"We might win the Atlantic!"... (looks at schedule)... N/M

[LarBrd33]

Tied for first in the Atlantic.  Winning the Atlantic would be huge for those delusional enough to think we have a shot in the playoffs.  It would give us the 4th seed (no matter the impact it would have on our draft pick, I guess) and a legitimate shot at making the 2nd round (where we'd be promptly eaten alive by Chicago or Miami).  

I guess a shot at the 2nd round is something to root for.  Still don't think we have enough talent on this team to be a contender though.  Some disagree with me on this, but I've continued to feel all season that Miami, Chicago and OKC were the only contenders.  I throw in Dallas, because they are defending champs.  I include the Lakers, because any time you have Kobe Bryant and 2 of the top 5 big men in the game you have to be included.  Celtics are 0-9 against these teams this year.   But still... 4th seed might be nice.

But man look at our schedule.  16 games left.  Three of them against Miami.  One against Chicago.  Two against Atlanta.  Another against Indiana. One more against Philly.  San Antonio, New York and Orlando are all on there also.  Good lord.  Of the 11 games I just mentioned, the only team with a worst record than us is New York (who have won 8 of their last 9 since the coach change).  

Luckily we still have some "soft" games on the schedule against Charlotte, Jersey and Toronto.  Oh wait... that's a back-to-back-to-back.  5 games in 6 nights.  7 games in 9 nights.  Brutal.  Completely brutal.

WOuldn't be shocked to see us lose 9 of the 16.  If the Bucks get hot, there's actually a small chance we actually miss the playoffs entirely.  Strangely, the final game of our schedule (against the Bucks) might actually be relevant.

I'll temper my enthusiasm about winning the Atlantic.

 Don't mock other posters (ie, calling them delusional).

[RockinRyA]

Tied for first in the Atlantic.  Winning the Atlantic would be huge for those delusional enough to think we have a shot in the playoffs.  It would give us the 4th seed (no matter the impact it would have on our draft pick, I guess) and a legitimate shot at making the 2nd round (where we'd be promptly eaten alive by Chicago or Miami).  

I guess a shot at the 2nd round is something to root for.  Still don't think we have enough talent on this team to be a contender though.  Some disagree with me on this, but I've continued to feel all season that Miami, Chicago and OKC were the only contenders.  I throw in Dallas, because they are defending champs.  I include the Lakers, because any time you have Kobe Bryant and 2 of the top 5 big men in the game you have to be included.  Celtics are 0-9 against these teams this year.   But still... 4th seed might be nice.

But man look at our schedule.  16 games left.  Three of them against Miami.  One against Chicago.  Two against Atlanta.  Another against Indiana. One more against Philly.  San Antonio, New York and Orlando are all on there also.  Good lord.  Of the 11 games I just mentioned, the only team with a worst record than us is New York (who have won 8 of their last 9 since the coach change).  

Luckily we still have some "soft" games on the schedule against Charlotte, Jersey and Toronto.  Oh wait... that's a back-to-back-to-back.  5 games in 6 nights.  7 games in 9 nights.  Brutal.  Completely brutal.

WOuldn't be shocked to see us lose 9 of the 16.  If the Bucks get hot, there's actually a small chance we actually miss the playoffs entirely.  Strangely, the final game of our schedule (against the Bucks) might actually be relevant.

I'll temper my enthusiasm about winning the Atlantic.

Delusional? More like hopeful. Nothing is impossible at this point.

[azzenfrost]

One game at a time. You never know. This "non-contender" might surprise you. I plan to watch every game and cheer for the mean and green.

[LarBrd33]

FYI...

Alternatively, 9 of the remaining 16 games for the Bucks include games against lotto teams like the Cavs, Wizards, Pistons, Nets, Raptors... and whatever is left of the Blazers.

Luckily we are 5 games ahead of them.  It's a major long shot.  Can you even imagine it?... Death by Monta Ellis?  No chance.

[nickagneta]

1. Delusional is a bit insulting
2. We beat Chicago
3. We beat New York twice, Orlando twice, Atlanta once, Indiana once so playing those 5 games against those teams encourages us "delusional" fans.
4. Celtics have quietly put together one of the best records in the league since the All-Star break at 13-5 while playing 11 of those games on the road and losing player after player to injury.
5. If Ray and Pietrus come back and are healthy come the playoffs where games will be every other day, anything is possible.

