ESPN predicts Celtics to finish #12 in the East.

[lightspeed5]

Let me say this and i'm sure it will upset your dreams, but Wiggins is not the next nba megastar. Not at the level of lebron, durant. Not now anyways. I've seen 2 usa vs world games and he has a shaky jump shot, passive on the court, defense is not shut down. The best thing i saw from him is his ability to slash to the basket for layups, Jeff Green style.

He has ways to go before its time to get really excited. 

Imo its better to root and cheer for this upcoming group that will represent the celts team in 2013-2014. We have a chance to make the playoffs. Than the year after we have chance to seed higher, etc.

[lightspeed5]

Frankly, I think it's more 'amazing' that you can simply disregard so much neigh-unanimous evidence from people who are more qualified to assess basketball potential.

If you went to  a hundred doctors and they all said "this looks like lymphoma," I don't think you'd say "that's ridiculous, I can clearly tell it's just a sore throat."

Could it be a sore throat?

Maybe.

Odds are, its lymphoma.

I've heard , i've seen clips, i've read and i saw those two big us vs world games. And he is not the spectacular next big thing from what i saw. Not yet or if ever he will be. If you watch the games objectively yourself you will understand. Parker , saric , schroeder were better than wiggins. These guys had better feel for the game, knew how to involve their teammates, played positionally sound defense , just made the impact necessary to help a team win. Wiggins was a "winger" and not the total package.

Scouts drool over his ability to fly over 2 guys for a layup, and lots can happen from 15 to college to the nba. There is a reason rarely guys can leapfrog hs onto the nba and succeed. And these guys like kg and lebron dont need alot more development bc they are complete players first and foremost unlike mr wiggins right now

wiggins skillset is more than just dunking ability. but nice to see you came to a conclusion after watching 1 hoop mixtape.

[Galeto]

Also FWIW, LeBron was far from a complete player his first couple seasons with the Cavs. The scouting report on him coming to the league was that he couldn't shoot the J with any consistency, wasn't a great free throw shooter, and was apathetic on defense... and all that ignores the fact that even LeBron James, far and away the best player in the NBA right now, didn't hit the post-season until his third season in the league. In the East.

What is this supposed to mean?  That it even takes one player a long time to turn a franchise around?  Three years is actually a very short rebuilding time for a franchise that won 17 games to earn the number 1 pick.  Lebron was already a great player by his second season at the age of 20.  Cleveland went from 17 to 35 wins in his rookie season and then finished above .500 at 42-40 but still missed the playoffs. They went from 17 wins to 50 wins in three years because of a 21 year old player.  That's insane.

[rondoallaturca]

Also FWIW, LeBron was far from a complete player his first couple seasons with the Cavs. The scouting report on him coming to the league was that he couldn't shoot the J with any consistency, wasn't a great free throw shooter, and was apathetic on defense... and all that ignores the fact that even LeBron James, far and away the best player in the NBA right now, didn't hit the post-season until his third season in the league. In the East.

What is this supposed to mean?  That it even takes one player a long time to turn a franchise around?  Three years is actually a very short rebuilding time for a franchise that won 17 games to earn the number 1 pick.  Lebron was already a great player by his second season at the age of 20.  Cleveland went from 17 to 35 wins in his rookie season and then finished above .500 at 42-40 but still missed the playoffs. They went from 17 wins to 50 wins in three years because of a 21 year old player.  That's insane.

Not to mention the quality of supporting casts Lebron had... yuck. The fact that he could carry those types of teams as far as the Finals that early into his career is a testament to how gifted he truly is.

[lightspeed5]

or the fact that he made Mo freakin Williams an all-star one year.

[Celtics18]

There's a big difference between having the potential to be the next Lebron James or Dwayne Wade and actually becoming the next Lebron James or Dwayne Wade.

I've seen the clips and read the scouting reports on both Wiggins and Parker, and they are very impressive.  However, the only real game that I've seen them play in was last year's Hoop Summit game.  And, to be honest, neither of them looked as dominant or as NBA ready as I had expected.

As a matter of fact, the three best players in that game were non-lottery picks in this year's supposedly weak draft.

That doesn't mean that I don't think that Parker an Wiggins (or Randle, Gordon and Harrison) will be very good to great NBA players one day, but I'll definitely reserve my judgment on naming them sure fire hall of farmers. 

[Tr1boy]

There's a big difference between having the potential to be the next Lebron James or Dwayne Wade and actually becoming the next Lebron James or Dwayne Wade.

