Don't sleep on this Celtics Team...

[ScoobyDoo]

This team may be a lot better than wht everyone is seeing right now, but it will take time.

* We're 4-8.

* We lost our projected "sixth man" before the season started.

* We're incorporating 4 new guys into our front court(Stiemsma, Wilcox, Bass and Pietrus and two young guys and another vet into our back court (Bradley and Moore and Dooling) - with unusually limited practice time this season.

* You'll probably note that the teams doing the best so far are the teams who have returned, in large part, the same rosters they had last season. There is a reason for that.

* Pierce has had one practice with the team, prior to joining us for the 3rd of 4th game of the season. He is not struggling because he suddenly got old. You cna see he is just not in shape or synch yet.

In fact, you can tell the entire team is still out of synch.

But here's why I like this particular team and think they may become very dangerous by the end of the season.

* While we aren't as deep in the front court this year as we traditionally have been, we have far better wing and back court depth this year.

* Pierce, Ray, Pietrus and Daniels, once they gel in a set rotation are going to be quite a load by the end of the season for other teams to handle.

* The combo of Pierce and Pietrus gives a one of the ebst defensive tandems we've had on the wings since the big three got here.

* Rondo, Dooling and Bradley give us a very tough minded defensive presence at the point. I think Moore will become more and more involved as the season goes on as well.

What we are lacking is probably one more big man. Adding either Pryzbilla or yes, even Rasheed Wallace, in a Kurt Thomas hammer role for 10-15 minutes a night might round this team out very nicely. We need one more big man to give us more length for 10-15 minutes a night under the basket.

Bottom line, if this team figures out how to play together and we add one more big man, you are going to have one tough minded physically aggressive group of wiley vets come playoff time in:

Pryzbilla or Wallace
KG, Bass, Wilcox
Pierce, Pietrus
Ray / Marquis
Rondo / Dooling.   

Once we stop making such stupid turnovers, these guys learn each other and if we can one more big guy - you will see completely different team come playoff time. And it will be one that can make a run.     



 

[ScoobyDoo]

I agree with everything you said and I think you are a genius as well. TP

[Celtics18]

I agree with everything you said and I think you are a genius as well. TP

Me too.  I love your humility, as well.

[Chief]

I think this title is suppose to be "This Celtics Team is putting me to sleep".

or

"It's time to put this Celtics team to sleep".

Either way works.

[ScoobyDoo]

TP Celtics18, glad you appreciated the humor.

But the team doesn't put asleep at all though. I'm less concerned about what I'm seeing right now than what I believe is the potential for this team as the season progresses.

And I acknowledge right now that we may continue to struggle throughout the season due to a lack of continuity with the new players and the pace of the schedule vs the age of our vets.

I'd rather play our role players and our young vets more even if it means less wins.

My ideal playoff spot for this particular team is the 6th seed.

What I'm most interested in is seeing what this team looks like once they gel and have learned each other on the court and establish what their "team identity" is.

Again, the key thing I like so far this year is the physical and mental tenacity of the following group:

KG, Bass, Pierce, Pietrus, Ray, Rondo, Dooling and Bradley - that entire group of players is willing to get into a brwal every night on the court.

Give them some time to gel and one more true big guy for 10-15 minutes a night and they might suprise all of us.

They're a feisty group - they just haven't gelled yet and haven't cemented their team identity.

I find them quite enjoying to watch though.   

[filmexec]

Don't listen to those "Nattering Nabobs of Negativity". I agree with your points of view and your understated humility on all things Celtic! The future of this franchise has never looked better! Danny will start re-engineer this team starting next year and let the veterans have their final run and final days as Celtics (no Trades!), IMO! The young players, Draft Choices and Cap Space are all here for a Championship Team in two to three years! Thank you Danny!

[vinnie]

Yep. They put a beating on the always tough Raptors tonight. When they beat a team with a pulse I might get a little excited.

