I need this break as much as the team does

[Jeff]

I just feel worn down by the losses

I'm actually going to enjoy the next few days of no Celtics basketball and allow myself to reflect and relax a bit

hopefully we'll all be recharged for a 2nd half surge ...one can hope

[Roy H.]

Totally agreed.  The Pick 2 Draft has been a nice distraction in the forums, giving folks an outlet for basketball without having to focus on the Celts.

Unfortunately, I have a feeling that the "blow it up" cries are going to get pretty loud over the next three weeks as we approach the trade deadline.  Take the respite when you can, for sure.

[Rondo2287]

Honestly the blow it up cries don't bug me so much as long as they don't start with, "This team is the worst team ever...This team sucks..." kinda stuff.  Last night on the postgame, Tommy said, and I agree, that this team still has the heart of a champion otherwise they couldnt have gone on the run that they did at the end of the game.  

This team may not be a championship contender but they don't suck.  I suggest everybody else do what I have tried to do an enjoy the moments of beautiful basketball this team can provide.  They don't happen as routinely as they did in 2008 but they still do happen.  

[Weediam]

Completely agree and feel the same way.

I am hoping for some action over the break with trade rumors. I'm sure Danny will be picking up the phone and maybe a few of those calls leak so we have some idea what he's thinking.

The way this team is now, they WILL struggle to remain at .500 the rest of the year. A deal has to be made to either improve slightly with money off the books next year, or get a higher draft pick this year.

On the bright side, should be a fun and eventful offseason in 2012 

[lantinm]

While trade rumors/ideas are exciting, I'm tired of the "Blow it Up" posts too.  Danny's track record shows that he has the ability to make us better both in the interim and in the long run with the same trade.  I have a hunch he will make a move or two that will give us a chance to make one more run, while adding a chip or two for the future.  Although we aren't playing well, this team still fights every night and they NEVER quit.  If we are able to solve our offensive woes in the 2nd half, this team could be dangerous again.  Having said all of that, I need a break from them for a few days too. 

[Jeff]

I get the "blow it up" cries in the sense that it is cathartic for some.  Much like "Yankees Suck" and stuff like that.  Doesn't make for very interesting conversation though.

That said, even I have to admit that some folks are saying to blow it up because they honestly think that's the best strategy going forward.  So that's an opinion they are welcome to even if I don't necessarily agree.

[PosImpos]

This team may not be a championship contender but they don't suck.  I suggest everybody else do what I have tried to do an enjoy the moments of beautiful basketball this team can provide.  They don't happen as routinely as they did in 2008 but they still do happen.  

This team does still have the heart, and they still have the talent to play great basketball at times, so the point is well taken.

Trying to stay as positive as possible, though, I can't help pointing out that I think the chemistry of this team, which has been so top notch in the past, just doesn't seem to be there.  I miss the days when Ubuntu wasn't just a word, but was an intangible force that you could just feel at work by watching this team out there on the court.

Also, I think what makes watching this team so difficult is that most of us are fully aware that this team is still talented and that they still do have the heart of a champion -- it's difficult to watch them struggle to compete when you know these are the same guys, at least mentally, who have dug deep in the playoffs and done things we couldn't have expected, and will never forget.

In that sense, I think the "blow it up" cries are largely cathartic not just in their mere utterance, but also in the concept of what they entail -- if this team were blown up and continued to struggle to even compete for long stretches of games, at least it wouldn't be the same group that not so long ago was the class of the league.

[the_Bird]

The good thing is that we CAN start over, more-or-less fresh, this summer; we aren't going to have to wait years for crappy contracts to expire.

I'm torn.  You do see the team's heart, and want to see them get a chance to go on a run in the playoffs...  but really, they just don't have the ability at this point to beat a quality opponent in a series.  They'll battle each and every night, and maybe squeeze out a win or two, but with a near-total reliance on jump shooting and no rebounding, they're in trouble.  It's nice to see Pierce be a little more assertive getting into the hole, but he can't do that every night anymore. 

And, they give up too many possessions - both offensive rebounds and turnovers.  I'm not sure they can fully right that ship.

So, I'd like to see them keep battling away, but part of me also says...   I'd rather watch a crappy team that's got the hope for getting better, than watch a crappy team that I know is only going to get worse.  So, I'm happy seeing Avery Bradley (warts and all) get some floor time.  I'd love to see JJJ force himself into the lineup later this season.  I'd like to see if Moore is an NBA or NBDL player. 

I don't know.  Torn.  The one thing I know, there won't be a Year Six of this three-year experiment.

[PosImpos]

The good thing is that we CAN start over, more-or-less fresh, this summer; we aren't going to have to wait years for crappy contracts to expire.

