Am I the only one thinking Miami/Lakers finals?

[celtsfan84]

It makes me sick to say. However, if the Lakers get Howard, I don't see how they are going to be stopped in the West.

In the East, I think Miami is still the beat team (on paper.)
Lebron has clearly hit his stride, Bosh has been huge for them and they are putting quite a bench together with Allen, Battier and Lewis.

Look, I think the C's will be a 3 or 4 seed again, no doubt.

But can anyone honestly tell me the Celtics (as currently constituted) are a championship team?

Yes, I know the season hasn't even started. Just going by what I see on paper

  The Celtics (as currently constituted) are a championship team.

  Feel better now?

If they are healthy and Pierce and KG can hold up and not deteriorate (much if at all), then they are certainly a contender, but would have to be behind Miami in the East and OKC (and probably LA) in the West in the championship pecking order.   

What will be interesting is where Chicago fits into that mix. 

And San Antonio, for that matter.  People quickly forget that San Antonio briefly looked almost unbeatable until their role players pretty much all went in the tank at the same time.

[Donoghus]

It makes me sick to say. However, if the Lakers get Howard, I don't see how they are going to be stopped in the West.

In the East, I think Miami is still the beat team (on paper.)
Lebron has clearly hit his stride, Bosh has been huge for them and they are putting quite a bench together with Allen, Battier and Lewis.

Look, I think the C's will be a 3 or 4 seed again, no doubt.

But can anyone honestly tell me the Celtics (as currently constituted) are a championship team?

Yes, I know the season hasn't even started. Just going by what I see on paper

  The Celtics (as currently constituted) are a championship team.

  Feel better now?

If they are healthy and Pierce and KG can hold up and not deteriorate (much if at all), then they are certainly a contender, but would have to be behind Miami in the East and OKC (and probably LA) in the West in the championship pecking order.   

What will be interesting is where Chicago fits into that mix. 

And San Antonio, for that matter.  People quickly forget that San Antonio briefly looked almost unbeatable until their role players pretty much all went in the tank at the same time.

I think Chicago takes a decent step backwards this season.  My gut tells me that they're primed for a letdown season between the Rose uncertainty and I think some of their role players come back to earth (the ones remaining).  Injuries is a big concern with that team.

[CelticSooner]

Hopefully Bulls let Asik walk which would only hurt their frontcourt.

[BballTim]

It makes me sick to say. However, if the Lakers get Howard, I don't see how they are going to be stopped in the West.

In the East, I think Miami is still the beat team (on paper.)
Lebron has clearly hit his stride, Bosh has been huge for them and they are putting quite a bench together with Allen, Battier and Lewis.

Look, I think the C's will be a 3 or 4 seed again, no doubt.

But can anyone honestly tell me the Celtics (as currently constituted) are a championship team?

Yes, I know the season hasn't even started. Just going by what I see on paper

  The Celtics (as currently constituted) are a championship team.

  Feel better now?

If they are healthy and Pierce and KG can hold up and not deteriorate (much if at all), then they are certainly a contender, but would have to be behind Miami in the East and OKC (and probably LA) in the West in the championship pecking order.   

  Maybe. Last year we were a tossup with Miami, who dispatched OKC fairly easily. I don't know that we've really lost any ground.

[RAcker]

Guess it's time to go out and get my new Lebron jersey. The Heat already broke the seal this year and are the only ones with a realistic chance to beat the new superteam Lakers.

I love the Celtics with all my heart, but I don't see how we get past them with that treacherous lineup. I would much rather see the Heat win than the Lakers.

What tha?

[celtsfan84]

It makes me sick to say. However, if the Lakers get Howard, I don't see how they are going to be stopped in the West.

In the East, I think Miami is still the beat team (on paper.)
Lebron has clearly hit his stride, Bosh has been huge for them and they are putting quite a bench together with Allen, Battier and Lewis.

Look, I think the C's will be a 3 or 4 seed again, no doubt.

But can anyone honestly tell me the Celtics (as currently constituted) are a championship team?

Yes, I know the season hasn't even started. Just going by what I see on paper

  The Celtics (as currently constituted) are a championship team.

  Feel better now?

If they are healthy and Pierce and KG can hold up and not deteriorate (much if at all), then they are certainly a contender, but would have to be behind Miami in the East and OKC (and probably LA) in the West in the championship pecking order.   

  Maybe. Last year we were a tossup with Miami, who dispatched OKC fairly easily. I don't know that we've really lost any ground.

Matchups work out differently when you face different teams though.  The HEAT beating the Celtics in 7 and beating the Thunder in 5 makes no definitive statement about the Celtics in relation to the Thunder.

I think Moranis has it stated pretty accurately.  We're a contender, but not exactly the favorite or anything.

