and Francis playing 0 minutes getting 0 points the entire season so far will make him deserve an allstar spot?
Getting back on track... ...I still don't think the Celtics are the best team in the East. Cleveland was obviously a match-up problem for the Pistons last year, but I think the Pistons match up favorably with the Celtics... IF Rasheed plays within himself and to his potential. Rasheed - KG Prince - Pierce Billups - Allen I think the Celtics players are universally better offensively, but, with the exception of KG, worse defensively, and the Pistons are deeper.
You all are passing judgement too fast The Celtics have done exactly what they should have done thus far, beaten 6 inferior teams. And I, am just as sick of the "east-coast-masturbate-a-thon" as the next Clutch Fan, but how in the world can all of you declare that they are almost as good as, but not better than, teams that they have not faced? The Celts have NOT played anybody that we should be surprised they beat. Conversely, they haven't faced anybody who should have beat them, so who are you to say they aren't better than the elite west? You might be right, and of course its fun to play NBA intuitive, act like we can look on paper at the Celts and see their limit, but its just plain ignorant. WAIT. This brand new Celtics look is 6 games old, and could just possibly get better or worse from here. I'm not saying they deserve to be the undisputed no. 1 power ranked team. I think power rankings are no more than puff pieces this early, where distinguishing between the top teams boils down more to personal opinion than genuine criteria. I AM saying that almost everyone on this board in premature to arrive at the conclusion "they're good, but not as good as us good teams." I for one have not cast judgement yet. Wait until they come to Texas.
How many teams in NBA history have started the season 6-0? About 8 trillion? The championship Rockets started with 15 one season (right?), and I think that record was beaten by the 72-10 Bulls. Maybe the Celtics should at least play 15 games before being compared to that Bulls team -- or even the Rockets team.
This is way too soon. Hell, they've done nothing yet to put them in this category. Many teams are "on pace" every year to get to that mark. It hasn't happened yet. Absoulte trash article.
they cant beat the top teams ? where is your proof of that ? how can you say they can make the finals but they cant contend ? if they can make it then they are obviously contenders. youre out of your mind if you think the celtics couldnt get with any of the top teams in the west in a series. most likely they would beat us, and probably beat dallas and phoenix as well since KG will control the paint. KG dominates stoudemire when they matchup. san antonio would be a good matchup but if you think they would beat boston like they did the cavs you need to pull your head out of your ass.. also in case you havent noticed, boston is the number 1 DEFENSIVE team in the league right now. ive had the pleasure of watching a few of their games through league pass and this team is definitely for real. its nearly impossible to contain all 3 of them. sooner or later one or two of them will get cooking and the defensive is more than good enough to keep them in ball games even if they struggle on the offensive end.
Comparing this year's Celtics to that Bulls team so early in the season is more idiotic that I can explain. Probably 90% of people have forgotten just how good that squad was. I guarantee you the Celtics will not win 72 games. They aren't deep enough, their coach isn't as good as PJ was, and MJ, Pippen and Rodman are better than KG, Pierce and Allen. The one thing that could prove pivotal to the Celtics is their defense. That Bulls team could choke the life out of opposing offenses at will. I've never seen any team do it that well since. If the Celtics play great defense the whole year and don't depend on great performances on offense, they could end up winning 65+ games. But with Doc Rivers as coach and such a huge dropoff after the big 3, I don't see it. Some of their reserves will need career years for it to happen and Rondo will have to play out of his mind. Plus Posey needs to stay healthy and perform his best. In other words, absolutely everything will have to go right for them to even approach 70 wins, and it won't. 6-0 is good but it's been done a lot of times. 72-10 has been done ONCE!
