Celtics (15-12) at Grizzlies (18-11) Game #28 12/20/16

[max215]

Marc Gasol is a better version of All Horford.

[jpotter33]

This is a 500 ball club right now. They have taken a step back even with addition of Horford. The second unit misses Turner big time. Smart hasn't improved his game enough for the Celtics not to miss Turner on that second unit. If Ainge can't make a trade soon this team will be a 6th or 7th seed and one and done again in the playoffs. Waiting on these draft picks in the future if a trade can't be made will ensure the Celtics as the new Hawks for a while. Good enough to make the playoffs but not good enough to advance. Need to get lucky in the draft I guess and we know how that turns out.

lol we've had some bad injury luck, played more away games than anyone else in the league and despite all this, we are still above .500

You watching the same team I am? What are they a game or two above 500? That puts them right at a 500 team. They best offensive player is 5"8. No one can rebound. The perimeter defense which used to be a strength sucks right now. Smart who more is expected of him has not improved his offense a bit. It's an average team right now with holes. You really think they have the talent to go far?

B18, you are not addressing the points the other poster raises. Read his post first, then respond to his points.


I don't buy the excuses. They have lost to some poor teams on the road and their home records sucks so even when they have played at home that hasn't helped. They missed IT for 4 games? So one player and the team crumbles? Every team has some injuries here and there. The difference in a 500 team is they are not good enough to overcome an occasional injury. Even when the team has a full roster the same issues are clear.

Are we conveniently forgetting about the 10 games that Horford and Crowder have missed apiece?

Crowder is a decent player but not a player that should affect your team if he is missing. Horford for sure bigger loss but again even having both players back the same problems exist.

Crowder's absence is about as big as IT's absence for us, because we simply don't have a good starting option behind him. That forced us to play Brown, who is not ready to start, or Smart, who is too small for the 3, at the starting 3 position. That's not even mentioning that we played the top two small forwards in the league during that span, too.

[Granath]

I'm not going off this one game and I'm not going off when certain players have been out. With a healthy roster. This team is far from Cleveland. Toronto is still better. They are pretty much the same team last year with a hole in their second unit. The idea was to give Horford Max money and this team would take another step but so far they haven't. I believe without an impact trade the ceiling is 45 games and maybe the second round. I hope I'm proven wrong but that's what I see right now.

B18,  enjoy the games. That is why we are here.

I try to lol. I just don't want another 21 year drought I want banner 18 now [dang it]! All kidding aside we are seeing the loss of Turner effecting this team. He was big for them.

Do you think Turner is worth $70m over 4 years? If not then there wasn't much Boston could do about it, could they?

[mr. dee]

I'm not going off this one game and I'm not going off when certain players have been out. With a healthy roster. This team is far from Cleveland. Toronto is still better. They are pretty much the same team last year with a hole in their second unit. The idea was to give Horford Max money and this team would take another step but so far they haven't. I believe without an impact trade the ceiling is 45 games and maybe the second round. I hope I'm proven wrong but that's what I see right now.

B18,  enjoy the games. That is why we are here.

I try to lol. I just don't want another 21 year drought I want banner 18 now [dang it]! All kidding aside we are seeing the loss of Turner effecting this team. He was big for them.

Rick Pitino had the same mindset as you. Look what happened.

[liam]

I'm not going off this one game and I'm not going off when certain players have been out. With a healthy roster. This team is far from Cleveland. Toronto is still better. They are pretty much the same team last year with a hole in their second unit. The idea was to give Horford Max money and this team would take another step but so far they haven't. I believe without an impact trade the ceiling is 45 games and maybe the second round. I hope I'm proven wrong but that's what I see right now.

B18,  enjoy the games. That is why we are here.

I try to lol. I just don't want another 21 year drought I want banner 18 now [dang it]! All kidding aside we are seeing the loss of Turner effecting this team. He was big for them.

Do you think Turner is worth $70m over 4 years? If not then there wasn't much Boston could do about it, could they?

Portland would take that back if they could.

[Vox_Populi]

Marc Gasol is a better version of All Horford.

I mean, this has been a well-known fact for probably 4 years.

[liam]

IT with the defense!

[alewilliam789]

God Horford is playing terrible right now

[alewilliam789]

Edited.  Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline. like that is what p---es me off about Avery Bradley

[jpotter33]

Marc Gasol is a better version of All Horford.

Eh, in some areas, sure, but Al is better in others.

[Banner18now!]

I'm not going off this one game and I'm not going off when certain players have been out. With a healthy roster. This team is far from Cleveland. Toronto is still better. They are pretty much the same team last year with a hole in their second unit. The idea was to give Horford Max money and this team would take another step but so far they haven't. I believe without an impact trade the ceiling is 45 games and maybe the second round. I hope I'm proven wrong but that's what I see right now.

Were we supposed to be at Cleveland's level? I never heard that. If that was your expectation then perhaps that's your fault. I thought - and still think - we may contend for the #2 spot in the East but even that would be a bit of a reach.

If they're "pretty much the same team" as last year, then that team won 48 games. A ceiling of 45 would mean this team is worse.

At least close the gap a little with Cleveland which will still be wide. As of right now they haven't. I don't think they are good enough to overtake Toronto as the team is constituted currently. It's my opinion from what I see. You see differently apparently and that's fine. It's ok to disagree

[jpotter33]

Good Lord, Bradley, what was that?

[liam]

Good Lord, Bradley, what was that?

5 point swing.

[Granath]

I'm not going off this one game and I'm not going off when certain players have been out. With a healthy roster. This team is far from Cleveland. Toronto is still better. They are pretty much the same team last year with a hole in their second unit. The idea was to give Horford Max money and this team would take another step but so far they haven't. I believe without an impact trade the ceiling is 45 games and maybe the second round. I hope I'm proven wrong but that's what I see right now.

B18,  enjoy the games. That is why we are here.

I try to lol. I just don't want another 21 year drought I want banner 18 now [dang it]! All kidding aside we are seeing the loss of Turner effecting this team. He was big for them.

Do you think Turner is worth $70m over 4 years? If not then there wasn't much Boston could do about it, could they?

Portland would take that back if they could.

Exactly. There's no point about complaining about Turner being gone - few players in the league can do what he can do so it wasn't an easy skill set to try to replace but he wasn't worth anywhere near the cash Portland threw at him. What was Boston to do?

[knuckleballer]

To add something positive to the thread, Brooklyn is going to lose tonight.  Down 20 with 5 minutes left.