[LarBrd33]

The teams we have beat:

Detroit:  (3-11) bottom of their Division
Washington: (2-12) bottom of their division
Washington again
New Jersey: (4-11) tied for the bottom of their division
Toronto without best player: (4-11) tied for the bottom of their division

Make no mistake... this Celtic team is trash until they get a real starting center and 2-3 capable bench players.

[Celtics18]

The teams we have beat:

Detroit:  (3-11) bottom of their Division
Washington: (2-12) bottom of their division
Washington again
New Jersey: (4-11) tied for the bottom of their division
Toronto without best player: (4-11) tied for the bottom of their division

Make no mistake... this Celtic team is trash until they get a real starting center and 2-3 capable bench players.

Don't look now anyone, but Jermaine O'Neil has looked like a good starting center the last couple of games.  I'd say that Brandon Bass and Mickael Pietrus make a pretty good 6th and 7th man off the bench.  I'm comfortable with Marquis, Dooling, and Wilcox rounding it out and the youngsters waiting in the wings.

Paul and Kevin are starting to look more comfortable out there.  I believe this team is starting to get to where they should be and that's a solid Eastern conference playoff team.  No, they'll never be the favorites, but I think they can still be dangerous.

[EJPLAYA]

This was nothing. So we beat up a crappy team. What consolation is there for being one of the better of the teams that suck... That just means no good picks, and no playoffs. That's close to being worse than losing them all. Too good to get better, but not good enough to beat anyone that means anything.

[Celtics18]

This was nothing. So we beat up a crappy team. What consolation is there for being one of the better of the teams that suck... That just means no good picks, and no playoffs. That's close to being worse than losing them all. Too good to get better, but not good enough to beat anyone that means anything.

The goal is to make the playoffs.  Hey, we are a half game out of eighth after tonight.  Things are looking up.

[rondohondo]

This was nothing. So we beat up a crappy team. What consolation is there for being one of the better of the teams that suck... That just means no good picks, and no playoffs. That's close to being worse than losing them all. Too good to get better, but not good enough to beat anyone that means anything.

The goal is to make the playoffs.  Hey, we are a half game out of eighth after tonight.  Things are looking up.

wow it's come to that? pretty sad

I would rather just tank and start the rebuilding a year early.Whats the point of making the playoffs just to get booted by mia or chi in the 1st round?

[ManUp]

This was nothing. So we beat up a crappy team. What consolation is there for being one of the better of the teams that suck... That just means no good picks, and no playoffs. That's close to being worse than losing them all. Too good to get better, but not good enough to beat anyone that means anything.

The goal is to make the playoffs.  Hey, we are a half game out of eighth after tonight.  Things are looking up.

wow it's come to that? pretty sad

I would rather just tank and start the rebuilding a year early.Whats the point of making the playoffs just to get booted by mia or chi in the 1st round?

Pretty much. For a young team on the rise the goal should be the play-offs that way they can take the experience and build off of it. For a team such as ours it's Championship or bust there is nothing to build on and nothing to gain. Things only get worse from here. The making the play-offs is not the goal.

[Celtics18]

This was nothing. So we beat up a crappy team. What consolation is there for being one of the better of the teams that suck... That just means no good picks, and no playoffs. That's close to being worse than losing them all. Too good to get better, but not good enough to beat anyone that means anything.

The goal is to make the playoffs.  Hey, we are a half game out of eighth after tonight.  Things are looking up.

Making the playoffs is only the first goal.  Once we get there, I think this team has the experience and talent to make a little noise.

wow it's come to that? pretty sad

I would rather just tank and start the rebuilding a year early.Whats the point of making the playoffs just to get booted by mia or chi in the 1st round?

Pretty much. For a young team on the rise the goal should be the play-offs that way they can take the experience and build off of it. For a team such as ours it's Championship or bust there is nothing to build on and nothing to gain. Things only get worse from here. The making the play-offs is not the goal.

[RayAllen4Three]

Tell me they are going to win the NBA Championships!