Celtics will be better than anticipated this year

[Celtics4ever]

Personally, I think that the game has suffered at every level from that approach, because instead of increasing the fitness of the best players, coaches go with the best athletes, who might never have played basketball before.  I'm not saying that the guys with skills are incredibly out of shape, but, and maybe this is just me, I'd much rather have skilled players; and when they get tired, guess what - that's what a bench is for.  I know, what a radical concept (sarcasm). 

It has but usually you don't see this past college.

The best players are skilled athletes.   That has never changed.   For all the talk of Bird, not being athletic, he had a computer mind and superior court vision and some of the best hand eye coordination of anyone who ever played.  But he is not the norm.   Being skilled is simply not enough if you do not have something else to couple it with.  I have seen skilled kids who could shoot that can't create space and get blocked.   An athlete who is just an athlete is just as bad but they tend to thrive on defense at least.

[GetLucky]

Personally, I think that the game has suffered at every level from that approach, because instead of increasing the fitness of the best players, coaches go with the best athletes, who might never have played basketball before.  I'm not saying that the guys with skills are incredibly out of shape, but, and maybe this is just me, I'd much rather have skilled players; and when they get tired, guess what - that's what a bench is for.  I know, what a radical concept (sarcasm). 

It has but usually you don't see this past college.

The best players are skilled athletes.   That has never changed.   For all the talk of Bird, not being athletic, he had a computer mind and superior court vision and some of the best hand eye coordination of anyone who ever played.  But he is not the norm.   Being skilled is simply not enough if you do not have something else to couple it with.  I have seen skilled kids who could shoot that can't create space and get blocked.   An athlete who is just an athlete is just as bad but they tend to thrive on defense at least.

TP for the good insight. This goes back to what a local youth coach in my area absolutely preaches to everyone (1st graders all the way up to college)- The best players are in the best shape. All the athletes are in great shape more easily than others, and their fitness levels are more tangible for people. However, even Larry with his "white man ups" and amazing gifts alike worked his butt off during the offseason to get into shape with cardio and other physical aspects.

[suseego]

We are making the playoffs.

Anything else is just gravy over a nice bed of linguini and fettuccini.


40 win season.
Jeff green 20 PPG
Rondo Comeback player of the year
Sully improves
Kelly improves
Smart in the running for ROY

Stevens in the running for coach of the year

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7fjDS0jKiE&feature=youtu.be&t=14s

[vinnie]

Barring a trade or injury I don't see the Celtics finishing ahead of 
1.)  Miami  2.)  Cleveland  3.)  Washington  4.)  Toronto  5.)  Chicago  6.)  Charlotte  7.)  Brooklyn  I also think that Atlanta, the Knicks, and Indiana are still ahead of us.  With Milwaukee and Detroit possibly being a more improved team this upcoming season.   So I completely agree that this team is not making the playoffs.

If you are not going to make the playoffs, go the extra effort and tank that much better, I don't want this team to have to try to rely on Cleveland luck, they need to nail down an earliest pick as possible.  In terms of enjoyability, it will be hard to do again, but I will enjoy watching the young players improve over the season knowing that better times are ahead.

How you have Miami #1 and Toronto 4 is beyond me.

How anyone has such confidence in Charlotte to be a top 5 team in the east is beyond me.
How anyone even has Toronto as a top 5 team in to he east is beyond me.

I've been seeing a lot of people giving too much credit to Charlotte, Toronto, Atlanta honestly even Washington an Miami.

There are only two teams I see who are legit in the east and that is Chicago and Cleeland, CLE only because Lebron James.

you guys are forgetting Cleveland was just a terrible team since lebron left. The Cavs are going to be worse then this years heat team just off of, they need to get chemistry and learn each other. Kyrie is a stud but his defense is lacking. Until Kevin love comes then there is many issues with the cavs.

After that I still see Cleveland as a Top 2 team in the east.

The Bulls are a complete team this year and I see them winning the east.

