[valentine]

This will sound nuts but here goes:

I think now that the Celtics starting lineup is sorted out, their offense is about to hit another level.

There’s been so much talk about how the Celtics need a #1 scorer to be more than a mediocre team, but they’re already a top 6 team by most measures and power rankings.

Bradley in the starting lineup was really gumming up the gears. He can’t pass, can’t dribble, can’t draw fouls, and he’s a streaky shooter. His +/- was terrible in the starting lineup. Maybe 1 in 4 games he would actually make a positive overall impact.

Smart and IT compliment each other really well. Now Smart can be the shooting guard and 2ndary ball handler he is best suited for, and IT will also benefit from having a good secondary ball handler rather than ABradley. Smart and IT are about to get more efficient offensively, and the days of instant 10 point deficits every game appear to be a thing of the past for the most part.

I just want to suggest that this oft declared statement that the Celtics Need another scorer might not be super-accurate.

I think the Celtics can remain a top 5-6 team all year, in part because the starting lineup and bench rotation are now set and well balanced. Avery Bradley can now be a great spark plug scorer and defensive menace off the bench, while Smart will take the next step in his development, free from point guard responsibilities and free to focus on attacking the rim like Jerome Bettis.

[natevalParticipant]

 Before we get too excited lets remember that Rockets team we beat has now lost 4 in a row to Brooklyn, Denver, Dallas and us. Yes the Rockets should be better but they are what their record is. 

[natevalParticipant]

 Before we get too excited lets remember that Rockets team we beat has now lost 4 in a row to Brooklyn, Denver, Dallas and us. Yes the Rockets should be better but they are what their record is. 

[FrankStallone]

 The C’s might be 8-2 if Lee, Zeller, (and Bradley) weren’t in the starting lineup to begin the season.

[FrankStallone]

 The C’s might be 8-2 if Lee, Zeller, (and Bradley) weren’t in the starting lineup to begin the season.

[natevalParticipant]

 But they were in the lineup. Wasn’t it you declaring Zeller the next great big man? Every team has excuses our record is what it is we’re 6-4 not 8-2. I still think we are right around a .500 team.

[natevalParticipant]

 But they were in the lineup. Wasn’t it you declaring Zeller the next great big man? Every team has excuses our record is what it is we’re 6-4 not 8-2. I still think we are right around a .500 team.

[FrankStallone]

 Nobody was declaring Zeller the next great big man.

Good job sleeping on the Cs. Even the national media has us as a top 6 team now.

 

[FrankStallone]

 Nobody was declaring Zeller the next great big man.

Good job sleeping on the Cs. Even the national media has us as a top 6 team now.

 

[ballislyfe25Participant]

Top 6 team? Maybe in the East but they would be fighting for 10th place in the West.

[ballislyfe25Participant]

Top 6 team? Maybe in the East but they would be fighting for 10th place in the West.

[FrankStallone]

nba.com power rankings. After last night the Cs have the 4th highest point differential.

 

"6 Last week: 14 Boston (5-4) Pace: 102.0 (5) OffRtg: 99.4 (18) DefRtg: 94.4 (4) NetRtg: +5.1 (6) The Celtics are looking legit, having allowed less than 92 points per 100 possessions as they’ve won four of their last five games. Six guys have averaged double-figures in that stretch, which was highlighted by impressive weekend victories over two teams – the Hawks and Thunder – from last week’s top six. With next year’s Nets pick in their hands, this weekend’s home-and-home is worth more than just two games. This week: @ HOU, vs. DAL, vs. BKN, @ BKN" http://www.nba.com/2015/news/powerrankings/11/16/week3/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt6f

[FrankStallone]

nba.com power rankings. After last night the Cs have the 4th highest point differential.

