Has the current Celtic win streak got any of you thinking

[kozlodoev]

are we closer than what Danny thought at the trade deadline? Would a few little moves have put us over the top into the conversation with Cavs and GSW? Are we in the conversation?

The last time Cleveland stopped by the Garden, they wiped the floor with us -- and they weren't even at full strength. The proof is in the pudding, and we won't know until we take another look at how we stack up against them. Hopefully we'll get the chance.

Regardless, I'd like to take a step back and appreciate the job the management has done during the transition period. In 2014, this team had 25 wins and nothing but the 6th pick to show for it. Fast forward three years, and we're the top seed in the East riding the prime of one of the more electric players in recent days ... and we're looking at a Top 4 pick in this year's draft.

We might not be the Cavs or the Warriors, but we're in a pretty dang good place right now.

[Smokeeye123]

If the C's picked up KD35 last summer, or maybe Cousins, then the Celtics would have been in the same conversation with Golden State and Cleveland.

My expectations are...Celtics should get past the East Semis before getting wasted in the East Finals. Unless a big injury happens to one of the Cavs' Big 3.

If the Celtics got Durant we would've been a dynasty. Would still have everyone on this team plus a top 4 pick coming next year.

[Alleyoopster]

Cleveland didn't look good for stretches of the season. At the time I suspected that it might be due to injuries and/or age. They looked vulnerable.

However, judging by their play against the Raptors, they are as good, if not better than they were last season.

Many of us were duped into thinking that with a diminished Cleveland squad, all that was needed was a missing piece, like Obaka, to turn the tide in the Celtics favor.

I agree with other posters, Danny did the right thing by not making a deal that likely would have hurt the Celtics down the road.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

are we closer than what Danny thought at the trade deadline? Would a few little moves have put us over the top into the conversation with Cavs and GSW? Are we in the conversation?

The last time Cleveland stopped by the Garden, they wiped the floor with us -- and they weren't even at full strength. The proof is in the pudding, and we won't know until we take another look at how we stack up against them. Hopefully we'll get the chance.

Regardless, I'd like to take a step back and appreciate the job the management has done during the transition period. In 2014, this team had 25 wins and nothing but the 6th pick to show for it. Fast forward three years, and we're the top seed in the East riding the prime of one of the more electric players in recent days ... and we're looking at a Top 4 pick in this year's draft.

We might not be the Cavs or the Warriors, but we're in a pretty dang good place right now.

yeah i am not getting my hopes up in a series against cleveland. To me we are playing with house money now.  That 2012 series against lebron was gut wrenching. crazy series. all the twists and turns of what happened. we did not lose on a last second shot in game 7 but we actually would have had a chance to beat them in 5 if people watched every game. we were robbed by the refs in game 2. we still won 3 straight after that and had a shot to win 4 straight and close out at home. lebron flipped a switch and killed us. then we hung in game 7 until the 4th. gut wrenching. I doubt we can even take cleveland to a game 7. we need alot more help before that is even realistic or practical IMO.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

If the C's picked up KD35 last summer, or maybe Cousins, then the Celtics would have been in the same conversation with Golden State and Cleveland.

My expectations are...Celtics should get past the East Semis before getting wasted in the East Finals. Unless a big injury happens to one of the Cavs' Big 3.

If the Celtics got Durant we would've been a dynasty. Would still have everyone on this team plus a top 4 pick coming next year.

IDK about that. That is purely speculation. We need our draftees to bloom and quickly. cavs are stacked. irving, james, love, smith, korver, thomas, sanders, etc.

By the time our draftees bloom (which is no guarantee) will we still have IT? or AB?

[KGBirdBias]

If we can beat the Wiz and then take the Cavs to game 6, it will be more than a successful season. Anything can happen though...an injury, a suspension...anything. I saw Villanova beat Georgetown and I saw the Pats come back from a 28-3 deficit. Anything can happen if you put yourself in the right position.

[footey]

If we can beat the Wiz and then take the Cavs to game 6, it will be more than a successful season. Anything can happen though...an injury, a suspension...anything. I saw Villanova beat Georgetown and I saw the Pats come back from a 28-3 deficit. Anything can happen if you put yourself in the right position.

And your team is led by IT!!!

[JHTruth]

Cleveland didn't look good for stretches of the season. At the time I suspected that it might be due to injuries and/or age. They looked vulnerable.

However, judging by their play against the Raptors, they are as good, if not better than they were last season.

Many of us were duped into thinking that with a diminished Cleveland squad, all that was needed was a missing piece, like Obaka, to turn the tide in the Celtics favor.

I agree with other posters, Danny did the right thing by not making a deal that likely would have hurt the Celtics down the road.

