What's wrong with this team?

[CelticsFan166]

We haven't won a game since last year! I think it's time we start from scratch and blow up this mediocre collection of role players and assets and trade them all for draft picks down the road. Nobody on this team has shown any potential and if Danny had half an idea what he was doing he'd tank and follow the Hinkie plan to get us Ben Simmons! (sarcasm)

All kidding aside, happy new years CB! Looking forward to the next few months and watching the team grow and get better! Let's go Celtics!

[Hemingway]

I expected to see a thread like this w/o the sarcasm after losing to the lakers. Can't win 'em all. The simple answer to your question, even though it was posed sarcastically, is that we don't have a bonafide superstar.

[colincb]

5th youngest roster  with only 2 guys with more than 5 years experience and Lee's probably gone before next season. Lack of offensive consistency from quite a few players.

Shooting is biggest issue, They need another consistent scorer. Shot selection could be substantially better for Smart and Sullinger, Lee looks like toast shooting 48% down low and with his sub-par defense is a net liability.

Defense overall is very good and will be better with Smart back to form in the next few weeks.

[hwangjini_1]

We haven't won a game since last year! I think it's time we start from scratch and blow up this mediocre collection of role players and assets and trade them all for draft picks down the road. Nobody on this team has shown any potential and if Danny had half an idea what he was doing he'd tank and follow the Hinkie plan to get us Ben Simmons! (sarcasm)

All kidding aside, happy new years CB! Looking forward to the next few months and watching the team grow and get better! Let's go Celtics!

Tp for a cute new years thread. 

Happy new year everyone!

[Celtics4ever]

The team usually plays hard so it is watcheable to me, most of the time.   Our D is solid except for rim protection but our D is more perimeter based anyways. Most nights we play hard.  Last night the Lakers won most of the 50-50 battles and seemed to want the game more.

I like our guards for the most part.   JC has been a solid SF.   I think we need some bigs badly but KO is a nice bench big.  We could really use a stud PF or C that can score.  Right now, our bigs are not that big of a threat and they can't draw a double that much to free up the wings and guards.

I think now that other teams are not tanking as last year that we are a fringe playoff team to low seed.  I thought that prior to the season and from what I have seen nothing has changed my mind.

[Surferdad]

I like our guards -- IT, Smart, Bradley, Turner

I like our defense -- Crowder, Smart, Bradley, Amir

I like our bigs -- Amir, Sully, Olynyk, Lee

I like our coach.

Need a scoring wing.

[clover]

No stars with nobody really commanding a double team, too much marginal shooting, not enough solid D down low against the biggest frontcourts.

The C's need their young players to develop, with someone emerging as a star, and then probably a lucky right time and place trade for another star, before maybe signing a third, free-agent star.

(The Trailblazers have some interesting young frontcourt talent, however, if some package could pry one away.)

[Celtics4ever]

I like our bigs -- Amir, Sully, Olynyk, Lee

I like our coach.

Need a scoring wing.

Crowder right now is scoring 16.6  PPG on  .48% shooting the last five games.  His three point shooting is suspect

http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/6581/jae-crowder

I don't think he is the problem and he is a good defender, too. 

Sully is shooting 42%.  His PPG have taken a nose dose.   People will say it is a sprained wrist.   But every year he starts hot and dwindles.

http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/6624/jared-sullinger

Amir can shoot when he gets it.   But we do not use him.  He has scored zero points in 3 of the last five games.

http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/2769/amir-johnson

Perhaps you should look at some stats more, watch some games and surf less? Did you hit your head on the surfboard?

[CelticsFan166]

All kidding aside, I actually love the team Stevens and Ainge have built so far. I think Smart will develop and a lot of our young guys will be important to our future, and combined with the Nets pick we are set up perfectly for the next 3 years. However, I think adding a scoring wing (Ingram)and an athletic, rim protecting big (Noel) while still maintaining the core if this team will push us over the top and make us a contender very soon.

