My faith has been totally vindicated! I called this! (sorta)

[chambers]

I called it all along.  I said that unless a center fell out of the sky we wouldn't be contenders... and we needed to blow it up.

A center completely fell out of the sky.

Thank you, Kevin Garnett.  

lol
One of the funniest posts I read was when you called 'Bradley a bum' and said 'Stinksma's a bum'. Very funny because you were writing passionately and were so frustrated with our big man situation. I think a lot of us were optimistic that we could play like this during the playoffs but I don't think too many people saw us performing this well.

It's our defense that is just crushing everyone.
I'd actually love Avery to play out the end of the game and guard Wade. His defense is much more important-particularly when we have a lead.

[indeedproceed]

I never really thought they'd miss the playoffs. I knew it was a possibility, but I never thought it was a likely probability.

I did not think they'd go what..18-7 after the All-Star break? I did not think they'd skyrocket to 4th in the East with decent shot at the 3rd seed.

I did not think Bradley was a legit starter on any team in the NBA, and the notion that Brandon Bass was going to start for us boggles my mind. Not that I think he's a bad player, just...it boggles my mind.

[European NBA fan]

I think that the most amazing thing is that this has happened without the major addition before trade deadline or a veteran waiver pickup, that everyone was rooting for. Instead it seems like Ainge learned his chemistry lesson and added a player, that Pierce and KG already knew and liked.
 

[Celtics18]

I don't think the effect that the "blow it up" talk and the looming trade deadline had on this team should be overlooked. 

They are playing with so much better chemistry and flow now that they know they'll get a chance to compete as a team.  I think that's big.

[LarBrd33]

I called it all along.  I said that unless a center fell out of the sky we wouldn't be contenders... and we needed to blow it up.

A center completely fell out of the sky.

Thank you, Kevin Garnett.  

lol
One of the funniest posts I read was when you called 'Bradley a bum' and said 'Stinksma's a bum'. Very funny because you were writing passionately and were so frustrated with our big man situation. I think a lot of us were optimistic that we could play like this during the playoffs but I don't think too many people saw us performing this well.

It's our defense that is just crushing everyone.
I'd actually love Avery to play out the end of the game and guard Wade. His defense is much more important-particularly when we have a lead.

Bradley has proven to be a very capable NBA Player.  He's like a mini Tony Allen without the mental problems.

Stiesma has proven to be a nice little role player off the bench.  I'm happy with both of their production.

But it's all KG, baby.  Our issue was never the big 4... they bring it night in and night out.  Our issue was a total lack of size and playing 4 on 5 every time Jermaine O Neal dragged his piece of crap butt onto the floor.  

Moving KG to center (which was forced due to multiple injuries) filled that need.  Now we're looking like a fringe contender.

The other main issue we had from day 1 was a total lack of depth.   Everyone one on our bench qualified as scrub.  This Bradley thing (moving Ray to the bench) seems to have alleviated SOME of that depth concern.  Going from "nothing" to "something" is a big leap, as it turns out.  I don't believe anyone who says they "called it all along" that Bradley was going to be playing this well.  Ya'll "call it" with every single under 24-year-old who puts on the Celtic green.  If they score a single bucket... they are the next Larry Bird.  Unless you've been following Bradley since his days in College I call tomfoolery.  You didn't "call" anything... you're just a blind optimist who got one right for once.   I'm calling it:  JaJuan Johnson, E'Twan Moore and/or Ryan Hollins are/is (a) future supahstah(s).   Just covering my bases so I can gloat afterwards about how I called it.

[Celtics18]

I called it all along.  I said that unless a center fell out of the sky we wouldn't be contenders... and we needed to blow it up.

A center completely fell out of the sky.

Thank you, Kevin Garnett.  

lol
One of the funniest posts I read was when you called 'Bradley a bum' and said 'Stinksma's a bum'. Very funny because you were writing passionately and were so frustrated with our big man situation. I think a lot of us were optimistic that we could play like this during the playoffs but I don't think too many people saw us performing this well.

It's our defense that is just crushing everyone.
I'd actually love Avery to play out the end of the game and guard Wade. His defense is much more important-particularly when we have a lead.

