Very likeable team

[tarheelsxxiii]

Not sure how others are feeling, but I am finding this to be a very likeable team. First, BS seems very competent... love his emphasis on defensive, pace, and floor spacing. And this seems to be reflected in the attitudes of the players on and off the court - every one seems to be buying into BS's system. Rondo is different in interviews - talkative, more personable, has said positive things about BS and I think is enjoying his role as "leader" of the team. This seems to be reflected in what was documented to be a large role he played in organizing the 3 hour dinner after the Houston game, too.

Aside from BS and Rondo, Sully looks great (consider a per 36 adjustment), Olynyk has been solid and consistent, Green is Green, and Smart looks very promising and I think as competitive as we could have hoped for. Tonight showed me a lot... to be down so big to a tough Dallas team, make a ferocious comeback starting in the 3rd (and continuing into the 4th) says a lot about this team's mentality and cohesiveness, imo. I think groups like this have a chance to overachieve and, specific to this situation, sneak into the playoffs. And whether they do or not, I'll enjoy watching them. Hope they continue to play with grit, enthusiasm, and cohesion. I'm really liking what I see and expect to enjoy the ride.

[Celtics18]

Agreed, and TP for a very likeable post. 

[LarBrd33]

I like everyone in our starting lineup.  I really like Smart as well.  Turner is interesting.  Bass/Thornton are solid.  It's just a shame that collectively they are all pretty bad-to-average.  Seriously, it's a shame.  There will come a day where something will need to be done to push this team forward.  Maybe my imagination isn't great, but I can't envision a starting lineup of Rondo, Bradley, Green, Sully and Oly making the finals.  Just can't see it.  I really like all of those guys, but if we are ever going to compete we're going to need to bring in an interior defender and bring in someone who can score consistently.  That means we'll inevitably lose a couple of the guys I like or see them get reduced roles.

I also can't imagine Smart spending several years as a back-up.  He might have star potential.  Something's gonna have to change eventually. 

[Celtics18]

Sign Marc Gasol in the off-season, keep Marcus and Kelly as our sixth and seventh men off the bench, and, presto, serious Eastern conference contender. 

[mr. dee]

Until Kelly gains a killer mentality, I won't put him as a starter on a contender team.

[Donoghus]

Until Kelly gains a killer mentality, I won't put him as a starter on a contender team.

I'm not sure he'll ever be a starter on a contender.  Rotation guy? Sure.

[fairweatherfan]

Until Kelly gains a killer mentality, I won't put him as a starter on a contender team.

I'm not sure he'll ever be a starter on a contender.  Rotation guy? Sure.

It's a pet peeve of mine, but just about anyone's good enough to be a starter on a contending team - just look at past contenders.  Is Olynyk really going to be worse than Luc Longley?

[slamtheking]

Until Kelly gains a killer mentality, I won't put him as a starter on a contender team.

I'm not sure he'll ever be a starter on a contender.  Rotation guy? Sure.

This. 

Rondo's the only player that I would say is sure-fire starter material on any team he's on.  Everyone else right now is a glorified role player that would be a supportive player on a contender.  Doesn't mean that one or two couldn't start for that contender but they'd be something like 4th banana on a really good team.

Sully may get to be a top PF sometime in a couple of years and Smart could be a top SG (more for his D and driving ability than his outside shooting but who knows) but that's optimistic.  The rest are a lot of solid bench guys for a contender.  Our problem is that we don't have more than 1 very good starter to play in front of the bench guys.

[Donoghus]

Until Kelly gains a killer mentality, I won't put him as a starter on a contender team.

I'm not sure he'll ever be a starter on a contender.  Rotation guy? Sure.

It's a pet peeve of mine, but just about anyone's good enough to be a starter on a contending team - just look at past contenders.  Is Olynyk really going to be worse than Luc Longley?

I wouldn't necessarily agree than almost anyone is good enough to be a starter on a contending team.  Longley had the benefit of playing with 3 HOFers in or near their primes.  That tends to be an exception & not the norm. 

It depends who you put around KO but I think its a long shot at best.

[fairweatherfan]

Until Kelly gains a killer mentality, I won't put him as a starter on a contender team.

I'm not sure he'll ever be a starter on a contender.  Rotation guy? Sure.

It's a pet peeve of mine, but just about anyone's good enough to be a starter on a contending team - just look at past contenders.  Is Olynyk really going to be worse than Luc Longley?

I wouldn't necessarily agree than almost anyone is good enough to be a starter on a contending team.  Longley had the benefit of playing with 3 HOFers in or near their primes.  That tends to be an exception & not the norm. 

