Toronto is behind us in the standings, but I think most would agree (even pre-Ibaka deal) that we didn't have what it took to beat Toronto in a 7 game series.
This is false. We are currently ahead of Toronto which should end the discussion before it starts. Most people do not expect the worst. They just aren't as loud as those who spew pessimism.
I respect the Raptors. I suppose Washington should also be respected. They were having a miserable season but have clawed their way up the standings, similar to us last year.
First year with Isaiah he fell hard on his lower back. He was not the same player. We were just getting our feet wet.
Last year we had another barrage of injuries and players banged up at the wrong time. We still gutted out a couple wins, our first Brad playoff wins, another form of applying water to feet.
I respect both the Celtics and Raptors and would have to call that series a toss up.
I think we are closer to Cleveland than it seems. The Cavs are just a much more successful version of the Clippers attempting to use up all assets and buy titles. Both of those teams are falling apart whether gradually or with an eventual collapse, and it will only get worse, the way we did once Perk got traded and the team's stock just started dropping fast.
There is something mysterious going on. The miserable fans must have never heard of Celtics Mystique. Stevens could be the second or third best coach we've ever had behind Red and Tommy. He is the main reason I have watched every game, although not every minute. I'm not that obsessed.
But it is fun to follow these guys and watch them change.
I became a true believer midway through last season. Evan Turner made me shut up. I never thought he was much better than a scrub. And he is just one guy we have seen improve under Stevens. So many are doing that, that it becomes hard to separate the two, players and coach.
It used to be more like professional wrestling. Overrated coaches such as Jackson and Rivers would compete as figureheads penciling in diva lineups and creating moods. "They are so good at managing egos." We hear that all the time. I give Doc a bit of credit for Avery Bradley, but after how much better Avery got since he should have been a finished product so to speak, I have to say it is Avery willing himself to greatness and that it was Brad who opened that door for him.
I also think Stevens is very underrated for handling egos. He does it just fine. And Danny makes it so Brad is less likely to have jerks to deal with. Jaylen Brown is one of the smartest, more thoughtful players to emerge. Rondo was like that too, very smart. But I think Jaylen is a more complete human being. He's simply more raw. He only looks like a crapshoot because he is missing a year or three of college ball to not have to leave his youth so abruptly.
Crowder. He is our best asset. I've said that before. He is getting better and better. His contract is perfect to slot into a championship contending lineup. He is not afraid to shoot and he does it well. He is sort of an all-around good player for his position as Horford is for a big.
We have a lot of capable players of varying skills and dispositions, and Danny and Brad are showing an amazing ability to put it together and improve from within.
Stevens was winning us games with a chopped liver roster. 25 wins is nothing to sneeze at when you look at Brooklyn or some of the recent Philly teams.
I think our first year Stevens' roster was no better than Brooklyn's this year. 25 wins isn't great, but that was sort of a fun year anyway.
Now Stevens is being provided with top raw talent in Smart, Brown and future picks.
Danny can draft a phenom guard if he has to. That player would need minutes. Rozier might slide down into the James Young deep bench role. Maybe Bradley gets traded.
That's the kind of surprise move I sense might happen. I don't know when, but Danny might trade Avery. The redundancy is definitely forming between Marcus and him. Smart is the better choice to pair with Isaiah for height reasons.
I tell myself to not speculate too much. There's just no way to know what will happen.
No way will Danny let Olynyk walk. That's what I take from the last couple months. Kelly has emerged with Smart during our recent winning ways. They play well together. They are the glue. Our whole team is glued. It is a glued team which equals one superstar. That's how we currently have the fifth best NBA record. There are only twenty five games left. The schedule looks somewhat easy. Tonight would be a good win for seeding, but it would also be good in that it is one of our last tough games.
Some complain that we can't beat good teams. Those wins against Utah, Memphis, the Clippers, the Rockets and I think we finally beat Toronto - those are why we are sitting pretty. The Celtics are one of the best teams to play against the bottom half of the league.
Then there is talk of regular season versus playoffs. Sure. That's why we have fingernails. You bite them and experience games in real time.
This season has developed a nice character. One good thing about Danny doing nothing is it tells the current group of lads that he believes in them. Wyc said it exactly. Maybe he drank Kool-Aid provided by my posts.
It's called Celtics Mystique.
Topic: Just wondering why there is always so much pessimism around here... (Read 8519 times)