Bradley has proven to be a very capable NBA Player.  He's like a mini Tony Allen without the mental problems.

Stiesma has proven to be a nice little role player off the bench.  I'm happy with both of their production.

But it's all KG, baby.  Our issue was never the big 4... they bring it night in and night out.  Our issue was a total lack of size and playing 4 on 5 every time Jermaine O Neal dragged his piece of crap butt onto the floor.  

Moving KG to center (which was forced due to multiple injuries) filled that need.  Now we're looking like a fringe contender.

The other main issue we had from day 1 was a total lack of depth.   Everyone one on our bench qualified as scrub.  This Bradley thing (moving Ray to the bench) seems to have alleviated SOME of that depth concern.  Going from "nothing" to "something" is a big leap, as it turns out.  I don't believe anyone who says they "called it all along" that Bradley was going to be playing this well.  Ya'll "call it all along" with every single under 24-year-old who puts on the Celtic green.  If they score a single bucket... they are the next Larry Bird.  Unless you've been following Bradley since his days in College I call tomfoolery.  You didn't "call" anything... you're just a blind optimist who got one right for once.

Our starting center has been here all season long.  He's logged a lot of minutes at center since the beginning even if he wasn't starting there.  You, as well as many others, wrote this team off, because you thought they were washed up.

They weren't and aren't washed up.  You were wrong.  

By the way, hyperbole's fine, and all that, but nobody has ever called anyone "the next Larry Bird."  Your hyperbole is just that; hyperbole.  Don't expect anyone to take it seriously.

Yes, some of us like some of the young guys more than others.  Because we have some expectations, doesn't mean we have unrealistic expectations.  On the other hand, when you call someone a bum, you're calling him a bum.  When that "bum" proves that he can effectively contribute to the team, he proves you wrong.

[LooseCannon]

I don't believe anyone who says they "called it all along" that Bradley was going to be playing this well.  Ya'll "call it" with every single under 24-year-old who puts on the Celtic green.

I've been consistently saying since last season that Bradley's upside is something along the lines of a poor man's Ben Gordon with All-NBA level defense and no chucker mentality.  That's not the same as "calling it all along", but I feel vindicated vs. those who insisted that Bradley wouldn't be any better than Gabe Pruitt.  While I didn't watch him in college, I did do the research to point out that it appeared Bradley had never played point guard in high school, so it was probably a bad decision to immediately make him play the point in the NBA.  I suggested his future lay more in being a starting shooting guard than a combo guard off the bench, that it was a mistake to pigeonhole him into a reserve role because of his height.  So, pardon me if I feel like more than just a "blind optimist" who got lucky.

On the other hand, I think E'twuan Moore is probably not likely to be more than a bench guard who can be called upon to play some defense and hit a corner three.  I think JuJuan Johnson's future depends more on learning how to set screens and defend on pick and rolls than it does on his ability to shoot.

[LarBrd33]

I called it all along.  I said that unless a center fell out of the sky we wouldn't be contenders... and we needed to blow it up.

A center completely fell out of the sky.

Thank you, Kevin Garnett. 

lol
One of the funniest posts I read was when you called 'Bradley a bum' and said 'Stinksma's a bum'. Very funny because you were writing passionately and were so frustrated with our big man situation. I think a lot of us were optimistic that we could play like this during the playoffs but I don't think too many people saw us performing this well.

It's our defense that is just crushing everyone.
I'd actually love Avery to play out the end of the game and guard Wade. His defense is much more important-particularly when we have a lead.

Bradley has proven to be a very capable NBA Player.  He's like a mini Tony Allen without the mental problems.

Stiesma has proven to be a nice little role player off the bench.  I'm happy with both of their production.

But it's all KG, baby.  Our issue was never the big 4... they bring it night in and night out.  Our issue was a total lack of size and playing 4 on 5 every time Jermaine O Neal dragged his piece of crap butt onto the floor. 

Moving KG to center (which was forced due to multiple injuries) filled that need.  Now we're looking like a fringe contender.