 

"6 Last week: 14 Boston (5-4) Pace: 102.0 (5) OffRtg: 99.4 (18) DefRtg: 94.4 (4) NetRtg: +5.1 (6) The Celtics are looking legit, having allowed less than 92 points per 100 possessions as they’ve won four of their last five games. Six guys have averaged double-figures in that stretch, which was highlighted by impressive weekend victories over two teams – the Hawks and Thunder – from last week’s top six. With next year’s Nets pick in their hands, this weekend’s home-and-home is worth more than just two games. This week: @ HOU, vs. DAL, vs. BKN, @ BKN" http://www.nba.com/2015/news/powerrankings/11/16/week3/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt6f

[natevalParticipant]

 And the Rockets are 26th on the list so lets not crown the Celtics yet 

[natevalParticipant]

 And the Rockets are 26th on the list so lets not crown the Celtics yet 

[mgreener_34Participant]

 It’s not about crowning the Celtics, but when the team that was killing it during the second half of last year, comes out of the gates and absolutely DESTROYS! MIL, WAS, OKC, ATL and HOU (all playoff teams, and arguably two of the top 4 teams in each conferense) you have to take notice. 3 of those games were on the road as well. They are playing great basketball, and many people thought last year was a fluke, so it’s nice to see that they are able to compete like they did last year. Smart looks like he’s all-nba defense, IT looking like an all-star, and Sully is probably going to get paid this summer. It’s still early, but I don’t think it’s too early to get excited about how they are playing. If they beat DAL tomorrow, another hot team, than they would have just toasted the hardest part of there schedule for the first half of the year…

I also agree with the OP that their offense is better, and I think Celtic fans everywhere will agree with me that Avery’s place is and always has been coming off the bench. The way Stevens runs his team, it just makes too much sense, and their is more continuity to the offense. Having IT and Sully, our two best offensive players, coming off the bench was just madness to me, and now that they are in we are going to see a more consistent team overall. 

The achilles heal for this team though has been, and will continue to be, their three point shooting until they get that go-to scorer at the 2 or 3. Until that day, the Celtics are going to heavily rely on Defense and streaky shooting to get through games. I’m content with that now, and hope that RJ and Rozier pan out, and that we get a top 5 pick this year to finally solidify the rebuild/transition.

As a non-bias Celtic fan though, I don’t think we get 50 wins, and see a more realistic number being between 44-46 wins give or take. Which is awesome considering we have a lottery pick coming our way, and are technically "rebuilding". 

[FrankStallone]

 The Celtics played at 50+ win pace for the 2nd half of last season. They’re playing at 50 win pace now, in their hardest part of the first half schedule, despite taking 5-6 games to figure out starting lineup.

And yet you think you’re being realistic by doubling down on your preseason caution/pessimism.

 

 

[mgreener_34Participant]

 This is such a wierd feeling for me. Never in my life has my alligience and knowledge of the Celtics ever been put in question like this lol 

I’m not not pessimistic, I’m a realist who understands basketball, and follows all 30 teams in the NBA. I know that, yes, the Celtics did get better, but so did Orlando (Fournier, Hezonja, CJ), Indiana (Monta, George, Turner), Detroit (Jackson, Stanley, Morris, Ersan), Charlette (Batum), Knicks (Lopez, Porzingis, AA), and Miami (Whiteside, Winslow, Dragic)…Celtics are a good team, they remind me a lot of those early "Baby Bulls" team that was good enough to win 47 games, and like those Bull teams, I’m just waiting for the Celtics to get their Derrek Rose to make all the pieces fit perfectly. 

Hinrick-Smart, defensive PG/SG

Gordon- IT- Spark plug scorer off the bench

Curry-Sully- Super talented big men who need to work on conditioning

Luol Deng- Jae Crowder- Athletic defensive SF that needs to learn how to shoot

Our cores are so similar to those teams, and we play similar games with no one player dominating the action. Those Bulls teams didn’t really take off though until they drafted Rose.

I don’t think that’s being pessimistic, but more so being a student of the game, and understanding how good teams are established. 

[mgreener_34Participant]

 This is such a wierd feeling for me. Never in my life has my alligience and knowledge of the Celtics ever been put in question like this lol 

I’m not not pessimistic, I’m a realist who understands basketball, and follows all 30 teams in the NBA. I know that, yes, the Celtics did get better, but so did Orlando (Fournier, Hezonja, CJ), Indiana (Monta, George, Turner), Detroit (Jackson, Stanley, Morris, Ersan), Charlette (Batum), Knicks (Lopez, Porzingis, AA), and Miami (Whiteside, Winslow, Dragic)…Celtics are a good team, they remind me a lot of those early "Baby Bulls" team that was good enough to win 47 games, and like those Bull teams, I’m just waiting for the Celtics to get their Derrek Rose to make all the pieces fit perfectly. 

