Breaking: Zeller and Thornton Put Celts Over the Top

[NorthernLightning]

(Associated Pressey)

Lost in the LeBron circus this week is the fact that the Boston Celtics are now in prime position to secure a 6-8 seed in the 2015 NBA Playoffs, after nabbing a starting center and scoring sparkplug in a one-sided trade.

Celtics insiders and intelligent fans are still celebrating after acquiring Tyler Zeller and Marcus Thornton for virtually nothing this week, and Celtics tickets are expected to go fast in the aftermath.

The 7'1" Zeller possesses the same knock down jumpshot that the Celtics have missed since Kevin Garnett was traded to the Nets last year. Zeller has never played with a true point guard like Rajon Rondo since entering the NBA two years ago.

'I've been lifting weights every day since the season ended,' Zeller may have said. 'I feel like I'm ready to make a big leap in my play, and playing for Boston gives me a perfect opportunity to break out.'

Boston is expected to trot out a Rondo/Bradley/Green/Sullinger/Zeller starting 5, and a bench that will compete for tops in the league.

'Kelly and I are going to be pretty lethal in the pick-and-roll off the bench', rookie Marcus Smart may have said. 'I have no problem coming off the bench behind Rondo and Bradley, and this second unit is going to be a wrecking crew. I can't wait for the season to start.'

Boston's second unit will be filled out by a Thornton/Young combo at shooting guard, Gerald Wallace at small forward, and the ever-steady Brandon Bass at PF.

We asked Celtics head coach Brad Stevens if this roster is really enough to compete in an improving Eastern Conference. 'Pfff', Stevens may have responded, 'not every young team is created equal. You reporters are starting to sound like the Negative Nancys on the fan blogs. Get ready to have your mind blown, that's all I have to say.'

It's hard to argue with that logic. This team was in need of a young, athletic starting center, and Zeller certainly appears to fit the bill. But only time will tell.

[D.o.s.]

LeBron*

 

[Al91]

The way I see it the following are locks for the EC Playoffs:

CLE
IND
ATL
CHI
CHA
WAS

That's it. Six teams. Can't put BKN there until Paul Pierce makes a decision. Won't put NYK in there until Carmelo chooses. Three of those teams (ATL, WAS, and CHA) should make good strides in '14-'15 and make for a much more entertaining playoff series than this past year.

So I wouldn't say BOS is a lock for the 8th seed, let alone 7th or 6th. Really depends if that's what the organization wants and if it is, they'll make one or two more moves. Honestly it may be a battle for that 8th seed this year. Wouldn't mind seeing that happen though.

[LooseCannon]

The way I see it the following are locks for the EC Playoffs:

I would only consider a team a lock if I thought they would make the playoffs even if their best player missed over half the season due to injury.

[slamtheking]

(Associated Pressey)

Lost in the LeBron circus this week is the fact that the Boston Celtics are now in prime position to secure a 6-8 seed in the 2015 NBA Playoffs, after nabbing a starting center and scoring sparkplug in a one-sided trade.

Celtics insiders and intelligent fans are still celebrating after acquiring Tyler Zeller and Marcus Thornton for virtually nothing this week, and Celtics tickets are expected to go fast in the aftermath.

The 7'1" Zeller possesses the same knock down jumpshot that the Celtics have missed since Kevin Garnett was traded to the Nets last year. Zeller has never played with a true point guard like Rajon Rondo since entering the NBA two years ago.

'I've been lifting weights every day since the season ended,' Zeller may have said. 'I feel like I'm ready to make a big leap in my play, and playing for Boston gives me a perfect opportunity to break out.'

Boston is expected to trot out a Rondo/Bradley/Green/Sullinger/Zeller starting 5, and a bench that will compete for tops in the league.

'Kelly and I are going to be pretty lethal in the pick-and-roll off the bench', rookie Marcus Smart may have said. 'I have no problem coming off the bench behind Rondo and Bradley, and this second unit is going to be a wrecking crew. I can't wait for the season to start.'

Boston's second unit will be filled out by a Thornton/Young combo at shooting guard, Gerald Wallace at small forward, and the ever-steady Brandon Bass at PF.

We asked Celtics head coach Brad Stevens if this roster is really enough to compete in an improving Eastern Conference. 'Pfff', Stevens may have responded, 'not every young team is created equal. You reporters are starting to sound like the Negative Nancys on the fan blogs. Get ready to have your mind blown, that's all I have to say.'

It's hard to argue with that logic. This team was in need of a young, athletic starting center, and Zeller certainly appears to fit the bill. But only time will tell.

I don't think there's a team in the East other than Philly that you could make a good case for finishing worse than the C's.  Looking at the C's roster, I wouldn't bet against Orlando finishing better than us based on the talent they picked up in the draft.

[NorthernLightning]

Only Cleveland and Chicago look clearly better on paper.

[Waew]

No. Anyone sane would know were not contenders.

[NorthernLightning]

not contenders, but right in the thick of the playoff hunt. There's probably only one or two teams in the east that are going to be contenders.

[kozlodoev]

Very funny. How's Aaron Gordon doing on his way to NBA stardom these days?

[NorthernLightning]

Very funny. How's Aaron Gordon doing on his way to NBA stardom these days?

Are you saying the Celtics are completely out of the playoff picture?

[D.o.s.]

How many wins will it take for them to make the 6th to 8th seed?

[NorthernLightning]

How many wins will it take for them to make the 6th to 8th seed?

Probably 33-38 wins. The east is a mess.

[kozlodoev]

How many wins will it take for them to make the 6th to 8th seed?

Probably 33-38 wins. The east is a mess.

You realize that there are perhaps 3 or 4 teams that have made the playoffs with less than 35 wins in an NBA season in the history of the NBA, right? Or are you just throwing numbers?

Very funny. How's Aaron Gordon doing on his way to NBA stardom these days?

Are you saying the Celtics are completely out of the playoff picture?

No, just asking about Aaron Gordon...

[vinnie]

This thread makes me  and 

[Surferdad]

Miami will be a playoff team again with Bosh returning and the signings Riley is doing now.