My Five Bold Predictions for 2012-2013 Celtics

[AB_Celtic]

Link to article: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1283815-boston-celtics-five-bold-predictions-for-the-2012-13-season

My commentary in italics.

5. Kevin Garnett's numbers do not regress
This may be a typo in the article, since they go on to discuss Paul Pierce, but I'll talk about KG anyways... Kevin Garnett hates being called old; in fact, it fuels him to be better, as we saw him explain in a postseason interview. Following his performance last year, some people may have changed their minds about him, but look for them to change right back with the passage of time, and go right back to calling him old. KG will once again be fueled by this, and will once again put up age-defying numbers. However, we still may see a little decline in his numbers. All of that depends on his offseason conditioning, which, as a result of the lockout, was affected last year.

4. Avery Bradley makes the all-defensive second team
Unless last year was a fluke, or Bradley doesn't make a full recovery from surgery, I don't consider this to be a bold claim at all. Bradley is already one of the five best perimeter defenders in the league, and will only get better as he gets more playing time. Look for more highlight-reel stuffs of the likes of Wade and Shuttlesworth, which will in turn lead to an all-defensive nod.

3. The Celtics finish with the second-best Eastern Conference record
This is the plan if everything goes right. The Bulls are essentially tanking, the Pacers are no better than last year, the Nets will have an adjustment period, and the Magic will have locker room issues and laziness from you-know-who. The only team standing in the way of this coming  true is the Celtics themselves. Barring prolonged injuries to key players and locker room issues, the Celtics should cruise to the second best record in the east, behind (of course) the Heat.

2. Rajon Rondo finishes in the top 3 in MVP voting
As Celtics fans, we've all been waiting for Rondo to get this kind of recognition, and I agree that it comes this year. Following an amazing postseason, the media and the fans will be keeping a close eye on Rondo, and with his new weapons in Green, Wilcox, and Lee, look for some pretty incredible assists, and keep an eye on that ever-improving jump shot. The only players I see finishing ahead of Rondo this year are James, Durant, and maybe Paul.

1. The Celtics win the 2013 NBA finals
A real possibility (knock on wood - really, though, please do; I did) with our depth and recovering stars. I won't comment too much, because we really just have to see how everything plays out, but we're among the top 10 NBA teams, probably higher, and we have a real shot at the title. The key here, as he always is, is Doc Rivers.

[God]

Ummm, the Bleacher Report is pretty much the special Olympics of sports "journalism".

On the rare occasion that someone on it it has something substantial to say, I always go back to the fact that it's The Bleacher Report

[blastoidesroidsnoids]

salteasst they got the finals thing right, right?

[AB_Celtic]

Ummm, the Bleacher Report is pretty much the special Olympics of sports "journalism".

On the rare occasion that someone on it it has something substantial to say, I always go back to the fact that it's The Bleacher Report

Your point? It's an opinion piece... not sure what the problem you have with it is. I'm not claiming that the Celtics will win the NBA championship, just discussing the possibilities of it, and what would have to go right for it to happen. Also your "special Olympics" metaphor is pretty offensive. Maybe spend less time hating on a website that has done you no wrong and more time on learning common courtesies.

[indeedproceed]

First, I edited the topic title.

Second, no more allusions to the Special Olympics in a derogatory manner here. I know its a common joke, and a lot of places it goes unremarked, but we don't allow people to call things 'retarded' here either.

[indeedproceed]

I think the reason why people hate on Bleacher Report (me included) is because of the same reason I edited the thread title.

Bleacher Report is huge. Huge community, lots of good writers even.

But for every good writer, there are 10 bad ones, and their standards for reporting are ridiculously low, to non-existent.

Not that good stuff can't be found there, but everything that falls under the 'bleacher report' umbrella is a very mixed bag.

Its like if someone wrote a fanpost on Celticsblog and went to another website and put 'Rumor on Celticsblog'.

And why is EVERYTHING A FREAKIN SLIDE SHOW?! I HATE IT!

[tenn_smoothie]

"The key here, as he always is, is Doc Rivers."

no, the keys are:

#1 staying healthy and

#2 Jeff Green becoming a consistent, tough player (mentally & physically).

[God]

So my description of the bleacher report was spot on according to the moderator but my choice of words wasn't vanilla enough. Got it. Here's hoping I didn't insult the other flavors.

Moving forward

[mgent]

"The key here, as he always is, is Doc Rivers."

no, the keys are:

#1 staying healthy and

#2 Jeff Green becoming a consistent, tough player (mentally & physically).

In what universe is Jeff Green any where close in importance to Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo?

[More Banners]

"The key here, as he always is, is Doc Rivers."

no, the keys are:

#1 staying healthy and

#2 Jeff Green becoming a consistent, tough player (mentally & physically).

In what universe is Jeff Green any where close in importance to Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo?

Jeff isn't the player those guys are, but we need him to be an impact player this year.  NEED.  We know what to expect from the other guys, but Green's performance will be key.

Especially if he's a future starter.

[Rondooooooooo]

well pierce n kg have been consistant, so i'd say green's play is key because if he plays well along w/ the consistant play of our starters than we're really hard to beat.