Who will finish behind the Celtics this season?

[billysan]

There arent many teams out there with a chance to finish with a worse record than the Celtics this season. Some additions are Cleveland, The Nets, Orlando, and the Bobcats. I dont see the collapse of the Nets continuing and I think the Bobcats win 33 games or so which is way above the Celtics. Cavaliers and Magic? Who knows?

Pick three, I have the Kings, the Jazz and the Bucks.

This puts the Celtics in position to pick at number 4 which is very possible IMO. I know a lot of folks are predicting a playoff appearance as possible when Rondo returns. I just dont think we are there yet.

[saltlover]

No offense, but this isn't a very good poll if you're only going to limit it to three because you think the Celtics will pick 4th.  Assuming they don't make any trades to gut their roster, I'd have selected every option you listed.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I don't get the point of this poll at all.

[pokeKingCurtis]

I don't get the point of this poll at all.

To talk trash on the current roster.

[LatterDayCelticsfan]

methinks The Jazz, The 76ers and The Magic for sure From there who knows

[billysan]

I don't get the point of this poll at all.

Fair enough, I wont make excuses.

The point of the poll was to attempt to predict the teams that will be picking at the top of the draft and how the Celtics current record projects next to theirs. Also to generate discussion about roster comparison.

As to trashing anyone or the roster? Not so much. In fact I was going to point out that we have a much stronger and deeper roster than The Jazz, Bucks, Bobcats, Magic, 76'ers and Kings to be sure and anyone can probably could add a few more.

The point of that is to say that we will likely be picking (IMO) near the top of next years draft and are already way ahead of some of the teams possibly picking below us talentwise.

This due to having Rondo out for seemingly half the season and having a learning curve with Rookies Olynyk, Pressey and Faverani to deal with. Not to mention The other injuries we will have to deal with such as Olynyk at present.

[LarBrd33]

I don't know.  It doesn't look good.  There are a ton of teams tanking this year and we might be just good enough to avoid an elite prospect.... not good enough to make any noise in the playoffs.  We're headed towards NBA hell.  Perpetual mediocrity.  Last time this happened was during the Pierce/Walker era.  A decade of borderline relevance.

[BigAlTheFuture]

I'm gonna say Utah, Milwaukee, and Sactown.

[BigAlTheFuture]

And why do we need the worst record to get the top pick? Last time I checked, it's a lottery. As long as we're one of the bottom 7 teams in the league (which is guaranteed), we have a pretty good chance at a top 3 pick.

[Lucky17]

I will say all four, plus Orlando, Phoenix, and Cleveland (Irving injured).

[LooseCannon]

I'm going to say at least one team that people were predicting would make the playoffs.

[ssspence]

I'm going to say at least one team that people were predicting would make the playoffs.

that's a pretty loose approach, loose guy.

[LooseCannon]

I'm going to say at least one team that people were predicting would make the playoffs.

that's a pretty loose approach, loose guy.

Yes, it does.  How confident do you feel that all the teams you predicted before the season to make the playoffs will finish with more wins than the Celtics?

[317]

do the Jazz really have no talent? i feel like with there coaching staff they will make adjustments and improve and simply be to good to finish bottom 4

[LatterDayCelticsfan]

There is more to getting sucked into the the NBA's miasma of mediocrity than a stretch of middle of the first round draft picks, otherwise why are the Pacers near the top of the league and the Bucks near the bottom? There is so much basketball,  an actual draft lottery to be done, but even if we end up with God forbid, the 14th pick. We have a number of things going for us like: strong drafting that hits more than it misses, a clear minded GM, that for all intents and purposes has a clear picture in his mind what his title winning roster will look like, owners that let the experts get on with their areas of expertise, and so on. If we get a top 5 pick that's good, if not, its not the end of the world.