Now aside from that every other team has major wholes. The east is wide open. You guys really underestimate rondo and Jeff green. Every team in the east would love rondo on their team. He isn't traded because Danny don't just give him up.

We will make the playoffs.

OK   

[GreenWarrior]

Barring a trade or injury I don't see the Celtics finishing ahead of 
1.)  Miami  2.)  Cleveland  3.)  Washington  4.)  Toronto  5.)  Chicago  6.)  Charlotte  7.)  Brooklyn  I also think that Atlanta, the Knicks, and Indiana are still ahead of us.  With Milwaukee and Detroit possibly being a more improved team this upcoming season.   So I completely agree that this team is not making the playoffs.

If you are not going to make the playoffs, go the extra effort and tank that much better, I don't want this team to have to try to rely on Cleveland luck, they need to nail down an earliest pick as possible.  In terms of enjoyability, it will be hard to do again, but I will enjoy watching the young players improve over the season knowing that better times are ahead.

How you have Miami #1 and Toronto 4 is beyond me.

How anyone has such confidence in Charlotte to be a top 5 team in the east is beyond me.
How anyone even has Toronto as a top 5 team in to he east is beyond me.

I've been seeing a lot of people giving too much credit to Charlotte, Toronto, Atlanta honestly even Washington an Miami.

There are only two teams I see who are legit in the east and that is Chicago and Cleeland, CLE only because Lebron James.

you guys are forgetting Cleveland was just a terrible team since lebron left. The Cavs are going to be worse then this years heat team just off of, they need to get chemistry and learn each other. Kyrie is a stud but his defense is lacking. Until Kevin love comes then there is many issues with the cavs.

After that I still see Cleveland as a Top 2 team in the east.

The Bulls are a complete team this year and I see them winning the east.

Now aside from that every other team has major wholes. The east is wide open. You guys really underestimate rondo and Jeff green. Every team in the east would love rondo on their team. He isn't traded because Danny don't just give him up.

We will make the playoffs.

it's great that you're positive and in the East I to believe it's not ludicrous to say they could be a playoff team.

but the teams that you say "aren't playoff teams" are for all intents and purposes the better teams of the East. if they're not playoff teams then who's making it in? are Western Conference teams now eligible for the Eastern spots now?

[Jailan34]

Barring a trade or injury I don't see the Celtics finishing ahead of 
1.)  Miami  2.)  Cleveland  3.)  Washington  4.)  Toronto  5.)  Chicago  6.)  Charlotte  7.)  Brooklyn  I also think that Atlanta, the Knicks, and Indiana are still ahead of us.  With Milwaukee and Detroit possibly being a more improved team this upcoming season.   So I completely agree that this team is not making the playoffs.

If you are not going to make the playoffs, go the extra effort and tank that much better, I don't want this team to have to try to rely on Cleveland luck, they need to nail down an earliest pick as possible.  In terms of enjoyability, it will be hard to do again, but I will enjoy watching the young players improve over the season knowing that better times are ahead.

How you have Miami #1 and Toronto 4 is beyond me.

How anyone has such confidence in Charlotte to be a top 5 team in the east is beyond me.
How anyone even has Toronto as a top 5 team in to he east is beyond me.

I've been seeing a lot of people giving too much credit to Charlotte, Toronto, Atlanta honestly even Washington an Miami.

There are only two teams I see who are legit in the east and that is Chicago and Cleeland, CLE only because Lebron James.

you guys are forgetting Cleveland was just a terrible team since lebron left. The Cavs are going to be worse then this years heat team just off of, they need to get chemistry and learn each other. Kyrie is a stud but his defense is lacking. Until Kevin love comes then there is many issues with the cavs.

After that I still see Cleveland as a Top 2 team in the east.

The Bulls are a complete team this year and I see them winning the east.

Now aside from that every other team has major wholes. The east is wide open. You guys really underestimate rondo and Jeff green. Every team in the east would love rondo on their team. He isn't traded because Danny don't just give him up.

