Bring Larry Bird out of retirement?

Celts have had an easy schedule so fay, played 12 of their first 19 at home, and have a 9-10 record. The second half schedule in terms of road games is miserable.  They may well catch Philly, but it won't be easy.

Philly shouldn't be a surprise at all.  Maybe having them in 3rd is a surprise, but even before the season started and we sucked, they were being projected ahead of us.  They're basically just picking up where they left off last year.  It seems like everyone forgot, that after their coaching change last year, they were one of the best teams in the league.  Add to that the improved play of Spencer Hawes, and another year of development for Evan Turner, and I think theyre right where they should be. 

Phillys not the scrubs they used to be.  They're young, athletic, and well coached.  They defend, and have a bench that can score.  I dont see them slowing down, or us catching them. I think it's far more likely we overtake Atlanta or Orlando.  I feel like all we need to do, is fight up to the 6th spot.  If we can avoid Miami or Chicago in round 1, I think we can make some noise.

Unless Jermaine O'Neal gets healthy and turns back the clock a few years, I don't see it happening this season.  The Sixers are a really good team.

Putting the cart before the horse here, we need Rondo on the court again first.

Quote from: PosImpos on January 31, 2012, 10:24:34 AM

Unless Jermaine O'Neal gets healthy and turns back the clock a few years, I don't see it happening this season.  The Sixers are a really good team.

Putting the cart before the horse here, we need Rondo on the court again first.

Obviously Rondo is more important, but my point is that even with a healthy Rondo we're not better than the Sixers -- the only way to make up the difference would be if we had a legitimate starting center on the roster to give us an inside presence on both ends that we sorely lack right now.

Quote from: PosImpos on January 31, 2012, 01:18:18 PM

Quote from: Fafnir on January 31, 2012, 10:27:12 AM

Quote from: PosImpos on January 31, 2012, 10:24:34 AM

Unless Jermaine O'Neal gets healthy and turns back the clock a few years, I don't see it happening this season.  The Sixers are a really good team.

Putting the cart before the horse here, we need Rondo on the court again first.

Obviously Rondo is more important, but my point is that even with a healthy Rondo we're not better than the Sixers -- the only way to make up the difference would be if we had a legitimate starting center on the roster to give us an inside presence on both ends that we sorely lack right now.

I don't think that's the case, I think if Pierce can play at the level he's shown the last 6 games along with Ray/Rondo then we will be better than the 76ers in the end.

Though I do admit that relies on the 76ers regressing, which may not happen!

I just think people are really underrating the Sixers.

Andre Iguodala is playing better than anybody on the Celtics.  No, his stats don't seem to bear that out, but if you look at his complete impact -- defense, passing, and the ability to score 1 on 1 when the Sixers need it -- he's been incredible.  I remember reading just a week or two ago that Iggy is scoring at a rate of 1.1 points per possession in isolation.  That's crazy.

Lou Williams is scoring 15 ppg on great shooting in 25 minutes per game off the bench.  Jrue Holliday has been great all-around as well.  Thaddeus Young is a very productive and efficient scorer off the bench.  Jodie Meeks has rebounded from a cold shooting start and has been spacing the floor well.  Spencer Hawes has been great, too.  Brand hasn't been spectacular, but he's been solid.  Turner has developed a role as Iggy-Light off the bench and even thrived in it.

The Sixers are just such a deep, balanced team.  They were a very good defensive team even last year, but this year they've managed to turn that up a notch and also score plenty of points.

I think the one thing that could fall back to the earth with the Sixers is their shooting.  Guys like Iggy / Holliday / Williams have not been great outside shooters in the past, and yet they've been decent to very good this year.  If they start to struggle from outside, the team could have a harder time scoring, which would make them more like they were last season.

Sixers match up fantastically with every eastern team except Chicago.  Rose will destroy them.  But if they can avoid them in the playoff bracket, they could be a finals team (or at least ECF).  They score inside.  They score outside.  They score on the break.  They rebound and defend very well.

I find it very unlikely the Celts catch them in the regular season.  They just have a certain mojo this year that they lacked in the past.  Have you seen their margins of victory?  They are playing some weaker teams, sure.  But they are killing them.