When are some fans going to learn to not dismiss this team?

[rav123]

I'm not saying this Celtics team is a bonafide championship contendor, but what makes them different than the Spurs?

Until we signed Pietrus, and the emergence of Bradley and The Steamer, our bench depth was quite inferior compared to the Spurs.

[nickagneta]

I don't want to get too jacked about the win...but it does feel real good

Does this team make the finals? I'd say no, but I do believe they have a better chance than some seem to think.

If Rondo can play in the playoffs like he did yesterday , or like he did in the 2010 playoffs, then I'd say we have an above average shot.

I'm going to watch them in the playoffs not expecting anything. Anything they do will be a bonus as far as I'm concerned.

TP. I agree with everything here. Its bonus time for the Big Three and time to enjoy everything they give you rather than lamenting about how they can't do something.

[LarBrd33]

Feels like I should respond to this thread since I'm the King of dismissing this team.  Maybe I was delusional to base my perception of the team on a full season of underwhelming centerless basketball.

Here's my quote from the heat/celtics game thread:

We caught Miami on a really bad day.  I missed the game live.  My cousin texted me the final score.  I was initially shocked and asked, "Did Miami's Big 3 all play?" and his response was "LeBron and Wade did... I don't remember seeing Bosh". 

Kinda funny considering Bosh actually did in fact play.  I went back and watched the whole game.  Miami wasn't Miami.  We have two more games against them coming up... we'll be able to see if this was a fluke or not fairly soon.

With that said, it's our first legitimate win against a contender all season.  Only took us 10 tries.  The folks who think we are a contender officially have 1 reason to latch onto.  I'm sitting up in my chair.  I might even remember to watch a game live.   Nice to have a miniscule droplet of hope again.  Up until yesterday this felt like an entirely wasted season.

We finally did it.  We beat a contender.  I couldn't be more proud.  Let's all bask in the glory of victory while it lasts.  I'm excited about watching the Celtics for the first time all year.  Can't wait to see what happens against the Bulls on Thursday and the rematch against Miami on the 10th.  This is the first time all season it's been fun to watch these guys.  Here's hoping they keep it up and nickagneta is right. 

In the midst of doompeddling and beating a dead horse about not having a center... I didn't anticipate that 36 year old Kevin Garnett was going to turn back the clock transform himself into a dominant defensive center.  Once again, this team is only as good as Kevin Garnett.

[Celtics18]

Feels like I should respond to this thread since I'm the King of dismissing this team.  Maybe I was delusional to base my perception of the team on a full season of underwhelming centerless basketball.

Here's my quote from the heat/celtics game thread:

We caught Miami on a really bad day.  I missed the game live.  My cousin texted me the final score.  I was initially shocked and asked, "Did Miami's Big 3 all play?" and his response was "LeBron and Wade did... I don't remember seeing Bosh". 

Kinda funny considering Bosh actually did in fact play.  I went back and watched the whole game.  Miami wasn't Miami.  We have two more games against them coming up... we'll be able to see if this was a fluke or not fairly soon.

With that said, it's our first legitimate win against a contender all season.  Only took us 10 tries.  The folks who think we are a contender officially have 1 reason to latch onto.  I'm sitting up in my chair.  I might even remember to watch a game live.   Nice to have a miniscule droplet of hope again.  Up until yesterday this felt like an entirely wasted season.

We finally did it.  We beat a contender.  I couldn't be more proud.  Let's all bask in the glory of victory while it lasts.  I'm excited about watching the Celtics for the first time all year.  Can't wait to see what happens against the Bulls on Thursday and the rematch against Miami on the 10th.  This is the first time all season it's been fun to watch these guys.  Here's hoping they keep it up and nickagneta is right. 

In the midst of doompeddling and beating a dead horse about not having a center... I didn't anticipate that 36 year old Kevin Garnett was going to turn back the clock transform himself into a dominant defensive center.  Once again, this team is only as good as Kevin Garnett.

This was no fluke.  This team has been playing really good ball since the all-star break.  They needed a statement win, though, and I'm glad they got it in dominant fashion against the hated Miami Heat. 

The fact that you didn't realize that Kevin Garnett is a dominant defensive center only points to the fact you haven't been paying attention.  He's been playing outstanding ball for the past 20 games. 

As far as this team being "only as good as Kevin Garnett," let me say that Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo are pretty darn important to this team's chances, as well.  If those three can keep playing the way they have been, then this team's got a good shot at putting themselves in contention come playoff time.

But, I'm probably just being delusional.

[LarBrd33]

Feels like I should respond to this thread since I'm the King of dismissing this team.  Maybe I was delusional to base my perception of the team on a full season of underwhelming centerless basketball.