The other main issue we had from day 1 was a total lack of depth.   Everyone one on our bench qualified as scrub.  This Bradley thing (moving Ray to the bench) seems to have alleviated SOME of that depth concern.  Going from "nothing" to "something" is a big leap, as it turns out.  I don't believe anyone who says they "called it all along" that Bradley was going to be playing this well.  Ya'll "call it all along" with every single under 24-year-old who puts on the Celtic green.  If they score a single bucket... they are the next Larry Bird.  Unless you've been following Bradley since his days in College I call tomfoolery.  You didn't "call" anything... you're just a blind optimist who got one right for once.

Our starting center has been here all season long.  He's logged a lot of minutes at center since the beginning even if he wasn't starting there.  You, as well as many others, wrote this team off, because you thought they were washed up.

They weren't and aren't washed up.  You were wrong. 

Jermaine O'Neal started 24 games for us at center this year.  When he went out, Wilcox started.  When I made my prophetic and accurate prediction that, "Unless a center falls out of the sky... we're doomed", I was referencing the fact that we were starting Jermaine O'Neal and had a 27 year old d-league rookie getting significant minutes as his backup.  When I said a center needed to "fall out of the sky" I was suggesting that our only hope was to fill the role by adding a starting center via buyout... a Chris Kaman pipedream, for instance.   Thankfully, JO and Wilcox both got shut down, KG got moved to center and Bass (our lone capable bench player earlier in the season) got the starting nod at PF.  So in essence, a "starting center" appeared out of nowhere. 

If however, you claimed early in the season (while JO was starting) that by the the playoffs Bass would be our starting PF, KG would turn back the clock 4 years and get the nod at center, a d-leaguer would end up taking all the minutes designated for Wilcox and JO... and the Celtics would go from also-rans to "fringe contenders" with the lineup shift.  Well then -- my hats off to you Nostradamus.  You win the 10 internets!

I said many times that the issue wasn't the big 3.  When this board was calling for Pierce's head earlier in the season, I was one of the few who said, "Nah... Pierce will be fine.  He's not our problem". Being "washed up" wasn't my claim.  My claim was that beyond the big 4, the other 11 guys were scabs.  You couldn't compare the 2012 Celtics with the 2008 Celtics, because 75% of the team is different. 

I have made MANY comments this year.  Several will be ultimately proven incorrect (A couple weeks ago I predicted Dwight would get traded between the draft and free agency... likely to Brooklyn.  This was before the latest Van Gundy/Dwight thing.  I definitely opened myself up to being proven wrong there) or already HAVE been proven incorrect (I thought beyond a shadow of a doubt that Ainge was either going to improve this team at the deadline... or blow it up.  "Standing pat" wasn't an option.  We stood pat.  I was wrong)...  I have no problem owning up to when I'm wrong.  But there are many other comments I made (Linsanity wasn't going to last.  In fact, I correctly predicted it would last exactly 11 games and it lasted exactly 11 games.  I also said we couldn't be considered contenders without a starting center, etc...) that were right as rain. 

If I called Avery Bradley a "bum" or a "Scrub" it's because Avery Bradley WAS a "bum" or a "scrub".  What else can you call a player who averages 1.7 points, 0 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 steals on 34% shooting if not a "scrub".  Few players in the league were less productive than Avery Bradley.  Let's just say nobody was picking him up in fantasy drafts.  In my mind, late 1st rounders are nobodies until they prove they are somebodies.  Difference of opinion, I guess.... a lot of CEltics fans think there is an exception to that rule.  A little asterisk that says, " *Note:  If rookie is picked up by Celtics, regardless if he's a late 1st rounder, 2nd rounder or undrafted dleaguer, he automatically qualifies as "futah supahstah"."  ... I disagree.  He was a bum.  Luckily, he has made a name for himself recently.  From "scrub" to "fringe starter" fairly recently.  If you thought Bradley was this good in January when he was averaging 5 points, 0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.5 turnovers on 40% shooting in 22 minutes a game, I don't know what to tell you.  That's highly unimpressive numbers for even most bench warmers.  Kid finally got it together, though.  He's no longer a bum.

[Celtics18]

I called it all along.  I said that unless a center fell out of the sky we wouldn't be contenders... and we needed to blow it up.

