Do we really have the firepower to win?

[Chief Macho]

No.   Paul ain't Paul anymore.  Jeff Green is a fraud.

[mctyson]

But from a pure speculation perspective I have one slight concern about our chances.

officiating

We do not have a super star on our team anymore, PP is on the decline, KG is not his old self, Rondo is an all-star but not quite at the super star level.

Rondo.

[317]

If Jeff Green plays like we're paying to, yes.

this. were paying him 15(18?)/7/3.5 money

[GreenFaith1819]

No.   Paul ain't Paul anymore.  Jeff Green is a fraud.

Sure?

I think Paul Pierce is still a top 5 SF in the league...certainly a top 3 defensive SF.

Who else is better? LeBron, Durant, Deng, Iguodala...? Paul is certainly a better scorer and shooter than Iggy.

I'd bet that a NORMAL NBA season would do wonders for Paul, too - more time off between games, and PRACTICE time, too.

Jeff Green will prove his worth too, just watch.

But Paul Pierce is certainly not done, especially since Danny is constructing a bench around him now.

[Mr October]

Remember that normally very durable Pierce was playing while injured this past spring.

I honestly think a Pierce / Green 1-2 punch at SF is more firepower at that position than any team outside of Miami or OKC.

KG is still KG. A top 5 PF or Center -> especially when only playing every other day in the playoffs.

Rondo can take over games, and does so with high frequency in the playoffs. He is surrounded by players that can hit the J at a high level (Pierce, KG, Terry, Lee, Bass), or at least at an average level (Bradley, Green, Sullinger).

The bench has the highest scoring ability of the KG as a Celtic era.

This team isn't the favorite, but they are a top 4 or 5 contender, with a very legit shot at the title.

[kg is king]

Very interesting and valid points from everyone. But everyone seems to be speaking from an offensive perspective. Yes, those offensive droughts that were so painful to watch will occur less often. JET and Green will anchor the bench. But how about rebounding? I have a hard time imagining us raising banner 18 if we remain the league's worst rebounding team.

[j804]

Yes

The thing we lacked most last year offense and putting the ball in the hole we can be beast this year

[tonyto3690]

I'd like to think so.

Can anyone name a better Celtics Team?

Beyond that 1st half of the season when we rolled over the NBA with Shaq in the middle, I can't think of another Celtics team in recent memory that ON PAPER looked as good.

But in the playoffs, when you have to lean on your stars to win, who do the Celtics lean on? I don't want our team to become the Spurs last year. Steady and strong but when the moment arises there was no one they can lean on to get them past the KD, Westbrook, Harden, and the rest of the Thunder.

The interesting thing with OKC last year is that the way BOS was playing vs MIA and in the playoffs, I have a sneaking suspicion that IF BOS could've gotten past MIA, then they could've taken OKC..

I love Perk, but neither he nor Serge were going to slow KG down. Pietrus and Paul could've slowed down KD just a bit.

Westbrook vs Rondo? The way Rajon played in the playoffs? Rondo would've won that matchup, too.

Perhaps Harden could've made a difference off the bench vs BOS, but trust me after BOS went up 3-2 on MIA, I started thinking about Banner 18 right then...

I really don't think there is any doubt the NBA Finals were played in the ECF.  Even Wade PUBLICLY stated that the Celtics gave them more problems.

It's just a shame because we were sooo close.  Rondos 44 game, the face-rake no call, and James just going completely berserk in game 6 were three games we could have taken.


Anyways, we have enough fire power.  KG and Pierce can each have a big night and Rondo is able to carry the Celtics for 2+ games.  Then throw in Terry, Green, and Bradley being capable 20 point scorers, and I'd say we're fine. 

[Dunn]

No, C's refuse to go after someone to defend Bosh and maybe now Rashard Lewis. Bass proved it isn't his game at all. I hope Wilcox can, but I don't trust he'll 1) play good enough perimeter defense  2) or be healthy enough to even play his 1st playoff game.

Posey added years to Pierce's career hopefully Green and Joseph can do the same. Ridding Sasha one great step preserving Pierce.

Sullinger leads our rebounding improvement.