Here's my quote from the heat/celtics game thread:

We caught Miami on a really bad day.  I missed the game live.  My cousin texted me the final score.  I was initially shocked and asked, "Did Miami's Big 3 all play?" and his response was "LeBron and Wade did... I don't remember seeing Bosh". 

Kinda funny considering Bosh actually did in fact play.  I went back and watched the whole game.  Miami wasn't Miami.  We have two more games against them coming up... we'll be able to see if this was a fluke or not fairly soon.

With that said, it's our first legitimate win against a contender all season.  Only took us 10 tries.  The folks who think we are a contender officially have 1 reason to latch onto.  I'm sitting up in my chair.  I might even remember to watch a game live.   Nice to have a miniscule droplet of hope again.  Up until yesterday this felt like an entirely wasted season.

We finally did it.  We beat a contender.  I couldn't be more proud.  Let's all bask in the glory of victory while it lasts.  I'm excited about watching the Celtics for the first time all year.  Can't wait to see what happens against the Bulls on Thursday and the rematch against Miami on the 10th.  This is the first time all season it's been fun to watch these guys.  Here's hoping they keep it up and nickagneta is right. 

In the midst of doompeddling and beating a dead horse about not having a center... I didn't anticipate that 36 year old Kevin Garnett was going to turn back the clock transform himself into a dominant defensive center.  Once again, this team is only as good as Kevin Garnett.

This was no fluke.  This team has been playing really good ball since the all-star break.  They needed a statement win, though, and I'm glad they got it in dominant fashion against the hated Miami Heat. 

The fact that you didn't realize that Kevin Garnett is a dominant defensive center only points to the fact you haven't been paying attention.  He's been playing outstanding ball for the past 20 games. 

As far as this team being "only as good as Kevin Garnett," let me say that Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo are pretty darn important to this team's chances, as well.  If those three can keep playing the way they have been, then this team's got a good shot at putting themselves in contention come playoff time.

But, I'm probably just being delusional.

No brother... nobody is calling you delusional.  Lets not get this thread locked here or get your ol buddy LarBrd33 banned from this forum. 

As a delusional fan, I saw the 0-9 record vs contenders, I saw us constantly getting outrebounded and dominated inside, I saw a 6th string big man starting for us (JO) at center, I saw our scrub backup (Wilcox) go out with injury. In my state of insanity, all signs pointed to us desperately needing a center or falling short.

We're now 1-10 vs contenders.  Kevin Garnett is filling the center role and looks spry and youthful out there.    All due respect to his sidekicks... this team only goes as far as Kevin Garnett takes them.  That hasn't changed in 5 years.  With KG playing like KG, you can win.  Without KG, you're also-rans. 

Watching the Celtics is finally exciting again.  I hope we keep it up.

[SHAQATTACK]

The Heat dropped by the Garden for a nice lesiurely Sunday afternoon game of basketball.  We smiled , shook hands and invited them inside.

Then proceeded to thrash them like a rented mule .


old school Celtics basketball

Great stuff.





  

[RyNye]

As a delusional fan, I saw the 0-9 record vs contenders

A number you made up. As has been pointed out to you at least once before now, this "0-9" claim of yours is cherry-picked, ruling out the wins you deem ineligible for reasons that are quite inexplicable.

I have said this before, and I'll say it again. If you are going to arbitrarily toss out our win against Chicago because Rose wasn't playing, you ALSO have to toss out all of our losses when WE weren't at full strength. It's only fair. Otherwise, you are just cherry picking the truth to doctor the numbers so they suit your preconceived notions of what is happening, which is just being straight up dishonest.

We're now 1-10 vs contenders.

Nope. It depends on how you define contender, to be honest, but we are 4-7 against the top 3 seeds in each conference. This is ignoring issues such as schedule and injury (several of the losses we weren't at full strength; and two were on the second night of back-to-backs, and one was during an extended road trip). This is just the top 3 seeds as they stand right now, in case you are wondering, I didn't feel like calculating the more complicated number of teams we have beaten that were better than us in the standings at the time we beat them.

Miami is 4-5 against the other top 3 seeds, in case you were wondering. Chicago is 5-3. OKC is 7-2. Orlando is, like us, 4-7. The Lakers are 1-5. San Antonio is 4-3.

So, if you are going to throw out numbers, make sure they are either accurate or in context.

Watching the Celtics is finally exciting again.  I hope we keep it up.

This we can agree on, at least.

[Chief]

Give up? Who?

http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=53477.msg1145369#msg1145369

[Celtics18]

Feels like I should respond to this thread since I'm the King of dismissing this team.  Maybe I was delusional to base my perception of the team on a full season of underwhelming centerless basketball.

Here's my quote from the heat/celtics game thread:

We caught Miami on a really bad day.  I missed the game live.  My cousin texted me the final score.  I was initially shocked and asked, "Did Miami's Big 3 all play?" and his response was "LeBron and Wade did... I don't remember seeing Bosh". 

