Bruce Bowen giving his opinion on the Celtics struggles so far...

[soap07]

I'd actually argue it's one of the stronger rosters we've had.

What?!?!

[GrandTheftRondo]

The bench isn't the problem.

[kozlodoev]

They have to be as good as they were last year- which I think they are capable of being.

No, they don't have to. They have to and will be less good, and the question is by how much. I've seen nothing that suggests that what we see right now will improve considerably as the season goes on.

[Inside-Out]

I'd actually argue it's one of the stronger rosters we've had.

What?!?!

The starters have fallen off, but the bench is stronger with Bass and Wilcox at PF and Pietrus on the wing.  Dooling is a more accomplished backup guard than we've had, too.

But we're not going to beat the better teams when the best players on the court aren't in Green.  Depth can only take you so far.  Eventually, it's our best against theirs, and unfortunately, our guys can't hang with the best any more.

[MBz]

They have to be as good as they were last year- which I think they are capable of being.

No, they don't have to. They have to and will be less good, and the question is by how much. I've seen nothing that suggests that what we see right now will improve considerably as the season goes on.

Exactly.  KG and Jermaine O'Neal simply aren't going to become better inside players at this stage in their careers. 

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

So...

The C's turn it around, KG finds his legs, and then? They go for banner #18 being the underdogs with the 7th or 8th seed?

Start watching more Bulls or Heat bball, you might wanna reconsider.

This is precisely my concern. Let's say the Celtics turn it around in the next two or three weeks ... great, except that by then, they may have dug too big of a hole to get any higher than the 7th seed, which would buy them a first-round matchup with either the Bulls or Heat, and probably a quick exit. But maybe they'd reach the 6th seed, or even 5th, and maybe they'd fare better than many of us think they will.

I think that what a lot of fans are thinking is, "If the best we'll do is a first-round playoff exit, why not just get started on rebuilding now?" Which in one way makes a lot of sense, but I also understand why some fans want to see one more "decent" (i.e., playoff) season with the Big 3, even if it means a first-round exit.