Your feeling on an improved Celtics team that may still miss the playoffs

[wdleehi]

Just trying to get a feeling where most posters are.


I believe that the Celtics team is improving but has a very solid chance to miss the playoffs because of the improvement of other teams in the East. 


And I am OK with that.  The top talent is not in place yet for the Celtics.  They are loaded with useful players that all can play a role on a good to great team.  There are non-player assets that have the potential to bring in the more talented players that can help this team go to a higher level. 



I want this team to continue to play hard and try to win.  I am happy to see talented vets out there playing hard showing the young guys what it takes to be successful NBA players.  I wouldn't mind if some of the younger players get more minutes with the NBDL team. 



If the team makes the playoffs, I am completely happy.  Yes, I doubt they go far, but the Celtics 1st round pick is not the only nor anywhere near the best asset to build for the future. 

[djbilly33]

I think we suck, plain and simple. I said they sucked last year when everyone was saying #18. I said they sucked all summer, and to this day I say the same. There's no point in going down memory lane, but other than this years pick from Brooklyn, what was the point of trading PP and KG? We are not any better or worse than we were when we did. If someone is going to say, we got Smart, I will tell you again he sucks, as well as the team. There is no one on our roster who would start for any contending team or playoff team for that matter. We haven't made any trades, no big name signings, no good draft picks, nothing. I predicted this back in 2009 and it is worth repeating again. I said it will be another 22 years before we win a title like it was from 86 to 08. So 2030 will be banner #18. That's it, Merry Christmas!

[BudweiserCeltic]

I want to get into the playoffs, but if we don't make it, we don't make it. Not going to lose my mind over it. Analyze what worked, what didn't and plan ahead.

[slamtheking]

Need another option --> this is what I expected all along.

I've been saying since the summer that while the team upgraded its overall talent, so did almost everyone in the East.  This is becoming more apparent as the season has progressed.  I'm perfectly happy with the C's outperforming my expectations but in the end, I still think this team will be on the outside looking in to the playoffs at the end of the season.  not by much, just a game or 2. 

if they should happen to make the playoffs, swell, I'll enjoy it immensely.  if not, it's nothing worse than what I expected.  I'm happy to see Danny seems to have made good use of his picks last year and landed 3 guys that look like legit NBA rotation players for next year.  I would hope he'll achieve similar results in the next draft as well -- 3 or 4 guys from the first round that will be solid NBA players (if not better)

[Who]

I want a top 5 pick and with Brooklyn supplying that pick ... I don't feel any concern about where Boston finishes up this season. Inside or outside playoffs.

That said, I'd be shocked if they miss the playoffs. On a bad run right now in a crowded landscape but Boston has a good stretch of games coming up and fully expect them to be back in playoff position by the end of that run.

[wdleehi]

Need another option --> this is what I expected all along.

I've been saying since the summer that while the team upgraded its overall talent, so did almost everyone in the East.  This is becoming more apparent as the season has progressed.  I'm perfectly happy with the C's outperforming my expectations but in the end, I still think this team will be on the outside looking in to the playoffs at the end of the season.  not by much, just a game or 2. 

if they should happen to make the playoffs, swell, I'll enjoy it immensely.  if not, it's nothing worse than what I expected.  I'm happy to see Danny seems to have made good use of his picks last year and landed 3 guys that look like legit NBA rotation players for next year.  I would hope he'll achieve similar results in the next draft as well -- 3 or 4 guys from the first round that will be solid NBA players (if not better)

Done for you.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I want a top 5 pick and with Brooklyn supplying that pick ... I don't feel any concern about where Boston finishes up this season. Inside or outside playoffs.

That said, I'd be shocked if they miss the playoffs. On a bad run right now in a crowded landscape but Boston has a good stretch of games coming up and fully expect them to be back in playoff position by the end of that run.

This.

[csfansince60s]

I also picked "this is what I expected all along".

Cs were lucky (I think unlucky) to make the playoffs last year. Indiana and Miami, especially got real lucky and got Winslow/Turner at 10/11 where we  should have been. And if we had 10/11 and didn't want either of those guys, we could have packaged it for a higher pick far more easily than where we ended up. But Wyc and Stevens wanted us in the playoffs. Very shortsighted. Stupid. A Pyrrhic victory at best.

Miami, Indiana, Charlotte and Detroit are all teams that have improved substantially from last year, and barring a trade on our part to improve us now, could all have better recoords than us in the end.

[Evantime34]

I personally don't think the C's will miss the playoffs. I still think they are going to finish as a mid seed in the East. I think once Smart is back and we trade a couple of bigs (so that the team goes small more often) the C's are going to get hot and go on a streak.

That being said, if the Celtics look like they are going to miss the playoffs it wouldn't upset me too much. A higher pick and having the second half of the year to develop younger players could help the rebuild.

If the C's don't make the playoffs because they give too much playing time to David Lee and Jerebko instead of playing younger players I'll be mad.

[PhoSita]

All along I figured they'd be one of 10-12 teams in the East with a shot at the playoffs, but not guaranteed. 

The 50+ win stat projections always seemed like a stretch to me, and I never believed that the 20-11 run to finish last season would carry over to this season.

As others have noted, since the team can expect a top 10 pick from Brooklyn regardless of what the Celts do on the floor, it doesn't bother me so much that the team is hanging around in the "dreaded" middle.

