Who are they?

[Alleyoopster]

Watching the Celtics this year seems a whole lot different than any other Celtic team I've ever seen in the past.  Normally, the team has some sort of identity that one picks up on right away.  You always knew who was playing guard, forward, and center.  And, you knew who was on the court all the time and how well they were doing either alone or as a team.  This doesn't seem to be the case (at least for me) this year. 

For instance, there are a group of players out there on offense....one pass....two passes..up goes a shot.  Remarkably, a good percentage go in.  Either Thornton, Bradley, Turner, Sully, or other, puts one in from the outside.  Then, back on defense and I'm seeing Bradley playing guard one minute, then I see Thornton.  And, I'm thinking, he must be playing the two guard.  Then, back on offense....one pass, two...a shot... 

Before you know it 3-4 minutes go by.  Brad puts in a new crew and I'm wondering....who went in and who came out?  Now, Pressey is in the game... who left?  Bradley or Thornton....who is shooting now? Thornton...no, that is Turner.  These sorts of substitutions and the way they play leave me confused.

Maybe it's old age catching up to me.  It seems watching this year's team is a bit of a mental challenge.  I ask myself who are these players?  They are working together...I just can't comprehend their dynamics and how they fit in together like I normally do.  Does anyone else feel perplexed as to the identity of this team or who/what they are watching? 

 

[Nerf DPOY]

I agree that this team is nebulous as constituted. It's the preseason so Stevens is likely just tinkering with combinations a bit. The preseason and likely into the early season should serve as an audition for how Turner and Smart fit in as playmakers. I think it's going to get even more experimental when Green goes to the 4, and when Rondo comes back and Smart plays at the 2.

[BudweiserCeltic]

It reminds me of the preseason when Shaq arrived and more importantly, the preseason of Garnett's and Pierce's last year. particularly the latter.

We were playing some very beautiful basketball, Jeff Green looked like he came in ready to go after surgery, it seemed like Lee and Terry were clicking with Rondo, there was a lot of ball movement, shooting, up-tempo basketball to be had, and a promising rookie to boot.

Then the season started, and it seems like everything we had planned was flushed down the toilet and we came up with a new game plan on a whim. A complete disaster from top to bottom starting with the head coach, easily the worst I've seen Rivers coach a team.

All to say, I'm extremely optimistic once again, but I know I've been fooled plenty of times by underperforming teams for whatever reason.

[guava_wrench]

It is bound to happen when you have a bunch of mediocre guys and 2 starters aren't playing (Rondo and Green).

This is also early preseason when the main guys don't play 30mpg.