I'm not sure the Raptors were ever anything great.DD is doing nothing this series and he is the reason for their rise.

If we finish off Washington, I'd say we've established ourselves as the clear No.2 in the conference. Then it's just fun after all that. There will be no pressure on the Celtics to beat Cleveland, just go out loose and compete. Take the Cavs to 6 or 7 and you have a great foundation to head into the offseason with. We've already done far better in the playoffs than most people expected so be happy..

[Hank Finkel]

This last game against the Wizards was amazing to me. Both teams were at their best.  It reminded me of the older Celtics playoff teams that were just tough as nails and would fight and dive for every loose ball and rebound just to get the win.  The fact that our team is being lead by a small tough player who just got his tooth knocked out and comes out to score 53 points is an inspiration to all who follow the sport.  I would love to see this team finish off the Wizards and give Cleveland a slap in the face in the E.C.F. .  I don't know if this team has the talent to do it but it would be great to see. 

[Moranis]

are we closer than what Danny thought at the trade deadline? Would a few little moves have put us over the top into the conversation with Cavs and GSW? Are we in the conversation?

Having watched how thoroughly Cleveland is demolishing Toronto, despite their acquisition of two of the players we most wanted, no, I don't think those moves would have put us over the top.

This is kind of what I'm thinking, too. Cleveland was sleep walking for most of the regular season and now they're murdering Toronto. If the C's advance, it might be an interesting series or it might be like that Cleveland game in April where the C's looked like amateurs.

The streak is great but it doesn't change history.

I'll admit I was wrong, I wanted Ibaka/Tucker, really thought they could put the Celtics in a position to compete with CLE, but obviously that would not have worked out that way.

Toronto is getting crushed because DeRozan has been awful. Nothing to do with Ibaka or Tucker.  Ibaka has actually played well on both ends of the court. Raptors can't guard James either. Lowry had done great against Irving and Ibaka has limited Love.

I haven't watched the series.  Isn't Tucker supposed to guard James?

not really. Carroll and Powell have started the two games.

[mef730]

If the C's picked up KD35 last summer, or maybe Cousins, then the Celtics would have been in the same conversation with Golden State and Cleveland.

My expectations are...Celtics should get past the East Semis before getting wasted in the East Finals. Unless a big injury happens to one of the Cavs' Big 3.

I think the Cavs would survive even an injury to Love or Kyrie; as long as they have LeBron, they have the best team, because LeBron's still the best player in the game and gets the most calls.

As far as Danny's thinking, I think he views any success this season beyond a first-round win as gravy, like playing with house money. Don't get me wrong; he'll take the success now. I just think he's not expecting a higher level of success just yet.

Can we stop with the narrative that Lebron somehow gets favoritism from the refs.  Dude may be on his way to supplanting MJ as the greatest player of all time and he's earned every bit of it.  He's pretty much that good.

Hear, hear.  TP.  This narrative illustrates what an embarrassment Celtic fans are.  They are the worst part of rooting for this franchise.

So why are you hanging out on a message board with a bunch of Celtics fans?

As to the OP's question, no, I don't think it would have helped, if for no other reason than a trade probably would have cost us Rozier, who has been big for us.

Mike

[Phantom255x]

Call me crazy, but I feel this is more of Toronto are just flat out choking, not necessarily CLE being 200% dominant. Lebron is doing what we all have seen him do, nothing really new.

Yes, I'd still pick Cleveland to win in 5 even if the Raptors were playing 100%, BUT DeRozan last night had a whopping 5 points.

Lowry and DeRozan show up like once every 3 playoff games. NOT a recipe to win.

Toronto just look "scared" out there.

I think BOS can take Cleveland to 6 games as long as they knock down their open shots, but yeah it would be a "comfortable CLE in 6" lol.

[johnnygreen]

This current win streak has me thinking that Danny made the right call at the trade deadline by standing pat. One of the Celtics best qualities is their chemistry, and putting team success before personal gain.

[johnnygreen]

This is a strong team, but we're still going to be underdogs against Cleveland despite home court, and if we miraculously make it to the Finals, we'll get eviscerated by GSW. PJ Tucker and Serge Ibaka aren't changing that.

I actually think the Celtics match up well against Golden State, and would have a much better chance of beating them than Cleveland.

[Phantom255x]

This is a strong team, but we're still going to be underdogs against Cleveland despite home court, and if we miraculously make it to the Finals, we'll get eviscerated by GSW. PJ Tucker and Serge Ibaka aren't changing that.

I actually think the Celtics match up well against Golden State, and would have a much better chance of beating them than Cleveland.

To be fair, we won in the game they didn't have Durant. If they are 100% healthy, I think GSW wipes the floor with us, or takes it easily in 5 games.