[Chief Macho]

I love that some people think Jeff Green is going to make a difference.  That's cute.

[ChefEricT]

This is a funny name for a thread.  Of course you are not the only one thinking that.  The second the Lakers get Howard, that will be the odds on favorite matchup in Vegas.  Me, however, I'm thinking Celtics-Lakers.  And it will go like the 2004 finals where the star studded Lakers(Karl Malone, Gary Payton, etc.) fell to the best TEAM that season, the Detroit Pistons.

[celtsfan84]

This is a funny name for a thread.  Of course you are not the only one thinking that.  The second the Lakers get Howard, that will be the odds on favorite matchup in Vegas.  Me, however, I'm thinking Celtics-Lakers.  And it will go like the 2004 finals where the star studded Lakers(Karl Malone, Gary Payton, etc.) fell to the best TEAM that season, the Detroit Pistons.

The star studded team wins 19 times out of 20 though.  Ask Magic, Larry, Michael, Shaq, and Kobe.

And Rondo and KG are stars.  Rondo's star is growing, in fact.  Arguably Pierce is still a star too.  Heck, if you are counting Gasol and Nash as stars, then KG, Rondo, and Pierce are stars.

[Finkelskyhook]

With or without Howard...Lakers will be lucky to get out of the second round.

los Nash gives back as much defensively as he provides offensively.  I don't see them making it to midseason before Kobe and (God forbid) Artest blow up over los Nash's complete defensive disregard.  

Westbrook, Parker, or Paul will score 40ppg in a playoff series against los Nash.  
 
Messiah's team is at least a favorite...Particularly if the officials give them game 2 of every series.

If we stay healthy don't count us out.

[ACF]

Guess it's time to go out and get my new Lebron jersey. The Heat already broke the seal this year and are the only ones with a realistic chance to beat the new superteam Lakers.

I love the Celtics with all my heart, but I don't see how we get past them with that treacherous lineup. I would much rather see the Heat win than the Lakers.

What tha?

Don't worry, brethren. In case of an LA-Miami NBA Finals series, I shall be pushing this:


 

[ChefEricT]

This is a funny name for a thread.  Of course you are not the only one thinking that.  The second the Lakers get Howard, that will be the odds on favorite matchup in Vegas.  Me, however, I'm thinking Celtics-Lakers.  And it will go like the 2004 finals where the star studded Lakers(Karl Malone, Gary Payton, etc.) fell to the best TEAM that season, the Detroit Pistons.

The star studded team wins 19 times out of 20 though.  Ask Magic, Larry, Michael, Shaq, and Kobe.

And Rondo and KG are still stars.  Arguably Pierce too.

Those teams were a little different.  Magic's Lakers, Larry's Celtics, Michael's Bulls, even Shaquille and Kobe were teams that were built over time and with strong coaching staffs.  A lot of times when guys are just put together overnight they have a hard time winning it all right away.  The exception is the Celtics from a few seasons ago, but I think the preseason trip overseas, Ubuntu and Doc Rivers were the difference.

Oh, and not Arguably Pierce too.  Paul Pierce IS a legit star and that's the truth!

[celtsfan84]

This is a funny name for a thread.  Of course you are not the only one thinking that.  The second the Lakers get Howard, that will be the odds on favorite matchup in Vegas.  Me, however, I'm thinking Celtics-Lakers.  And it will go like the 2004 finals where the star studded Lakers(Karl Malone, Gary Payton, etc.) fell to the best TEAM that season, the Detroit Pistons.

The star studded team wins 19 times out of 20 though.  Ask Magic, Larry, Michael, Shaq, and Kobe.

And Rondo and KG are still stars.  Arguably Pierce too.

Those teams were a little different.  Magic's Lakers, Larry's Celtics, Michael's Bulls, even Shaquille and Kobe were teams that were built over time and with strong coaching staffs.  A lot of times when guys are just put together overnight they have a hard time winning it all right away.  The exception is the Celtics from a few seasons ago, but I think the preseason trip overseas, Ubuntu and Doc Rivers were the difference.

Oh, and not Arguably Pierce too.  Paul Pierce IS a legit star and that's the truth!

Miami did it pretty quickly though.  2 games away in Year 1. Title in Year 2. Not bad.

There are very few circumstances where Hall of Famers come together overnight and the results are usually pretty strong.

Moses joining the 76ers. Magic joining Kareem in his rookie year.  Clyde being traded midseason to a badly slumping Rockets team.

[BigAlTheFuture]

I'd still take OKC over LA. They have the better team, imo.

[fairweatherfan06]

Celtics and OKC have some say in that,  also the Spurs and possibly the Bulls and the dark horse the other LA team the Clippers which will be better if everybody stays healthy