I think the season is just about over

[TwinTower14]

Rondo's continued absence has been very disappointing. Expected him back by now. I think the team has been waiting for him and has been running out of steam / optimism over the last few weeks.

It's a pity. This team would be a lot more fun to watch with Rondo on the floor. Hopefully he'll make it back sometime soon before even more of the season is wasted.

don't hold your breathe on Rondo coming back, he is taking the Rose route. I would say another 4-6 weeks at least. 

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

Top three pick - I'm absolutely fine with that. The young guys are already getting loads of experience this seasons, you can see the growth. They can get all the playoff experience they want, and they will, over the next two seasons.

We're still unlikely to get a top 3 pick even if the season falls apart from here out.

Maybe so, but we're only 6 games better than the worst team in the league (Milwaukee). Yeah, the Cs should get better after Rondo returns, but they still be a few weeks off, and Boston could sink more between now and then, and maybe Danny will pull off a trade or two that will make the Cs worse this season, even if Rondo is still around.

I don't want to see a "losing culture" develop with any of our guys, and I always want my team to win (strictly speaking), but I'd be totally cool with seeing the young bucks continue to develop AND have the team land a top-10 pick in the draft, because there's no way the current roster does any better than first-round playoff exit, which in a way is worse because it keeps the team out of the lottery. I'm totally fine (in theory, at least) with our guys getting some playoff experience this year, but what's better in the long run—a 4- or 5-game loss to the Heat or Pacers, or a top-10 pick in this year's draft? I say the draft.

[LarBrd33]

Top three pick - I'm absolutely fine with that. The young guys are already getting loads of experience this seasons, you can see the growth. They can get all the playoff experience they want, and they will, over the next two seasons.

We're still unlikely to get a top 3 pick even if the season falls apart from here out.

Maybe so, but we're only 6 games better than the worst team in the league (Milwaukee). Yeah, the Cs should get better after Rondo returns, but they still be a few weeks off, and Boston could sink more between now and then, and maybe Danny will pull off a trade or two that will make the Cs worse this season, even if Rondo is still around.

I don't want to see a "losing culture" develop with any of our guys, and I always want my team to win (strictly speaking), but I'd be totally cool with seeing the young bucks continue to develop AND have the team land a top-10 pick in the draft, because there's no way the current roster does any better than first-round playoff exit, which in a way is worse because it keeps the team out of the lottery. I'm totally fine (in theory, at least) with our guys getting some playoff experience this year, but what's better in the long run—a 4- or 5-game loss to the Heat or Pacers, or a top-10 pick in this year's draft? I say the draft.

Also... don't worry about developing a "losing culture". That's a myth that celticsbloggers tell in an attempt to scare fellow posters.  It's like the boogie man.  History proves talent finds a way.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkWeMvrNiOM

[Fafnir]

6 games is a lot. Especially when there are 9 teams with current records worse than the C's.

Even playing .200 ball from here on out would give us a 24ish wins.

[Neurotic Guy]

Yup, knew we were over achieving but when you look around the Knicks and Nets look to be rounding into form. We could very well come out of this stretch 0-5 it might be time soon to trade Hump (seems the only guy teams would want) and just bottom out.

Look to be rounding into form?

Nets are 3-7 the last ten games and had lost two games in a row before coming back from a big deficit against OKC

Knicks are 4-6 the last 10 games and had lost 3 in a row (without Melo but still) before beating OKC last night.

Don't let 1 win make you think they're doing much.

Yes, last night was bizarro-world with Nets beating OKC and Knicks beating the Spurs.  Two of the least in the East beat two of the best in the West with both West teams at home.  One good win does not a trend make.

[Onslaught]

Great time to be a Celtics fan

I think it is. I like watching a few of our young guys play and as long as they're trying hard then I'm ok with a L at the end of the night. To tell you the truth I was sick of the older team goofing off during the regular season and then trying to "flip the switch" in the playoffs. We all saw how well that turned out.

We lost two hall of fame players and our starting PG has been out all season. Did anyone think this team would do really well this year?

[Neurotic Guy]

Rondo's continued absence has been very disappointing. Expected him back by now. I think the team has been waiting for him and has been running out of steam / optimism over the last few weeks.

It's a pity. This team would be a lot more fun to watch with Rondo on the floor. Hopefully he'll make it back sometime soon before even more of the season is wasted.

don't hold your breathe on Rondo coming back, he is taking the Rose route. I would say another 4-6 weeks at least.

The speculation of Rondo's return by those of us who are not in the know is futile.  I would not be shocked if Rondo stay's out longer due to the team's downward trend; but I would be equally unshocked if he returns in 2-3 weeks. 

I don't think any of us really know what is going on in Rondo's, Stevens', and Ainge's heads.  If I were a betting person, I'd bet that Rondo wants to get back ASAP and Stevens would be glad to have him.

[Sketch5]

Rondo's continued absence has been very disappointing. Expected him back by now. I think the team has been waiting for him and has been running out of steam / optimism over the last few weeks.

It's a pity. This team would be a lot more fun to watch with Rondo on the floor. Hopefully he'll make it back sometime soon before even more of the season is wasted.