At the same time, I don't believe a big trade is happening this season, and I don't think there's any point in "showcasing" guys or trying to maximize the prospects of a 40-something win team likely to burn out in the first round even if they can get there. 

With that in mind, I'd prefer to see the team give playing time to younger guys currently hanging out on the bench or in the D-League.  We have to see what we have in these guys sooner or later.  Unless Danny can make some exciting trades on draft night, we're going to have even more rookie contract guys on the roster a year from now.

But then again, I'm one of those horrid "fake fans" who doesn't particularly relish seeing the team make the playoffs just for the sake of it.  I thought it was unfortunate and counterproductive that the team made it in last year.

[celticsclay]

I don't really understand why people need to go crazy every time their is a small losing streak. Try to step back from the ledge and look at a few things objectively. 8 teams made the playoffs last year, including us. So how are those 8 teams doing?

Nets - The Nets are obviously not making the playoffs this year. They are already 8 losses behind and behind like 7 teams. Curious when they will be eliminated.

Bucks - You think our season is frustrating? The Bucks get back Jabari Parker, Sign Monroe and are worse then last year somehow.They already have 5 losses more than the Celtics.

Wizards - Currently missing Beal for an extended stretch. Porter has looked worse than the playoffs. They have missed the stablizing influence Pierce provided and are 11-14. All things considered, much worse off than the celtics.

Hawks - Perhaps the biggest disappointment of them all. I realize this is hard to say after we choked away a game against them, but they have gone from a 60 win juggernaut to a team that is 17-12. Certainly not a lock to make it.

Raptors - Again a team that everyone thought would be better after adding Carroll to a team that didn't lose anyone besides Amir Johnson. They are also 17-12

So you have 5 teams that are looking worse than they did a year ago (with 3 of them looking way worse). That potentially opens up half the playoff spots. So who gets them?

With George back I am willing to concede that the Pacers can take the Nets spot.

The Heat look like the best of last year's non playoff teams after them. Maybe the best of the rest and the Bucks spot can go to them.

For giggles lets also say the Bulls have a locked up spot along with Cleveland.

That leaves 4 open playoff spots for Toronto, Atlanta, Charlotte, Orlando, Pistons and Wizards and Magic.

Do you guys honestly think we can't beat out 3 of those teams? That seems really pessimistic. 

[celticsclay]

All along I figured they'd be one of 10-12 teams in the East with a shot at the playoffs, but not guaranteed. 

The 50+ win stat projections always seemed like a stretch to me, and I never believed that the 20-11 run to finish last season would carry over to this season.

As others have noted, since the team can expect a top 10 pick from Brooklyn regardless of what the Celts do on the floor, it doesn't bother me so much that the team is hanging around in the "dreaded" middle.

At the same time, I don't believe a big trade is happening this season, and I don't think there's any point in "showcasing" guys or trying to maximize the prospects of a 40-something win team likely to burn out in the first round even if they can get there. 

With that in mind, I'd prefer to see the team give playing time to younger guys currently hanging out on the bench or in the D-League.  We have to see what we have in these guys sooner or later.  Unless Danny can make some exciting trades on draft night, we're going to have even more rookie contract guys on the roster a year from now.

But then again, I'm one of those horrid "fake fans" who doesn't particularly relish seeing the team make the playoffs just for the sake of it.  I thought it was unfortunate and counterproductive that the team made it in last year.

[PhoSita]

That leaves 4 open playoff spots for Toronto, Atlanta, Charlotte, Orlando, Pistons and Wizards and Magic.

Do you guys honestly think we can't beat out 3 of those teams? That seems really pessimistic.

Can't and won't are different things.  I think it's entirely possible the Celts beat out those teams.  Go on a run to end the season like last year and they could even win the Atlantic.

That said, I think there's at least as good a chance they finish behind Toronto Atlanta, Charlotte, and Detroit.

[celticsclay]

That leaves 4 open playoff spots for Toronto, Atlanta, Charlotte, Orlando, Pistons and Wizards and Magic.

Do you guys honestly think we can't beat out 3 of those teams? That seems really pessimistic.

Can't and won't are different things.  I think it's entirely possible the Celts beat out those teams.  Go on a run to end the season like last year and they could even win the Atlantic.

That said, I think there's at least as good a chance they finish behind Toronto Atlanta, Charlotte, and Detroit.

Yea I mean. At this point I can kind of use the terms "most pessimistic possible outcome" and "Phosita's opinion" interchangeably. Do you honestly not see how ridiculous it is to always argue for the best possible and least likely outcome for the Nets season (which would hurt the Celtics) and always predict the worst possible outcome for the Celtics? 

[PhoSita]

That leaves 4 open playoff spots for Toronto, Atlanta, Charlotte, Orlando, Pistons and Wizards and Magic.

Do you guys honestly think we can't beat out 3 of those teams? That seems really pessimistic.

Can't and won't are different things.  I think it's entirely possible the Celts beat out those teams.  Go on a run to end the season like last year and they could even win the Atlantic.

That said, I think there's at least as good a chance they finish behind Toronto Atlanta, Charlotte, and Detroit.

Yea I mean. At this point I can kind of use the terms "most pessimistic possible outcome" and "Phosita's opinion" interchangeably. Do you honestly not see how ridiculous it is to always argue for the best possible and least likely outcome for the Nets season (which would hurt the Celtics) and always predict the worst possible outcome for the Celtics?

I disagree entirely with your characterizations of my stances on these issues.  Not much else to say.