Things Won't Get Easier Anytime Soon

[PhoSita]

The next seven games:

vs Washington
@ Milwaukee
vs Indiana
vs Atlanta
@ OKC
@ Houston
vs Dallas

Then it opens up, finally, with a Friday / Sunday double matchup with the Brooklyn Nets.  With the way things are going, those two games against the Nets could be a breather this team needs, or, if the team finds a way to lose those games, a resounding blow to the team's morale.

This is not a "panic" post.  The Celts will be fine, more or less, in the long run.

But this roster is a mess and Stevens, and the players, are still figuring it out.  In the short term, this 1-3 start to turn into something even uglier.  Hold onto your hats.

[Rondo9]

On a lighter note the nets are 0-5 

[hpantazo]

We had this game tonight and just missed taking it at the end. We were also right in the Spurs game until the end even though we shot poorly. This team is playing well, they just need to work out the rotations and start hitting their open looks. All in all, I'm ok with seeing them play well and lose close games that they could have stolen, and end up with a better draft pick this summer out of it.

[slamtheking]

would anticipate wins against Indy and Dallas at home.  the rest would expect to be struggles that will likely come up short.  hoping they can pull off a surprise or two in that stretch

[karimb]

Our bigs need to step up. Its been an ugly start for them.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

Our bigs need to step up. Its been an ugly start for them.

I get 1-2 bigs not shooting well but dang near every night almost every big forgets how to put the ball in the hole.

[esel1000]

Our bigs need to step up. Its been an ugly start for them.

I get 1-2 bigs not shooting well but dang near every night almost every big forgets how to put the ball in the hole.

Yeah KO has basically forgotten how to shoot... Sully looked pretty good in the starting lineup though hopefully they both get it together. It'd be great to have some consistent rebounding as well

[PhoSita]

On a lighter note the nets are 0-5 

[fairweatherfan]

The next seven games:

vs Washington
@ Milwaukee
vs Indiana
vs Atlanta
@ OKC
@ Houston
vs Dallas

Good.  Wiz, Bucks, Pacers, and Mavs are the kinds of teams that should be around our caliber this year.   I like that we're taking them on early; whether we succeed or keep sucking the team should learn something from it. 

Rockets, Thunder, and Hawks outclass us.  Those games we try to stay competitive and hope to steal one.  Either way we hit an easier stretch with a lot of fights under our belts.

The effort's there so far, a lot of effort, and we aren't getting blown out.  We just suck at executing on offense.  And when we do execute, we miss the shots.  We need to figure it out, but these are the teams we're gonna need to do it against.  So bring em on. 

[PhoSita]

All in all, I'm ok with seeing them play well and lose close games that they could have stolen, and end up with a better draft pick this summer out of it.

Agreed.

I think that they'll have a lot of close losses this year.  The run at the end of last season featured a number of close wins after they started the year losing a lot of games at the end.

Adding Isaiah surely was a big part of that, but I think it was also somewhat unsustainable.

Teams like Boston, Orlando, Charlotte, Indiana . . . all will be up and down and struggle to string together wins against quality teams, because the talent and experience isn't there.  The fact that the Celts are still figuring the basic roles of the vast majority of the players on the roster only exacerbates that.

[tstorey_97]

They look ok. Smart would've helped tonight.

I think they're better than last year....what hasn't changed a lot from last year is the Celtics need a top center. They will always get beat up underneath until...

I think IT is best as 6th man, but you can't go wrong with him as your fill in starter.

I guess Ainge meant it when he didn't extend Zeller.

Agree that games like tonight will make them better.
Shooting % was decent tonight for a change.

I wonder if Ainge will use the Nets pick for a trade at some point...soon.

[cltc5]

The next seven games:

vs Washington
@ Milwaukee
vs Indiana
vs Atlanta
@ OKC
@ Houston
vs Dallas

Good.  Wiz, Bucks, Pacers, and Mavs are the kinds of teams that should be around our caliber this year.   I like that we're taking them on early; whether we succeed or keep sucking the team should learn something from it. 

Rockets, Thunder, and Hawks outclass us.  Those games we try to stay competitive and hope to steal one.  Either way we hit an easier stretch with a lot of fights under out belts.

The effort's there so far, a lot of effort, and we aren't getting blown out.  We just suck at executing on offense.  And when we do execute, we miss the shots.  We need to figure it out, but these are the teams we're gonna need to do it against.  So bring em on.

Lol.  I see is losing everyone of those games.

[D Dub]

Right now, this team leads the league in steals per game, and also pace.   I think we're like 3rd in assists.   Were a few fearless jumpers away from being a solid team.   

Bring it on.   

[tarheelsxxiii]

would anticipate wins against Indy and Dallas at home.  the rest would expect to be struggles that will likely come up short.  hoping they can pull off a surprise or two in that stretch

Yeah, we may catch Milwaukee before they really start putting things together too with Parker's return, Vasquez adjusting, etc. I'd say best case is 3 wins prior to the BKN games.

More concern re: the process, though. I'm glad there were rotational changes tonight and Smart was missed, but there's a lot more lolly-gagging than I anticipated. Someone mentioned Crowder is showing some mental lapses on defense, and I think Jerebko's have been even worse.

Biggest issue, the frontcourt, may stem from frustration among these guys splitting short stints. Amir is the only guy playing night in and night out, and I got a feeling his health may be an issue with increasing wear and tear -- I saw CBS mouth "Are you okay?" when he came to a huddle, after no obvious play of concern, and wonder about his longevity over the season. The others may just be annoyed, out of rhythm, anxious, or all of the above... and Sully has been better than the others, but he arguably also has the most to lose.

Not a good look right now. Glad to see some -- Smart and AB, in particular -- playing their butts off regardless though. I'd say that separates them as keepers.

[oldtype]

Clearly it's going to take us a while to identify lineups and combinations that work, and until then things will be a bit ugly.

At the end of the day, we win either way. If we take a step forward then we've taken a step forward. If we take a step back, we could have three lottery picks. Let's not stress about this stuff.