Almost 30 percent into the season and still under .500

[mqtcelticsfan]

I'm not claiming that the Celtics are likely going to win a title. However, I think it's at least fair to say that if the team can play good defense as it has lately, it's not in the team's best interest to throw in the towel for the season. Maybe the Celtics get lucky and run into the Sixers and Magic for the first two rounds of the playoffs. Is it entirely out of the question that Boston could gut out one series against a superior team and luck out in match-ups?

[CelticSooner]

C's could finish anywhere between a 4-7 seed IMO. Most people considered this team a fringe contender before the season. Nothing has really changed that thought as of yet. The East has a whole isn't that deep outside of the two best teams in the league.

Just want some good basketball, having to rebuild isn't going anywhere.

[pearljammer10]

Someone started a post earlier today asking if the Celtics could win 50 games. I. of course, responded no way and that it would be a stretch for them to win 40. I initially said 38 to start the season, but I am now at a range of 35-38. And, even that could be a stretch if Rondo is really going to be out for another month and if they don't find a real center.

The easy part of the season ends in the next few weeks. Tons of road games in March and April. So, are any of you guys resetting your win expectations?

What about playoff seed? I am still at 5th - 7th?

[chambers]

Couldn't be happier. Slide into the playoffs in the sixth seed, get "better" draft pick in strong draft. Win 1st round, maybe sneak out of second round and make some more noise - earnest rebuilding underway in off season.

Perfect season for me.

How is that scenario better, in the big picture, than missing the playoffs and getting a lottery pick?

Winning a playoff series and losing in the 2nd round again has no value other than giving the owners revenue from playoff tickets.

Because we have three of the greatest players in our generation  still playing together on one team, who are capable of playing great basketball- much better than we are probably going to see for at least the next 5 years.
Some people, me included, are happy to delay the rebuilding process because we appreciate watching a great team play great basketball, against these monstrously talented super teams.
We are now an underdog that is actually capable of being a successful underdog.
Sometimes it isn't just about chasing the next one. It's about appreciating what you have in front of you.
Of course I understand what you're going to say, and I appreciate your point of you, just appreciate his point of view and that some people are so happy to watch a Celtics team like this in their last year together.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

a game behind .500. It's not so bad considering most of the loses are from top tier teams.

I'll start to worry when they're 5 games behind after 40 games.

[CelticsFanNC]

  This team has no margin for error.  It cannot lose to the likes of the Cav's because the schedule gets a whole lot tougher in the coming weeks.  I believe they will struggle against the better teams the NBA has to offer so they cannot lose to the worst ones.

[clover]

The team has a losing record after playing 12 of their first 19 games at home. 

The biggest part of their defensive improvement, when we've seen it, seems to be the ability of AB to shut down bad PGs.  When the opponent has a good PG, that's another story.

It's been a relief to see Pierce bounce back as well as he has after his start to the season, but I think Danny's still got to look at moves that help the team longer term, even if it sets this year's team back (and improves their draft position).

[CelticsFanNC]

The team has a losing record after playing 12 of their first 19 games at home. 

The biggest part of their defensive improvement, when we've seen it, seems to be the ability of AB to shut down bad PGs.  When the opponent has a good PG, that's another story.

It's been a relief to see Pierce bounce back as well as he has after his start to the season, but I think Danny's still got to look at moves that help the team longer term, even if it sets this year's team back (and improves their draft position).

  I tend to agree.  If you don't view this team as a true contender then it is time to look towards the future.

[chambers]

The team has a losing record after playing 12 of their first 19 games at home. 

The biggest part of their defensive improvement, when we've seen it, seems to be the ability of AB to shut down bad PGs.  When the opponent has a good PG, that's another story.

It's been a relief to see Pierce bounce back as well as he has after his start to the season, but I think Danny's still got to look at moves that help the team longer term, even if it sets this year's team back (and improves their draft position).

  I tend to agree.  If you don't view this team as a true contender then it is time to look towards the future.

We haven't seen them at their best yet.
We need a solid stretch with Rondo as starting PG,
with Pietrus, Dooling, Wilcox and Bass all coming in and playing their roles- as it would be in the playoffs.

