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

[CelticGuardian]

This team is too streaky, IMO. we win 3 games and then lose 3 games, that is not going to warrant a playoff seed. Paul George back in full form and the emergence of the Orlando Magic is what will make it tough on us to sneak in the playoffs.

[djbilly33]

Why would we even want to make the playoffs? What's the point? Another first round exit. Do what we did in 07. Stock up pick and draft good players, and then either trade up in the draft and get a #1 pick, keep some of our players and try and sign a high profile free agent, or force a trade. Need to do something, otherwise we'll be stuck in the middle for years to come.

[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?

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

Come on. We had this debate all off-season any objective 3rd party projection model (whether statistical based, linesmaker based or just shooting from the hip) had the nets at like 22-25 wins. You kept insisting on low 30's. How are you gonna pretend you were not probably the second highest poster on their board for predicting their wins? Them winning that many games is pretty much the worst possible outcome one could predict without being completely ridiculous.

[Moranis]

I voted for the last category, but I really don't see the point in being better and still missing the playoffs.  If that looks like a real possibility at the break, then Boston should go all in or tank.  Frankly, I'd be fine either way, but Boston needs to move off the status quo one way or the other.

[Granath]

*ahem*

http://forums.celticsblog.com/index.php?topic=80711.msg1955470#msg1955470

I have said before that the Celtics could be a significantly improved team and still miss the playoffs this year.

[PhoSita]

Come on. We had this debate all off-season any objective 3rd party projection model (whether statistical based, linesmaker based or just shooting from the hip) had the nets at like 22-25 wins. You kept insisting on low 30's. How are you gonna pretend you were not probably the second highest poster on their board for predicting their wins? Them winning that many games is pretty much the worst possible outcome one could predict without being completely ridiculous.

We've had this out many times over by now.

I disagree with your suggestion that my stances on the Celts prospects, and the Nets prospects, are "pretty much the worst possible outcome."

I don't think there's much to be gained from elaborating.

[Granath]

Come on. We had this debate all off-season any objective 3rd party projection model (whether statistical based, linesmaker based or just shooting from the hip) had the nets at like 22-25 wins. You kept insisting on low 30's. How are you gonna pretend you were not probably the second highest poster on their board for predicting their wins? Them winning that many games is pretty much the worst possible outcome one could predict without being completely ridiculous.

We've had this out many times over by now.

I disagree with your suggestion that my stances on the Celts prospects, and the Nets prospects, are "pretty much the worst possible outcome."

I don't think there's much to be gained from elaborating.

After all, the Nets could win the NBA Championship so Pho isn't predicting the "worst possible outcome"!

[PhoSita]

Come on. We had this debate all off-season any objective 3rd party projection model (whether statistical based, linesmaker based or just shooting from the hip) had the nets at like 22-25 wins. You kept insisting on low 30's. How are you gonna pretend you were not probably the second highest poster on their board for predicting their wins? Them winning that many games is pretty much the worst possible outcome one could predict without being completely ridiculous.

We've had this out many times over by now.

I disagree with your suggestion that my stances on the Celts prospects, and the Nets prospects, are "pretty much the worst possible outcome."

I don't think there's much to be gained from elaborating.

After all, the Nets could win the NBA Championship so Pho isn't predicting the "worst possible outcome"!

Says the raging pessimist who proudly quotes his own prediction that the Celts might not make the playoffs.

Such a chicken little!   

[Granath]

Come on. We had this debate all off-season any objective 3rd party projection model (whether statistical based, linesmaker based or just shooting from the hip) had the nets at like 22-25 wins. You kept insisting on low 30's. How are you gonna pretend you were not probably the second highest poster on their board for predicting their wins? Them winning that many games is pretty much the worst possible outcome one could predict without being completely ridiculous.

We've had this out many times over by now.

I disagree with your suggestion that my stances on the Celts prospects, and the Nets prospects, are "pretty much the worst possible outcome."

I don't think there's much to be gained from elaborating.

After all, the Nets could win the NBA Championship so Pho isn't predicting the "worst possible outcome"!

Says the raging pessimist who proudly quotes his own prediction that the Celts might not make the playoffs.

Such a chicken little!   

Yeah, the sky is falling at 43-39 (which was my prediction for their record). 

[Emmette Bryant]

Oh well we'll get 'em next year

[PhoSita]

Yeah, the sky is falling at 43-39 (which was my prediction for their record). 

I think I've been saying something like 40-45 wins, so I guess I'm right there with ya.  Sky falling indeed.

[wdleehi]

Why would we even want to make the playoffs? What's the point? Another first round exit. Do what we did in 07. Stock up pick and draft good players, and then either trade up in the draft and get a #1 pick, keep some of our players and try and sign a high profile free agent, or force a trade. Need to do something, otherwise we'll be stuck in the middle for years to come.

Big difference between the Celtics and other teams in that position.  They get the picks from a team that would be accused of tanking if they still had their picks.


Celtics can concentrate on having young guys learn the right way while letting the Nets pick tank for them.

[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)

Done for you.

TP for listening to my suggestion

[PhoSita]

Why would we even want to make the playoffs? What's the point? Another first round exit. Do what we did in 07. Stock up pick and draft good players, and then either trade up in the draft and get a #1 pick, keep some of our players and try and sign a high profile free agent, or force a trade. Need to do something, otherwise we'll be stuck in the middle for years to come.

Big difference between the Celtics and other teams in that position.  They get the picks from a team that would be accused of tanking if they still had their picks.


Celtics can concentrate on having young guys learn the right way while letting the Nets pick tank for them.

What exactly are Rozier / Mickey / Hunter / Young learning right now? 

Tyler Zeller is apparently learning that it sucks when your team trades for a veteran who plays the position as you and guarantees that guy playing time in order to showcase him for a trade.  Zeller was one of the Celts' most consistent players last year and, unlike David Lee, has a track record of helping the team win games.

[beantownboy171]

I can't get to upset about it.

It's a fun team to root for and they play hard.

The combination of:

-- Having our best players like Smart, IT, Crowder, and Bradley on reasonable deals for the several more years.

-- benefiting from Brooklyn's sorrow for 3 straight years.


Makes me hopelessly optimistic for our future.


That being said, I hope we make a hard turn for the better this season. Because is we get a top 6 seed I think we could really attract some free agents this offseason. Players know that our future is bright.