Hinrick-Smart, defensive PG/SG

Gordon- IT- Spark plug scorer off the bench

Curry-Sully- Super talented big men who need to work on conditioning

Luol Deng- Jae Crowder- Athletic defensive SF that needs to learn how to shoot

Our cores are so similar to those teams, and we play similar games with no one player dominating the action. Those Bulls teams didn’t really take off though until they drafted Rose.

I don’t think that’s being pessimistic, but more so being a student of the game, and understanding how good teams are established. 

[FrankStallone]

 The Celtics played at 50+ win pace for the 2nd half of last season. They’re playing at 50 win pace now, in their hardest part of the first half schedule, despite taking 5-6 games to figure out starting lineup.

And yet you think you’re being realistic by doubling down on your preseason caution/pessimism.

 

 

[natevalParticipant]

 The Celtics are 6-4 after 10 games, we’re still very early into the season. At this pace they would end up somewhere around 48 wins. 48 wins translates to the 5 seed last season, not bad but not what I would consider great. 

It’s still too early to get to high with wins or to low with loses, let the season play out a little before we crown them 5th seed champs.

On another note T-Rex or Mgreener are either of you from the Boston area? Just a guess but I would say you aren’t. New Englenders don’t get excited for 5th seeds we get excited for championships.

 

 

 

[FrankStallone]

 another tanker irritated at his own underestimation of the Celtics.

We’re 5-1 since Lee was taken out of the starting lineup, during the toughest stretch of the season, and you want to act like we’re a 5th seed, max.

Another Mr. Realistic forcasting showers. Pretending we’re not sitting on a pile of trade chips/picks, even if this team was a 5th seed as currently constructed.

 

 

[natevalParticipant]

 FrankStallone another Green Teamer giving Celtics fans a bad name

[FrankStallone]

 Sorry about the 5-1 run during the tough part of the schedule. Realistically, blah blah blah no stars blah blah ignore the draft picks blah blah 43 wins.

 

 

[FrankStallone]

 Sorry about the 5-1 run during the tough part of the schedule. Realistically, blah blah blah no stars blah blah ignore the draft picks blah blah 43 wins.

 

 

[ZachAttackParticipant]

 This is T Rex…

[ZachAttackParticipant]

 This is T Rex…

[CasualCelt]

 Lol, I give Celtics fans a bad name by accurately predicting our season.

But chumps like you somehow make us look good by dissing our team and expecting the worst, for no logical reason whatsoever.

 

 

 

 

[CasualCelt]

 Lol, I give Celtics fans a bad name by accurately predicting our season.

But chumps like you somehow make us look good by dissing our team and expecting the worst, for no logical reason whatsoever.

 

 

 

 

[natevalParticipant]

 FrankStallone another Green Teamer giving Celtics fans a bad name

[FrankStallone]

 another tanker irritated at his own underestimation of the Celtics.

We’re 5-1 since Lee was taken out of the starting lineup, during the toughest stretch of the season, and you want to act like we’re a 5th seed, max.

Another Mr. Realistic forcasting showers. Pretending we’re not sitting on a pile of trade chips/picks, even if this team was a 5th seed as currently constructed.

 

 

[natevalParticipant]

 The Celtics are 6-4 after 10 games, we’re still very early into the season. At this pace they would end up somewhere around 48 wins. 48 wins translates to the 5 seed last season, not bad but not what I would consider great. 

It’s still too early to get to high with wins or to low with loses, let the season play out a little before we crown them 5th seed champs.

On another note T-Rex or Mgreener are either of you from the Boston area? Just a guess but I would say you aren’t. New Englenders don’t get excited for 5th seeds we get excited for championships.

 

 

 

[mgreener_34Participant]

 It’s not about crowning the Celtics, but when the team that was killing it during the second half of last year, comes out of the gates and absolutely DESTROYS! MIL, WAS, OKC, ATL and HOU (all playoff teams, and arguably two of the top 4 teams in each conferense) you have to take notice. 3 of those games were on the road as well. They are playing great basketball, and many people thought last year was a fluke, so it’s nice to see that they are able to compete like they did last year. Smart looks like he’s all-nba defense, IT looking like an all-star, and Sully is probably going to get paid this summer. It’s still early, but I don’t think it’s too early to get excited about how they are playing. If they beat DAL tomorrow, another hot team, than they would have just toasted the hardest part of there schedule for the first half of the year…

I also agree with the OP that their offense is better, and I think Celtic fans everywhere will agree with me that Avery’s place is and always has been coming off the bench. The way Stevens runs his team, it just makes too much sense, and their is more continuity to the offense. Having IT and Sully, our two best offensive players, coming off the bench was just madness to me, and now that they are in we are going to see a more consistent team overall. 