[Surferdad]

I like our bigs -- Amir, Sully, Olynyk, Lee

I like our coach.

Need a scoring wing.

Crowder right now is scoring 16.6  PPG on  .48% shooting the last five games.  His three point shooting is suspect

http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/6581/jae-crowder

I don't think he is the problem and he is a good defender, too. 

Sully is shooting 42%.  His PPG have taken a nose dose.   People will say it is a sprained wrist.   But every year he starts hot and dwindles.

http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/6624/jared-sullinger

Amir can shoot when he gets it.   But we do not use him.  He has scored zero points in 3 of the last five games.

http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/2769/amir-johnson

Perhaps you should look at some stats more, watch some games and surf less? Did you hit your head on the surfboard?

Uncalled-for sarcasm, just skip comments like that, OK?

Back to the topic:  Celtics obviously score points, but no one is a true threat that commands double-teams. That includes Jae Crowder. Of course he is scoring 16ppg and that's great. I never said he was the problem.

Main I hate when somebody comes into these threads, thinking they have done ALL the research, then attacks with sarcasm right away. Happy new year to you too.  Me too sensitive?, maybe but I like civility in conversation. Geez.

[obnoxiousmime]

No stars with nobody really commanding a double team, too much marginal shooting, not enough solid D down low against the biggest frontcourts.

The C's need their young players to develop, with someone emerging as a star, and then probably a lucky right time and place trade for another star, before maybe signing a third, free-agent star.

(The Trailblazers have some interesting young frontcourt talent, however, if some package could pry one away.)

I'm so jealous of the Blazers for McCollum. It's hard to believe how much talent they would have had if Aldridge and Batum stayed. I'm really impressed with how good and versatile a shooter he is.

[CelticPride2016]

I like our bigs -- Amir, Sully, Olynyk, Lee

I like our coach.

Need a scoring wing.

Crowder right now is scoring 16.6  PPG on  .48% shooting the last five games.  His three point shooting is suspect

http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/6581/jae-crowder

I don't think he is the problem and he is a good defender, too. 

Sully is shooting 42%.  His PPG have taken a nose dose.   People will say it is a sprained wrist.   But every year he starts hot and dwindles.

http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/6624/jared-sullinger

Amir can shoot when he gets it.   But we do not use him.  He has scored zero points in 3 of the last five games.

http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/2769/amir-johnson

Perhaps you should look at some stats more, watch some games and surf less? Did you hit your head on the surfboard?

Uncalled-for sarcasm, just skip comments like that, OK?

Back to the topic:  Celtics obviously score points, but no one is a true threat that commands double-teams. That includes Jae Crowder. Of course he is scoring 16ppg and that's great. I never said he was the problem.

Main I hate when somebody comes into these threads, thinking they have done ALL the research, then attacks with sarcasm right away. Happy new year to you too.  Me too sensitive?, maybe but I like civility in conversation. Geez.

He broke the forum rules.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

I know that this thread was meant to be sarcastic, but I'm having a hard time getting past the loss to the Lakers. Could be mostly because I live in SoCal and work with a bunch of Lakers fans, but I just can't believe how awful the Celtics played. Heck of a time for them to lay an egg.

[Greyman]

The OP led us all down the garden path with the thread title, though many have still felt the need to give an answer. I think I will know more about this team, which has a lot of things that are right about it, when we answer these three questions.

1) Is Smart going to develop into the player we want him to be? I liked most of what he was showing in summer league, though that is of limited value. He has shown glimpses of what we need on offence and his defence is unquestionably good. Can he develop as a ball handler and scorer?

2) What sort of package can Ainge put together to get the star we desire - who will we/he be content to let go? I believe IT is about the only player and the Nets pick the only pick that DA wouldn't use in a trade. AB is probably safe too but I am not certain of that.

3) When will DA make his move? I know the stock answer is when the right player becomes available but I wonder if it will be during this season or after this season (or possibly beyond)?