C's are clearly not contenders

[vinnie]

So at the end of the day, BOS is 3-3 vs teams with winning records, right?

NY's loss on Christmas Day was a sham. They are clearly a hot mess right now.

MIA? They beat us IN MIA by 7 - without the Captain.

OKC? CHI? They beat us, but again - Pierce was NOT in prime form.

So we've beaten ORL (twice) and Indy....and some winnable games vs MIA and NY.

BOS could easily have 3-4 more wins than they do.

But they don't, and thus they have a 9-10 record and are hanging on to the 7th seed in the east. Every team has injuries. They are all in the same boat.

[ianboyextreme]

Can we hold off on these predictions?

Aren't the Lakers, DAL, Spurs - right around 500, too? And I'm sure we'll see those three in the playoffs.

Contenders? Right now? No - but again it's still too early to call it for me.

The difference with the Lakers and Mavs, at least, is that they both have legit superstars on their rosters still -- though I wouldn't put much money on either team going far in the playoffs.

It's all about OKC, Chicago, Miami this season, with a few second tier teams like the Sixers and Nuggets that might pull an upset but not go all the way.

True, but the way Paul had been playing during our win streak - he's been Player of the Week - like.

Also - CHI's dealing with injuries...OKC lost their backup PG (Maynor) for the season...DWade just came back.

Even the elite teams are susceptible to injuries.

For me, there are still wildcards in play.

Even if every single legitimate contender is inflicted with major injuries, I'm really skeptical the Celtics could beat one of the younger, deeper second-tier teams in a 7 game series (e.g. Nuggets, Sixers, Pacers).

Wow man..thanks for peeing in my cornflakes, here

Didn't BOS just beat a younger WIZ team on the road? Then turn around the next game and crush ORL by 31? And THEN beat ORL in that stunning comeback two days later?

Topped it off with a revenge win vs Indy. Did all this without Rondo or Ray Ray or JO.

I'm not ready to crown Boston with Banner 18 yet, but I can't count them out, either - even after tonight's disappointment.

you mean a young washington team that has won 2 games so far ?

and an orl team that clearly is in a crap situation  where they have one great player and a bunch of role players ?

So your saying you thought Orlando was a crap team before we beat them? Pretty sure they were considered one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. Celtics messed them up.

[rondohondo]

Can we hold off on these predictions?

Aren't the Lakers, DAL, Spurs - right around 500, too? And I'm sure we'll see those three in the playoffs.

Contenders? Right now? No - but again it's still too early to call it for me.

The difference with the Lakers and Mavs, at least, is that they both have legit superstars on their rosters still -- though I wouldn't put much money on either team going far in the playoffs.

It's all about OKC, Chicago, Miami this season, with a few second tier teams like the Sixers and Nuggets that might pull an upset but not go all the way.

True, but the way Paul had been playing during our win streak - he's been Player of the Week - like.

Also - CHI's dealing with injuries...OKC lost their backup PG (Maynor) for the season...DWade just came back.

Even the elite teams are susceptible to injuries.

For me, there are still wildcards in play.

Even if every single legitimate contender is inflicted with major injuries, I'm really skeptical the Celtics could beat one of the younger, deeper second-tier teams in a 7 game series (e.g. Nuggets, Sixers, Pacers).

Wow man..thanks for peeing in my cornflakes, here

Didn't BOS just beat a younger WIZ team on the road? Then turn around the next game and crush ORL by 31? And THEN beat ORL in that stunning comeback two days later?

Topped it off with a revenge win vs Indy. Did all this without Rondo or Ray Ray or JO.

I'm not ready to crown Boston with Banner 18 yet, but I can't count them out, either - even after tonight's disappointment.

you mean a young washington team that has won 2 games so far ?

and an orl team that clearly is in a crap situation  where they have one great player and a bunch of role players ?

So your saying you thought Orlando was a crap team before we beat them? Pretty sure they were considered one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. Celtics messed them up.

actually yea I did think they are a crap team, their second best player is Ryan Anderson.....

and my thoughts have been confirmed , the c's beat a 5th or 6th seed in the east 2 times wooo hoooo !

