Yahoo Writer Has Celtics Winning The Division

[guava_wrench]

my 6 reasons why the Celtics will at least make the playoffs

6. Jeff Green - He will continue to play where he left off last year. 2nd part of the 2nd half Green arrived with some amazing performances included the 43 point games vs the Heat. This year i expect at least 16 pts, 4-5 rebounds, 2-3 assists avg and several unreal performances

5. Avery Bradley - Last year he was 85-90 percent and in the end ran out of gas or his shoulder was reinjured it looked like. Bc also this is his contract year, i expect top notch defense coupled with more efficient offense.

4. Depth - From size to guard spots, alot more geared this year. No Bass having to be our center also. More skills upfront with Faverani, Hump and Brooks not wanting to be shunned onto the bench will provide scoring firepower

3. IQ, Motor, Youth. Especially from Sullinger and Olynyk. Though they won't block 3 shots a game combined, i expect excellent games from these two mature rookies. They were both all american 1st team players, last year Sully was a beast when he played and we saw exciting things from Olynyk during summer league where he was arguably the best player.

2. Rondos comeback - No Pierce and no KG. No more relying on the true and tested and no other choice but to trust/involve everyone else. In addition Rondo will probably want to score more for himself and that is a good thing bc he is a historically a high fg percentage shooter.  Still a triple double threat game in and game out but i expect him to not lead in assist this year and instead make quicker passes utilizing other players excellent passing skills. Just overall be more of a team guy or else score more than he usual has

1. Brad Stevens - Can't think of another college coach that has led a weak talented bunch high up in the regular season standings and deep into the tourney not once, twice but pretty much every year he has been coach. He knows the plays of the other teams, even the ones they only use on special occasions and he can identify it as the game goes along.  Unlike Doc who can identify it watching post game videos a few times. He is very good at getting his team excuting plays one possession at a time and getting his guys to work hard. The only unknown is how good he is in maximizing an individual players game. We will see

There are times when team are deep because their bench guys are almost as good as there starters. Then there are teams that are deep because the starters are almost as bad as the bench guys.

That being said, if Rondo is back to top form from day 1, who knows. But if Rondo isn't, we are a horrible team.

[guava_wrench]

News Flash: guy talking in bar has Celtics winning the division!

 

[LarBrd33]

He's high.  If we win more than 30 games this year, i'll be shocked.

[LarBrd33]

Boston won 41 games last year.  Brooklyn won 49.  We just lost our best defensive player and best offensive player to Brooklyn and this joker thinks we're winning the division.

[The Rondo Show]

Boston won 41 games last year.  Brooklyn won 49.  We just lost our best defensive player and best offensive player to Brooklyn and this joker thinks we're winning the division.

Exactly.

I refuse to write the Knicks off too (for the regular season at least) just because the best scorer in the NBA likes to shoot the ball.

[Tr1boy]

my 6 reasons why the Celtics will at least make the playoffs

6. Jeff Green - He will continue to play where he left off last year. 2nd part of the 2nd half Green arrived with some amazing performances included the 43 point games vs the Heat. This year i expect at least 16 pts, 4-5 rebounds, 2-3 assists avg and several unreal performances

5. Avery Bradley - Last year he was 85-90 percent and in the end ran out of gas or his shoulder was reinjured it looked like. Bc also this is his contract year, i expect top notch defense coupled with more efficient offense.

4. Depth - From size to guard spots, alot more geared this year. No Bass having to be our center also. More skills upfront with Faverani, Hump and Brooks not wanting to be shunned onto the bench will provide scoring firepower

3. IQ, Motor, Youth. Especially from Sullinger and Olynyk. Though they won't block 3 shots a game combined, i expect excellent games from these two mature rookies. They were both all american 1st team players, last year Sully was a beast when he played and we saw exciting things from Olynyk during summer league where he was arguably the best player.

2. Rondos comeback - No Pierce and no KG. No more relying on the true and tested and no other choice but to trust/involve everyone else. In addition Rondo will probably want to score more for himself and that is a good thing bc he is a historically a high fg percentage shooter.  Still a triple double threat game in and game out but i expect him to not lead in assist this year and instead make quicker passes utilizing other players excellent passing skills. Just overall be more of a team guy or else score more than he usual has

1. Brad Stevens - Can't think of another college coach that has led a weak talented bunch high up in the regular season standings and deep into the tourney not once, twice but pretty much every year he has been coach. He knows the plays of the other teams, even the ones they only use on special occasions and he can identify it as the game goes along.  Unlike Doc who can identify it watching post game videos a few times. He is very good at getting his team excuting plays one possession at a time and getting his guys to work hard. The only unknown is how good he is in maximizing an individual players game. We will see

There are times when team are deep because their bench guys are almost as good as there starters. Then there are teams that are deep because the starters are almost as bad as the bench guys.