[LarBrd33]

1. Delusional is a bit insulting
2. We beat Chicago
3. We beat New York twice, Orlando twice, Atlanta once, Indiana once so playing those 5 games against those teams encourages us "delusional" fans.
4. Celtics have quietly put together one of the best records in the league since the All-Star break at 13-5 while playing 11 of those games on the road and losing player after player to injury.
5. If Ray and Pietrus come back and are healthy come the playoffs where games will be every other day, anything is possible.

1. Unless you actually think every playoff team legitimately has a chance at a title (meaning Atlanta, New York, Utah, Memphis, Houston) then you're nuts to think this Celtic team has a shot. 
2. We beat them without Rose.  Didn't count.
3. True.  We beat them.  None of them are contenders.  I'll give you that...  it's not an automatic that we lose 11 of our final 16.  We're just in danger of it happening.
4. Soft schedule
5. Unless they grow 8 inches and start playing center... no chance.

[Evantime34]

Tied for first in the Atlantic.  Winning the Atlantic would be huge for those delusional enough to think we have a shot in the playoffs.  It would give us the 4th seed (no matter the impact it would have on our draft pick, I guess) and a legitimate shot at making the 2nd round (where we'd be promptly eaten alive by Chicago or Miami).  

I guess a shot at the 2nd round is something to root for.  Still don't think we have enough talent on this team to be a contender though.  Some disagree with me on this, but I've continued to feel all season that Miami, Chicago and OKC were the only contenders.  I throw in Dallas, because they are defending champs.  I include the Lakers, because any time you have Kobe Bryant and 2 of the top 5 big men in the game you have to be included.  Celtics are 0-9 against these teams this year.   But still... 4th seed might be nice.

But man look at our schedule.  16 games left.  Three of them against Miami.  One against Chicago.  Two against Atlanta.  Another against Indiana. One more against Philly.  San Antonio, New York and Orlando are all on there also.  Good lord.  Of the 11 games I just mentioned, the only team with a worst record than us is New York (who have won 8 of their last 9 since the coach change).  

Luckily we still have some "soft" games on the schedule against Charlotte, Jersey and Toronto.  Oh wait... that's a back-to-back-to-back.  5 games in 6 nights.  7 games in 9 nights.  Brutal.  Completely brutal.

WOuldn't be shocked to see us lose 9 of the 16.  If the Bucks get hot, there's actually a small chance we actually miss the playoffs entirely.  Strangely, the final game of our schedule (against the Bucks) might actually be relevant.

I'll temper my enthusiasm about winning the Atlantic.

Just to pick nits, the celtics did beat the bulls so we're not 0-9 against those teams.

I agree that winning the division is unlikely with our schedule. However if we are able to stay hot against all these elite teams during this stretch it will give the team (and it's fans) confidence that we can play with the big boys.

On the oft chance we do very well to end our season we will be getting hot against the best teams in the league at the perfect time. So you can look at the schedule as an insurmountable obstacle or as a challenge that if met could mean big things.

[nickagneta]

So now I'm delusional and nuts. Dude, you need to be more respectful to fans that still believe anything is possible. Its okay to tell your view of things but there's no reason to be insulting to those with a different point of view.

[LarBrd33]

Tied for first in the Atlantic.  Winning the Atlantic would be huge for those delusional enough to think we have a shot in the playoffs.  It would give us the 4th seed (no matter the impact it would have on our draft pick, I guess) and a legitimate shot at making the 2nd round (where we'd be promptly eaten alive by Chicago or Miami). 

I guess a shot at the 2nd round is something to root for.  Still don't think we have enough talent on this team to be a contender though.  Some disagree with me on this, but I've continued to feel all season that Miami, Chicago and OKC were the only contenders.  I throw in Dallas, because they are defending champs.  I include the Lakers, because any time you have Kobe Bryant and 2 of the top 5 big men in the game you have to be included.  Celtics are 0-9 against these teams this year.   But still... 4th seed might be nice.

But man look at our schedule.  16 games left.  Three of them against Miami.  One against Chicago.  Two against Atlanta.  Another against Indiana. One more against Philly.  San Antonio, New York and Orlando are all on there also.  Good lord.  Of the 11 games I just mentioned, the only team with a worst record than us is New York (who have won 8 of their last 9 since the coach change).   

