Still not sold on this team's one quailty win. Looking forward to Feb. games

[LarBrd33]

So far we've beat 7 different teams... 5 of which are laughing stocks of the NBA.

Detroit (4-20)
Washington (4-18)
[2] Washington (4-18)
New Jersey (8-15)
Toronto (7-16)
[3] Washington (4-18)
Orlando (13-9)
[2] Orlando (13-9)
Indiana (15-6)
Cleveland (8-12)
[2] Toronto (7-16)

The only two worth their salt are Orlando (barely) and Indiana.

We beat Orlando twice during their well publicized mental breakdown... where supposedly Dwight's teammates quit on him so brutally he was forced to call them out in the media.  Along with losing to us twice they were also blown out 93-67 by the Hornets and 106-85 to the Pacers.

That leaves our 94-87 victory against Indiana as the ONLY game that I consider a "quality" win... and it took an epic performance by Pierce to beat them:  28 point, 10 rebound, 8 assists, 3 steal and 2 block ... not to mention that they already beat us twice this year by 13 and 14 points.

Sorry.  Still not sold on this team.  

I'm looking forward to seeing how we do in the next month against the Lakers, Mavericks, Bulls (twice), and Thunder.   If we get blown out against these contenders, I should hope that Danny Ainge will put an end to this nonsense and cash in Pierce and Ray for draft picks and cap space.

There are a few teams we've yet to face off against like Denver, Philly, Atlanta and the Clippers... but of the teams we HAVE faced and lost to (Miami, Dallas, Indiana (twice), Chicago, Thunder), I have no reason to rationally believe we can hang with them in the playoffs while starting Jermaine O'Neal at center.

[raynman]

Actually, before the first game against Orlando, they were very good (11-4) then the meltdown happened after the second game (remember they still beat Indiana in between).. Still, only beating two quality teams is far from impressive.. But we're getting there.. Let's judge them after February..

[Tradetime]

When Rondo comes back, the big three will go back into stand around mode while Rondo pounds the ball. We'll see how this disrupts the substituion patterns that were flowing so nicely with Bradley/Moore. 6-2 record w/o him, and all of our quality wins w/o him as well.

Rondo is really good at times playing the passing lanes, a la Allen Iverson, but not as a one-on-one defender like Bradley is. A lot will speak for itself very soon. Garnett and Pierce, and now Ray, will not be as aggressive as they've been with the ball. This will become evident.

[ianboyextreme]

When Rondo comes back, the big three will go back into stand around mode while Rondo pounds the ball. We'll see how this disrupts the substituion patterns that were flowing so nicely with Bradley/Moore. 6-2 record w/o him, and all of our quality wins w/o him as well.

Rondo is really good at times playing the passing lanes, a la Allen Iverson, but not as a one-on-one defender like Bradley is. A lot will speak for itself very soon. Garnett and Pierce, and now Ray, will not be as aggressive as they've been with the ball. This will become evident.

Fakse. His defensive rating is one of the best at his position. If he gambles every time and isnt a good 1 on 1 defender, that wouldnt be the case.

[Celtics4ever]

I am not sold on this team either but I will still watch them.  I have seen signs that we could be good or very old depending on the night.  This team is all over the place in consistency and that is never good.

We'll see how this disrupts the substituion patterns that were flowing so nicely with Bradley/Moore. 6-2 record w/o him, and all of our quality wins w/o him as well.

Rondo is really good at times playing the passing lanes, a la Allen Iverson, but not as a one-on-one defender like Bradley is. A lot will speak for itself very soon. Garnett and Pierce, and now Ray, will not be as aggressive as they've been with the ball. This will become evident.

   

Bradley will go back to being a sub, a defensive specialist and Moore will be buried deep on the bench.  Without a question, Rondo is the superior player.  Bradley did not look like an elite one on one defender against Irving.   

Ray never stands around even with Rondo.  He has to use picks to get open.  I think throw in PP and NYC and MIA might have fallen to us.

[GreenFaith1819]

The fact that you posted that clip, LarBrd33, says to me:

"I know...I'm beating a Dead Horse, Buuuuuuuut......",lol..

To me, I don't care how many quality wins we get - as long as we make the playoffs.

This season will be complicated enough as it is - not only for us, but every other team out there.

I'm expecting us to stay competitive enough to finish a few games above 500, and then use the small opportunity we have to make noise in the playoffs.

[Capricious]

No no, haven't you heard?  The celtics are so good that we should get rid of Rondo for a bag of peanuts. 

[LooseCannon]

We beat Orlando twice during their well publicized mental breakdown...

I like to think that the Celtics caused the mental breakdown rather than took advantage of it.

I'm actually confident that a team with a healthy Jermaine O'Neal has a better chance of getting farther than the Celtics at any point last season.  I wouldn't say the chances of a healthy Jermaine O'Neal in the playoffs are slim and close to zero, but it's probably not that much more than a tossup.

[guava_wrench]

I agree with the OP to a degree, but I also agree with those who point out that Orlando was not melting down before they played us. Their season turned around after the second game. In fact, they played well in between games.

It is possible that Dwight talking to the press while the threat of leaving looms may have irreparably damaged his relationship with his teammates as a leader.

What is more important than outcomes is KG looking healthier, Wilcox finally contributing, and Pierce looking spry. Bradley finally gaining confidence is also a big boost. When Pierce, KG and Bradley were embarrassing themselves, we were a horrible team. Now we have a full roster.

[LarBrd33]

i don't think we are a terrible team.  I think we are worthy of a 7th or 8th seed.  And as a 7th or 8th seed, I expect us to get destroyed by a 1st or 2nd seed.

This team will win against the garbage of the league.  Even if there is more garbage than quality... it still doesn't convince me this team can beat a contender in a 7 game series.

[greenpride32]

ORL beat IND in Indiana between the two games they played against the C's.  So by OP's logic the Pacers must have been in a state of mental breakdown when we beat them.  Sorry, but we have 3 wins against quality playoff bound teams.  That's not exactly saying much, given the expectations of this team. But we aren't as sad of a team as OP is trying to portray.

[ACF]

To me, I don't care how many quality wins we get - as long as we make the playoffs.

This season will be complicated enough as it is - not only for us, but every other team out there.

I'm expecting us to stay competitive enough to finish a few games above 500, and then use the small opportunity we have to make noise in the playoffs.

[guava_wrench]

ORL beat IND in Indiana between the two games they played against the C's.  So by OP's logic the Pacers must have been in a state of mental breakdown when we beat them.  Sorry, but we have 3 wins against quality playoff bound teams.  That's not exactly saying much, given the expectations of this team. But we aren't as sad of a team as OP is trying to portray.

No, the OP's logic would not imply that.

It is the consecutive games of futility that is being pointed to and the problems that we have seen with Orlando since then that seem to indicate to some that Orlando has lost their mojo.