Too early to give up on Celtics?

Dada · 11-27-2006, 03:08 PM

I thought the Celtics would be ok this year, and I saw them as a sleeper to win the Atlantic.

Well, it's not exactly working out that way, even though the Division is really weak. But the Celtics need to pick up, because we know the Nets will and Toronto is starting to build some talent.

The team is just not playing very good defense. Pierce has been amazing though...

Conlin17 · 11-27-2006, 08:18 PM

they're doing ok in the division

Manny27 · 11-28-2006, 06:30 PM

Celtics are tied for first in there divison and they been hot for the more then five games.

fps_dean · 12-03-2006, 06:06 PM

They may win the division, but I don't think their record will be pretty....

I am excited about next year though... a lot of the young players are showing promise and when they develop some consistency, along with vets Paul Pierce and Wally Szczerbiak they should be a force to reckon with.

I've also been very impressed with Ryan Gomes and Rajon Rondo, and Gerald Green has been an impressive three point shooter and defender.

Man, I have high hopes for next year!

3rd Handler · 12-04-2006, 11:21 PM

It seems like it's always next year with the Celtics. A team once associated with glory has become the NBAs longest rebuilding process. Antoine was build as Bird's successor. The Pierce-Walker, I mean PP-Ricky Davis...um nope Pierce-Wally regimes were all supposed to resurrect the golden days. Quote me on this: if things don't turn around, if we don't acquire a vet, if Perkins-Jefferson-Green don't make an impact, Danny Ainge will not have a job next season.

AutomatedTeller · 03-05-2007, 07:14 PM

Long time to go to bump a thread, of course...but what the heck.

The Celtics, of course, were terrible for awhile, but are beginning to play well now. They won't win anything now - the big question is: Can Danny Ainge create a competitive team?

Here is an interesting article, from Forbes:

Best General Managers In Sports - Forbes.com, listing the 98 GM's in the major sports that have been around long enough to rate.

Ainge shows as 92 out of 98 - he spends more than his predecessor and wins less.

Once again, the Sox hopes for the future are tied to a bouncing ball in June. It is far more likely than not that we won't get the #1 pick, of course, so the anticipation will rise, only to be dashed when we pick #3 instead of #1, and end up with the next Antoine Walker.

Zen653 · 03-05-2007, 11:45 PM

It's not so much that the Celtics are playing well overall, as much as they're finally starting to execute down the stretch. Also, recent opponents seem to be playing down to our level. If you look at the shooting percentages, and final scores, these games have been embarrassments to the game of basketball. Even the ultimate homer Tommy Heinsohn called these games "slopfests." Mike Gorman called the win in Houston a "comedy of errors." We only shot 25% from the field through the first three quarters against the Rockets, and yet we still found a way to win that game.

During the four game win streak, the first three quarters have mostly been awful (on both sides), while the fourth quarter and the OT periods have been extremely exciting. Clutch three-pointers by Pierce and West, huge defensive stops by Scalabrine, key rebounds by Jefferson and Gomes. Everyone is chipping in at crucial moments.

While some fans seem to be upset with the recent victories, I can never get angry at the Celtics for trying to win a basketball game. It's bad karma to lose on purpose, and maybe that's why the basketball deities failed to deliver Tim Duncan on that fateful 1997 day.

I hope we land the No. 1 or 2 pick. Oden or Durant would both be terrific additions and either one of them would help get us deep into the playoffs. Al Jefferson is putting up All-Star numbers, Pierce is already one of the best in the game, West and Gomes are solid role players, Szczerbiak is good for 15 PPG when healthy, Green seems to be coming along well, Allen had really exploded into a consistently productive two-way player until his unfortunate season-ending injury, and Scalabrine is a wily veteran who does the underappreciated little things to perfection. Rondo passes well, Perkins provides some toughness in the paint, Ray is a sharp-shooter, and Powe has an uncanny nose for the ball. Add Oden or Durant to that mix, and we have a very good team. I'm honestly quite optimistic about the Celtics, especially in such a wide open Conference. I think we would have been a 6th-8th seed team this year without all the injuries.

