With the current roster, is the Celts a playoff team??

[rondoallaturca]

I have those five as locks too.

Then I have Washington and Toronto ahead of the trailing pack.

With Milwaukee, Cleveland and Boston in the next tier fighting for that 8th seed. Looks like Milwaukee might pull away from this group but have to wait and see how they fill out their bench first.

Oh and Atlanta, I forgot Atlanta, they added Millsap since I last thought about these rankings. Not sure where the rest of their roster is but they still have cap space and positions to fill so they could climb here. They are probably in that MIL-CLE-BOS tier at least and have a good chance (after they fill out the rest of their roster) at surpassing that group and winning that 8th seed.

Then there is Detroit and Charlotte.

Below them at the bottom of the East - Philly and Orlando.

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Right now, I'd say Boston is most likely to finish somewhere around 10th in the East.

I agree with this, although I think 11th would be appropriate. Either way, everyone in the West is going to be better than the bottom 5 of the East outside of Phoenix. Even if we're 10th or 11th, that's should place us as a bottom 5 or 6 team in the league.

For the person who says to take into consideration things going wrong for other teams (I'm assuming injuries?), let's not forget that Boston hasn't exactly been able to avoid injuries itself. That's not a factor that should be considered because every team is prone to it.

[bfrombleacher]

Nope, probably not.

I don't think they are that far off though.

you have the locks

Brooklyn
Miami
Indy
Chi
Knicks

but then what??

I'm not saying Celtics are better but have just as good as chance as Detroit (no pg), Atl (no go to scorer), Wash (?), 76rs (no), Bucks (didn't get better), Charlotte (no), raptors (no pg).

So unless there are a team or two deemed locks outside of the 5 listed above, its anybodys game.

I think ppl are discounting the job Wallace and Humphries did for Brooklyn last year. Trust me it was not all Deron Williams and Brook Lopez. Outside of Joe Johnson, guys like Wallace and Humphries did a very good job to help that brooklyn get the 4th seed

I have those five as locks too.

Then I have Washington and Toronto ahead of the trailing pack.

With Milwaukee, Cleveland and Boston in the next tier fighting for that 8th seed. Looks like Milwaukee might pull away from this group but have to wait and see how they fill out their bench first.

Oh and Atlanta, I forgot Atlanta, they added Millsap since I last thought about these rankings. Not sure where the rest of their roster is but they still have cap space and positions to fill so they could climb here. They are probably in that MIL-CLE-BOS tier at least and have a good chance (after they fill out the rest of their roster) at surpassing that group and winning that 8th seed.

Then there is Detroit and Charlotte.

Below them at the bottom of the East - Philly and Orlando.

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Right now, I'd say Boston is most likely to finish somewhere around 10th in the East.

That's the thing. It's such a crapfest in the East one or two things going wrong could mean playoffs for the C's.

And expecting one or two things to go wrong is being optimistic.

Yeah, they need to blow up the roster more if they are are hoping for a top 5 draft pick. As it stands now, I think they are most likely to end up with an 8-12th pick.

It doesn't look like Danny wants to do that though. So why not upgrade the roster a little bit and let the team put up a stronger fight for one of those final playoff spots. Please Danny, do one (blow it up more) or the other (fight for 8th seed). Don't just stand still.

Wallace's massive contract is sitting there awkwardly.

Making the playoffs is an off chance though. Although from everything that's been reported, Rondo looks like he'll be back by opening night while Sully seems like he's where AB was last year (so...Christmas?), chemistry and adjustments by Stevens will be issues.

9-12th is still the lottery. Considering how much weaker the East is compared to the West, this may mean being closer to being the 10th rather than the 15th as far as the number of lottery balls go.

It's not amazing but it's prudent to stay put imo.

If they manage to squeak into the playoffs, sure there'd be some luck involved, but it'd also possibly mean that one or more of the young guys are playing unexpectedly well. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing at all.

[rondoallaturca]

Looks like Atlanta is about to seal a deal with Ellis. Obviously not considering injuries, there's a lock for the top 6 in the East now. Considering how Detroit has approached this offseason, I wouldn't be surprised for them to make another splash and challenge Washington for the 7th and 8th seed. After that, Cleveland, Milwaukee, and Toronto all have a very realistic chance of finishing above us. Charlotte, Orlando, and Philly are probably finishing below us. Taking into consideration Phoenix in the West, our chances of getting a top 5 lottery pick are getting better by the day.

