Can the Celts Challenge LeBron If Hayward Goes Elsewhere?

[footey]

We should improve more than the Cavsdue to the projected growth of Brown and the additions of Tatum and Zizic. Let's see how much they can contribute. Cleveland has made no improvements. Lebron will be a year older.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

no. there is no guarantee we even get out teh semis next year. people need to get a grip on reality. it took us 7 games to beat the wizz. we need to get a impact FA somehwere while kids develop. some kind of improvement.

[satch]

Don't think so....Because of the way the NBA favors Lebron you have to be 15 points better to overcome the officials. Just witnessed that with Golden State. Its going to take awhile...

[CelticsBR]

If the Cavs decides to make changes to better matchup against GS, the Cs will improve their odds against them. They can't really improve a lot of their roster, that is already very good. All they can do is to give up something good at one aspect of their game to get better at the other.

To beat GS they need defense. Their defense as it was last postseason really stifled Celtics's offense, so that their changes can't do much more harm against Boston's offensive game plan this season.

Their offense, especially the combo of top tier shooting and Lebron + Kyrie going to the rim, is otherworldly. Even during the finals, they were playing great games at the offensive end. I don't think they can make it any better next season.

[loco_91]

The way to challenge the cavs would be better-than-expected development from either Brown, Smart, Tatum or Zizic. Between the four of them there's a good chance that someone is much better than expected. We would also need all of key our veterans (especially IT and Horford) to continue performing as well as they did last year, which is far from a given. It would also help if Lebron gets a little worse and if the Cavs don't sweep their way to the ECF.

[keevsnick]

Let's be clear on one thing:

@BillSimmons

Prediction: if the Celts don't get Gordon Hayward, they will regroup quickly and try to land Carmelo.

Carmelo Anthony isn't going to help the Celts get past LeBron.  I don't think you could have an adequate defense with Thomas, Melo, and Horford sharing the floor.

Ya defense would be a problem. But on the plus side he would give you another go to scorer, which the Celtics need. He could play some small ball 4, which would be interesting. He has a large contract, but only for another year (with a player option), so you aren't tying up long term salary. If you miss out on Gordon Heyward he might be a good short term fall back option

[greece66]

Even with hayward it would be a long shot

[LilRip]

Nope. Even if Hayward signs here, it'll be tough and the Cavs would still be favored against us in the playoffs.

If we sign Hayward AND land Melo for cheap (I don't know how), I can see us having a fair shot at dethroning Cleveland.

Absent of any signings though, it'll take an unexpected quantum leap from one of our young guys (Brown? Smart? Tatum? Rozier (yikes!)? Zizic) to be able to close the gap. I'm talking, MIP-candidate levels.

[BostonClamCrowdah]

I question anyone's ability to successfully go through life if you believe they can challenge Cleveland without significant improvement

I mean, seriously. You're dumb

[Witch-King]

For the people who don't want to "run it back" with the Cavs:

Suppose the Cavs make it to the Finals next season and lose again to the Warriors or Spurs and then goes to the Lakers -- wouldn't the Celtics want to be on the short list of teams that could get into the Finals against a heavily stacked West?? If the weak East trend were to continue and we eventually used our assets to acquire another impact player or two then all is certainly not lost. Why should we ruin a good thing by blowing up our team so fast?? I think we should feel things out, instead -- LeBron will eventually get old.

Also, if LeBron joined the Lakers he would never make the Finals. The Warriors and Spurs would eat him alive.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

For the people who don't want to "run it back" with the Cavs:

Suppose the Cavs make it to the Finals next season and lose again to the Warriors or Spurs and then goes to the Lakers -- wouldn't the Celtics want to be on the short list of teams that could get into the Finals against a heavily stacked West?? If the weak East trend were to continue and we eventually used our assets to acquire another impact player or two then all is certainly not lost. Why should we ruin a good thing by blowing up our team so fast?? I think we should feel things out, instead -- LeBron will eventually get old.

Also, if LeBron joined the Lakers he would never make the Finals. The Warriors and Spurs would eat him alive.

lebron won't even be 35 until 3 years from noW! PP and KG were still [dang] good players at 35 and 36 for us. after that huge dropoffs. lebron could be great until late 30's. he is a freak.

[SHAQATTACK]

no

[Witch-King]

For the people who don't want to "run it back" with the Cavs:

Suppose the Cavs make it to the Finals next season and lose again to the Warriors or Spurs and then goes to the Lakers -- wouldn't the Celtics want to be on the short list of teams that could get into the Finals against a heavily stacked West?? If the weak East trend were to continue and we eventually used our assets to acquire another impact player or two then all is certainly not lost. Why should we ruin a good thing by blowing up our team so fast?? I think we should feel things out, instead -- LeBron will eventually get old.

Also, if LeBron joined the Lakers he would never make the Finals. The Warriors and Spurs would eat him alive.

lebron won't even be 35 until 3 years from noW! PP and KG were still [dang] good players at 35 and 36 for us. after that huge dropoffs. lebron could be great until late 30's. he is a freak.

This is very true, but look on the bright side -- LeBron will never win a championship with the Lakers, and if he gets traded to LA because his kids go to school there we may never have to worry about him in the playoffs, ever again. I for one would be worried if the league ganged up on us to such extent that LeBron could build a super team in LA the likes of Golden State or San Antonio, and maybe even do so while the rest of the league offers us scraps even though we have the best trade assets, but part of our supremacy over the rest of the league in championships is sort of moot because any team can put multiple superstars on their roster and win a title, it's just that if that doesn't happen here anymore then other teams might eventually pull ahead of us in championships won. It's a harsh reality, but it's the truth.

[obnoxiousmime]

Insanity is defined as repeating the same action but expecting a different result.

[droopdog7]

All this, play the young guys stuff is hogwash.  Tatum and brown will develop (or not) regardless of how many minutes they get.  So no need to play the "young guys".  Just do your best to win as much as possible with what you have and everything will take care of itself.