[lon3lytoaster]

No, C's refuse to go after someone to defend Bosh and maybe now Rashard Lewis. Bass proved it isn't his game at all. I hope Wilcox can, but I don't trust he'll 1) play good enough perimeter defense  2) or be healthy enough to even play his 1st playoff game.

Posey added years to Pierce's career hopefully Green and Joseph can do the same. Ridding Sasha one great step preserving Pierce.

Sullinger leads our rebounding improvement.

If Chris Bosh rips off his jersey and underneath is a super man costume and he starts drilling multiple triples in a game seven, out of nowhere, I'm not sure there's really much you can do about that.

[Who]

Puncher's chance

Yep, well said ... that's how much of a shot this roster gives us.

[GreenFaith1819]

I'd like to think so.

Can anyone name a better Celtics Team?

Beyond that 1st half of the season when we rolled over the NBA with Shaq in the middle, I can't think of another Celtics team in recent memory that ON PAPER looked as good.

But in the playoffs, when you have to lean on your stars to win, who do the Celtics lean on? I don't want our team to become the Spurs last year. Steady and strong but when the moment arises there was no one they can lean on to get them past the KD, Westbrook, Harden, and the rest of the Thunder.

The interesting thing with OKC last year is that the way BOS was playing vs MIA and in the playoffs, I have a sneaking suspicion that IF BOS could've gotten past MIA, then they could've taken OKC..

I love Perk, but neither he nor Serge were going to slow KG down. Pietrus and Paul could've slowed down KD just a bit.

Westbrook vs Rondo? The way Rajon played in the playoffs? Rondo would've won that matchup, too.

Perhaps Harden could've made a difference off the bench vs BOS, but trust me after BOS went up 3-2 on MIA, I started thinking about Banner 18 right then...

I really don't think there is any doubt the NBA Finals were played in the ECF.  Even Wade PUBLICLY stated that the Celtics gave them more problems.

It's just a shame because we were sooo close.  Rondos 44 game, the face-rake no call, and James just going completely berserk in game 6 were three games we could have taken.


Anyways, we have enough fire power.  KG and Pierce can each have a big night and Rondo is able to carry the Celtics for 2+ games.  Then throw in Terry, Green, and Bradley being capable 20 point scorers, and I'd say we're fine. 

Well, the good news is that perhaps David Stern will have the officiating on a tighter leash, now:

The competition committee altered a few rule changes with respect to the use of video replay, primarily in the final two minutes or overtime of games.

At any point in the game, officials can now check video replay on all flagrant fouls.

"So the call is flagrant foul and then you go the tape, and you decide whether it's a 1 or a 2, or in some rare instance, maybe even a common foul," Stern said.

Officials now can use video replay in the final two minutes of overtime to decide whether a defender was in or out of the restricted area around the basket on charge and blocking fouls. Replay also can be used for goaltending calls in the late stages of games as well.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8182973/nba-adds-three-additional-uses-instant-replay-2012-13-season

Link from article on ESPN.com, today.

IF the NBA is taking a closer looks at officiating, then BOS will certainly have a shot next year.

[Lightskinsmurf]

Yes we definitely have enough to go the distance if we stay healthy. We had two things holding us back not including injuries   Rebounding and A horrible bench. We have a very good bench this time and rebounding will probably still suck but hey no team is perfect.

[angryguy77]

We are deeper now, so our chances depend on how healthy we are.

I like our odds a lot if we face miami without any major injuries.

[GreenFaith1819]

No, C's refuse to go after someone to defend Bosh and maybe now Rashard Lewis. Bass proved it isn't his game at all. I hope Wilcox can, but I don't trust he'll 1) play good enough perimeter defense  2) or be healthy enough to even play his 1st playoff game.

Posey added years to Pierce's career hopefully Green and Joseph can do the same. Ridding Sasha one great step preserving Pierce.

Sullinger leads our rebounding improvement.

Not worried about Bosh at all in future series with MIA.

He is too inconsistent.

The BIGGEST reason we lost to MIA was that we had no one to slow down MIA's Number 2 - Dwayne Wade.

AB will take care of Wade in the future.

I say let LeBron get his, and Bosh can have his inconsistent games.

AB will negate MIA's Number 2 player.

And as long as Rondo keeps Mario from going off (like he did to poor Westbrook, lol) that helps, too.

Advantage: BOS.