We may shock the world if we get the #8 Seed

[Smokeeye123]

I dont think 99% of the world cares about the NBA let alone the Boston Celtics.

[slamtheking]

Thomas has a 33% usage rate with the C's. That's just below Kobe-level ball hoggery.  The only reason he's not monopolizing the ball is because he only plays 28 minutes per game.

And I love Thomas.

and yet people still allege Rondo was a ball-hog with a lower usage rate, less-time-in-the-hands and more assists than IT yet no one's willing to point out IT as holding the ball on offense for his 1-on-1 moves.  mindboggling

[kozlodoev]

Thomas has a 33% usage rate with the C's. That's just below Kobe-level ball hoggery.  The only reason he's not monopolizing the ball is because he only plays 28 minutes per game.

And I love Thomas.

and yet people still allege Rondo was a ball-hog with a lower usage rate, less-time-in-the-hands and more assists than IT yet no one's willing to point out IT as holding the ball on offense for his 1-on-1 moves.  mindboggling

That's because people realize that the way this team is constructed right now, when IT is on the floor, the best available shot is the one IT takes -- no ifs, no buts. Unless of course you're longing for Jae Crowder dribble-drives and Marcus Smart pull-up threes. IT could have a 75% USR and this may arguably still be what's best for the team.
 
Also, you need to understand how USR is constructed -- it represents the percentage of possessions ending with a shot or turnover by a given player. Given the Rondo will pound the ball without actually shooting it, you're not going to see that translate into higher USR.

[Future Celtics Owner]

DOS said it perfectly yesterday. Why are we cheering for a team that is under .500 to make the 8th seed in the weakest conference. Also we are using and playing guys won't be part of our future.

I thought the plan was to play as hard as possible with the guys that are in our future.....or dare I say it, maybe even some player development.

My only hope is that we start losing, while playing hard, and get in the top ten. Hope we can at least get Myles Turner.

[Future Celtics Owner]

Oh and btw. We are the Boston Celtics, the wining-est team in the history of basketball. The Lakers are only 1 championship behind us. I don't know about you but I'd really give anything to keep our title.

ONLY CHAMPIONSHIPS MATTER FOR US

[D.o.s.]

If the Celtics upset the Hawks in the first round I'll get Evan Turner's signature tattoo'd on my inner thigh.

[mef730]

If the Celtics upset the Hawks in the first round I'll get Evan Turner's signature tattoo'd on my inner thigh.

That kind of has an "I cannot look yet I cannot turn away" quality to it.

Oh and btw. We are the Boston Celtics, the wining-est team in the history of basketball. The Lakers are only 1 championship behind us. I don't know about you but I'd really give anything to keep our title.

ONLY CHAMPIONSHIPS MATTER FOR US

Does that include Minneapolis?  If so, those  don't count.   

Not sure if they'd be able to knock of Atlanta but what I will say is this is now a team that no one wants to face.  Any team that defends, hustles for 48 minutes and has an excellent coach is going to be a pain in the neck to play against.

I tend to agree with this statement.  This year's Celts are the Ivy League of the NBA.

Oh, if we play the Hawks, we lose in five.

Mike

[bigal534]

Thomas has a 33% usage rate with the C's. That's just below Kobe-level ball hoggery.  The only reason he's not monopolizing the ball is because he only plays 28 minutes per game.

And I love Thomas.

and yet people still allege Rondo was a ball-hog with a lower usage rate, less-time-in-the-hands and more assists than IT yet no one's willing to point out IT as holding the ball on offense for his 1-on-1 moves.  mindboggling

This is because, unles someone can prove me wrong, his PER or efficiency with the ball in his hand feels like its 10Xs more usful then when rondo was dribbling around looking to pass only, and couldnt shoot to save his life,

Big difference

[bigal534]

If the Celtics upset the Hawks in the first round I'll get Evan Turner's signature tattoo'd on my inner thigh.

SAVED

[kozlodoev]

If the Celtics upset the Hawks in the first round I'll get Evan Turner's signature tattoo'd on my inner thigh.

SAVED

Look at it from the bright side, at least the signature looks good:

[jpotter33]

If the Celtics upset the Hawks in the first round I'll get Evan Turner's signature tattoo'd on my inner thigh.

I'm screenshotting the shiznit out of this and holding you to it! lol

Seriously, though, I don't think we end up beating Atlanta in a seven game series, but I think we give them one hell of a ride. Between our perimeter D and our virtual non-drop off in playing level from our starters to our bench, I think we steal two to three games from them. Though when the game slows down, I expect their much greater talent to eventually overpower us. That being said, they don't have the alpha-male star, i.e. the James, Durant, Paul type, that can straight up take over games in the playoffs and not be stopped. Thus, their success will come from imitating the Spurs-type of play, and they could be vulnerable if they stray from it.

Still, we're the prototypical 8th seed that noone wants to see, because we're full of young guys and guys playing for contracts that have nothing to lose. Furthermore, there is something to be said about us peaking at the right time. So though I don't predict us beating them in a seven game series, crazier things have happened.

But let's make sure we make the playoffs first before talking about potential historic upsets. 

[D Dub]

If the Celtics upset the Hawks in the first round I'll get Evan Turner's signature tattoo'd on my inner thigh.

that's awesome, TP.  I'm can see the new avatar now...   

thing is -- its looking fairly likely we get to see this matchup, now that Big Al has gone down.  Indiana should walk away with 7, and both Mia and BKL are grease fires. 

the thing with the hawks, they really don't have that go-to scorer with experience creating late in playoff games.  With AB & Smart chasing their shooters, we'll have a punchers chance & don't underestimate the CBS factor either, our smallball lineup could give Horford/Milsap fits and sometimes just a couple good coaching adjustments can swing a series. 

[jpotter33]

If the Celtics upset the Hawks in the first round I'll get Evan Turner's signature tattoo'd on my inner thigh.

that's awesome, TP.  I'm can see the new avatar now...   

thing is -- its looking fairly likely we get to see this matchup, now that Big Al has gone down.  Indiana should walk away with 7, and both Mia and BKL are grease fires. 

the thing with the hawks, they really don't have that go-to scorer with experience creating late in playoff games.  what they have is a very cohesive system produces great outside shooting.  imho, its as good a matchup as we could hope for as an 8th seed.  With AB & Smart chasing their shooters, we'll have a punchers chance.  don't underestimate the CBS factor either, our smallball lineup could give Horford/Milsap fits and sometimes just a couple good coaching adjustments can swing a series.

Jefferson is out with an injury?! We might actually have a chance for the playoffs!

[Nerf DPOY]

If the Celtics upset the Hawks in the first round I'll get Evan Turner's signature tattoo'd on my inner thigh.

What if the Hawks sweep, but a lot of their players at certain points in the series get upset? I need clarity.

[D.o.s.]

And I'll probably need $60-$100 (plus tip) if this comes to pass, so we're all dealing with our own inconveniences here.