That being said, if Rondo is back to top form from day 1, who knows. But if Rondo isn't, we are a horrible team.

Even without Rondo there is light. Last year without Rondo the team made it into the playoffs and i vividly remember with him, the team was really bad and went on that horrific losing streak(s). Not all Rondo's fault but my point is the team functions different without him for the good and the bad.

Without him, bradley and lee again come in and terrorize opponents defensively. The team relies on three other excellent passing players in Sully, Oly and Green also.  And we do have some darkhorse backups in Pressey and Brooks. Pressey is a pure pg, just without much nba experience and could be a hit or miss in his first year and Brooks is a score first guard but def can handle and pass it. Chances are dimmer without Rondo but not impossible. 

[bballee]

Yes, "interesting" is one word to describe it.  His premise is that the knicks will implode (very possible in my opinion) but he makes no mention of Brooklyn. Brooklyn is going to be a very good team in my opinion and should win the division.

In terms of the Celtics, he is saying Rondo and Green can carry the team to the top of the division.  I don't know about that.  I just don't see enough talent.

Here is the writer' Bio:

Craig Pisani

Craig is a two time graduate from the College of Staten Island, earning Bachelor degrees in both Cinema Studies as well as English with a writing concentration. He graduated at the top of his class, receiving the Elliot Rubenstein Memorial award at graduation. He has also excelled in the game of pool, winning multiple Staten Island championships and captaining a team to 65th place out of 615 teams during national competition in Las Vegas

Yeah, not much credibility there.

Maybe he meant in pool?

[CelticConcourse]

I have the Celtics winning the championship.

We can do anything if we put our heart's to it.

Rondo is an All-Star and can be an All-Defensive candidate.
Wallace was an All-Star just a few years ago.
Green can emerge into an All-Star this year.
Lee was a top-10 SG in the league last year.
Bass is a top midrange jump-shooter in the league and a top SF-defender.
Humphries was a double-double machine a few years ago.
Sullinger can emerge into a double-double machine this year.
Bradley is a DPOY and first team All-Defensive candidate.
Bogans can be a solid backup shooting guard and locker room leader.
Faverani can develop into a solid backup center.
Pressey can be a solid backup point guard.
Olynyk can be a solid backup power forward.
Brooks can be a solid backup shooting guard.
Crawford can be a solid microwave.
Brad Stevens is a coach who knows how to win.

I see big things with this team, and I believe we can contend for our eighteenth chip this year despite the critics! Celtics to the end.

[gpap]

I have the Celtics winning the championship.

We can do anything if we put our heart's to it.

Rondo is an All-Star and can be an All-Defensive candidate.
Wallace was an All-Star just a few years ago.
Green can emerge into an All-Star this year.
Lee was a top-10 SG in the league last year.
Bass is a top midrange jump-shooter in the league and a top SF-defender.
Humphries was a double-double machine a few years ago.
Sullinger can emerge into a double-double machine this year.
Bradley is a DPOY and first team All-Defensive candidate.
Bogans can be a solid backup shooting guard and locker room leader.
Faverani can develop into a solid backup center.
Pressey can be a solid backup point guard.
Olynyk can be a solid backup power forward.
Brooks can be a solid backup shooting guard.
Crawford can be a solid microwave.
Brad Stevens is a coach who knows how to win.

I see big things with this team, and I believe we can contend for our eighteenth chip this year despite the critics! Celtics to the end.

I like your style 

For me, this is a very hard season to gauge regarding wins.

Seriously, I think we could be as bad as 20 wins and as good as 50 wins.

Take out Miami, Indiana and Chicago and the East is anybody's ball game. I am also nowhere close to being sold on the New York teams like others are.

So for me, the Celtics winning the Atlantic Division is not that hard to fathom.

[satch]

I have the Celtics winning the championship.

We can do anything if we put our heart's to it.

Rondo is an All-Star and can be an All-Defensive candidate.
Wallace was an All-Star just a few years ago.
Green can emerge into an All-Star this year.
Lee was a top-10 SG in the league last year.
Bass is a top midrange jump-shooter in the league and a top SF-defender.
Humphries was a double-double machine a few years ago.
Sullinger can emerge into a double-double machine this year.           
Bradley is a DPOY and first team All-Defensive candidate.

You left out one.......a-roid  never used steroids.
Bogans can be a solid backup shooting guard and locker room leader.
Faverani can develop into a solid backup center.
Pressey can be a solid backup point guard.
Olynyk can be a solid backup power forward.
Brooks can be a solid backup shooting guard.
Crawford can be a solid microwave.
Brad Stevens is a coach who knows how to win.

I see big things with this team, and I believe we can contend for our eighteenth chip this year despite the critics! Celtics to the end.

