Believe it or not, I'm now extremely hopeful

[ianboyextreme]

im with you. I also have blind faith. Second half of the season is gonna be nice.

[ianboyextreme]

You know whats really interesting, the Celtics pretty much start most games out with a so so first half, then make a huge comeback in the 2nd half. I bet thats how the entire season plays out.

[Celtics4ever]

You know, I really do believe that Avery Bradley, as crazy as that sounds, should be this team's starting point guard. He's no scorer (but then neither really is rondo, but his speed and explosiveness and threat of an obviously superior mid-range shot compared to rondo's, I think gives this team just the unexpected edge that we need. It's those stupid turnovers that killed us this game. It's the fouling the guy while he's taking a 3 pointer in the 1st quarter, when we were clearly up by quite a bit. It's the lazy pass, when we clearly see that the pass isn't going to be safe stuff that killed us tonight.

Newsflash Westbrook scored 31!  Rondo is shooting a higher percentage.   If Rondo is traded it won't be because Avery is better it will be because Rondo has better value to other teams.   Avery's basketball IQ is suspect and that and PG do not mix. 

While I applaud your faith, I do not concur with it, I have a mix of admiration and pity for you.

[Eddie20]

You know, I really do believe that Avery Bradley, as crazy as that sounds, should be this team's starting point guard. He's no scorer (but then neither really is rondo, but his speed and explosiveness and threat of an obviously superior mid-range shot compared to rondo's, I think gives this team just the unexpected edge that we need. It's those stupid turnovers that killed us this game. It's the fouling the guy while he's taking a 3 pointer in the 1st quarter, when we were clearly up by quite a bit. It's the lazy pass, when we clearly see that the pass isn't going to be safe stuff that killed us tonight.

Newsflash Westbrook scored 31!  Rondo is shooting a higher percentage.   If Rondo is traded it won't be because Avery is better it will be because Rondo has better value to other teams.   Avery's basketball IQ is suspect and that and PG do not mix. 

Did you watch the game? I ask because Bradley did an exceptional job on him. Not only did Westbrook shoot 11-24, but I assure you that most of those makes came against Dooling, or while in transition. I can't recall too many times, if any, that Westbrook scored on Bradley in a half court set.

[LarBrd33]

I was originally ready to type up the most negative, most angry "I'm p---ed off with this team" rant ever, but I like what I see at the end of this game, even with our mistakes.

You know, I really do believe that Avery Bradley, as crazy as that sounds, should be this team's starting point guard. He's no scorer (but then neither really is rondo, but his speed and explosiveness and threat of an obviously superior mid-range shot compared to rondo's, I think gives this team just the unexpected edge that we need. It's those stupid turnovers that killed us this game. It's the fouling the guy while he's taking a 3 pointer in the 1st quarter, when we were clearly up by quite a bit. It's the lazy pass, when we clearly see that the pass isn't going to be safe stuff that killed us tonight.

I'm actually hopeful about the rest of the season after this. Very hopeful. Celtics, I can see, learned some tough lessons in this game. What is one of those tough lessons? Don't be afraid to take and miss shots that are within your ability to make. Don't be afraid to take the offensive gamble, or take it inside on the shot blocker, knowing full well your shot may get sent right back. I like what I see, and I think this unbelievably blind faith will be vindicated with what the Celtics do in the rest of the season.

On paper it was our best game to date... you can't ask for any more production than that out of the Big 3.  Still got owned, though.

Have lost every test we've been given this year.  We haven't beaten a single contender.  If this is what we can do at our best, it doesn't look good.

[CelticsFanNC]

  Just shows how far this team has fallen.  A couple of year ago people around here were discouraged when we beat teams but not by a comfortable enough margin. 

  Now people are satisfied with a loss in which we got owned in the first half and then made a bit of a come back after OKC took their foot off of the gas.

[birdbrady]

On paper it was our best game to date... you can't ask for any more production than that out of the Big 3.  Still got owned, though.

Have lost every test we've been given this year.  We haven't beaten a single contender.  If this is what we can do at our best, it doesn't look good.

Not saying this team is a contender, or even a team that can win a playoff series, but this just is not an argument.  Did we not learn anything from 2010? What was the Celtics record v contenders after Christmas in 10 and their record v contenders last year?

