Did You Catch This?

[Rtpas11]

Stan Vangundy said that Danny can't possibly believe that this team is built as of right now to win a championship. If its not, then what is this season about Who else caught this yesterday. Is Danny just buying some time for next year...

[Roy H.]

Jeff Van Gundy said that, yeah.  In fairness, he put us in the same category as Orlando, and said that there's still an outside chance we can contend, but that pretty much everything would have to go right.

I basically agree with that assessment.

[GreenFaith1819]

I bet he didn't give us a chance on the road in the playoffs vs CLE and ORL in 2009-10, either......

And then entered Super Rondo.

[Celtics18]

It's not the first time I've heard that theory.

[Tgro]

Jeff Van Gundy said that, yeah.  In fairness, he put us in the same category as Orlando, and said that there's still an outside chance we can contend, but that pretty much everything would have to go right.

I basically agree with that assessment.

Including injuries to other teams....

I agree with what he said but I also think we could add....

....Without a serious move before the trade deadline.

It's true we're on the outer fray of contention. But I don't think it would take a whole lot to get us more into the thick of it. I would hope though that IF a move is made, it doesn't spoil team chemistry like it did last year. Sometimes I feel like if a Mega-Move is made, it almost needs to come sooner rather than last second. Just in case the fallout takes a bit to adjust to.

Then again, we may not have any viable options available to us via trade in which we go back to....

It would mean everything would have to go absolutely perfect for us including key injuries to other teams. 

[cman88]

only team I dont feel confident in taking in a 7game series is Miami..

I feel like Chicago bulls if you limit rose you can beat them. ...I mean that team got demolished just as bad as we did by Miami last year...and they were #1 in the East.

[LooseCannon]

Before this season, I thought the Celtics could be legitimate contenders if everyone is healthy for the playoffs, Jeff Green turned out to be a Sixth Man of the Year candidate coming off the bench in a different role that what he played in OKC, and Bradley and Johnson played well enough to be contributors in the rotation.  Green's heart problem was mitigated somewhat by the lucky pickup of Pietrus, while the acquisition of Bass means that Johnson probably doesn't need to be a monster off the bench.

Right now, I think the best path is to commit to giving Bradley 15 minutes per game and hope he develops into a guy who earns keeping those minutes when it comes to the playoffs.  If Bradley does that, everyone is healthy, no one slumps, and Wilcox overachieves, this team has a credible shot at another miracle playoff run.

[celtiberian]

only team I dont feel confident in taking in a 7game series is Miami..

I feel like Chicago bulls if you limit rose you can beat them. ...I mean that team got demolished just as bad as we did by Miami last year...and they were #1 in the East.

Was thinking the same thing yesterday while watching the game. I did go a little farther and said Bulls performed poorer than Celtics against Miami Hate last year post season.

[Jon]

Jeff Van Gundy said that, yeah.  In fairness, he put us in the same category as Orlando, and said that there's still an outside chance we can contend, but that pretty much everything would have to go right.

I basically agree with that assessment.

True. I had a bigger problem with him saying how much our bench had slipped since the beginning of thr Big Three era and then never actually mention anyone on our supposed incredible bench.

But he's right, everything will have to go right.  It's possible, but just not likely.

As for Danny, he'll make a deal if there's a good one. I just don't know if there is anyone who is going to offer us anything of value for the Big Three. Young teams don't want them and contenders either don't have young talent or can't afford to give us more than role players and late first round picks in order for a trade to actually improve them.  And the last thing we need to do is trade KG for 23 million dollars worth of role players who have contracts beyond next summer and some late first round picks.

[BballTim]

  Before last season started he predicted the Heat would win 73 or so games. I heard him on the radio when they were 8-7 or so lowering his estimate to something like 66 games. He's no better at prognosticating than half the people here.

[TheReaLPuba]

An 8th seed can make it to the Finals.

I love it that people are sleeping on the C's.

Yes they have their flaws as a team and maybe they're not as talented or young as the other teams.

But this team still has the most important qualities a Championship team possesses  and that's heart, pride, and Championship experience.

We may not exactly know what's going on with Danny and all the players' mental side concerning the trades and stuff but maybe...just maybe after the trade deadline passes then this team will really go on a nice run.

I remember that Ray Allen was in the midst of very strong trade rumors a couple years ago and he struggled....then after the deadline passed he caught fire.

So nobody really knows.

[vinnie]

Jeff Van Gundy said that, yeah.  In fairness, he put us in the same category as Orlando, and said that there's still an outside chance we can contend, but that pretty much everything would have to go right.

I basically agree with that assessment.

I also am on this page.

As far as yesterday's win goes, I don't think it says anything about the Bulls. They were missing two of their starters, Rose and Hamilton, and Deng was a shell of himself on the court. Deng really looks like he should not be playing, as it was 4 on 5 when the Bulls were on offense.

[PosImpos]

Jeff Van Gundy said that, yeah.  In fairness, he put us in the same category as Orlando, and said that there's still an outside chance we can contend, but that pretty much everything would have to go right.

I basically agree with that assessment.

Yup.  I don't think Jeff said anything unreasonable -- at least in that particular quote.

He also claimed our supporting cast has gotten worse every year since '08, which just isn't true. 

[nicknorman]

I was watching the game with a Bulls fan yesterday who told me he really doesn't want to face the Celtics in the first round.

I think its important to remember that these Celtics are tough in the playoffs.  They are a fight to the finish type team.  They are too proud, even when injured to lay over.

Has anyone ever seen this team give up in a playoff series?  They play tough.

[bopna]

In hindsight though we can never truly find out if the C's could have beat the Heat last year considering the rash of injuries we had. IF Shaq was healthy, I do not think the cHeat win that series.

Add to the fact that Rondo got seriously hurt not to mention to a certain extent JO and we can never win against the Heat with such a depleted lineup.

This year, the only way we beat the cHeat is if one of either LBJ or Wade go down with an injury. Those freaking guys have been healthy most of the time I think they should be due at some point and what better timing it would be if it happens in the playoffs.

I don't care what other people say that if we beat a hapless Heat team then a title run would have an asterrisks on it...well who cares, asterisks or not, I would rather face the Heat without one or both of LBJ and Wade out rather than expect our team of calcified ex superstars get run over by that cheat-cheat train that is the Maimi.  ( I for the life of me would never,ever want to see that team win a ring..I would rather see the Clipps, or Thunder or even Dirk win his second ring than those monguls from Miami win it.