Chambers didnt you state last season this team had almost a zero percent chance to make the playoffs?
Again I ask, outside of the Cavs, which teams from the east are considered that much better than the Celts?
Ask me again? I haven't replied to any questions yet and you proceed to post twice in a row within 5 minutes saying 'Ask me again' ? Was it the green glasses comment?
Considering the changes the Celtics underwent, I'm not sure anyone expected them to make the playoffs after Rondo and Green were traded- and yes I do think we were lucky to make the playoffs. I think the East will be much tougher this year and although we've improved with Johnson and Lee, we are going to be fighting to make the playoffs just as hard as last season.
Teams better than us?
The Cavs
The Hawks
Heat
Wizards
Teams that we have to beat for a playoff spot: only 4 of the following teams will make the playoffs...
Bucks
Pistons
Raptors
Hornets
Pacers
Celtics
Knicks
And they are ALL all better than last year.
You're acting like we're a lock to make the playoffs when that's not even guaranteed, and you're questioning the Thunders bench as a reason as to why they have less chance of making the finals than us?
Now I'll ask you again, because you've ignored my question regarding your statement that the Rockets can't get past the 2nd round (which they already did last year), and that we somehow have a better chance at making the Conference finals than them. How do you compute this logic?
Do you see the issue here?
Rockets regardless of my error , will never get past the west to the finals or be able to win. Dhoward and harden dont have "it" to get past smarter teams.
As for your east analysis , it is poor. What did the pacers do exacgly? What did the Heat do?? You think Winslow is going to put them over the top. History indicates Bosh and Wade will be injured half the season.
Yoh putting the knicks in the same category as the celts is an insult. So what if they got a couple of decent players in Lopez and Afflalo? They havent gelled. Who is their pg? Unless you think Grant is a legit player already
Like i have stated, celts have nobody to be scared of in the east. We won 40 last season and will beat that record this season. Our team D was one of the best in the east in the 2nd half in case you forgot
So my analysis of the East is poor, saying that the Pacers will likely fight for a playoff spot and that the Heat will be better than us?
And we come to your analysis of the Rockets saying that Harden and Howard don't have 'it' to get past the 2nd round.
Let's see....
*they had the 2nd best record in the West without Howard for half the season (not including the time it took for him to get into game shape after coming back).
* even though they made it to the WCF without Howard at 100%, without their starting point guard and after coming back from 3-0 down to beat the Clippers, they don't have 'it'.
I haven't said that the Pacers are better than us, I said they will be fighting us for a playoff spot. George has had the entire off season and they signed Monta Ellis.
The Knicks could potentially make the playoffs especially if Porzingis has a good rookie year- he's already played pro in Europe and it's not beyond any stretch to say he'll be way better than Bargani was last year. They've got Afflalo, Calderon, Seraphin, Derrick Williams, Galloway and Robin Lopez with Carmelo, so no, it's not insulting to put them into the 'fight for the 7th and 8th seed' race with us.
We had a losing record last year in one of the worst Eastern conferences of all time and we got the 7th seed. You're acting like we're NBA royalty now because we added Amir Johnson and David Lee.
And here's the biggest issue with your Celtics/ECF fantasy, we have to avoid the Cavs in both rounds to get there. If we finish 7th and the Cavs finish 2nd, we have to play them first round. Game over.
If we finish 8th and they finish 1st, we have to play them first round. Game over.
So we've got firstly get into the playoffs, and hopefully avoid the Cavs in the 1st and 2nd round, whilst beating either of the Hawks, Heat, Raptors, Wizards and whoever of the Bucks/Pistons/Bobcats that are likely in the top 8.
But Triboy says the Rockets don't have 'it' to make it to the WCF (again).
I also like how you changed your Rockets conclusion from 'never making it past the 2nd round' to 'never getting out of the West', even though they made the WCF and gave the eventual champions some very close games (with an injured Dwight Howard on one leg).
You are massively overrating our squad and underestimating the rest of the East. You need to watch more playoff basketball- your Rockets/Thunder comments make that clear.