Me? A Voice of Reason?

[vinnie]

While I am not happy that this team did not win tonight, I just can't get angry about it. This team is down to the bare bones in terms of having quality players to put on the court. Just look at the starting lineup tonight: Ray, bone spurs and a sprained ankle last game; Pierce, strained meniscus; KG, continuing hip flexor injury. That leaves two healthy starters. I know a lot of teams are banged up, but the Celtics situation is compounded by the fact that this team has absolutely no one on the bench on whom it can depend. They have NO quality big men, and one of the worst players in the league, Ryan Hollins, is getting quality bench minutes. Michael Pietrus is off and on, but it is clear to me he is not healthy. Keyon Dooling has had a couple of decent playoff games, but he has been a liability for most of the season. I am not sure what people expect this team or Doc to do.

They have lost Jeff Green, JO, Chris Wilcox and now Avery Bradley. They have several other players hurting. They have no one on the bench.

Honestly, I am amazed they have gotten as far as they have and would be thrilled if they win Saturday. I think the ECF could be ugly if they make it there, but in my opinion it would be quite an accomplishment for this team, which is merely a shell of itself right now.

[thestackshow]

I think when we came together at the end of the season, we looked healthy.

Bradley was an emerging star and we were playing some dominant basketball.

When the playoffs started, this team had the feel that we were going to challenge the Bulls in the second round, and if we could somehow get past them, we could challenge Miami, who we matched up with better.

When Rose went down, our chance opened, we were now the favorite to get to the ECF where we could challenge Miami since we matched up with them.

The injuries, like they always do with this team, sealed their fate, we just arent good enough to sustain more injuries, our bench was already depleted during the season, and guys keep getting injured. We arent good enough to sustain injuries, everything HAD to be perfect with this team.

Chicago went down, Miami was looking weak, that was the only chance we were going to get to the Finals for one last run.

Unfortunately we sustained more costly injuries that we couldnt recover from and that doomed us in the end.

Im still proud of the team, just a shame that the last run of the Big 3, had to be cut short yet again by season ending injuries.

The door was wide open for us, but it closed too quick for us to get through.

4 out of 5 years this Celtics team has gotten unlucky with injuries, it shouldnt be a shock to anyone that yet again we failed to get that title.

[CelticSooner]

Pretty much nailed it. This resembles nothing like team post all-star break. Key players injured, no bench, and now fatigue. It is what it is.

[thestackshow]

Pretty much nailed it. This resembles nothing like team post all-star break. Key players injured, no bench, and now fatigue. It is what it is.

Spot on.

Also Rondo has an injured back and wrist.

[guava_wrench]

This is why many non-Cs fans didn't expect them to compete this year. They expected that our old guys would either be injured, or would just not have enough strength left for the playoffs.

[Celtics18]

I think when we came together at the end of the season, we looked healthy.

Bradley was an emerging star and we were playing some dominant basketball.

When the playoffs started, this team had the feel that we were going to challenge the Bulls in the second round, and if we could somehow get past them, we could challenge Miami, who we matched up with better.

When Rose went down, our chance opened, we were now the favorite to get to the ECF where we could challenge Miami since we matched up with them.

The injuries, like they always do with this team, sealed their fate, we just arent good enough to sustain more injuries, our bench was already depleted during the season, and guys keep getting injured. We arent good enough to sustain injuries, everything HAD to be perfect with this team.

Chicago went down, Miami was looking weak, that was the only chance we were going to get to the Finals for one last run.

Unfortunately we sustained more costly injuries that we couldnt recover from and that doomed us in the end.

Im still proud of the team, just a shame that the last run of the Big 3, had to be cut short yet again by season ending injuries.

The door was wide open for us, but it closed too quick for us to get through.

4 out of 5 years this Celtics team has gotten unlucky with injuries, it shouldnt be a shock to anyone that yet again we failed to get that title.

Way too much past tense in that post.  This team is not done.

[thestackshow]

This is why many non-Cs fans didn't expect them to compete this year. They expected that our old guys would either be injured, or would just not have enough strength left for the playoffs.

I didnt want to believe them but I knew it was true, we havent made it through the playoffs healthy since our championship year, its was basically a guaranteed chance that someone was going to go down for the year.