Another win over a .600+ team

[Royrebirth]

Last night was a pretty solid win over an upper-echelon, better-record-than-us .600+ team, but nobody is talking about it. Why is it that we only complain about not winning .600, yet when we do, nobody acknowledges it?

Next Friday, the 13th, is another chance for us for us to prove it against the Raptors.

[mahcus smaht]

 It was a big win for sure. Isaiah's performance and Jae's melt down probably stole the spotlight.

Id also mention they were without George Hill which is big.

[Redz]

Last night was a pretty solid win over an upper-echelon, better-record-than-us .600+ team, but nobody is talking about it. Why is it that we only complain about not winning .600, yet when we do, nobody acknowledges it?

Next Friday, the 13th, is another chance for us for us to prove it against the Raptors.

True.  I guess no one takes Utah very seriously despite their record. 

[saltlover]

Last night was a pretty solid win over an upper-echelon, better-record-than-us .600+ team, but nobody is talking about it. Why is it that we only complain about not winning .600, yet when we do, nobody acknowledges it?

Next Friday, the 13th, is another chance for us for us to prove it against the Raptors.

We play the Raptors next Tuesday the 10th.  We play the Hawks on the 13th.  Just want to make sure you're ready for the game.

[Royrebirth]

It was a big win for sure. Isaiah's performance and Jae's melt down probably stole the spotlight.

Id also mention they were without George Hill which is big.

George Hill has only played in ~12 games this year. That's not even 1/3 of the total. He's not the reason why they're doing well.

[mahcus smaht]

It was a big win for sure. Isaiah's performance and Jae's melt down probably stole the spotlight.

Id also mention they were without George Hill which is big.

George Hill has only played in ~12 games this year. That's not even 1/3 of the total. He's not the reason why they're doing well.

With George Hill they are 10-3(.770). Without him, they are 12-11(.522).

Its substantial.

[saltlover]

It was a big win for sure. Isaiah's performance and Jae's melt down probably stole the spotlight.

Id also mention they were without George Hill which is big.

George Hill has only played in ~12 games this year. That's not even 1/3 of the total. He's not the reason why they're doing well.

They're 9-3 in games that he's played at least 28 minutes.  They're 13-11 in games where he hasn't played or left very early.  They are a good team without George Hill.  They are not a .600 team without him.

[BitterJim]

It was a big win for sure. Isaiah's performance and Jae's melt down probably stole the spotlight.

Id also mention they were without George Hill which is big.

George Hill has only played in ~12 games this year. That's not even 1/3 of the total. He's not the reason why they're doing well.

With George Hill they are 10-3(.770). Without him, they are 12-11(.522).

Its substantial.

If it were the Celtics that were missing an important player (say, IT in a game vs Toronto), this would be written off as "just another excuse"

(Not saying you would, just the blog in general)

[mahcus smaht]

It was a big win for sure. Isaiah's performance and Jae's melt down probably stole the spotlight.

Id also mention they were without George Hill which is big.

George Hill has only played in ~12 games this year. That's not even 1/3 of the total. He's not the reason why they're doing well.

With George Hill they are 10-3(.770). Without him, they are 12-11(.522).

Its substantial.

If it were the Celtics that were missing an important player (say, IT in a game vs Toronto), this would be written off as "just another excuse"

(Not saying you would, just the blog in general)

yeah I agree with you here. Ultimately, both points are relevant.

We lost to Cleveland and Golden State without Jae and Al and we lost to OKC and Toronto without Isaiah.

We beat Memphis and now Utah without their starting point gaurds. Not all wins or losses against .600 win teams are created equal.

[LGC88]

The only thing that matter is that we finally get to 0.600 over a 35 games span.
That's substantial enough for me.
The next 3 months will be fun to watch.

[saltlover]

It was a big win for sure. Isaiah's performance and Jae's melt down probably stole the spotlight.

Id also mention they were without George Hill which is big.

George Hill has only played in ~12 games this year. That's not even 1/3 of the total. He's not the reason why they're doing well.

With George Hill they are 10-3(.770). Without him, they are 12-11(.522).

Its substantial.

If it were the Celtics that were missing an important player (say, IT in a game vs Toronto), this would be written off as "just another excuse"

(Not saying you would, just the blog in general)

It's why I don't think the "haven't beaten a .600+ team yet" is relevant anyway.  Of our 9 games against such teams prior to last night, we'd been without at least one of Al, Jae, or IT for five of them.  2 of the full strength games were on the road, and all were very close.  I expect we'll beat Cleveland and Toronto each at least once this year, and I like us against Houston when they come to town as well.

But, Utah has proven to be a very different team with George Hill vs. without.

[BitterJim]

It was a big win for sure. Isaiah's performance and Jae's melt down probably stole the spotlight.

Id also mention they were without George Hill which is big.

George Hill has only played in ~12 games this year. That's not even 1/3 of the total. He's not the reason why they're doing well.

With George Hill they are 10-3(.770). Without him, they are 12-11(.522).

Its substantial.

If it were the Celtics that were missing an important player (say, IT in a game vs Toronto), this would be written off as "just another excuse"

(Not saying you would, just the blog in general)

It's why I don't think the "haven't beaten a .600+ team yet" is relevant anyway.  Of our 9 games against such teams prior to last night, we'd been without at least one of Al, Jae, or IT for five of them.  2 of the full strength games were on the road, and all were very close.  I expect we'll beat Cleveland and Toronto each at least once this year, and I like us against Houston when they come to town as well.

But, Utah has proven to be a very different team with George Hill vs. without.

Agreed.  And I really hope you're right about the Houston game, I've got tickets 

[Vermont Green]

With George Hill they are 10-3(.770). Without him, they are 12-11(.522).

This is interesting.  Utah looked like a 12-11 team on the second night of a back to back, not a 22-14 team.  The Celtics looked like a 21-14 team.

At any rate, the Celtics did play very well.  Thomas was awesome, adjusting to the shot blockers by dishing more to lead the way but an all around good game.

[celticsclay]

Last night was a pretty solid win over an upper-echelon, better-record-than-us .600+ team, but nobody is talking about it. Why is it that we only complain about not winning .600, yet when we do, nobody acknowledges it?

Next Friday, the 13th, is another chance for us for us to prove it against the Raptors.

It is weird. We have been playing very very well since we have been at full strength and it just feels like some fans are waiting for things to go wrong so they can dump on the team.

[mahcus smaht]

Last night was a pretty solid win over an upper-echelon, better-record-than-us .600+ team, but nobody is talking about it. Why is it that we only complain about not winning .600, yet when we do, nobody acknowledges it?

Next Friday, the 13th, is another chance for us for us to prove it against the Raptors.

It is weird. We have been playing very very well since we have been at full strength and it just feels like some fans are waiting for things to go wrong so they can dump on the team.

The Celtics have proven to be a good regular season team over the past 2 years now. Unless they add another star theres just not a ton they can prove in the regular season save catching Toronto or taking the season series from an elite team.

Today, we are 2.5 games behind Toronto and have 0 wins against the full strength versions of the 7 teams above .600.

Now you can only beat the teams on your schedule and we just havent had many opportunities for truly impressive wins, but we still have yet to really prove anything this season.

There is still reason to be excited. Isaiah has elevated his play to a level I never thought it could go and the team has been one of the hottest in the NBA.

They have a few opportunities to go out and prove it in the next few weeks. I hope they take advantage.