The achilles heal for this team though has been, and will continue to be, their three point shooting until they get that go-to scorer at the 2 or 3. Until that day, the Celtics are going to heavily rely on Defense and streaky shooting to get through games. I’m content with that now, and hope that RJ and Rozier pan out, and that we get a top 5 pick this year to finally solidify the rebuild/transition.

As a non-bias Celtic fan though, I don’t think we get 50 wins, and see a more realistic number being between 44-46 wins give or take. Which is awesome considering we have a lottery pick coming our way, and are technically "rebuilding". 

[BleedGreen808Participant]

 The defense has been extremely impressive this year.  I believe we are leading the league in steals per game.  The turnovers they are forcing has been leading to a ton of easy baskets.  We definitely need to get away from these slow starts on offense though.  Early against Houston the ball movement wasn’t there like it should be.  

[BleedGreen808Participant]

 The defense has been extremely impressive this year.  I believe we are leading the league in steals per game.  The turnovers they are forcing has been leading to a ton of easy baskets.  We definitely need to get away from these slow starts on offense though.  Early against Houston the ball movement wasn’t there like it should be.  

[King CaluchaParticipant]

Top 6??? T-Rex… is that you???

[SkalAndJamalParticipant]

It is him.

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 Can we get another ban.  There was a two day span where ish was nice.  

It seems most of the mods on this forum aren’t active participants and don’t check the site on a daily basis.

 

[King CaluchaParticipant]

For real, man. We don’t need this but in the mods defense… they can’t really be searching for T-Rex all the time. I’m sure they will do something about it soon, though.

[King CaluchaParticipant]

For real, man. We don’t need this but in the mods defense… they can’t really be searching for T-Rex all the time. I’m sure they will do something about it soon, though.

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 Can we get another ban.  There was a two day span where ish was nice.  

It seems most of the mods on this forum aren’t active participants and don’t check the site on a daily basis.

 

[SkalAndJamalParticipant]

It is him.

[King CaluchaParticipant]

Top 6??? T-Rex… is that you???

[I am an idiotParticipant]

 I know that the Rockets are in a slump, but the last night’s game shows why the Celtics will have a solid regular season record (I am now thinking 50 games, I was at mid-to-high 40’s). They play hard on every possession and even in the second part of a back-to-back on the road (playing 4 out of 5 nights) hustled the Rockets right off the floor.

Last night’s offense came off the defensive effort. When they are that effective on D, the offense has a much easier time.

That being said, when they are not working off a turnover or out-hustling the other team, their offense suffers. IT is the only guy (except Turner on some nights) who can create his own shot. If the other team is patient and doesn’t get flustered, the Celtics are vulnerable. Just look what Paul George has done to them (twice).

I fear that they will not be nearly as successful in the playoffs, when they play motivated, experienced teams multiple games in a row.

But, they are only one or two players away from truely contending and have a boatload of players and picks that they can use to get those couple of missing pieces. They are fun to watch and should only get better.

 

 

  

 

 

[I am an idiotParticipant]

 I know that the Rockets are in a slump, but the last night’s game shows why the Celtics will have a solid regular season record (I am now thinking 50 games, I was at mid-to-high 40’s). They play hard on every possession and even in the second part of a back-to-back on the road (playing 4 out of 5 nights) hustled the Rockets right off the floor.

Last night’s offense came off the defensive effort. When they are that effective on D, the offense has a much easier time.

That being said, when they are not working off a turnover or out-hustling the other team, their offense suffers. IT is the only guy (except Turner on some nights) who can create his own shot. If the other team is patient and doesn’t get flustered, the Celtics are vulnerable. Just look what Paul George has done to them (twice).

I fear that they will not be nearly as successful in the playoffs, when they play motivated, experienced teams multiple games in a row.

But, they are only one or two players away from truely contending and have a boatload of players and picks that they can use to get those couple of missing pieces. They are fun to watch and should only get better.

 

 

  

 

 

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