ESPN Title Forecast - Boston 5th most likely to win title

[Moranis]

With a whopping 3 points (either one 2nd or three 3rd place votes) and a projected record of 51-31

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/17245841/2016-summer-forecast-nba-champions

4 people picked Cleveland to win, the other 43 Golden State

[saltlover]

Only 7 teams received any votes at all.  I want to mock the NBA and its lack of parity, but at the same time, 6 different teams have won in the last 7 years, so I won't.

I think 5th is fair for us.  I'd say we have as good of a chance as any non-Cleveland team of winning the title (which is not good.)  However, we have the best chance of any team to greatly improve our team between now and the trading deadline, with over $25 million in expiring contracts of non-critical players, and very attractive draft picks.  So if I were a voter, I'd consider Boston, because there's a chance the team could look like a true competitor after February.

EDIT: I meant any non-Cleveland in the East of winning the title.  Obviously Golden State has the best chance of any non-Cleveland team.

[jpotter33]

Only 7 teams received any votes at all.  I want to mock the NBA and its lack of parity, but at the same time, 6 different teams have won in the last 7 years, so I won't.

I think 5th is fair for us.  I'd say we have as good of a chance as any non-Cleveland team of winning the title (which is not good.)  However, we have the best chance of any team to greatly improve our team between now and the trading deadline, with over $25 million in expiring contracts of non-critical players, and very attractive draft picks.  So if I were a voter, I'd consider Boston, because there's a chance the team could look like a true competitor after February.

*Cough* Please be Cousins *Cough*

[BitterJim]

Only 7 teams received any votes at all.  I want to mock the NBA and its lack of parity, but at the same time, 6 different teams have won in the last 7 years, so I won't.

I think 5th is fair for us.  I'd say we have as good of a chance as any non-Cleveland team of winning the title (which is not good.)  However, we have the best chance of any team to greatly improve our team between now and the trading deadline, with over $25 million in expiring contracts of non-critical players, and very attractive draft picks.  So if I were a voter, I'd consider Boston, because there's a chance the team could look like a true competitor after February.

Yup, I think the assets we could use to improve this season (basically, the BRK 2017 and 2018 picks) are the biggest reason that we've gotten love from Vegas odds and now ESPN.  Our current team isn't gonna win a championship, but if you add Boogie and an injury to Durant (and maybe Irving or Lebron), then it isn't out of the question

[greece66]

tbh the title is technically correct but misleading

still feels good to see how the media perception of the team has improved

back in the summer of 2014, Simmons believed Stevens might go back to college bball and that we had no chance in the playoffs.

and now we might be the second best team in the East.

[Ilikesports17]

tbh the title is technically correct but misleading

still feels good to see how the media perception of the team has improved

back in the summer of 2014, Simmons believed Stevens might go back to college bball and that we had no chance in the playoffs.

and now we might be the second best team in the East.

I love Simmons but I don't think he's got a [dang] clue what he's talking about most of the time.

[PhoSita]

Being 5th most likely in a year in which one team has overwhelming odds and maybe three other teams have at least a puncher's chance if things really break in their favor ... well ... it doesn't mean a whole lot.


I'd rank it something like



Golden State - 90% favorite

Cleveland - 5%

Spurs - 3%

Clippers - 1%

Everybody else - <1%

[LarBrd33]

It's like saying the Washington Generals are 2nd most likely to win the title in a two-team league with the Harlem Globetrotters.

[PhoSita]

back in the summer of 2014, Simmons believed Stevens might go back to college bball and that we had no chance in the playoffs.

and now we might be the second best team in the East.

Well, I think if the team had failed to sign Horford and the picks coming from the Nets weren't likely to yield such high-caliber prospects, there might be a chance of Stevens moving on. 

As for the playoffs, the Celts have made the playoffs two years in a row now, but it's not as if they've been impressive there, winning 2/10 games.

[LarBrd33]

back in the summer of 2014, Simmons believed Stevens might go back to college bball and that we had no chance in the playoffs.

and now we might be the second best team in the East.

Well, I think if the team had failed to sign Horford and the picks coming from the Nets weren't likely to yield such high-caliber prospects, there might be a chance of Stevens moving on. 

As for the playoffs, the Celts have made the playoffs two years in a row now, but it's not as if they've been impressive there, winning 2/10 games.

Kinda sucks we came so very close to having a legitimate contender with a legitimate chance to win the title and stay a contender for the foreseeable future.  But instead Durant picked Golden State and tipped the balance of the NBA ridiculously in their favor on a pretty unprecedented level.  Now, we might indeed be the 5th best team in this league (Horford addition is huge), but there's such a chasm between the Golden State and the rest that we might as well be talking about trying to win a gold medal against Team USA's basketball team in the Olympics.    We'll have to settle for Bronze/Eastern COnference Finals at best.

[celticsclay]

back in the summer of 2014, Simmons believed Stevens might go back to college bball and that we had no chance in the playoffs.

and now we might be the second best team in the East.

Well, I think if the team had failed to sign Horford and the picks coming from the Nets weren't likely to yield such high-caliber prospects, there might be a chance of Stevens moving on. 

As for the playoffs, the Celts have made the playoffs two years in a row now, but it's not as if they've been impressive there, winning 2/10 games.

What is the point of comments like this? That is just two giant steps from reality and you could say it about every team. If Lebron hadn't gone back to Cleveland and Kyrie couldn't stay healthy Cleveland would still be in the lottery....

[PhoSita]

back in the summer of 2014, Simmons believed Stevens might go back to college bball and that we had no chance in the playoffs.

and now we might be the second best team in the East.

Well, I think if the team had failed to sign Horford and the picks coming from the Nets weren't likely to yield such high-caliber prospects, there might be a chance of Stevens moving on. 

As for the playoffs, the Celts have made the playoffs two years in a row now, but it's not as if they've been impressive there, winning 2/10 games.

What is the point of comments like this? That is just two giant steps from reality and you could say it about every team. If Lebron hadn't gone back to Cleveland and Kyrie couldn't stay healthy Cleveland would still be in the lottery....

Horford was about $5 million away from re-signing with Atlanta, so there's that.

Not such a stretch to imagine the Celts not signing a max free agent this summer.

And as for the Nets picks, it's been argued to death, but it was conceivable in 2014 that those picks might end up closer to the back half of the top 10 / late lottery, as opposed to yielding a top 3 pick this year, and probably another top 5 pick next year.


The point being, not such an outrageous thing to suggest, back in 2014, that the Celts might stall out a bit.

[moiso]

I think it's awesome.  We obviously took another major step forward and people here are complaining about it.  One step at a time, man, as long as the steps are in the right direction.

[Celtics4ever]

I think Golden State is the heavy favorite.  It is nice that we are well regarded.  We would have to be extremely lucky to make it to the finals.   But I definitely think playoffs and winning record is in the stars for us.

[CoachBo]

What kind of trophy do you get for being the fifth best team in a one-team league?

No banner? Then I don't care.

As Lombardi once put it, "Second place is the first loser."