Unless you are a fortune teller you don't know their potential. Age, work ethic, character, talent, good coaching, good player development, HOF role models are all in these kids' favor. It would be unreasonable to expect this group not to go far. Add to that a GM who knows what it takes to win a championship, and owners who are willing to pay. They have as good a shot at a championship as any core.
No. Telling the people who don't agree with you that they aren't allowed to forecast a future in which our roster post KG and Pierce isn't a championship squad precludes you from making assertions that they are.
We can either sit around like fortune tellers, or we can sit around and look at the facts. But one viewpoint isn't disallowed from prediction just because you don't agree with it.
Some facts that damper my enthusiasm: Rondo, Sully, Avery, and Jeff Green have all had season ending injuries. Avery hasn't looked the same all year (especially in his shooting), there's no telling what Sully and Rondo will look like next year, and Jeff Green will continue to be Jeff Green.
Another fact: Rondo hasn't played close to a full season in four years. Bradley has never played anything close to a full season as a starter, and it remains to see if his great stretch last year was the exception to his game, or the rule.
Some speculation on my part: Jeff Green will continue to be Jeff Green. He is who he is at this point. So, most likely, is Rondo. Bradley and Sullinger are really the only wild-cards left as far as development goes.
1. Who said anyone is not allowed to forecast? That is called a straw man argument. A logical fallacy that is unfortunately common in this forum.
2. I never made any assertions that post KG and Pierce Celtics are a championship squad. I do stand by my point that they have every chance of becoming one because they have the talent, the work ethic, the coaching, the leadership, the organization to put the right pieces around them, and time because of their youth.
3. Rondo has played 88% of all possible games in his NBA career. That is including DNPs, Suspensions and personal/rest days.
4. Avery and Sully are 21 and 22 and their surgeries are supposed to fix their problems not create new ones. Avery hasn't missed any time since and played as hard as he did before the surgery. Of course his shot suffered. He wasn't able to shoot for months and he was immediately thrust into 40 min a game at a different position because of the Rondo and Barbosa injuries. He also lost a ton of muscle in his upper body due to an inability to lift weights. He should be back better and more confident than ever.
5. You are allowed to speculate whatever you want, but there is plenty of reason to expect improvement from Jeff Green.
a. He is coming off a year of not playing. He had to shake off rust. Every reason to believe a full season and off season would help him improve.
b. He is 26, and sat out a full season. Every reason to believe he is still learning and improving naturally.
c. He is learning from Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. Top 5 in history to play their respective position, both of which he plays.
d. The addition of Rondo will lighten his ball handling responsibilities and allow him focus more on scoring and rebounding. He will also get easier buckets in transition with Rondo.
e. He just completed his first full year with the Celtics system. No reason he won't come in next year much more comfortable and confident.
f. Finally even if none of the above are true, and Jeff Green remains what he was post all star break, you still have an efficient 20ppg scorer who gives you 5+ rebounds and 3 assists to go with some blocks and steals.
Topic: A core of Rondo-Bradley-Green-Sully-Center will win a title (Read 22182 times)