Kinda funny considering Bosh actually did in fact play.  I went back and watched the whole game.  Miami wasn't Miami.  We have two more games against them coming up... we'll be able to see if this was a fluke or not fairly soon.

With that said, it's our first legitimate win against a contender all season.  Only took us 10 tries.  The folks who think we are a contender officially have 1 reason to latch onto.  I'm sitting up in my chair.  I might even remember to watch a game live.   Nice to have a miniscule droplet of hope again.  Up until yesterday this felt like an entirely wasted season.

We finally did it.  We beat a contender.  I couldn't be more proud.  Let's all bask in the glory of victory while it lasts.  I'm excited about watching the Celtics for the first time all year.  Can't wait to see what happens against the Bulls on Thursday and the rematch against Miami on the 10th.  This is the first time all season it's been fun to watch these guys.  Here's hoping they keep it up and nickagneta is right. 

In the midst of doompeddling and beating a dead horse about not having a center... I didn't anticipate that 36 year old Kevin Garnett was going to turn back the clock transform himself into a dominant defensive center.  Once again, this team is only as good as Kevin Garnett.

This was no fluke.  This team has been playing really good ball since the all-star break.  They needed a statement win, though, and I'm glad they got it in dominant fashion against the hated Miami Heat. 

The fact that you didn't realize that Kevin Garnett is a dominant defensive center only points to the fact you haven't been paying attention.  He's been playing outstanding ball for the past 20 games. 

As far as this team being "only as good as Kevin Garnett," let me say that Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo are pretty darn important to this team's chances, as well.  If those three can keep playing the way they have been, then this team's got a good shot at putting themselves in contention come playoff time.

But, I'm probably just being delusional.

No brother... nobody is calling you delusional.  Lets not get this thread locked here or get your ol buddy LarBrd33 banned from this forum. 

As a delusional fan, I saw the 0-9 record vs contenders, I saw us constantly getting outrebounded and dominated inside, I saw a 6th string big man starting for us (JO) at center, I saw our scrub backup (Wilcox) go out with injury. In my state of insanity, all signs pointed to us desperately needing a center or falling short.

We're now 1-10 vs contenders.  Kevin Garnett is filling the center role and looks spry and youthful out there.    All due respect to his sidekicks... this team only goes as far as Kevin Garnett takes them.  That hasn't changed in 5 years.  With KG playing like KG, you can win.  Without KG, you're also-rans. 

Watching the Celtics is finally exciting again.  I hope we keep it up.

I want to reiterate the point that we are 2 and 10, not 1 and 10, against your arbitrary list of contenders.

Also, I want to mention my beef with your contender list. You have Dallas on there, but you leave off Orlando, Indiana, Atlanta, and the Clippers, teams who all have a better record than the Mavericks, and all teams that we have beaten.

I know Dallas are the defending champs, but I have a hard time putting them in a legitimate list of contenders this year.  

If I swap out Orlando for Dallas on the contender list, which I think is legitimate, then all of a sudden we are 4 and 8 against contenders.  If I add the Clippers, we are now 5 and 8.  

Finally, let me mention that we are 15 and 5 since the all star
break, and now 1 and 1 against your contenders during that span.

Let's keep it going!!

[nickagneta]

Give up? Who?

http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=53477.msg1145369#msg1145369

Temporary weakness on my part. I came to my senses when I sobered up.

[ThaPreacher]

"That Old Celtic Magic"

Nothing is Impossible!!!

[Chief]

Give up? Who?

http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=53477.msg1145369#msg1145369

Temporary weakness on my part. I came to my senses when I sobered up.

TP!!!

[ManchesterCelticsFan]

It didn't look good with 0-3, 4-8, 5-9, 15-17 Celtics starts to the season this year. No one can blame anyone for being 'down on the C's' play at those moments. However, I left the chance open that some of our young players could step up, improve, and increase the C's chances of being a real contender and maybe, if lucky enough, win another title. I want to see more quality wins this week before I consider them a real contender and want to see them beat Miami or Chicago in the playoffs before I'm truly convinced. AB/GS/BB have improved a lot and they must stay healthy along with the Big 4 to have more than a Mega-Millions shot at winning the title, especially with JG, Wilcox and Pietrus out.

[nickagneta]

Now people that cover the NBA are calling the Celtics legitimate title contenders.

http://espn.go.com/nba/dailydime/_/page/dime-120413-14/weekend-dime-title-contenders-flaws-show

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/PERDiem-120412/nba-title-contenders-state-union

Also, someone earlier in this thread put the chances of the Celtics winning it all this year at 21 million to 1. or about a 5% chance.

http://espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/playoffodds

Hollinger has the odds at more like 20 -1