It depends who you put around KO but I think its a long shot at best.

But that's my point - put enough talent around a guy and any halfway decent player can start on a contender.  Say OKC trades for Oly to play him next to Ibaka.  As soon as they're healthy, poof - Olynyk is a starter on a contender, without needing to improve at all. 

I think my gripe is more with the phrasing of the argument than the deeper "he needs to get better" meaning, which is definitely accurate.

[D.o.s.]

To me it's always been more about whether or not you'd be happy with that player as a starter if you wanted to build a title team.

If I was doing some armchair general managing and wanted to build a team to win banner 18, I'd look for an upgrade over Olynyk. Hence 'not good enough to be a starter on a contending team'.

[Donoghus]

Until Kelly gains a killer mentality, I won't put him as a starter on a contender team.

I'm not sure he'll ever be a starter on a contender.  Rotation guy? Sure.

It's a pet peeve of mine, but just about anyone's good enough to be a starter on a contending team - just look at past contenders.  Is Olynyk really going to be worse than Luc Longley?

I wouldn't necessarily agree than almost anyone is good enough to be a starter on a contending team.  Longley had the benefit of playing with 3 HOFers in or near their primes.  That tends to be an exception & not the norm. 

It depends who you put around KO but I think its a long shot at best.

But that's my point - put enough talent around a guy and any halfway decent player can start on a contender.  Say OKC trades for Oly to play him next to Ibaka.  As soon as they're healthy, poof - Olynyk is a starter on a contender, without needing to improve at all. 

I think my gripe is more with the phrasing of the argument than the deeper "he needs to get better" meaning, which is definitely accurate.

I just don't see him being on the starting 5 of a team in the NBA finals.  As a role player, I could see it. 

Playing the hypothetical game,  you can always find some sort of scenario where he would.  You can also find plenty of scenarios where  he would not. 

[Donoghus]

To me it's always been more about whether or not you'd be happy with that player as a starter if you wanted to build a title team.

If I was doing some armchair general managing and wanted to build a team to win banner 18, I'd look for an upgrade over Olynyk. Hence 'not good enough to be a starter on a contending team'.

This gets at the gist of where I'm coming from.

[pearljammer10]

It's funny because I love the system and the offense, I love the chemistry, some of the players are very very likeable and easy to root for...

On the other end (just for me personally) there are also guys that I absolutely can't stand on this team that really give me trouble when watching a game like last night.

Loveables:
Rondo - Love watching him play.
Green - Always been a big Green supporter. Fun to watch in games like last night.
Smart - How can you not love this guys style and intensity.
KO - Despite his lack of "killer mentality" I still greatly enjoy watching him play.
Young - Wish he got more court time.
Wallace - I've always loved Wallace. His price tag is way overwhelming but you can't deny his passion for the game and effort out there. He is currently placed in a tough role of bench warmer and veteran leader. He is doing a fine job of swallowing his pride, collecting his pay and being a good presence.
Bass - How is he not shooting like, 94.6% from the field. I feel like he never misses.

Hates:
Avery Bradley - I love his hounding of the ball but I'm sorry I just can't stand him as a player. Even when he was hotter than Hades last night I was shaking my head at his shots and doing the "no, no, no....ok" thing when he was shooting. I just don't know what it is but I can't stand him and it'll be hard for me to come around on him.
Evan Turner - Always hated him. Fine, he signed a cheap contract and its really a nothing to lose for us type thing. He had some great flashes in the preseason but I just can't like the guy for some reason. I'll still give him time to prove me wrong.

The you're talented but I have trouble rooting for you guys (when you're good you're good, when you're not you're not):
Sullinger - Every time he jacks a three I want to stab a pencil in my eye. Go to the block dude. Get your offensive rebounds and hustle points, make you moves in the low post, get blocked but stick with the play, shoot a mid range jumper every now and then. Play your role and I'll think you are adequate. I am not as high on Sullinger as a lot of people are.
Thorton - When Thorton gets it going he is fun to watch. However, if he doesn't have it going, he is almost completely useless. His defense is pretty terrible and he doesn't bring much else to the game.
Zeller - Zeller is an up and down guy. He is tough to hate but he's actually kind of tough for me to like. He plays hard, can D up the bigger stronger centers (he did fine bodying Howard in his minutes) he is adequate on both ends of the floor but nothing really stands out. He's just kind of boring.
Pressey - One good flashy play out of 100 is not a good percentage for me to root for you.

[kozlodoev]

Very likeable team. If you like losing, that is -- because they're clearly not good enough to win.