A center completely fell out of the sky.

Thank you, Kevin Garnett. 

lol
One of the funniest posts I read was when you called 'Bradley a bum' and said 'Stinksma's a bum'. Very funny because you were writing passionately and were so frustrated with our big man situation. I think a lot of us were optimistic that we could play like this during the playoffs but I don't think too many people saw us performing this well.

It's our defense that is just crushing everyone.
I'd actually love Avery to play out the end of the game and guard Wade. His defense is much more important-particularly when we have a lead.

Bradley has proven to be a very capable NBA Player.  He's like a mini Tony Allen without the mental problems.

Stiesma has proven to be a nice little role player off the bench.  I'm happy with both of their production.

But it's all KG, baby.  Our issue was never the big 4... they bring it night in and night out.  Our issue was a total lack of size and playing 4 on 5 every time Jermaine O Neal dragged his piece of crap butt onto the floor. 

Moving KG to center (which was forced due to multiple injuries) filled that need.  Now we're looking like a fringe contender.

The other main issue we had from day 1 was a total lack of depth.   Everyone one on our bench qualified as scrub.  This Bradley thing (moving Ray to the bench) seems to have alleviated SOME of that depth concern.  Going from "nothing" to "something" is a big leap, as it turns out.  I don't believe anyone who says they "called it all along" that Bradley was going to be playing this well.  Ya'll "call it all along" with every single under 24-year-old who puts on the Celtic green.  If they score a single bucket... they are the next Larry Bird.  Unless you've been following Bradley since his days in College I call tomfoolery.  You didn't "call" anything... you're just a blind optimist who got one right for once.

Our starting center has been here all season long.  He's logged a lot of minutes at center since the beginning even if he wasn't starting there.  You, as well as many others, wrote this team off, because you thought they were washed up.

They weren't and aren't washed up.  You were wrong. 

Jermaine O'Neal started 24 games for us at center this year.  When he went out, Wilcox started.  When I made my prophetic and accurate prediction that, "Unless a center falls out of the sky... we're doomed", I was referencing the fact that we were starting Jermaine O'Neal and had a 27 year old d-league rookie getting significant minutes as his backup.  When I said a center needed to "fall out of the sky" I was suggesting that our only hope was to fill the role by adding a starting center via buyout... a Chris Kaman pipedream, for instance.   Thankfully, JO and Wilcox both got shut down, KG got moved to center and Bass (our lone capable bench player earlier in the season) got the starting nod at PF.  So in essence, a "starting center" appeared out of nowhere. 

If however, you claimed early in the season (while JO was starting) that by the the playoffs Bass would be our starting PF, KG would turn back the clock 4 years and get the nod at center, a d-leaguer would end up taking all the minutes designated for Wilcox and JO... and the Celtics would go from also-rans to "fringe contenders" with the lineup shift.  Well then -- my hats off to you Nostradamus.  You win the 10 internets!

I said many times that the issue wasn't the big 3.  When this board was calling for Pierce's head earlier in the season, I was one of the few who said, "Nah... Pierce will be fine.  He's not our problem". Being "washed up" wasn't my claim.  My claim was that beyond the big 4, the other 11 guys were scabs.  You couldn't compare the 2012 Celtics with the 2008 Celtics, because 75% of the team is different. 

I have made MANY comments this year.  Several will be ultimately proven incorrect (A couple weeks ago I predicted Dwight would get traded between the draft and free agency... likely to Brooklyn.  This was before the latest Van Gundy/Dwight thing.  I definitely opened myself up to being proven wrong there) or already HAVE been proven incorrect (I thought beyond a shadow of a doubt that Ainge was either going to improve this team at the deadline... or blow it up.  "Standing pat" wasn't an option.  We stood pat.  I was wrong)...  I have no problem owning up to when I'm wrong.  But there are many other comments I made (Linsanity wasn't going to last.  In fact, I correctly predicted it would last exactly 11 games and it lasted exactly 11 games.  I also said we couldn't be considered contenders without a starting center, etc...) that were right as rain. 