We will make the playoffs.

Toronto was a 3 seed last season, so expecting them to be roughly around there isn't much of a stretch, especially since they play in our division. Charlotte only got better by adding Stephenson and Chicago will be great again this year with Rose looking so Healthy.

1. Cleveland 2. Chicago 3. Miami 4. Charlotte 5. Washington 6. Toronto 7. Brooklyn 8. Atlanta

Seeds 4-8 are pretty interchangeable.

I also think Indy, Mil, NY and Det will all be hovering around the 8th seed and I wouldn't be shocked to see any of those make the playoffs as a low seed.

Then there will be us, Orlando and Philly near the bottom.

[slamtheking]

Barring a trade or injury I don't see the Celtics finishing ahead of 
1.)  Miami  2.)  Cleveland  3.)  Washington  4.)  Toronto  5.)  Chicago  6.)  Charlotte  7.)  Brooklyn  I also think that Atlanta, the Knicks, and Indiana are still ahead of us.  With Milwaukee and Detroit possibly being a more improved team this upcoming season.   So I completely agree that this team is not making the playoffs.

If you are not going to make the playoffs, go the extra effort and tank that much better, I don't want this team to have to try to rely on Cleveland luck, they need to nail down an earliest pick as possible.  In terms of enjoyability, it will be hard to do again, but I will enjoy watching the young players improve over the season knowing that better times are ahead.

How you have Miami #1 and Toronto 4 is beyond me.

How anyone has such confidence in Charlotte to be a top 5 team in the east is beyond me.
How anyone even has Toronto as a top 5 team in to he east is beyond me.

I've been seeing a lot of people giving too much credit to Charlotte, Toronto, Atlanta honestly even Washington an Miami.

There are only two teams I see who are legit in the east and that is Chicago and Cleeland, CLE only because Lebron James.

you guys are forgetting Cleveland was just a terrible team since lebron left. The Cavs are going to be worse then this years heat team just off of, they need to get chemistry and learn each other. Kyrie is a stud but his defense is lacking. Until Kevin love comes then there is many issues with the cavs.

After that I still see Cleveland as a Top 2 team in the east.

The Bulls are a complete team this year and I see them winning the east.

Now aside from that every other team has major wholes. The east is wide open. You guys really underestimate rondo and Jeff green. Every team in the east would love rondo on their team. He isn't traded because Danny don't just give him up.

We will make the playoffs.

Toronto was a 3 seed last season, so expecting them to be roughly around there isn't much of a stretch, especially since they play in our division. Charlotte only got better by adding Stephenson and Chicago will be great again this year with Rose looking so Healthy.

1. Cleveland 2. Chicago 3. Miami 4. Charlotte 5. Washington 6. Toronto 7. Brooklyn 8. Atlanta

Seeds 4-8 are pretty interchangeable.

I also think Indy, Mil, NY and Det will all be hovering around the 8th seed and I wouldn't be shocked to see any of those make the playoffs as a low seed.

Then there will be us, Orlando and Philly near the bottom.

I could see Indy sliding in at the expense of Brooklyn or Toronto but overall I think this is a pretty fair assessment of the conference.  I don't really think Mil, NY or Det will necessarily make the playoffs but they have more talent than the C's (a lot of which underperformed last year) and the Bucks added Parker to boot.   

Only team I would expect the C's to outperform this year is Philly.  I could see even Orlando doing better than us as their youth develops more this year and having added Gordon and Payton via the draft.  some growing pains for that team but they're on the move up. 

[Jailan34]

Barring a trade or injury I don't see the Celtics finishing ahead of 
1.)  Miami  2.)  Cleveland  3.)  Washington  4.)  Toronto  5.)  Chicago  6.)  Charlotte  7.)  Brooklyn  I also think that Atlanta, the Knicks, and Indiana are still ahead of us.  With Milwaukee and Detroit possibly being a more improved team this upcoming season.   So I completely agree that this team is not making the playoffs.

