, Bass, Sasha (was here for about 20 games last year), Steamer, JJJ, Wilcox, ETWaun Moore, and Dooling. All new faces on this team and Jeff Green was supposed to be a big part of this team as well. Pretty much this whole team other than the starting 5 was turned over so you obviously need a few games for the team to get into a rhythm.

But again, you and the blow it up crowd will neglect to see this and just ignore it.

Don't look now, but Dallas is now 7-5, despite having tons of old players, losing three key players, and trying to integrate new guys like Odom.

San Antonio is 8-5 and has played the last 5 games without its best player.

The Lakers, despite being led by "old man" 16-year veteran Kobe Bryan, who has scored 40-plus points the last 3 games, are 9-4 despite losing one of their key players, Lamar Odom, as well as Shannon Brown.

I could go on, but I hope you get my drift.

[ctrey]

Great point Vinnie.

There are a number of "Old" teams that are doing much better than we are.

I just do not want us barely making the playoffs. We need to get into the lottery to snag a great new player.

This team just so slow and unatheletic now. Sad to watch.

[tyrone biggums]

Really? C'mon dude.

2 of those losses have come to some of the best teams in the league: Heat and Bulls.

3 of those losses have come to surefire playoff teams that may make some noise: Mavs, Knicks, and Pacers

They've had a tough schedule with a lot of close losses. It's clear they're not a great team, but they're not a lottery team.

And who did we beat? Pistons...Wizards twice...and the Nets!
Our schedule will only get tougher.

That's a valid point, however you also fail to point out that this team didn't have a preseason and a few teams that were supposed to be good are off to slow starts too. The Celtics also lost Jeff Green who was supposed to be a big part of the team, lots of new pieces to integrate in such a short period of time.

Let me ask this again? Are the Celtics the only team in the NBA that didn't have a preseason?

No but when you do have a younger team their bodies are much easier to adapt to the grind of a season. For example, look at Dallas...the defending champs are a .500 team. Are they in reality? Absolutely not. But they have a few new parts that need to learn the system and integrate those.

Boston has Pietrus, Bass, Sasha (was here for about 20 games last year), Steamer, JJJ, Wilcox, ETWaun Moore, and Dooling. All new faces on this team and Jeff Green was supposed to be a big part of this team as well. Pretty much this whole team other than the starting 5 was turned over so you obviously need a few games for the team to get into a rhythm.

But again, you and the blow it up crowd will neglect to see this and just ignore it.

Don't look now, but Dallas is now 7-5, despite having tons of old players, losing three key players, and trying to integrate new guys like Odom.

San Antonio is 8-5 and has played the last 5 games without its best player.

The Lakers, despite being led by "old man" 16-year veteran Kobe Bryan, who has scored 40-plus points the last 3 games, are 9-4 despite losing one of their key players, Lamar Odom, as well as Shannon Brown.

I could go on, but I hope you get my drift.

I get your point, however lets look at this. The Lakers have largely the same squad as last year, minus Odom. The Spurs have the same squad as last year when they were tearing things up early on. Dallas has also beaten the following teams...Toronto, OKC, Phoenix, NO, Detroit, Boston and Milwaukee...clearly the class of the NBA. They have lost to all playoff contenders they've faced outside of OKC.

Granted Boston didn't beat New Orleans without Pierce but other than them they've lost to all teams that should make a solid playoff run. 10 Games is a small sample size that no one apparently pays attention to apparently unless its the beginning or end of the season.

[tyrone biggums]

Great point Vinnie.

There are a number of "Old" teams that are doing much better than we are.

I just do not want us barely making the playoffs. We need to get into the lottery to snag a great new player.

This team just so slow and unatheletic now. Sad to watch.

Yeah, and if we had ended up with Oden in 2007 this team would be in lottery hell. Getting a top draft choice is never a sure thing. Yes, I'm aware the reports are out there that Danny would have chosen Durant. Would they have though? Hindsight is always 20/20 in these matters

[manl_lui]

maybe its strategy, i know i am dreaming but maybe it is all Doc's plan

i mean come on, its a shortened season, if we can muster an average record and make the playoffs with a high draft pick, what is there to lose...this team is probably thinking going into the playoffs healthy

I know i am probably making excuses here but look at the

Lakers - Kobe injured his wrist
Bulls - Rose has turf toe
Miami - Dwyane Wade injured his ankle and I believe James was hurt last week because of ankle as well
NY - Amar'e back??

theyre playing their best but in such a short season what use is it if you are injured

as of right now beside Pierce's heel, I think our starting lineup is relatively healthy

[the_Bird]

The team's got a little while before Danny decides whether to blow it up or not, but it's a little while; probably three or four weeks to show that they can be competitive.  That should be enough time for guys to play themselves into shape, for Pietrus to integrate himself into the lineup, for Pierce to get himself healthy and going, and for JO to have his inevitable knee injury.

Danny knows that the team could be done, just like we do.  If we're in early February and the team's still muddling along at .500 or below, look for some changes to happen.  Look for Ray Allen to get traded for picks/young talent.  Maybe look for something REALLY dramatic; at least look for Danny to kick around the idea of trading for Joe Johnson or Rudy Gay or some other talented-but-overpaid scorer.  We're most apt to use the cap space via trade, anyway.  

The fact is, Danny knows this team isn't playing well.  He knows it's more than just the lack of training camp, or integrating new players.  There may be a smidge of validity to those, but this is a veteran group.  Talk about the Lakers and Spurs bringing back their same core; the starting lineup's basically been the same, it's only the bench that's different for the C's this year and the problems start with the guys who've been here for a while.  We aren't losing games because Wilcox and Dooling aren't comfortable yet!

I hear a lot of excuses being made for a team that's showing itself to just not be very good right now.  What does a medicore team look like?  They can beat the dregs and sometimes keep up with the great teams, but usually can't quite make enough plays to beat the good teams.  Pretty much exactly what we've seen.

Maybe they get better, but they better get better soon; the clock's a tickin'.

[vinnie]

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Great point about virtually the same starting lineup coming back for the Celts.