[Who]

Looks like Atlanta is about to seal a deal with Ellis.

I don't like that move for Atlanta. I don't like Lou Williams and Monta Ellis together. Too many similar strengths and flaws. I don't think they will work well together.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3-eavMSBnk

Lol, no.  This team is going to win 25-38 with a healthy Rondo... less than 25 without him.

sounds about right to me.

[TripleOT]

Playoff locks: Miami, Nets, Knicks, Indy, Chicago

Playoff probables: Atlanta

Fighting for the 7th and 8th spots, in order of strength:  Washington, Toronto, Detroit, Bucks, Celtics, Cavs.

Hopeless: Philly, Orlando, Charlotte.

The Wiz were a .500 team with Wall playing last season.  the should be a 41 win team if he stays healthy.  The Tor, Det, Mil, Bos, Cle teams are all close, and any of them could grab the last playoff spot, and any could easily be a 20 win team with an injury or two. Toronto were a .500 team since trading for Rudy Gay.  Detroit added Josh Smith, and if they can figure out how to play three non-shooters in the front court, could be a .500 team. The Cavs could jump above these teams if they sign Bynum and he can actually get on the court. The Bucks are the Bucks, so you know they'll be fighting for the eighth spot. 

Of the three hapless teams, Charlotte is the most likely to contend for the last playoff spot.  If they can get solid post play from Al Jefferson all year, and their young players like Walker MKG and Biyombo improve, they should  be decent.   

[The Playmaker]

41 wins last year but now...

-We're without Pierce and KG
-New coach, so adjustments for everyone
-We don't know how Rondo will be.

I'm sure Rondo will be fine but every player comes back from an injury differently.  Sully won't be back till Christmas I guess.  I really don't see how this team makes the playoffs.  I'm just hoping to see our young players progress, see Rondo back healthy and effective, and hope Stevens is our man.  That'll be a successful season for me.  Also hoping Green can take that next step and be a go to scorer for us.

[Vox_Populi]

I'm glad to see people aren't sleeping on Washington. I have no doubt in my mind Wall will be an All-Star next season.

[guava_wrench]

We are not a playoff team.

Rondo will be getting back into playing shape. Who knows when he will regain the quickness needed to get to the rim and who knows what his endurance will be like when the season starts. Sully is not yet allowed any contact. Wallace is near the end of his career.

If Rondo is back at full speed at the start of the season, then maybe, depending upon how bad the competition for the last spot is.

[D.o.s.]

Looks like Atlanta is about to seal a deal with Ellis.

I don't like that move for Atlanta. I don't like Lou Williams and Monta Ellis together. Too many similar strengths and flaws. I don't think they will work well together.

Not together, but I could see Williams coming off the bench as a sixth man and having ellis man the point--by virtue of keeping the ball in his hands. He's an underrated drive and dish passer when he's not pulling up for bad shots.

Ellis, Korver, Milsap and Horford aren't a bad group.

[wiley]

Nope, probably not.

I don't think they are that far off though.

you have the locks

Brooklyn
Miami
Indy
Chi
Knicks

but then what??

I'm not saying Celtics are better but have just as good as chance as Detroit (no pg), Atl (no go to scorer), Wash (?), 76rs (no), Bucks (didn't get better), Charlotte (no), raptors (no pg).

So unless there are a team or two deemed locks outside of the 5 listed above, its anybodys game.

I think ppl are discounting the job Wallace and Humphries did for Brooklyn last year. Trust me it was not all Deron Williams and Brook Lopez. Outside of Joe Johnson, guys like Wallace and Humphries did a very good job to help that brooklyn get the 4th seed

If healthy, I see Washington and Cleveland as locks.  With Atlanta edging he Bucks for the last spot.

[Smitty77]

Why are you listing duncan, hibbert etc. Olynyk is a pf in the nba. That is vs guys like monroe, al jefferson, josh smith, david west etc.

Alot of pfs are about 6'10 while olynyk is a legit 7 ft. Wingspan is mostly overrated. Only some know how to utilize it to their adv.