I've seen the clips and read the scouting reports on both Wiggins and Parker, and they are very impressive.  However, the only real game that I've seen them play in was last year's Hoop Summit game.  And, to be honest, neither of them looked as dominant or as NBA ready as I had expected.

As a matter of fact, the three best players in that game were non-lottery picks in this year's supposedly weak draft.

That doesn't mean that I don't think that Parker an Wiggins (or Randle, Gordon and Harrison) will be very good to great NBA players one day, but I'll definitely reserve my judgment on naming them sure fire hall of farmers.

Dont tell some of these guys here as they believe mass scouts have already declared him a nba legend.

[Tr1boy]

Celts may be as bad as 12th place but right now thats not the plan. If it were or will be, green, rondo, ab will be traded and they also help the celts get rid of wallace, lee and possibly bass and their salaries.

If the team becomes that skeleton than we will be almost the same as pre season tank ready 76rs and prepare for a high 2014 pick.

But before dec-feb, im excited and  interested to see what this group can do. If we are 5-10 games above 500 by then, who knows, danny might even acquire another key vet to help us for the playoff push. As for tanking for wigging or parker etc., nobody even knows they wont stay longer than one year in college and they are not basketball gods anytime soon

[slamtheking]

Three sub-.500 teams making the playoffs in the East? Wow.

I saw that too and that just shot down any credibility these people had.  There's enough talent in the East this year to have every playoff team with a winning record (and possibly the next team or 2 that misses the playoffs)

C's in the 12th spot looks right.  might make 11 depending on how Toronto does.

[nickagneta]

I think the amount of wins might be a bit low, but not by much. Thing is though, even if the C's win just 32 games, with the amount of bad teams in the east and the amount of bad teams that will start tanking after about 30-40% of the season is gone, I think the ESPN placement at 12th is low. I could see a 9th or 10th place finish for the C's with 32 wins.

Teams I expect to be worse than the C's in the East:

Charlotte
Orlando
Toronto
Philadelphia

and then maybe Milwaukee or Cleveland depending on how some things fall out(Milwaukee chemistry, Cleveland injuries).

[Tr1boy]

I think the amount of wins might be a bit low, but not by much. Thing is though, even if the C's win just 32 games, with the amount of bad teams in the east and the amount of bad teams that will start tanking after about 30-40% of the season is gone, I think the ESPN placement at 12th is low. I could see a 9th or 10th place finish for the C's with 32 wins.

Teams I expect to be worse than the C's in the East:

Charlotte
Orlando
Toronto
Philadelphia

and then maybe Milwaukee or Cleveland depending on how some things fall out(Milwaukee chemistry, Cleveland injuries).

- The bucks have no pure pg
- bynum is coming back from a major injury and i doubt will be healthy all year or effective as he once was. Same kind of issue with verejao considering his age.
- wiz have similiar issue with nene and jury is still out if wall can lead the team

This all means celts have a good chance to hang or overleap these teams

[manl_lui]

can Celtics basketball be back already , The Pats are already back, now 2 more months til Celtics start!!

[syfy9]

I think the amount of wins might be a bit low, but not by much. Thing is though, even if the C's win just 32 games, with the amount of bad teams in the east and the amount of bad teams that will start tanking after about 30-40% of the season is gone, I think the ESPN placement at 12th is low. I could see a 9th or 10th place finish for the C's with 32 wins.

Teams I expect to be worse than the C's in the East:

Charlotte
Orlando
Toronto
Philadelphia

and then maybe Milwaukee or Cleveland depending on how some things fall out(Milwaukee chemistry, Cleveland injuries).

- The bucks have no pure pg
- bynum is coming back from a major injury and i doubt will be healthy all year or effective as he once was. Same kind of issue with verejao considering his age.
- wiz have similiar issue with nene and jury is still out if wall can lead the team

This all means celts have a good chance to hang or overleap these teams

- Rondo is coming back from a major injury and I doubt he will be healthy all year or effective as he once was.

[mgent]

I don't see how the Celtics could possibly do any worse than the Sixers of last year (34 wins).

Rondo > Holiday
Green = Young
Bass = Hawes
Bradley = Turner
Sullinger = Lavoy Allen

[TheTruthFot18]

I don't see how the Celtics could possibly do any worse than the Sixers of last year (34 wins).

Rondo > Holiday
Green = Young
Bass = Hawes
Bradley = Turner
Sullinger = Lavoy Allen

Sad for Turner, he might still have a bright future.

I think Hawes> Bass and Green > Young (even though I like him). I'd even say Sully has the upper hand but both have more to prove this season.