I'm torn.  You do see the team's heart, and want to see them get a chance to go on a run in the playoffs...  but really, they just don't have the ability at this point to beat a quality opponent in a series.  They'll battle each and every night, and maybe squeeze out a win or two, but with a near-total reliance on jump shooting and no rebounding, they're in trouble.  It's nice to see Pierce be a little more assertive getting into the hole, but he can't do that every night anymore.  

And, they give up too many possessions - both offensive rebounds and turnovers.  I'm not sure they can fully right that ship.

So, I'd like to see them keep battling away, but part of me also says...   I'd rather watch a crappy team that's got the hope for getting better, than watch a crappy team that I know is only going to get worse.  So, I'm happy seeing Avery Bradley (warts and all) get some floor time.  I'd love to see JJJ force himself into the lineup later this season.  I'd like to see if Moore is an NBA or NBDL player.  

I don't know.  Torn.  The one thing I know, there won't be a Year Six of this three-year experiment.

Well put.  

What perplexes me is that some people still believe that the best course of action after this year will be to bring back the Big 3, reload with some mid-level quality guys in free agency, draft a couple contributors in the middle of the first round, and give it yet another go.  

How anybody can come to that conclusion after watching the product on the floor this season just doesn't make sense to me.

I totally agree with you about the difference between watching a crappy team that's got hope for getting better and watching a crappy team that you know is only going to get worse.

That said, I can't help but point out that when we get into the rebuilding process, we won't immediately be watching a team with hope for getting better -- especially if Pierce hangs around for another couple of seasons.  We're probably going to be watching a team that is much worse next season (record wise) than this season's team; it will probably be another season or two after that before things start really looking up -- though hopefully by then we'll at least be able to see the potential in the young players we've drafted.

Still, I am looking forward to that, because even when a team is losing a lot, if there are a number of young, energetic, athletic players fighting it out each night whose potential is plain to see, I think you can derive some basic pride, excitement, and pleasure out of watching that kind of team.

Assuming Rondo stays here in Boston for the rebuilding effort, I think we'll all learn to get our kicks from watching flashy transition passes and lobs to high-leaping finishers on back-door cuts.

[the_Bird]

Obviously, watching a team with the talent of Pierce, Ray, KG, and Rondo has been an absolute blessing.  There's a little melancholy when thinking about these five years; a couple breaks, an injury or two less, a free agent would could have been signed, and we'd have two or three titles instead of one.  But, it's been a tremendous team to watch; "pride" isn't the right word because it had nothing to do with me, but that's kind of how I've felt about how this team has played ball.

With that said...  I never hated those earlier teams - the Delonte/Big Al Jeff teams as much as some.  They lost a lot of games, but they busted their tails every night, and you could see them starting to get better and better (even when not reflected in the win/loss record).  I'd rather see a group of hungry players, trying to make a name for themselves and for the team, than trying to patch this back together for one last run.

And, I think Pierce gets traded.  Didn't think so before, but I do now.  This summer.  It'll be an emotional thing, but I think he wants a chance to go out a winner, and the C's will be looking to infuse more assets (picks, young talent).

[chambers]

It is relieving to know that after this long break, we have a nice stretch against
Cleveland, Milwalkee, Houston, NJ, NYC.

We should have a full squad with ZERO injuries by this time, which may in fact be the first time this season?

We have that nice 'easier' stretch of 5 games which is topped off by NYC + Houston @ home.

If we can get through these 5 games with a 4-1, I will be very happy.
Then comes the real test of a very tough four game(3 on the road) stretch of:

Philly
Portland (home)
Lakers
Clippers.

This is the first time we will get to see our full squad against the more elite teams in the West, as well as Philly who will be missing Hawes, with  a shot at redemption against the Lakers thrown in.

Followed by two games against Golden State and Sacramento which are both winnable for us if we stay healthy.


I'm excited, because this is the time when our guys usually pick things up, because it's seriously the last chance we will get to scrape a 6th seed and whoop the Magic in the first round of the playoffs. Tape review time, healing time, team chemistry time.

[chambers]

The good thing is that we CAN start over, more-or-less fresh, this summer; we aren't going to have to wait years for crappy contracts to expire.

I'm torn.  You do see the team's heart, and want to see them get a chance to go on a run in the playoffs...  but really, they just don't have the ability at this point to beat a quality opponent in a series.  They'll battle each and every night, and maybe squeeze out a win or two, but with a near-total reliance on jump shooting and no rebounding, they're in trouble.  It's nice to see Pierce be a little more assertive getting into the hole, but he can't do that every night anymore.  