If you are not going to make the playoffs, go the extra effort and tank that much better, I don't want this team to have to try to rely on Cleveland luck, they need to nail down an earliest pick as possible.  In terms of enjoyability, it will be hard to do again, but I will enjoy watching the young players improve over the season knowing that better times are ahead.

How you have Miami #1 and Toronto 4 is beyond me.

How anyone has such confidence in Charlotte to be a top 5 team in the east is beyond me.
How anyone even has Toronto as a top 5 team in to he east is beyond me.

I've been seeing a lot of people giving too much credit to Charlotte, Toronto, Atlanta honestly even Washington an Miami.

There are only two teams I see who are legit in the east and that is Chicago and Cleeland, CLE only because Lebron James.

you guys are forgetting Cleveland was just a terrible team since lebron left. The Cavs are going to be worse then this years heat team just off of, they need to get chemistry and learn each other. Kyrie is a stud but his defense is lacking. Until Kevin love comes then there is many issues with the cavs.

After that I still see Cleveland as a Top 2 team in the east.

The Bulls are a complete team this year and I see them winning the east.

Now aside from that every other team has major wholes. The east is wide open. You guys really underestimate rondo and Jeff green. Every team in the east would love rondo on their team. He isn't traded because Danny don't just give him up.

We will make the playoffs.

Toronto was a 3 seed last season, so expecting them to be roughly around there isn't much of a stretch, especially since they play in our division. Charlotte only got better by adding Stephenson and Chicago will be great again this year with Rose looking so Healthy.

1. Cleveland 2. Chicago 3. Miami 4. Charlotte 5. Washington 6. Toronto 7. Brooklyn 8. Atlanta

Seeds 4-8 are pretty interchangeable.

I also think Indy, Mil, NY and Det will all be hovering around the 8th seed and I wouldn't be shocked to see any of those make the playoffs as a low seed.

Then there will be us, Orlando and Philly near the bottom.

I could see Indy sliding in at the expense of Brooklyn or Toronto but overall I think this is a pretty fair assessment of the conference.  I don't really think Mil, NY or Det will necessarily make the playoffs but they have more talent than the C's (a lot of which underperformed last year) and the Bucks added Parker to boot.   

Only team I would expect the C's to outperform this year is Philly.  I could see even Orlando doing better than us as their youth develops more this year and having added Gordon and Payton via the draft.  some growing pains for that team but they're on the move up. 

Yeah I am high on Mil, I love Parker, 100% so I'm bias. I also think Henson is a nice defensive big and hope Sander's can get his head on straight. They're definitely my second favorite team just because of Parker so I hope they do well.

[Celticjay]

I can't see how Indy will be better than us.  Their offence was terrible last year and losing George and Stevenson makes them likely the worst offense in the league sans Philly.    Their defense will be average without those 2 guys too.   

We have a good chance to be in the hunt for the playoffs if Rondo bounces back.  Just need to find a clutch scorer in the last 2 minutes as we were close in many games last year.  Marcus Smart looks like he can get to the line when he wants..

[Celts Fan 508]

Barring a trade or injury I don't see the Celtics finishing ahead of 
1.)  Miami  2.)  Cleveland  3.)  Washington  4.)  Toronto  5.)  Chicago  6.)  Charlotte  7.)  Brooklyn  I also think that Atlanta, the Knicks, and Indiana are still ahead of us.  With Milwaukee and Detroit possibly being a more improved team this upcoming season.   So I completely agree that this team is not making the playoffs.

If you are not going to make the playoffs, go the extra effort and tank that much better, I don't want this team to have to try to rely on Cleveland luck, they need to nail down an earliest pick as possible.  In terms of enjoyability, it will be hard to do again, but I will enjoy watching the young players improve over the season knowing that better times are ahead.

How you have Miami #1 and Toronto 4 is beyond me.

How anyone has such confidence in Charlotte to be a top 5 team in the east is beyond me.
How anyone even has Toronto as a top 5 team in to he east is beyond me.