got this from another board... The Boston Celtics are: #1 in Field Goal percentage, 50.8%. #1 in Opponent Field Goal Percentage, 39.7%. #1 in Steals, 11.0. #1 in Opponent Field Goals Made, 31.2. #1 in Opponent Rebounds, 37.3. #1 in Opponent Assists, 17.2. #1 in Points Differential, 16.3 (vs. 10.2 for San Antonio, 10.2). #1 in Field Goals Made Differential, 7.1. #1 in Field Goal Percentage Differential, 11.1.* #1 in Defensive Rebound Differential, 6.8. #1 in Rebound Differential, 5.4. #1 in Steal Differential, 4.2. #2 in Assists, 24.5. #2 in Opponent Turnovers, 18.7. #2 in Assist Differential, 7.3. #3 in 3 Point Field Goal Percentage Differential, 15.7. #3 in 3 Turnover Differential, -3.0. #4 in points scored, 106.5. #4 in 3 point field goal percent, 41.4%. #4 in Opponent Points Scored, 90.2. #5 in Defensive Rebounds. #28 in Offensive Rebound, 8.7. If you don't miss the shots there are no boards to grab. This is linked to #1 in Opponent's Defensive Rebounds, 27.2. #29 in Field Goal Attempts, but #7 in Field Goals Made. The Celtics are also the only team to have never trailed entering the half.
They've played, what, 2 road games, and a bunch of scrub teams. Stats are irrelevant. Actually, stats AND the regular season are irrelevant. Can I look at that Celtic squad and KNOW that they can't hang in the elite West? Nope. BUT, historically, a team built such as that; in its first year of existence, doesn't fair all that well in the playoffs. The big 3 are logging big minutes, and NONE of them have ever seen the finals, and have had relatively underwhelming TEAM performances in the playoffs.
That's just a moronic comment altogether. Technically, the Celts are on pace to win 82 games -- but that ain't gonna happen. They might win 60, but that's only because they're in the East.
That 72-10 mark isn't really a measure of how good a team is anyway, imo, but how disciplined they are. There have been past teams that have been good enough to beat everyone else in the league. But, it's a long season, players and teams lose focus, or coast a bit, and otherwise drop games they should win. It takes a lot of discipline to have that success and not let your guard down. That Bulls team lost to an unimposing team or two. And, I remember an interview with Pippen where he was saying they were tired from trying to break the record and they'll be happy when that's behind them. I don't see a team like the Celtics, with lots of new people and a pretty shallow bench, being able to maintain their focus that long.
built such as what ? 2 all-stars and a hall of famer ? can you name the other teams that are built like them and didnt fair well in the playoffs ? ray mpg in 06 = 40.4 |mpg in 07 = 40.3 pp 38 39 kg 39.5 38 overall they are playing less minutes than last year. underwhelming team performances ? when were any of them EVER on a team that SHOULD have done better than it did ? please stop talking out of your ass, you have no idea what youre talking about. if you want to talk about underwhelming team performances, look no further than the rockets, mavs, and suns last year. the teams you seem to insist are so head and shoulders above boston.
let's see: 2 vs. Suns 2 vs. Spurs 2 vs. Rockets 2 vs. Mavs 2 vs. Hornets 2 vs. Lakers (Kobe in twice in high profile game) 2 vs. Jazz 2 vs. Clippers 2 vs. Warriors 2 vs. Nuggets 4 vs. Pistons 3 vs. Raptors 3 vs. Nets 3 vs. Heat Against the Western teams they have to split every game with 9 of the best WC teams or even sweep a few of them to have good chance. But there's good chance they will lose at least 6 to 12 games against the West, while the EC opponents are probably going to beat them at least 10 to 20 times. I figure they should end up around 57 to 62 wins....great record, but not close to the all-time mark.
whoa you need to slow your roll there buddy, are you one of the celtic dancers or something? I am just saying they have not been challenged yet and they can't beat any of the top western teams. I guess you will have to wait and see when they actually play a team that is good. They are not deep enough to beat anyone in the West in a series.. or a game for that matter. I am not saying they will NOT beat a team like the Spurs or Mavs , but they will have a much harder time against them than they will playing the Hawks 4 times in a season. And I never said the Spurs would sweep them in the finals.. relax.