And, they give up too many possessions - both offensive rebounds and turnovers.  I'm not sure they can fully right that ship.

So, I'd like to see them keep battling away, but part of me also says...   I'd rather watch a crappy team that's got the hope for getting better, than watch a crappy team that I know is only going to get worse.  So, I'm happy seeing Avery Bradley (warts and all) get some floor time.  I'd love to see JJJ force himself into the lineup later this season.  I'd like to see if Moore is an NBA or NBDL player.  

I don't know.  Torn.  The one thing I know, there won't be a Year Six of this three-year experiment.

Well put.  

What perplexes me is that some people still believe that the best course of action after this year will be to bring back the Big 3, reload with some mid-level quality guys in free agency, draft a couple contributors in the middle of the first round, and give it yet another go.  

How anybody can come to that conclusion after watching the product on the floor this season just doesn't make sense to me.

I totally agree with you about the difference between watching a crappy team that's got hope for getting better and watching a crappy team that you know is only going to get worse.

That said, I can't help but point out that when we get into the rebuilding process, we won't immediately be watching a team with hope for getting better -- especially if Pierce hangs around for another couple of seasons.  We're probably going to be watching a team that is much worse next season (record wise) than this season's team; it will probably be another season or two after that before things start really looking up -- though hopefully by then we'll at least be able to see the potential in the young players we've drafted.

Still, I am looking forward to that, because even when a team is losing a lot, if there are a number of young, energetic, athletic players fighting it out each night whose potential is plain to see, I think you can derive some basic pride, excitement, and pleasure out of watching that kind of team.

Assuming Rondo stays here in Boston for the rebuilding effort, I think we'll all learn to get our kicks from watching flashy transition passes and lobs to high-leaping finishers on back-door cuts.

Do I detect a hint of optimism?
Nice.

[PosImpos]

The good thing is that we CAN start over, more-or-less fresh, this summer; we aren't going to have to wait years for crappy contracts to expire.

I'm torn.  You do see the team's heart, and want to see them get a chance to go on a run in the playoffs...  but really, they just don't have the ability at this point to beat a quality opponent in a series.  They'll battle each and every night, and maybe squeeze out a win or two, but with a near-total reliance on jump shooting and no rebounding, they're in trouble.  It's nice to see Pierce be a little more assertive getting into the hole, but he can't do that every night anymore. 

And, they give up too many possessions - both offensive rebounds and turnovers.  I'm not sure they can fully right that ship.

So, I'd like to see them keep battling away, but part of me also says...   I'd rather watch a crappy team that's got the hope for getting better, than watch a crappy team that I know is only going to get worse.  So, I'm happy seeing Avery Bradley (warts and all) get some floor time.  I'd love to see JJJ force himself into the lineup later this season.  I'd like to see if Moore is an NBA or NBDL player. 

I don't know.  Torn.  The one thing I know, there won't be a Year Six of this three-year experiment.

Well put. 

What perplexes me is that some people still believe that the best course of action after this year will be to bring back the Big 3, reload with some mid-level quality guys in free agency, draft a couple contributors in the middle of the first round, and give it yet another go. 

How anybody can come to that conclusion after watching the product on the floor this season just doesn't make sense to me.

I totally agree with you about the difference between watching a crappy team that's got hope for getting better and watching a crappy team that you know is only going to get worse.

That said, I can't help but point out that when we get into the rebuilding process, we won't immediately be watching a team with hope for getting better -- especially if Pierce hangs around for another couple of seasons.  We're probably going to be watching a team that is much worse next season (record wise) than this season's team; it will probably be another season or two after that before things start really looking up -- though hopefully by then we'll at least be able to see the potential in the young players we've drafted.

Still, I am looking forward to that, because even when a team is losing a lot, if there are a number of young, energetic, athletic players fighting it out each night whose potential is plain to see, I think you can derive some basic pride, excitement, and pleasure out of watching that kind of team.

Assuming Rondo stays here in Boston for the rebuilding effort, I think we'll all learn to get our kicks from watching flashy transition passes and lobs to high-leaping finishers on back-door cuts.

Do I detect a hint of optimism?
Nice.

Doing my best.

[Marcus13]

idk.  I wish we could have captured one win before this five day break instead of being on a 5-game losing streak.

It'll be interesting to see how these guys bounce back against Cleveland (another team they lost to)

[Employee8]

Ohhhh wait a minute.  I figured it all out.  Aha!

You see, in recent years the Celtics always play .600/.700 ball up until the All Star break and then they play .500 ball the rest of the way.  It's just like that except it's the other way around, duh! .500 ball now and then finish strong the rest of the way.

Wahoo! Let's hop on the ride next Tuesday!