I've been seeing a lot of people giving too much credit to Charlotte, Toronto, Atlanta honestly even Washington an Miami.

There are only two teams I see who are legit in the east and that is Chicago and Cleeland, CLE only because Lebron James.

you guys are forgetting Cleveland was just a terrible team since lebron left. The Cavs are going to be worse then this years heat team just off of, they need to get chemistry and learn each other. Kyrie is a stud but his defense is lacking. Until Kevin love comes then there is many issues with the cavs.

After that I still see Cleveland as a Top 2 team in the east.

The Bulls are a complete team this year and I see them winning the east.

Now aside from that every other team has major wholes. The east is wide open. You guys really underestimate rondo and Jeff green. Every team in the east would love rondo on their team. He isn't traded because Danny don't just give him up.

We will make the playoffs.

I think I confused you, I was not trying to rank the teams, just listing the teams as I thought of them.  I would have  1.)  Cleveland  2.)  Chicago  3.)  Washington  4.)  Miami  5.)  Toronto  6.)  Charlotte  7.)  Brookyln  8.)  Atlanta  9.)  Knicks  10.)  Indiana  11.)  Detroit  12.)  Milwaukee  13.)  Orlando  14.)  Boston  15.)  Philadelphia 

[SparzWizard]

Toronto, at best, is an automatic 4th seed based on the champions of the Atlantic division. Same can be said for Washington in the Southeast and I see them on top over Miami.

CLE wins division and the East because LeBron James is in that team (and soon Kevin Love). Pau Gasol will look stiff and fragile by midseason, Noah/Rose will suffer another setback and the Bulls will be the Bulls...second-round fodders.

That's just my perspective though.

[Future Celtics Owner]

Even if we don't trade Rondo I don't see us making the playoffs.

[MBunge]

Only team I would expect the C's to outperform this year is Philly.  I could see even Orlando doing better than us as their youth develops more this year and having added Gordon and Payton via the draft.  some growing pains for that team but they're on the move up.

Why is Orlando's youth better than Boston's?

Does every team's blog have this "everyone else is better than us" segment of commentators?

Mike

[TitleMaster]

Personally, I think that the game has suffered at every level from that approach, because instead of increasing the fitness of the best players, coaches go with the best athletes, who might never have played basketball before.  I'm not saying that the guys with skills are incredibly out of shape, but, and maybe this is just me, I'd much rather have skilled players; and when they get tired, guess what - that's what a bench is for.  I know, what a radical concept (sarcasm). 

It has but usually you don't see this past college.

The best players are skilled athletes.   That has never changed.   For all the talk of Bird, not being athletic, he had a computer mind and superior court vision and some of the best hand eye coordination of anyone who ever played.  But he is not the norm.   Being skilled is simply not enough if you do not have something else to couple it with.  I have seen skilled kids who could shoot that can't create space and get blocked.   An athlete who is just an athlete is just as bad but they tend to thrive on defense at least.

TP for the good insight. This goes back to what a local youth coach in my area absolutely preaches to everyone (1st graders all the way up to college)- The best players are in the best shape. All the athletes are in great shape more easily than others, and their fitness levels are more tangible for people. However, even Larry with his "white man ups" and amazing gifts alike worked his butt off during the offseason to get into shape with cardio and other physical aspects.

Folks, it's all of the above.

The less talented work on endurance. Perhaps the learning curve in specifically enhancing their skill set is too wide.

The more talented blend endurance training with peak performance of their specific skills and attributes. Then, blend the two groups of ppl together and you have a great team because the pure hustle player can give breaks to the skilled hustle player.

In the end, everyone does his part to flummox the opponent and make 'em work for every play and possession.

Psychologically speaking, that sort of team will dominate others, who're sitting around, waiting for the all stars to do their thing.

[Celtics4ever]

I think the best players are jerks.   They like making other people look bad and try to dominate those they play against.  They want to win more than the other guy.