Author Topic: Could the Celtics now be a decent team?  (Read 9695 times)

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Could the Celtics now be a decent team?
« on: December 25, 2014, 09:07:34 PM »

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It's tough to say how the Rondo trade will work out.  But if the team's overall play improves because of the new additions, then perhaps the Celtics become one of the better teams in the league. 

I'm not talking decent as in Houston, Memphis or Portland level.  Just decent....neither lottery bound nor contender caliber.  Perhaps, they can continue to catch teams like Washington and Chicago on an off night.  Maybe they will succeed in becoming the 5th best in the Eastern Conference rather than 8th seed.   

Why might this be plausible?  I base this on a few factors. 

1. What happened in the beginning of the year when they threw a scare into or beat a few of the better teams such as; Dallas L 118-113, Toronto L 110-107, Chicago W 106-101, Washington W 101-93.

2.  They have been in the mix for many other games up until the fourth quarter.  And, they seem to be playing better in the fourth as of late. 
 
3.  More recently there appears to be the emergence of Olynyk and Zeller on the offensive end.
 
4.  Watching the fourth quarter of the Orlando game gave me the impression the new players (Wright and Crowder) may provide a measure of stability on defense.  This added dimension may throw teams like Washington off kilter.  (just a guess)
 
5. Nelson does not have Rondo's talent, but he plays within his ability.  The team responded well to him in the fourth quarter.  Was this a fluke or the real deal? 

On the other hand, could this team turn out to be not-so-decent and remind us of one that lost to the second stringers in Miami or the Knicks in Boston?  If they are not so good, then why? 

Re: Could the Celtics now be a decent team?
« Reply #1 on: December 25, 2014, 09:59:48 PM »

Offline Eja117

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Can't be a decent team without decent players. Still waiting for that to happen.

Re: Could the Celtics now be a decent team?
« Reply #2 on: December 25, 2014, 10:05:09 PM »

Offline hwangjini_1

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good thread and a christmas tp for you. this is an interesting topic and raises some potentially interesting discussions.

as you point out, a number of celtic loses are to good teams and not by a lot of points. this year a number of games were winnable going into the final few minutes, or at least the fourth quarter. to me, some loses were simply a lack of celtic talent. but others were due to execution or inconsistency by players who COULD have made the play.

next...

the celtics are 7th in total offense this year, scoring 103.7 points per game. pretty good for a team with a lot of young kids and no "go to" super star scorer.

the celtics are tied for 26th in defense, however, coughing up 104.3 per game. this is bad and may be less a case of talent in players.

in terms of differential between points scored and points yielded, the celtics are 16th, right in the middle of the pack.

are the celtics, as constituted, better than their record? my quick and dirty point is no, your record is who you are. but under that, a key question is if this young roster played consistently with the current talent, would they at least be a decent team?

my belief is yes. how many games did the celtics lose because of poor starts or poor finishes? consistency is the main devil this year, in terms of not being "decent" as a team.

now if the question is the celtics rising up to championship level, that is a different debate and involves serious star talent.

but if this current celtic team were consistent (and i do include mr. green) this team would be close to .500...decent.
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Re: Could the Celtics now be a decent team?
« Reply #3 on: December 25, 2014, 10:47:46 PM »

Offline vinnie

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No.

Re: Could the Celtics now be a decent team?
« Reply #4 on: December 25, 2014, 11:02:58 PM »

Offline SHAQATTACK

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In the D league

Re: Could the Celtics now be a decent team?
« Reply #5 on: December 25, 2014, 11:43:22 PM »

Online Alleyoopster

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good thread and a christmas tp for you. this is an interesting topic and raises some potentially interesting discussions.

as you point out, a number of celtic loses are to good teams and not by a lot of points. this year a number of games were winnable going into the final few minutes, or at least the fourth quarter. to me, some loses were simply a lack of celtic talent. but others were due to execution or inconsistency by players who COULD have made the play.

next...

the celtics are 7th in total offense this year, scoring 103.7 points per game. pretty good for a team with a lot of young kids and no "go to" super star scorer.

the celtics are tied for 26th in defense, however, coughing up 104.3 per game. this is bad and may be less a case of talent in players.

in terms of differential between points scored and points yielded, the celtics are 16th, right in the middle of the pack.

are the celtics, as constituted, better than their record? my quick and dirty point is no, your record is who you are. but under that, a key question is if this young roster played consistently with the current talent, would they at least be a decent team?

my belief is yes. how many games did the celtics lose because of poor starts or poor finishes? consistency is the main devil this year, in terms of not being "decent" as a team.

now if the question is the celtics rising up to championship level, that is a different debate and involves serious star talent.

but if this current celtic team were consistent (and i do include mr. green) this team would be close to .500...decent.

