Anything under 65 wins will shock me

[KG Living Legend]

 I'm a super duper gigantic Celtics Fan, but I'll bet you a thousand that they don't touch 65 wins.

[PhoSita]

Last year, the Celts were in a three way tie for 4th in Defensive Efficiency.

They were 13th in Offensive Efficiency.


Winning 65 would require, I think, moving up into the top 3 in Defensive Efficiency, and moving into the top 7-8 in Offensive Efficiency, if not the top 5.

The first part of that seems doable to me.  Horford is an elite defender at the 5 spot, and represents a major upgrade over Sullinger on both ends.

On the offensive end, I expect the team will be better.  I'm not sure how much better they'll be.  I expect that the starting lineup will be more potent, though offensive rebounds, free throw attempts, and overall scoring efficiency will continue to be an issue.  The Celts will have to force a lot of turnovers to stay above average offensively, even with Horford on board. 

The bench is the real point of concern for me.  I think the bench unit will be really dangerous at times, but I don't expect them to be very consistent.  There may be some games where the Celts just get outgunned when the benches are in the game and the starters can't make up the deficit in the 4th quarter.


Overall, I like the Celts to win 50 games, maybe a few more than that, assuming everybody stays healthy.  Winning 60-65 seems very far fetched to me.  It is really tough for any team to do that without a top 10 player, and  I'm not sure the Celts have anybody who qualifies as a top 20 player.

[LarBrd33]

Yeah, it should be a 55 win team...

But let's just point out the team just lost to a 10 win team... and it wasn't the team's starters it lost to.  Our bench got decimated by a lineup that had 1 player in the NBA last year.  Most of them undrafted scrubs.   We essentially got beat by a D-League team.

Let's not forget that it was a preseason game which people in their right minds should give zero worth a darn about.

It's a game that didn't matter, but it was an awful sign that the team should be embarrassed about.  Our depth is one of our greatest strengths.   If our depth fails against D-League talent in a pre-season game, it's not worthy of panic-mode, but it's certainly a sign that maybe our depth isn't as great as we hope.

[wayupnorth]

Yeah, it should be a 55 win team...

But let's just point out the team just lost to a 10 win team... and it wasn't the team's starters it lost to.  Our bench got decimated by a lineup that had 1 player in the NBA last year.  Most of them undrafted scrubs.   We essentially got beat by a D-League team.

Lol you are kidding...

PRESEASON

[Roy H.]

Something like only 18 teams in NBA history have won 65+ games. I don't think we'll be one of them.

[wayupnorth]

Yeah, it should be a 55 win team...

But let's just point out the team just lost to a 10 win team... and it wasn't the team's starters it lost to.  Our bench got decimated by a lineup that had 1 player in the NBA last year.  Most of them undrafted scrubs.   We essentially got beat by a D-League team.

Let's not forget that it was a preseason game which people in their right minds should give zero worth a darn about.

It's a game that didn't matter, but it was an awful sign that the team should be embarrassed about.  Our depth is one of our greatest strengths.   If our depth fails against D-League talent in a pre-season game, it's not worthy of panic-mode, but it's certainly a sign that maybe our depth isn't as great as we hope.

 

[PhoSita]

Yeah, it should be a 55 win team...

But let's just point out the team just lost to a 10 win team... and it wasn't the team's starters it lost to.  Our bench got decimated by a lineup that had 1 player in the NBA last year.  Most of them undrafted scrubs.   We essentially got beat by a D-League team.

Let's not forget that it was a preseason game which people in their right minds should give zero worth a darn about.

It's a game that didn't matter, but it was an awful sign that the team should be embarrassed about.  Our depth is one of our greatest strengths.   If our depth fails against D-League talent in a pre-season game, it's not worthy of panic-mode, but it's certainly a sign that maybe our depth isn't as great as we hope.

The Celts have depth, but not very much *experienced* depth.


Smart, Rozier, Brown, Hunter, Young, Mickey, Jackson, Bentil ... out of these guys, only Smart has been a rotation player in the NBA for any significant stretch.

