Better Say This When the Celtics are up an Upside right Now

[LarryForThree]

I'm a realistic Celtics fan (yes you can be a fan and not think every year they're going to win the championship). I can also enjoy watching a player or two develop or vets who still have heart and still want to win.

I don't think this team has what it takes to win a championship or go very far in the playoffs. If injuries to several players keeps happening-maybe no playoffs. But they should still be good enough to secure a playoff spot.

As much as I'd like the team get a high draft pick and not do well this season, that isn't going to happen either. This isn't anything like the Tim Duncan year but fans who were hoping for a better pick that year weren't getting blasted. And yes I know the lottery slots haven't been too kind lately to the C's.

This team will be a 6-8 seed team or just miss the playoffs.

As far as trading any of the big three. Realistically, it would make sense. But not sure if anything in return would be that big. But who knows. I'm content on keeping them and playing the season out and just enjoy sporadic moments of greatness from them for the remainder of the year.

So, for the rest of the year, I'm content. However (This is my biggest concern) I beg Danny Ainge not to do a "John Lackey" signing where he has all the cap space and has to settle to sign a second/third tier player because there's no one else (i.e The Pistons recently). I'd rather wait for the right moment/player.

[j804]

maybe we should secure a playoff spot

wow

[Jon]

I don't think the playoffs are really a concern unless we get absolutely decimated by injuries. 

Things have gone about as badly as they could for us out of the gate, and we're still sitting at 9-9 with the 7 seed, just 3.5 games behind Philly.  I think there's a pretty good chance we still win the Atlantic Division. 

I also think that the prospects of winning a title are small; however, as Forsberg pointed out in his chat recently, if things all align correctly, I still think we have an outside shot. 

Now would it take several small miracles for this to happen?  Probably.  But I think that when this team is operating at all cylinders, it can take any team in the NBA to 6 or 7 games.  And if they can go that far, who knows what could happen in any given series given their championship experience?  Maybe Ray goes nuts in a Game 7 against the Heat and hits 10 threes.  Maybe Derrick Rose dislocates his elbow in Game 3 of the series.  Maybe Kevin Durant blows out his knee in either the Finals or regular season (like Perk or KG) and can't play. 

Are these things remote possibilities?  Perhaps, but they've all happened before in Celtics games (though to the Celtics in options 2 and 3).  And in this crazy and condensed schedule, anything really can happen. 

And while I wouldn't like rolling the dice on this normally, I really am not convinced that DA is going to get anything more than a bunch of overpaid role players for KG or Ray.  And taking on 23 million or 10 million dollars worth of good-but-not-great players is no way to start a rebuilding process. 

[Junkyard Dawg]

i am also a realistic Celtics fan.  and by that I mean that I base my opinions on evidence.  the Celtics have been a championship contender every year since 2008.  they have won a championship, and would have won another if not for a freak injury and a 2-1 free throw disparity for the series against the Lakers.  there are 3, possibly 4 hall of famers on the team.  they had a stretch of bad play going back to last season, which could be blamed on age, but could just as easily be blamed on roster turnover at an inopportune time.  before that (about 12 months ago) they were the best team in the East and favorites to return to the finals.  I won't even mention the numerous individual records, awards, stats, praise from opposing coaches and teammates that our players and coaches have garnered in recent months and years.

if you want to look outside on a rainy day and declare that the sun has permanently disappeared, fine.  but history and reason say otherwise.

[GreenEnvy]

I'm not gonna blast you for your opinion, but I disagree with just about everything you said.

If Pierce and KG continue to play like they have been, we will easily win the Atlantic, be the 3 (or 4) seed and be an under-the-radar contender. Bass, Pietrus, and Ray all look great, and as long as there isn't something seriously long with Rondo's wrist, we will be fine.

If we can get 18 minutes from JO in the playoffs and 12 from Wilcox, I think KG can give us 18 at C alongside Bass. Our center dilemma isn't as bad as most make it out to be.

Doubt them now if you want, they fooled most 'fans' once before and their slow start will fool the same ones again. We are playing great right now, and we can get better. And we will.

As Pierce said the other night in Orlando - "We ain't going no MF'ing anywhere!"

[ManchesterCelticsFan]

If Danny decides there's no deal out there worth trading any of the Big 3 for a better future, then the C's have a slim chance at the Championship IMO. The New York Knicks were the 8th seed in the East during the lockout 1999 season and they made the 5th game of the NBA Finals that year. (which has never happened before or since from an 8th seed going that far) So in a chaotic, inconsistant, Lockout shortened season, anything can happen. As posters stated above, injuries with top players on top teams have a chance at happening and Lady-Luck with the ball bouncing your way, C's hitting all their shots or the other team being ice-cold. Also, there's a chance that Moore, Stiesma, Bradley and others can develop into decent contributors by the end of the season and help the team tremendously, even if it's just helping to save the Big 3 energy so they can play better during the minutes they actually play.

Danny has to evalute the risk/reward ratio of all the decisions he makes and conflicting interests of the "now", the "future", $$$, championship chances, potential public relation backlash, and everything else. His job looks very tough and stressful. But that's why he makes the big buck$.  

[OmarSekou]

Playoffs? When it's all said and done we'll be in the discussion of getting to the finals. Assuming we don't get injured, we have experience and talent. Even if Rose doesn't get banged up, I'm not convinced by the Bulls. I don't think they're better than they've ever been. We have to hope a big player on the Heat gets hurt and Philly, Orlando and Indiana could play us tight, but we're right there.

Blowing our team up makes no sense. We don't have any options that make us any better at contending for a title this season or long term. Chemistry and culture matter. We have a team full dedicated professionals who desperately want to win. That type of attitude rubs off on guys who come here. That's how great teams (the Spurs and Lakers most recently) have stayed great. It's a culture of excellence.

[Celtics18]

Playoffs? When it's all said and done we'll be in the discussion of getting to the finals. Assuming we don't get injured, we have experience and talent. Even if Rose doesn't get banged up, I'm not convinced by the Bulls. I don't think they're better than they've ever been. We have to hope a big player on the Heat gets hurt and Philly, Orlando and Indiana could play us tight, but we're right there.

Blowing our team up makes no sense. We don't have any options that make us any better at contending for a title this season or long term. Chemistry and culture matter. We have a team full dedicated professionals who desperately want to win. That type of attitude rubs off on guys who come here. That's how great teams (the Spurs and Lakers most recently) have stayed great. It's a culture of excellence.

Tommy point.