They're not contenders because they are fatally flawed in two of the four most important aspects when it comes to winning important games: rebounding, and fourth quarter execution.  Not because of their records v good teams in these garbage regular season games.

[GreenFaith1819]

Me too.

I was not able to watch the OKC game, unfortunately, but from the highlights I was encouraged.

OKC's perhaps the best team in the NBA right now..my only real concern for them is Gasol and Bynum in a playoff series....

But BOS? KG's box score looked like 07-08....AB apparently is scoring more...I'm sure his defense was there last night.

So we closed it to 6 points in OKC, with no Rajon, Wilcox, or Bass? And KG playing against Serge and Perk?

I'll take it. For me, there are moral victories. We've taken some lumps here lately, but after all is said and done we are a "woeful" 15 and 17.

To be completely honest, I would not be shocked if a big trade comes, no matter what Doc or Danny may be saying right now(see Febuary 2011), but as for the team right now I am encouraged going forward.

I'm sure Doc/Danny will take care of any needs for the team to enable them to compete in May and June (hopefully).

In the meantime, good game, OKC. And Perk - don't hurt Kobe and LA too bad tonight:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGHawsySUzI&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL8694C61E199B03FB

lol...BE GOOD, Perk...this ain't WWF

[Celtics4ever]

Did you watch the game? I ask because Bradley did an exceptional job on him. Not only did Westbrook shoot 11-24, but I assure you that most of those makes came against Dooling, or while in transition. I can't recall too many times, if any, that Westbrook scored on Bradley in a half court set.

I watched the game and I got news for you bud, anytime your man scores 31 you did not do well.  Bradley played the majority of the minutes on him.   I saw him blaze by him just like Irving did.   Bradley has not done well against elite PG and has looked human.   Come off the cloud and don't drink the kool-aid. 

It's your responsibility to guard your man even in transition.  People do not quit D-ing up during transition.  Most here over rate Avery and your clearly in that crowd.

[MBunge]

 Bradley has not done well against elite PG and has looked human. 

Nobody looks good against the elite PGs, not even other elite players.  Westbrook was 11-24 in the game.

Mike

[Q_FBE]

Back to my Basketball Metrics and Basic Training. Get ready to resume the battle Tuesday night. It is not looking that good for the Celtics but it is not looking that horrible either. We need to rebound and stop turning the ball over. The rest of it is our smarts vs their athletic ability. Let the chips fall where they may.

[southshorematt]

I agree strongly.... let's get healthy and put a real strong run together March to June 26

[Fafnir]

 Bradley has not done well against elite PG and has looked human. 

Nobody looks good against the elite PGs, not even other elite players.  Westbrook was 11-24 in the game.

Mike

And only 6-17 against Bradley, the real issue was that he got a bunch of fouls on Bradley for 9 FTAs while both were in the game.

[PosImpos]

I think if Rondo is traded, either this season or over the summer, Avery could be a capable starting point guard, at least. 

I think if he were handed the keys to the offense of a rebuilding team lacking scoring options, he might even be able to average 12-15 points a night.  His ideal role is probably always going to be as a utility combo-guard off the bench, though.

other than the fact that he can't dribble and pass I totally agree that he could be a starting point guard.

He's already started a number of games this season and he's been serviceable in that role, I think.  He makes his living on defense, and it's necessary to have another primary ball-handler out there with him, but I think you could do a lot worse than staring Avery in a kind of "super athletic Derek Fisher" kind of role.

[Fafnir]

I think if Rondo is traded, either this season or over the summer, Avery could be a capable starting point guard, at least.  

I think if he were handed the keys to the offense of a rebuilding team lacking scoring options, he might even be able to average 12-15 points a night.  His ideal role is probably always going to be as a utility combo-guard off the bench, though.

other than the fact that he can't dribble and pass I totally agree that he could be a starting point guard.

He's already started a number of games this season and he's been serviceable in that role, I think.  He makes his living on defense, and it's necessary to have another primary ball-handler out there with him, but I think you could do a lot worse than staring Avery in a kind of "super athletic Derek Fisher" kind of role.

That's what Laker's fans thought Shannon Brown would be too. Though he never was the sort of defender Bradley was for more than small stretches.