Luckily we still have some "soft" games on the schedule against Charlotte, Jersey and Toronto.  Oh wait... that's a back-to-back-to-back.  5 games in 6 nights.  7 games in 9 nights.  Brutal.  Completely brutal.

WOuldn't be shocked to see us lose 9 of the 16.  If the Bucks get hot, there's actually a small chance we actually miss the playoffs entirely.  Strangely, the final game of our schedule (against the Bucks) might actually be relevant.

I'll temper my enthusiasm about winning the Atlantic.

Just to pick nits, the celtics did beat the bulls so we're not 0-9 against those teams.

I'm aware of this.  We beat them by 4 points with Rondo going for 32 points, 15 assists, 10 rebounds, 2 steals...  Without Rose playing. 

I don't count it.  Maybe the folks who think we have a shot are banking on playoff injuries to LeBron, Wade, Rose, Kobe, Dirk and Durant. 

[LarBrd33]

So now I'm delusional and nuts. Dude, you need to be more respectful to fans that still believe anything is possible. Its okay to tell your view of things but there's no reason to be insulting to those with a different point of view.

Did I offend you?  

You can believe whatever you want to believe.  If it makes you happy, I have no problem with it.  If you want to tell me the Celtics have a shot at a title or Greg Stiesma is a future allstar that's totally fine.  Shoot, if you want to sit here and tell me with a straight face that Larry Bird is coming out of retirement after he leaves the Pacers next year... I'm not going to stop you.  Can't blame me for calling a delusional belief delusional, though.  I'm not personally insulting you.  I think a lot of beliefs are delusional... I'm not going to stop anyone from having those beliefs, though.   

[nickagneta]

BTW, if our win against the Bulls doesn't count I guess any loss we had where Pierce, Rondo, Garnett or Allen was out doesn't count as well.

Maybe we should inform the NBA of this new record keeping technique because that turns the Celtics record from 28-22 to 28-11.

[LarBrd33]

BTW, if our win against the Bulls doesn't count I guess any loss we had where Pierce, Rondo, Garnett or Allen was out doesn't count as well.

Maybe we should inform the NBA of this new record keeping technique because that turns the Celtics record from 28-22 to 28-11.

That's a fair observation. 

Pierce didn't play in our first loss to miami

KG missed one of our losses to Dallas.

Rondo missed one of our losses to the Thunder


The other 6 games check out.  All 4 of our stars played and we couldn't beat the contenders.

0-6 this year against contenders.  Better?

[RockinRyA]

1. Delusional is a bit insulting
2. We beat Chicago
3. We beat New York twice, Orlando twice, Atlanta once, Indiana once so playing those 5 games against those teams encourages us "delusional" fans.
4. Celtics have quietly put together one of the best records in the league since the All-Star break at 13-5 while playing 11 of those games on the road and losing player after player to injury.
5. If Ray and Pietrus come back and are healthy come the playoffs where games will be every other day, anything is possible.

1. Unless you actually think every playoff team legitimately has a chance at a title (meaning Atlanta, New York, Utah, Memphis, Houston) then you're nuts to think this Celtic team has a shot. 
2. We beat them without Rose.  Didn't count.
3. True.  We beat them.  None of them are contenders.  I'll give you that...  it's not an automatic that we lose 11 of our final 16.  We're just in danger of it happening.
4. Soft schedule
5. Unless they grow 8 inches and start playing center... no chance.

I for one do not believe those teams do not have a "Legitimate" chance of getting the title, but I do however see a very slim chance. But I think the Celtics have an outside chance. Just because you always give up on the team when they aren't doing good doesnt mean those who continue to support the team are "Delusional" or "Nuts". If there is anyone delusional its you for thinking that you can foresee the future 

[Fafnir]

I do think we're likely to be the 6th, 7th, or 8th seed over winning the division. The 76ers have the tie-breaker and we have a harder schedule down the stretch.

But given how the C's have been playing since moving KG to center I think we certainly can win the division. The 76ers have been playing .500 ball since the all-star break and had their own big losing streak (5 games) going into the break.

[CelticG1]

Miami lost to the Bulls without Rose. Clearly they are getting ousted in the first round