[dark_lord]

I have the Celtics winning the championship.

We can do anything if we put our heart's to it.

Rondo is an All-Star and can be an All-Defensive candidate.
Wallace was an All-Star just a few years ago.
Green can emerge into an All-Star this year.
Lee was a top-10 SG in the league last year.
Bass is a top midrange jump-shooter in the league and a top SF-defender.
Humphries was a double-double machine a few years ago.
Sullinger can emerge into a double-double machine this year.
Bradley is a DPOY and first team All-Defensive candidate.
Bogans can be a solid backup shooting guard and locker room leader.
Faverani can develop into a solid backup center.
Pressey can be a solid backup point guard.
Olynyk can be a solid backup power forward.
Brooks can be a solid backup shooting guard.
Crawford can be a solid microwave.
Brad Stevens is a coach who knows how to win.

I see big things with this team, and I believe we can contend for our eighteenth chip this year despite the critics! Celtics to the end.

edit

[BASS_THUMPER]

i agree about Green
this is his break out season
he seems to step up when he has too
now he has no choice but too
make or break

[CelticConcourse]

I have the Celtics winning the championship.

We can do anything if we put our heart's to it.

Rondo is an All-Star and can be an All-Defensive candidate.
Wallace was an All-Star just a few years ago.
Green can emerge into an All-Star this year.
Lee was a top-10 SG in the league last year.
Bass is a top midrange jump-shooter in the league and a top SF-defender.
Humphries was a double-double machine a few years ago.
Sullinger can emerge into a double-double machine this year.
Bradley is a DPOY and first team All-Defensive candidate.
Bogans can be a solid backup shooting guard and locker room leader.
Faverani can develop into a solid backup center.
Pressey can be a solid backup point guard.
Olynyk can be a solid backup power forward.
Brooks can be a solid backup shooting guard.
Crawford can be a solid microwave.
Brad Stevens is a coach who knows how to win.

I see big things with this team, and I believe we can contend for our eighteenth chip this year despite the critics! Celtics to the end.

I like your style 

For me, this is a very hard season to gauge regarding wins.

Seriously, I think we could be as bad as 20 wins and as good as 50 wins.

Take out Miami, Indiana and Chicago and the East is anybody's ball game. I am also nowhere close to being sold on the New York teams like others are.

So for me, the Celtics winning the Atlantic Division is not that hard to fathom.

Agreed. I think we can fight it out with Brooklyn, Detroit, and Cleveland for the 4th seed. I just hope we don't turn into the Hawks of late...

[LarBrd33]

I have the Celtics winning the championship.

We can do anything if we put our heart's to it.

Rondo is an All-Star and can be an All-Defensive candidate.
Wallace was an All-Star just a few years ago.
Green can emerge into an All-Star this year.
Lee was a top-10 SG in the league last year.
Bass is a top midrange jump-shooter in the league and a top SF-defender.
Humphries was a double-double machine a few years ago.
Sullinger can emerge into a double-double machine this year.
Bradley is a DPOY and first team All-Defensive candidate.
Bogans can be a solid backup shooting guard and locker room leader.
Faverani can develop into a solid backup center.
Pressey can be a solid backup point guard.
Olynyk can be a solid backup power forward.
Brooks can be a solid backup shooting guard.
Crawford can be a solid microwave.
Brad Stevens is a coach who knows how to win.

I see big things with this team, and I believe we can contend for our eighteenth chip this year despite the critics! Celtics to the end.

I don't get it... if you're gonna to go all-in on crazytown, you might as well also overreact to Kelly Olynyk's summer league performance and call him a future all-star.

Odd choice.

[GreenEnvy]

I have the Celtics winning the championship.

We can do anything if we put our heart's to it.

Rondo is an All-Star and can be an All-Defensive candidate.
Wallace was an All-Star just a few years ago.
Green can emerge into an All-Star this year.
Lee was a top-10 SG in the league last year.
Bass is a top midrange jump-shooter in the league and a top SF-defender.
Humphries was a double-double machine a few years ago.
Sullinger can emerge into a double-double machine this year.
Bradley is a DPOY and first team All-Defensive candidate.
Bogans can be a solid backup shooting guard and locker room leader.
Faverani can develop into a solid backup center.
Pressey can be a solid backup point guard.
Olynyk can be a solid backup power forward.
Brooks can be a solid backup shooting guard.
Crawford can be a solid microwave.
Brad Stevens is a coach who knows how to win.

I see big things with this team, and I believe we can contend for our eighteenth chip this year despite the critics! Celtics to the end.

I don't get it... if you're gonna to go all-in on crazytown, you might as well also overreact to Kelly Olynyk's summer league performance and call him a future all-star.

Odd choice.

Isiah Thomas picked him to win Rookie of the Year.

Lol.