Then we can judge if we think they have a chance of upsetting Chicago or Miami.
Luol Deng's injury is very serious, he is going to attempt to play next week, but this may have made the Bulls a much easier target come playoff time.

Can you imagine our chances if we came up against the Bulls or Heat without Deng or Wade?
There's still a lot of time left in this condensed schedule for anything to happen injury wise (which also means our team in a negative way as well).

Deng has just gone down and it's potentially made our road to the ECF much easier.

I feel we still haven't seen our best squad, give it's playoff caliber effort. still 70% of the season left for us to find that winning formula.

[PosImpos]

Couldn't be happier. Slide into the playoffs in the sixth seed, get "better" draft pick in strong draft. Win 1st round, maybe sneak out of second round and make some more noise - earnest rebuilding underway in off season.

Perfect season for me.

How is that scenario better, in the big picture, than missing the playoffs and getting a lottery pick?

Winning a playoff series and losing in the 2nd round again has no value other than giving the owners revenue from playoff tickets.

Because we have three of the greatest players in our generation  still playing together on one team, who are capable of playing great basketball- much better than we are probably going to see for at least the next 5 years.
Some people, me included, are happy to delay the rebuilding process because we appreciate watching a great team play great basketball, against these monstrously talented super teams.
We are now an underdog that is actually capable of being a successful underdog.
Sometimes it isn't just about chasing the next one. It's about appreciating what you have in front of you.
Of course I understand what you're going to say, and I appreciate your point of you, just appreciate his point of view and that some people are so happy to watch a Celtics team like this in their last year together.

I totally understand that.  Some people value one last hurrah over drafting a few spots higher.

I disagree.  The only thing I care about is doing whatever it takes to get closer to being a top team again as soon as possible.

[CelticsFanNC]

The team has a losing record after playing 12 of their first 19 games at home.  

The biggest part of their defensive improvement, when we've seen it, seems to be the ability of AB to shut down bad PGs.  When the opponent has a good PG, that's another story.

It's been a relief to see Pierce bounce back as well as he has after his start to the season, but I think Danny's still got to look at moves that help the team longer term, even if it sets this year's team back (and improves their draft position).

  I tend to agree.  If you don't view this team as a true contender then it is time to look towards the future.

We haven't seen them at their best yet.
We need a solid stretch with Rondo as starting PG,
with Pietrus, Dooling, Wilcox and Bass all coming in and playing their roles- as it would be in the playoffs.

Then we can judge if we think they have a chance of upsetting Chicago or Miami.
Luol Deng's injury is very serious, he is going to attempt to play next week, but this may have made the Bulls a much easier target come playoff time.

Can you imagine our chances if we came up against the Bulls or Heat without Deng or Wade?
There's still a lot of time left in this condensed schedule for anything to happen injury wise (which also means our team in a negative way as well).

Deng has just gone down and it's potentially made our road to the ECF much easier.

I feel we still haven't seen our best squad, give it's playoff caliber effort. still 70% of the season left for us to find that winning formula.

  But see that is banking on all of them being healthy after a season in which they are playing more games in less days and a season in which the second half schedule is a whole lot tougher then the 1st half schedule.   That is also banking on injuries to other teams who are younger then we are.

  Personally I have a hard time seeing this team ever being fully healthy again due mostly to age of 4 of it's 5 starters.

[chambers]

Couldn't be happier. Slide into the playoffs in the sixth seed, get "better" draft pick in strong draft. Win 1st round, maybe sneak out of second round and make some more noise - earnest rebuilding underway in off season.

Perfect season for me.

How is that scenario better, in the big picture, than missing the playoffs and getting a lottery pick?

Winning a playoff series and losing in the 2nd round again has no value other than giving the owners revenue from playoff tickets.

Because we have three of the greatest players in our generation  still playing together on one team, who are capable of playing great basketball- much better than we are probably going to see for at least the next 5 years.
Some people, me included, are happy to delay the rebuilding process because we appreciate watching a great team play great basketball, against these monstrously talented super teams.
We are now an underdog that is actually capable of being a successful underdog.
Sometimes it isn't just about chasing the next one. It's about appreciating what you have in front of you.
Of course I understand what you're going to say, and I appreciate your point of you, just appreciate his point of view and that some people are so happy to watch a Celtics team like this in their last year together.