It would be a pity to watch Rondo go down with an other injury like Rose did. Yes he's not Rose, but he's not Peterson either.

I expected January/February at the earliest.When the reports of Oct or Nov first popped up, my wife said, "not likely, even healed he's going to be weak, and the good leg is going to need rest."

Plus if Rondo comes back now with this team, say good by to any top 3 chances. Im hoping that DA holds on to some of the guys and uses them on draft night along with some of the picks to pick up Parker. That guy so far looks legit, killer instincts, which is what Im not sure that Wiggins has right now, and we know what that is like in a player like Green.

[dreamgreen]

Great time to be a Celtics fan

I think it is. I like watching a few of our young guys play and as long as they're trying hard then I'm ok with a L at the end of the night. To tell you the truth I was sick of the older team goofing off during the regular season and then trying to "flip the switch" in the playoffs. We all saw how well that turned out.

We lost two hall of fame players and our starting PG has been out all season. Did anyone think this team would do really well this year?

This.

Like to see Sully to continue his upward progress and get KO in there getting better. I actually enjoy watching a young team learn and build. Just cross our fingers we get a good pick.

[Celtics18]

The fact that they won 13 without Rondo is surprising alone.  This team was garbage on paper.  Credit Stevens and the players for wildly overachieving.

They could still surprise us and continue winning.  NOt sure how good of a thing that would be.  I think we're best off if we miss the playoffs and get a top pick.  But at this point, I wouldnt' be shocked to see us make the playoffs with 35 wins, get owned by Indiana in round 1 and end up with the #15 pick in the draft.

But if they fall apart this month.. it should surprise absolutely nobody other than Celtics18.  He's consistently picked "over" on this team and thus far... he's pretty much been right.

Thanks for that.  I'm a little nervous about this upcoming road trip myself. 

Sully's playing with one hand, Rondo's taking longer than I expected, and the stress of trying to keep it together seems to be starting to show. 

A win against the Pellies tonight would be a huge step towards keeping this team afloat. 

[Quetzalcoatl]

Knicks are 4-6 the last 10 games and had lost 3 in a row (without Melo but still) before beating OKC last night.

4-6 is .400 and the current 8 seed is the .419 Bulls.  We're just a game back at .409.  The Knicks are literally in Eastern Conference Playoff form right now.

[Spicoli]

I enjoy seeing the losses pile up for the Celtics and Hawks. I believe in order to make trades you need assets and to get assets you have to have good draft picks. If the C's land the number 2 or 3 pick in the draft, that might be enough to trade for Kevin Love. Can't get a player of Love's caliber without the assets.

[alley oop]

Yup, knew we were over achieving but when you look around the Knicks and Nets look to be rounding into form. We could very well come out of this stretch 0-5 it might be time soon to trade Hump (seems the only guy teams would want) and just bottom out.

Look to be rounding into form?

Nets are 3-7 the last ten games and had lost two games in a row before coming back from a big deficit against OKC

Knicks are 4-6 the last 10 games and had lost 3 in a row (without Melo but still) before beating OKC last night.

Don't let 1 win make you think they're doing much.

It the depends on the health of Deron Williams. Last night he played like an all-star, scoring 29 pts, hitting 6 3-pointers, and had 5 steals . He said before the game he's been playing hurt.

[LarBrd33]

The fact that they won 13 without Rondo is surprising alone.  This team was garbage on paper.  Credit Stevens and the players for wildly overachieving.

They could still surprise us and continue winning.  NOt sure how good of a thing that would be.  I think we're best off if we miss the playoffs and get a top pick.  But at this point, I wouldnt' be shocked to see us make the playoffs with 35 wins, get owned by Indiana in round 1 and end up with the #15 pick in the draft.

But if they fall apart this month.. it should surprise absolutely nobody other than Celtics18.  He's consistently picked "over" on this team and thus far... he's pretty much been right.

Thanks for that.  I'm a little nervous about this upcoming road trip myself. 

Sully's playing with one hand, Rondo's taking longer than I expected, and the stress of trying to keep it together seems to be starting to show. 

A win against the Pellies tonight would be a huge step towards keeping this team afloat.

You were one of the few people who believed this team could make the playoffs this year.  That said, weren't your expectations based on Gerald Wallace, Humphries and Rondo?... You certainly weren't counting on Jordan Crawford... nor did you expect that the Knicks/Brooklyn and the majority of the Leastern conference would be a disaster.

Still... kudos to now.  We are a half game out of the playoffs.  I thought we'd be a lock for the bottom 5. 

[j804]

Yup, knew we were over achieving but when you look around the Knicks and Nets look to be rounding into form. We could very well come out of this stretch 0-5 it might be time soon to trade Hump (seems the only guy teams would want) and just bottom out.

Look to be rounding into form?

Nets are 3-7 the last ten games and had lost two games in a row before coming back from a big deficit against OKC

Knicks are 4-6 the last 10 games and had lost 3 in a row (without Melo but still) before beating OKC last night.

Don't let 1 win make you think they're doing much.

well judging how bad the east is and how they've looked previously they're probably only going to get better, Pierce is finally getting his legs under him D Will more aggressive. same for the Knicks in Chandler getting healthier also doubt Shumpert and JR will continue to struggle all year.