[ianboyextreme]

Can we hold off on these predictions?

Aren't the Lakers, DAL, Spurs - right around 500, too? And I'm sure we'll see those three in the playoffs.

Contenders? Right now? No - but again it's still too early to call it for me.

The difference with the Lakers and Mavs, at least, is that they both have legit superstars on their rosters still -- though I wouldn't put much money on either team going far in the playoffs.

It's all about OKC, Chicago, Miami this season, with a few second tier teams like the Sixers and Nuggets that might pull an upset but not go all the way.

True, but the way Paul had been playing during our win streak - he's been Player of the Week - like.

Also - CHI's dealing with injuries...OKC lost their backup PG (Maynor) for the season...DWade just came back.

Even the elite teams are susceptible to injuries.

For me, there are still wildcards in play.

Even if every single legitimate contender is inflicted with major injuries, I'm really skeptical the Celtics could beat one of the younger, deeper second-tier teams in a 7 game series (e.g. Nuggets, Sixers, Pacers).

Wow man..thanks for peeing in my cornflakes, here

Didn't BOS just beat a younger WIZ team on the road? Then turn around the next game and crush ORL by 31? And THEN beat ORL in that stunning comeback two days later?

Topped it off with a revenge win vs Indy. Did all this without Rondo or Ray Ray or JO.

I'm not ready to crown Boston with Banner 18 yet, but I can't count them out, either - even after tonight's disappointment.

you mean a young washington team that has won 2 games so far ?

and an orl team that clearly is in a crap situation  where they have one great player and a bunch of role players ?

So your saying you thought Orlando was a crap team before we beat them? Pretty sure they were considered one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. Celtics messed them up.

actually yea I did think they are a crap team, their second best player is Ryan Anderson.....

and my thoughts have been confirmed , the c's beat a 5th or 6th seed in the east 2 times wooo hoooo !

Were you expressing that sentiment while this entire forum was blowing up with mirth or are you reacting to one game we lost against the Cavs? This team is clearly not the same team from 2 weeks ago and at their best, are a threat to win the finals. Its just incredible how people, even those on here who are somewhat optimistic (aka cool with a 2nd round exit) completely revert to these low expectations cause we let one game slip out of our hands. I mean were talking about after we beat the Magic and Pacers handily without 3 of our starters. I am befuddled.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

The Celtics are contenders. Even after a loss, it looks like they are picking up their slacks and getting better every passing day.

[Celticjay]

C's look better, but tonight was a reminder that we're not elite.  We just can't score enough. I think the system is so focused on defense that they expend so much energy that they aren't able to play as freely as other teams.  Still defense is clearly our calling card.

We just need to get easier buckets. I think if we had a defense/shot blocking center who could get 10 boards a game it would take so much pressure of everyone. 

Who is the question.  Joel P.  probably not.  Kaman would be good enough that isn't likely.  I just don't see anyone out there that fits the bill.

We are what are record is.  But we are trending in the right direction..

[BballTim]

Can we hold off on these predictions?

Aren't the Lakers, DAL, Spurs - right around 500, too? And I'm sure we'll see those three in the playoffs.

Contenders? Right now? No - but again it's still too early to call it for me.

The difference with the Lakers and Mavs, at least, is that they both have legit superstars on their rosters still -- though I wouldn't put much money on either team going far in the playoffs.

It's all about OKC, Chicago, Miami this season, with a few second tier teams like the Sixers and Nuggets that might pull an upset but not go all the way.

we said that last season...and look what happened...the Mavericks won the championship.

at some point these young teams will take over..but theres no surefire "its this year!"

the mavs had an all defensive center who could control the paint ....

that, and Dirk played better than anybody else for 4 straight series.

There's nobody on the roster right now who could score at will against any opponent in any situation the way that Dirk did last season.  Pierce and Rondo are both capable of carrying the team for a few games at a time, but neither is capable of sustaining that sort of play for two months of games.