Gerald Green, Jerebko, Olynyk, Zeller -- these guys have some experience, though notably only Zeller has shown any consistency as a role player.  None of them is a guy who can run the show or act as the focal point on either end, even for short stretches.


Given that, it's not so shocking that they might struggle to overpower  the back half of the Sixers' roster, which is similarly inexperienced yet talented.

[LarBrd33]

Yeah, it should be a 55 win team...

But let's just point out the team just lost to a 10 win team... and it wasn't the team's starters it lost to.  Our bench got decimated by a lineup that had 1 player in the NBA last year.  Most of them undrafted scrubs.   We essentially got beat by a D-League team.

Let's not forget that it was a preseason game which people in their right minds should give zero worth a darn about.

It's a game that didn't matter, but it was an awful sign that the team should be embarrassed about.  Our depth is one of our greatest strengths.   If our depth fails against D-League talent in a pre-season game, it's not worthy of panic-mode, but it's certainly a sign that maybe our depth isn't as great as we hope.

The Celts have depth, but not very much *experienced* depth.


Smart, Rozier, Brown, Hunter, Young, Mickey, Jackson, Bentil ... out of these guys, only Smart has been a rotation player in the NBA for any significant stretch.

Gerald Green, Jerebko, Olynyk, Zeller -- these guys have some experience, though notably only Zeller has shown any consistency as a role player.  None of them is a guy who can run the show or act as the focal point on either end, even for short stretches.


Given that, it's not so shocking that they might struggle to overpower  the back half of the Sixers' roster, which is similarly inexperienced yet talented.

I hear what you're saying, but I don't expect a #3, #6 and #16 pick to lose in a scrimmage to undrafted rookies.   Again, it's not a big deal because our starters looked great and preseason games are irrelevant, but it's not a great sign either.  I didn't like seeing some no-name like Brandon Paul drop 15 on our big investments.

[max215]

Do you know how many teams in NBA history have won 65 games in a season? Perhaps a better question would be "do you think the 2016-17 Celtics will be no worse than the 20th best team in NBA history?"

[alldaboston]

Yeah, it should be a 55 win team...

But let's just point out the team just lost to a 10 win team... and it wasn't the team's starters it lost to.  Our bench got decimated by a lineup that had 1 player in the NBA last year.  Most of them undrafted scrubs.   We essentially got beat by a D-League team.

Let's not forget that it was a preseason game which people in their right minds should give zero worth a darn about.

It's a game that didn't matter, but it was an awful sign that the team should be embarrassed about.  Our depth is one of our greatest strengths.   If our depth fails against D-League talent in a pre-season game, it's not worthy of panic-mode, but it's certainly a sign that maybe our depth isn't as great as we hope.

The Celts have depth, but not very much *experienced* depth.


Smart, Rozier, Brown, Hunter, Young, Mickey, Jackson, Bentil ... out of these guys, only Smart has been a rotation player in the NBA for any significant stretch.

Gerald Green, Jerebko, Olynyk, Zeller -- these guys have some experience, though notably only Zeller has shown any consistency as a role player.  None of them is a guy who can run the show or act as the focal point on either end, even for short stretches.


Given that, it's not so shocking that they might struggle to overpower  the back half of the Sixers' roster, which is similarly inexperienced yet talented.

I hear what you're saying, but I don't expect a #3, #6 and #16 pick to lose in a scrimmage to undrafted rookies.  Again, it's not a big deal because our starters looked great and preseason games are irrelevant, but it's not a great sign either. I didn't like seeing some no-name like Brandon Paul drop 15 on our big investments.

it certainly sounds bad when you put it that way lol

lets see how they do against charlotte tomorrow. that should be a better litmus test

[Donoghus]

Yeah, it should be a 55 win team...

But let's just point out the team just lost to a 10 win team... and it wasn't the team's starters it lost to.  Our bench got decimated by a lineup that had 1 player in the NBA last year.  Most of them undrafted scrubs.   We essentially got beat by a D-League team.

Let's not forget that it was a preseason game which people in their right minds should give zero worth a darn about.