11-27-2006, 03:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
Dada Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 125	Too early to give up on Celtics? I thought the Celtics would be ok this year, and I saw them as a sleeper to win the Atlantic. Well, it's not exactly working out that way, even though the Division is really weak. But the Celtics need to pick up, because we know the Nets will and Toronto is starting to build some talent. The team is just not playing very good defense. Pierce has been amazing though...

11-27-2006, 08:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
Conlin17 Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Prov Posts: 14	they're doing ok in the division

11-28-2006, 06:30 PM	#3 (permalink)
Manny27 New Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 3	Celtics are tied for first in there divison and they been hot for the more then five games.

12-03-2006, 06:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
fps_dean New Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 1	They may win the division, but I don't think their record will be pretty.... I am excited about next year though... a lot of the young players are showing promise and when they develop some consistency, along with vets Paul Pierce and Wally Szczerbiak they should be a force to reckon with. I've also been very impressed with Ryan Gomes and Rajon Rondo, and Gerald Green has been an impressive three point shooter and defender. Man, I have high hopes for next year!

12-04-2006, 11:21 PM	#5 (permalink)
3rd Handler Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 27	It seems like it's always next year with the Celtics. A team once associated with glory has become the NBAs longest rebuilding process. Antoine was build as Bird's successor. The Pierce-Walker, I mean PP-Ricky Davis...um nope Pierce-Wally regimes were all supposed to resurrect the golden days. Quote me on this: if things don't turn around, if we don't acquire a vet, if Perkins-Jefferson-Green don't make an impact, Danny Ainge will not have a job next season.

03-05-2007, 07:14 PM	#6 (permalink)
AutomatedTeller Moderator Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 544	Long time to go to bump a thread, of course...but what the heck. The Celtics, of course, were terrible for awhile, but are beginning to play well now. They won't win anything now - the big question is: Can Danny Ainge create a competitive team? Here is an interesting article, from Forbes: Best General Managers In Sports - Forbes.com, listing the 98 GM's in the major sports that have been around long enough to rate. Ainge shows as 92 out of 98 - he spends more than his predecessor and wins less. Once again, the Sox hopes for the future are tied to a bouncing ball in June. It is far more likely than not that we won't get the #1 pick, of course, so the anticipation will rise, only to be dashed when we pick #3 instead of #1, and end up with the next Antoine Walker.

03-05-2007, 11:45 PM	#7 (permalink)
Zen653 Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 6,744	It's not so much that the Celtics are playing well overall, as much as they're finally starting to execute down the stretch. Also, recent opponents seem to be playing down to our level. If you look at the shooting percentages, and final scores, these games have been embarrassments to the game of basketball. Even the ultimate homer Tommy Heinsohn called these games "slopfests." Mike Gorman called the win in Houston a "comedy of errors." We only shot 25% from the field through the first three quarters against the Rockets, and yet we still found a way to win that game. During the four game win streak, the first three quarters have mostly been awful (on both sides), while the fourth quarter and the OT periods have been extremely exciting. Clutch three-pointers by Pierce and West, huge defensive stops by Scalabrine, key rebounds by Jefferson and Gomes. Everyone is chipping in at crucial moments. While some fans seem to be upset with the recent victories, I can never get angry at the Celtics for trying to win a basketball game. It's bad karma to lose on purpose, and maybe that's why the basketball deities failed to deliver Tim Duncan on that fateful 1997 day. I hope we land the No. 1 or 2 pick. Oden or Durant would both be terrific additions and either one of them would help get us deep into the playoffs. Al Jefferson is putting up All-Star numbers, Pierce is already one of the best in the game, West and Gomes are solid role players, Szczerbiak is good for 15 PPG when healthy, Green seems to be coming along well, Allen had really exploded into a consistently productive two-way player until his unfortunate season-ending injury, and Scalabrine is a wily veteran who does the underappreciated little things to perfection. Rondo passes well, Perkins provides some toughness in the paint, Ray is a sharp-shooter, and Powe has an uncanny nose for the ball. Add Oden or Durant to that mix, and we have a very good team. I'm honestly quite optimistic about the Celtics, especially in such a wide open Conference. I think we would have been a 6th-8th seed team this year without all the injuries.