Thank you for the kind words, your added insights to my post and Christmas TP.
A Merry Christmas to you...and a TP from Santa   
 

Re: Could the Celtics now be a decent team?
« Reply #6 on: December 25, 2014, 11:48:02 PM »

Offline SparzWizard

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They did have a few 4th quarter games where they were up 20 and blew the lead. That needs to be addressed.


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Re: Could the Celtics now be a decent team?
« Reply #7 on: December 26, 2014, 12:19:31 AM »

Offline LarBrd33

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I think the trade made us a little bit better.  It's going to take a some time for everyone to get up to speed and for Stevens to settle on rotations, but I think the players we have fit Brad's system better than they did pre-trade.  OUr defense should be improved.  Our spacing should be improved.  We should have an easier time sharing the ball. 

Moving Jeff Green will probably hurt us a bit short-term, though.  Depends who we have pegged to fill his role.  He's pretty overrated as well.  Above-average scorer who does nothing else positive.

Playoffs are a possibility, but probably not.

Re: Could the Celtics now be a decent team?
« Reply #8 on: December 26, 2014, 02:29:01 AM »

Offline Surferdad

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Agreed.  Much more likely the Celts go into a major tailspin here until the dust settles. Plus, Sully was a reliable player but has been awful for weeks now. There is not much to be optimistic about, if you ask me.

Re: Could the Celtics now be a decent team?
« Reply #9 on: December 26, 2014, 03:00:42 AM »

Offline Beat LA

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Agreed.  Much more likely the Celts go into a major tailspin here until the dust settles. Plus, Sully was a reliable player but has been awful for weeks now. There is not much to be optimistic about, if you ask me.

Sigh.  Ditto.

Re: Could the Celtics now be a decent team?
« Reply #10 on: December 26, 2014, 03:02:14 AM »

Offline Beat LA

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I think the trade made us a little bit better.  It's going to take a some time for everyone to get up to speed and for Stevens to settle on rotations, but I think the players we have fit Brad's system better than they did pre-trade.  OUr defense should be improved.  Our spacing should be improved.  We should have an easier time sharing the ball. 

Moving Jeff Green will probably hurt us a bit short-term, though.  Depends who we have pegged to fill his role.  He's pretty overrated as well.  Above-average scorer who does nothing else positive.

Playoffs are a possibility, but probably not.

This is his second year as our coach and we're still waiting for him to establish any semblance of a rotation, lol? ;D Good grief.

Re: Could the Celtics now be a decent team?
« Reply #11 on: December 26, 2014, 07:25:11 AM »

Offline greece66

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I think the trade made us a little bit better.  It's going to take a some time for everyone to get up to speed and for Stevens to settle on rotations, but I think the players we have fit Brad's system better than they did pre-trade.  OUr defense should be improved.  Our spacing should be improved.  We should have an easier time sharing the ball. 

Moving Jeff Green will probably hurt us a bit short-term, though.  Depends who we have pegged to fill his role.  He's pretty overrated as well.  Above-average scorer who does nothing else positive.

Playoffs are a possibility, but probably not.
What you wrote feels about right. Still I would like to see what our roster looks like at the end of the trade season. Never forget who our GM is.

Re: Could the Celtics now be a decent team?
« Reply #12 on: December 26, 2014, 09:03:50 AM »

Offline Moranis

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Who the hell wants to be decent?  Either be really bad or really good.  Decent sucks.
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Re: Could the Celtics now be a decent team?
« Reply #13 on: December 26, 2014, 09:16:46 AM »

Offline Depalma2002

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I think the trade made us a little bit better.  It's going to take a some time for everyone to get up to speed and for Stevens to settle on rotations, but I think the players we have fit Brad's system better than they did pre-trade.  OUr defense should be improved.  Our spacing should be improved.  We should have an easier time sharing the ball. 

Moving Jeff Green will probably hurt us a bit short-term, though.  Depends who we have pegged to fill his role.  He's pretty overrated as well.  Above-average scorer who does nothing else positive.

Playoffs are a possibility, but probably not.

This is his second year as our coach and we're still waiting for him to establish any semblance of a rotation, lol? ;D Good grief.

Well another way of looking at it is that it is early in his second year as coach and he has already been here longer than over half his roster. Kind of hard to establish a rotation when the pieces are constantly changing.

Re: Could the Celtics now be a decent team?
« Reply #14 on: December 26, 2014, 09:33:37 AM »

Offline SHAQATTACK

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Moving Rondo kinda unwound the team .

Looking for a new identity, new leader ....etc.

The revolving door of players screws up their rhythm as a team

They really look lost.