If I called Avery Bradley a "bum" or a "Scrub" it's because Avery Bradley WAS a "bum" or a "scrub".  What else can you call a player who averages 1.7 points, 0 rebounds, 0 assists, 0 steals on 34% shooting if not a "scrub".  Few players in the league were less productive than Avery Bradley.  Let's just say nobody was picking him up in fantasy drafts.  In my mind, late 1st rounders are nobodies until they prove they are somebodies.  Difference of opinion, I guess.... a lot of CEltics fans think there is an exception to that rule.  A little asterisk that says, " *Note:  If rookie is picked up by Celtics, regardless if he's a late 1st rounder, 2nd rounder or undrafted dleaguer, he automatically qualifies as "futah supahstah"."  ... I disagree.  He was a bum.  Luckily, he has made a name for himself recently.  From "scrub" to "fringe starter" fairly recently.  If you thought Bradley was this good in January when he was averaging 5 points, 0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.5 turnovers on 40% shooting in 22 minutes a game, I don't know what to tell you.  That's highly unimpressive numbers for even most bench warmers.  Kid finally got it together, though.  He's no longer a bum.

This isn't really about Avery Bradley or Greg Stiemsma for me.  I never called them bums, but I'll happily admit that I didn't think they'd be playing as well as they are right now. 

My issue is with your "center out of the sky" comments.  I repeat, Kevin Garnett did not fall out of the sky, he was always here.  He was also closing out most games at the center position from the very beginning of the season.  The fact that he's starting there now has certainly made a difference, but it was more about this team finding a rhythm and getting into a groove with the season.  They've done this.  Doc has coached brilliantly, and the guys have responded.   

You were wrong that we couldn't be a competitive team unless we made a major move to improve our center position.  If both Jermaine O'Neal and Chris Wilcox were healthy right now, this team would be even better than it is, not worse. 

[theswitch]

Kevin has been playing center all year, just not in the starting lineup. His most frequent lineup is him and Bass as the 4-5 combo, and he has played 2/3 of his minutes this year at that position. Even when O'Neal and Wilcox were here, they just used up Stiemsma's minutes in reverse. Probably 10 minutes a game with KG at the 4 and them at the 5, and then some more with Bass at the 4. I'll give you that he's the starting center now, but it's not like he's suddenly playing more center.

All year, our most frequent lineup was with Bass and KG as our big men, and Kevin was always the 5 in that situation.

[Fafnir]

theswitch what you say isn't quite true.

Before the all-star break KG would by default guard the PFs even when he played with Bass. Now he guards the Cs and also he has made a renewed push to get into the post more.

Now due to switches and match up issues sometimes KG in the past would guard 5s alongside Bass, but not regularly. Plus like you say, it wasn't the starting combination for games just a how we tended to finish them.

[theswitch]

theswitch what you say isn't quite true.

Before the all-star break KG would by default guard the PFs even when he played with Bass. Now he guards the Cs and also he has made a renewed push to get into the post more.

Now due to switches and match up issues sometimes KG in the past would guard 5s alongside Bass, but not regularly. Plus like you say, it wasn't the starting combination for games just a how we tended to finish them.

Yeah, but it was still the leading combination. I can't really argue your first point because we may just be remembering the first half of the season differently, but I'd point to 82games.com to show that they list KG as a 5 whenever he is paired with Bass (not that it really matters). Offensively, there really isn't that big a difference - the 4 and the 5 play pretty much the same role in our offense. On defense, it's always been about matchups and I'm just remembering it differently. Last night, Bass guarded Turiaf and KG was on Bosh because that was the clear matchup. I think it just depends, but people are getting too caught up in this 4/5 thing.

[Celtics18]

theswitch what you say isn't quite true.

Before the all-star break KG would by default guard the PFs even when he played with Bass. Now he guards the Cs and also he has made a renewed push to get into the post more.

Now due to switches and match up issues sometimes KG in the past would guard 5s alongside Bass, but not regularly. Plus like you say, it wasn't the starting combination for games just a how we tended to finish them.

That's not true.  Earlier in the season, when Doc was finishing games with Bass and Garnett, Garnett was generally guarding centers and Bass was guarding power forwards.