I totally understand that.  Some people value one last hurrah over drafting a few spots higher.

I disagree.  The only thing I care about is doing whatever it takes to get closer to being a top team again as soon as possible.

And that's perfectly logical/understandable.
Each to their own I say.

[CelticsFanNC]

Couldn't be happier. Slide into the playoffs in the sixth seed, get "better" draft pick in strong draft. Win 1st round, maybe sneak out of second round and make some more noise - earnest rebuilding underway in off season.

Perfect season for me.

How is that scenario better, in the big picture, than missing the playoffs and getting a lottery pick?

Winning a playoff series and losing in the 2nd round again has no value other than giving the owners revenue from playoff tickets.

Because we have three of the greatest players in our generation  still playing together on one team, who are capable of playing great basketball- much better than we are probably going to see for at least the next 5 years.
Some people, me included, are happy to delay the rebuilding process because we appreciate watching a great team play great basketball, against these monstrously talented super teams.
We are now an underdog that is actually capable of being a successful underdog.
Sometimes it isn't just about chasing the next one. It's about appreciating what you have in front of you.
Of course I understand what you're going to say, and I appreciate your point of you, just appreciate his point of view and that some people are so happy to watch a Celtics team like this in their last year together.

  I respect your optimism.  I also think watching them give it one more shot is a nice thought but I tend to believe a good GM has to look past sentimentality and treat it as a business.

  To me if and when it becomes clear you cannot contend then you have to explore all options.  That doesn't mean dumping Pierce for cap space and a bag of balls.  It just means if there happens to be a deal out there that either nets us a younger player with upside who you strongly believe can help you next season and into the future or a high draft pick then you have to make the deal. 

  Some here seem to think that those of us who aren't as optimistic and feel like it might be time to focus on the future just want to dump the Big Three for scrubs.  I'm not for that at all.  If the right deal isn't out there then you ride it out and see what you can do with that cap space this off season.  I don't believe Ainge should be or is banking on making a franchise changing FA signing so I am not against taking on salary for the right younger player.

[ctrey]

If I am correct, if the playoffs started today we would play the Miami Heat. Who honestly thinks we beat them in a playoff series? I just do not see the point in making the playoffs to lose in either the first or second round when the draft could glean us an outstanding player in the lottery.

This squad had their run, which sadly was jinxed by some bad breaks injury wise. Yes we most likely should have won two titles but we did not. I understand the desire to keep "The band together" wishing for one last hurrah but we have to be lucid in our thinking.

I am not proposing a fire sale, we should merely play our younger players more. In the case of the PG position, we have to now. Having all that cap space next season will help for sure but I think finding a taker for Ray Allen would be ideal. He most likely would bring the most back in a deal as he really could help a team get over the top.

We have the team we have which I think is fair to say will not win a title. I have no desire to sit at a level where we are quasi-contenders. Simply makes no sense.

[slamtheking]

After the recent win streak, I'm not sure where to peg this team yet.  I think another 6-11 games will tell.

I see only Miami and Chicago as uncatchable in the standings.  C's could, under the best of circumstance, win the division and get the 3 seed IF (very big IF) they finally start playing like every game means something and they try to win every night. 

I don't see them missing the playoffs.  The playoff teams are (not necessarily in this order), Miami, Chicago, Indy, Philly, NY, Orl, Atlanta and Boston.  The other 7 teams in the East just don't have the talent over the course of the season to get past those other teams.  Orlando is in freefall but is still good enough to get in.  Melo/Amare/Chandler will be good enough to get in.  Atlanta will still get in without Horford.  Indy and Philly are wildcards--can they keep playing at a high level when they don't have that kind of track record yet.

I still think this team could beat Chicago in a 7-game series.  C's would need to play smart, tough basketball and really contain Rose but there's not enough scoring on the Bulls to really be scary.   The Heat are another story though.  Wade/Bron/Bosh are all better than our main 3 at this point of their careers.  The wildcard for the C's in that series would be Rondo and the bench.  Hammer Wade and Bron when they go to the basket and make them shoot FTs or stay outside and hit shots.