Sully will take on tyson chandler, gortats of the nba. He did a fantastic job on these guys. He can guard centers and rebound against the best

Oh right, because Monroe, KG, Josh Smith, David West, Zach Randolph, Millsap/Horford etc. etc. are such easy covers. not to mention the terrific help defense he'll be able to provide against the perimeter players, a point you conveniently ignored. imo, olynyk has to protect the paint and he has to guard bigs, whether that big is Marc Gasol or Zach Randolph, whether it's Monroe or Josh Smith, whether it's Horford or Millsap, whether it's Okafor or Nene, whether it's Melo or Chandler, whether it's Lebron or Bosh, whether it's Lopez or KG, etc. And i think he will do a bad-average job of it. He's not a star player who can do it all. Ainge pretty much said he doesn't expect Olynyk to be a star. He's a role player and his role is to score. On a good team, he'll come off the bench and provide a scoring spark from the post. But as far as anchoring a top-10 defense in the league? i don't see it.

And furthermore, if sullinger is our ONLY C, don't you think we're in trouble? And if we have to rely on Fab Melo, of all people, to be our backup center, don't you think we're in even deeper trouble? Olynyk will have to play minutes at the 5. And so will Bass and Humphries.

And wingspan is rated just fine. It helps high iq players and doesn't help low iq players. having short wingspan has never helped anyone on D.

Nice bit about wingspan being rated just fine.  I looked up Kevin Willis' stats because he's the only guy I can imagine whose wingspan was a full inch shorter than his barefoot height and I was shocked that his career average in blocks was only 0.5 and his career best was 0.8.  He was a 7-footer and a beast of an athlete and yet his career block percentage of 1.3 is the same as Pierce's.  A short wingspan is no joke.

Kevin Willis had a 22 year career in the NBA and averaged over 12 pts. and 8 rebounds for his career!!!!!!!!!!!!

[WeMadeIt17]

Its possible. If these guys play well. I mean we have proven guys on our team. Rondo,Jeff,Clee,Bass,Hump,Wallace,AB, and so on. This team could get an 8th seed in the east. You throw in guys like Brooks,Crawford, Kelly, and so on they could be a half decent team. To me though, this roster makes no sense. We are so heavy at the SG spot and PF spot. I mean look.

AB/Clee/Crawford/Brooks Feel like i a missing someone else.

Bass/Sully/Kelly/Hump/Randolph

Very strange. 

[CelticsFan9]

Miami
Indiana
Chicago
Brooklyn
New York

I think those five are locks to make the playoffs.

Philly and Orlando are definitely out.

I'd say Washington, Toronto, Atlanta, and Detroit have similar chances to make the playoffs based on their moves in the offseason/draft.

Charlotte has an outside shot, but they're Charlotte.  I'm sure MJ will find a way to screw it up.

I'm not even sure Milwaukee knows what it's doing.

I think Boston could make the playoffs, but I'm not as certain as I was before.

The hiring of Stevens makes me think they won't make it.

[rondoallaturca]

Playoff locks: Miami, Nets, Knicks, Indy, Chicago

Playoff probables: Atlanta

Fighting for the 7th and 8th spots, in order of strength:  Washington, Toronto, Detroit, Bucks, Celtics, Cavs.

Hopeless: Philly, Orlando, Charlotte.

The Wiz were a .500 team with Wall playing last season.  the should be a 41 win team if he stays healthy.  The Tor, Det, Mil, Bos, Cle teams are all close, and any of them could grab the last playoff spot, and any could easily be a 20 win team with an injury or two. Toronto were a .500 team since trading for Rudy Gay.  Detroit added Josh Smith, and if they can figure out how to play three non-shooters in the front court, could be a .500 team. The Cavs could jump above these teams if they sign Bynum and he can actually get on the court. The Bucks are the Bucks, so you know they'll be fighting for the eighth spot. 

Of the three hapless teams, Charlotte is the most likely to contend for the last playoff spot.  If they can get solid post play from Al Jefferson all year, and their young players like Walker MKG and Biyombo improve, they should  be decent.

I think this has been the best response yet. Concise, sensible, and realistic.

After the first six, I definitely agree that Washington, Toronto, Detroit, and Milwaukee have a better shot at making the playoffs as us. We're definitely going to be around Cleveland's level this year. Even if they're worse than us, combined with Philadelphia, Orlando, and Charlotte, we'd be about fifth worst team in the East, and likely the sixth worst team in the league (Phoenix).