It's a game that didn't matter, but it was an awful sign that the team should be embarrassed about.  Our depth is one of our greatest strengths.   If our depth fails against D-League talent in a pre-season game, it's not worthy of panic-mode, but it's certainly a sign that maybe our depth isn't as great as we hope.

Again, its preseason.  Outside of injuries and end of the bench guys trying to make the team, these games....do....not...matter.   

It's meaningless.  Even the wins & losses.

[Ilikesports17]

Yeah, it should be a 55 win team...

But let's just point out the team just lost to a 10 win team... and it wasn't the team's starters it lost to.  Our bench got decimated by a lineup that had 1 player in the NBA last year.  Most of them undrafted scrubs.   We essentially got beat by a D-League team.

Let's not forget that it was a preseason game which people in their right minds should give zero worth a darn about.

It's a game that didn't matter, but it was an awful sign that the team should be embarrassed about.  Our depth is one of our greatest strengths.   If our depth fails against D-League talent in a pre-season game, it's not worthy of panic-mode, but it's certainly a sign that maybe our depth isn't as great as we hope.

The Celts have depth, but not very much *experienced* depth.


Smart, Rozier, Brown, Hunter, Young, Mickey, Jackson, Bentil ... out of these guys, only Smart has been a rotation player in the NBA for any significant stretch.

Gerald Green, Jerebko, Olynyk, Zeller -- these guys have some experience, though notably only Zeller has shown any consistency as a role player.  None of them is a guy who can run the show or act as the focal point on either end, even for short stretches.


Given that, it's not so shocking that they might struggle to overpower  the back half of the Sixers' roster, which is similarly inexperienced yet talented.

I hear what you're saying, but I don't expect a #3, #6 and #16 pick to lose in a scrimmage to undrafted rookies.  Again, it's not a big deal because our starters looked great and preseason games are irrelevant, but it's not a great sign either. I didn't like seeing some no-name like Brandon Paul drop 15 on our big investments.

it certainly sounds bad when you put it that way lol

lets see how they do against charlotte tomorrow. that should be a better litmus test

its certainly not encouraging but I dont think its very concerning. Its preseason no one gives a ****

[max215]

Yeah, it should be a 55 win team...

But let's just point out the team just lost to a 10 win team... and it wasn't the team's starters it lost to.  Our bench got decimated by a lineup that had 1 player in the NBA last year.  Most of them undrafted scrubs.   We essentially got beat by a D-League team.

Let's not forget that it was a preseason game which people in their right minds should give zero worth a darn about.

It's a game that didn't matter, but it was an awful sign that the team should be embarrassed about.  Our depth is one of our greatest strengths.   If our depth fails against D-League talent in a pre-season game, it's not worthy of panic-mode, but it's certainly a sign that maybe our depth isn't as great as we hope.

Again, its preseason.  Outside of injuries and end of the bench guys trying to make the team, these games....do....not...matter.   

It's meaningless.  Even the wins & losses.

Yep, something tells me Popovich is not fretting about the Spurs falling to the lowly Suns in preseason action.

[Roy H.]

Yeah, it should be a 55 win team...

But let's just point out the team just lost to a 10 win team... and it wasn't the team's starters it lost to.  Our bench got decimated by a lineup that had 1 player in the NBA last year.  Most of them undrafted scrubs.   We essentially got beat by a D-League team.

Let's not forget that it was a preseason game which people in their right minds should give zero worth a darn about.

It's a game that didn't matter, but it was an awful sign that the team should be embarrassed about.  Our depth is one of our greatest strengths.   If our depth fails against D-League talent in a pre-season game, it's not worthy of panic-mode, but it's certainly a sign that maybe our depth isn't as great as we hope.

Again, its preseason.  Outside of injuries and end of the bench guys trying to make the team, these games....do....not...matter.   

It's meaningless.  Even the wins & losses.

Yep. The Hornets were last season's best preseason team. The Warriors went 3-4. The Cavs were 1-6.

Completely meaningless.

[CoachBo]

Sorry in advance to the OP.