  If we're playing good defense that makes it easier because there's less carrying necessary. A few big games from RR, a few from PP and it's on to the next round. There's a general theme in these threads that if the Celts don't mimic whatever traits the last champions had that we have no chance of winning.

[SHAQATTACK]

IF Ray and Rondo  , PP are healthy we are an OK team , but not a contenders , not any more with the BIG three are their ages.

Most of problem is inside offense , rebounding.  This requires YOUNG LEGS full of spring and no pain. We need a 6-11" version of BASS. , or rather what KG used to be.  

But even when KG has a good night , he is today only above average.

We are lacking "ACTIVE" bigs ,  to block the lane, block out , grab offensive rebounds.  Ones that can still run the court , and play inspired defense.

We are soooooooo poor with the 4-5 position , that almost any healthy body seems to make us look better.

Just think if we actually had a truely good big man to guard the paint and grab rebounds.  

[Neurotic Guy]

Sometimes delusions are harmless.  I wouldn't want Danny to be delusonal, but it's OK if we are. It gives me pleasure to have some hope.

[PosImpos]

There's a general theme in these threads that if the Celts don't mimic whatever traits the last champions had that we have no chance of winning.

If the Celtics don't mimic the traits of almost every champion in the last 40 years, they aren't going to win.

[Celts Fan 92]

Can we hold off on these predictions?

Aren't the Lakers, DAL, Spurs - right around 500, too? And I'm sure we'll see those three in the playoffs.

Contenders? Right now? No - but again it's still too early to call it for me.

The difference with the Lakers and Mavs, at least, is that they both have legit superstars on their rosters still -- though I wouldn't put much money on either team going far in the playoffs.

It's all about OKC, Chicago, Miami this season, with a few second tier teams like the Sixers and Nuggets that might pull an upset but not go all the way.

True, but the way Paul had been playing during our win streak - he's been Player of the Week - like.

Also - CHI's dealing with injuries...OKC lost their backup PG (Maynor) for the season...DWade just came back.

Even the elite teams are susceptible to injuries.

For me, there are still wildcards in play.

Even if every single legitimate contender is inflicted with major injuries, I'm really skeptical the Celtics could beat one of the younger, deeper second-tier teams in a 7 game series (e.g. Nuggets, Sixers, Pacers).

Wow man..thanks for peeing in my cornflakes, here

Didn't BOS just beat a younger WIZ team on the road? Then turn around the next game and crush ORL by 31? And THEN beat ORL in that stunning comeback two days later?

Topped it off with a revenge win vs Indy. Did all this without Rondo or Ray Ray or JO.

I'm not ready to crown Boston with Banner 18 yet, but I can't count them out, either - even after tonight's disappointment.

cosign the bolded if you guys haven't been payin attention every winning team has lost to a team they're better then it happens in the NBA word to the Thunder nd Wizards. Tht doesnt mean their season is over they rebound from tht nd continue to play a high level of basketball and that's wat Boston will do

[PosImpos]

cosign the bolded if you guys haven't been payin attention every winning team has lost to a team they're better then it happens in the NBA word to the Thunder nd Wizards. Tht doesnt mean their season is over they rebound from tht nd continue to play a high level of basketball and that's wat Boston will do

There's dropping occasional games to bad teams, and then there's winning less than half your games.

[rondohondo]

yea this is pretty brutal to watch even when the c's win, it seems like they are losing

500!!!!! yayyyyyy

[fairweatherfan]

Eh, I don't think we're serious contenders either way, but we're winning games without maybe our most valuable player, and some without Ray. 

Sometimes I wonder if some of the folks on this site cover their eyes and scream every time a car in front of them taps its brakes.

[Chris]

yea this is pretty brutal to watch even when the c's win, it seems like they are losing

500!!!!! yayyyyyy

To be fair they are currently playing an NBDL rotation at PG, and the Cavs are looking very good.  I wouldn't read too much into these games.  

While Rondo is not Lebron James, the difference between Rondo and Bradley is probably close to the difference between Lebron and the average NBA rotation player.