Celtics....Back from the Dead?

[Old and In the Way]

What a difference a couple of weeks make. The Celtics started the year looking old and uninspired. 2 weeks ago, rumors were rampant that Danny Ainge was going to blow up the nucleus (Garnett, Allen, and Pierce). But, in the last week, I've watched 3 games....and the latest reincarnation of the Celtics have got me thinking this team is going to be exciting and possibly contenders for another championship. And they are doing it with Rondo and Allen on the bench! 2/3's of the team is new this year...but they are playing like they've been teammates for a decade. Bass, Bradley, Wilcox, Moore....where'd they come from?

Kudo's to Ainge and especially Doc Rivers...they've rebuilt the 2012 Celtics on the fly and this team is not going to disappoint the fans in Boston.

[trumad]

1. LOL

Stick a fork in them....they're done.

[Old and In the Way]

25. No, I think we need to give them another 24 hours.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

[bluedigger]

26. Good call!

[HuckleB]

2. Pfffft.

Streaks will be the story of this odd NBA season.

The Celtics will not be the story of this odd NBA season.

[bluedigger]

3. They're looking good!

The Truth has been hugh!!! the last few games.

[joeybee12]

4. Hmmm..want to rethink that after last night? nt

[Old and In the Way]

5. Yeah, well, I didn't say they were going to go undefeated for the rest of the season...

[joeybee12]

6. True enough!

I think they'll make the playoffs, but I don't think they'll get far...then again, there's no one team I think is far above the rest...there are a few at the top level, but all of them are having struggles.

[Old and In the Way]

7. I'll be happy if they are in the playoff hunt.

I'm pleasantly surprised with how this team is responding to the challenge. It could be a flash in the proverbial pan, but I'm looking forward to the return of Rondo and Allen - with these two healthy and the bench play of these newcomers, I think the Celtics are going to be fun to watch as this season progresses.

[JonLP24]

8. Winners of 9 out of last 10

Nice to have a stretch of home games but I look forward to seeing them against Chicago this Sunday.

[Old and In the Way]

9. What's the board think now?

Thought I'd resurrect this thread. Celts looking pretty damn good, IMHO.

[OKNancy]

10. Really?

I'm a new fan of NBA basketball so my opinion is pretty uneducated.
The games I've watched this year have been teams that play the Thunder.

I just stared watching teams out of their division during the playoffs.
Here is my totally unschooled observation: the level of play just doesn't seem as high in the Eastern conference.

[JonLP24]

15. If you watched last night's game

It was a ugly defensive battle between 2 of the best defenses in the league it doesn't necessarily mean the level isn't as high even though it can appear that way. People assumed the '04 Lakers would roll over the '04 Pistons because of the ugly defensive battle between the Pacers in Pistons in that year's ECF.

Spurs and OKC play a more wide-open finesse style, Spurs used to be more physical. The West does have more teams that are good but the teams at the top of the East are great themselves and the East has the best defensive teams.

[joeybee12]

11. They might beat the Heat, although you gotta figure Miami is favored...

The 76er's would have been out in 4.

[trumad]

12. The beat a crappy Philly team...

[JonLP24]

14. Philly is not crappy

They have a defensive system that is one of the best I've seen in years. Detroit in '04-'06 years tops this team as far as defense goes but Philly is great in that department. They have a good lineup. Hawes, Brand, Igoudala, Young, Turner, Holliday, and Williams.

Before you point to their #8 seed realize this was a lockout shorten condensed schedule. Philadelphia started out the first half in the top 4 of the East before their schedule caught up to them. Plus they couldn't win on the road. Or if Derek Rose didn't go out, realize that was just game 1 and Philly still had home games to play which they're great at home.

While I feel in the best decade the West has always had more teams that were better, the best scrappy defensive teams came from the East and there are 4 good ones in Philadelphia, Chicago, Miami & Boston. Indiana can play a mix of finesse & physical which is rare.

[Upton]

17. You know what they say about a blind squirrel...

Sixers were not only the #8 seed, but they finished only 4 games over .500..they were hardly an elite team..

[JonLP24]

19. Condensed shorter schedule

is not an accurate measure for seedings. The last time there was a lockout shortened season a #8 seed went to the NBA Finals.

Anyways my argument was mostly about the defense and there are is no question they have an elite defense that only blind squirrels would dispute.

Here is an example of what I'm talking about

<snip>
2. They reset the play and look to go to their go-to move. Rondo-KG on the pick and pop. If the big defender hedges or traps Rondo, KG’s wide open from 18 where he has killed the Sixers all series. If they don’t, Rondo can get to the edge for a layup.

3. Philly, though, has finally learned their lesson. Lavoy Allen, who has done an incredible job in this series defensively, shows on Rondo, but Rondo loses his dribble and can’t get past him baseline. If Rondo doesn’t lose his dribble, with the faster defender entangled in KG’s screen, Rondo’s got a clear path to the bucket. This is huge for two reasons, because it forces Rondo to reset his dribble. In doing so, Allen has time to recover and switch back to KG, cutting off the pick and pop, which is the preferred option here. Second, you’ll notice Thaddeus Young on the weakside start to creep over. Essentially, that hesitation cues Young to what’s going on.

3. Rondo’s running out of time so he has to just try and take his man off the dribble. Which he does, and his pivot and spin is typically a layup. But Rondo doesn’t have time to find Bradley cutting so Young has a clear shot at the block.

4. The final element in play here is really something to talk about, and that’s the lineup Doc Rivers had on the floor at this point. Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, and Avery Bradley in a three-guard lineup against a Philly frontcourt of Jrue Holiday, Louis Williams, and Andre Iguodala, with Thaddeus Young. Young’s versatility means he can play up, and as a result, the Celtics have no one to go down and get that offensive rebound. Had they had a traditional big in this set, they’re probably looking at a putback. They chose instead to space the floor, and it cost them. The Sixers get the board, Iggy nails the three, and the Sixers win the game.
http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/05/19/how-the-sixers-defense-stopped-boston-cold-down-the-stretch-again/

[bluedigger]

13. They were looking good until they lost Bradley.

They played poorly the last three games of the Philly series, but well enough to win. The Celtics-Heat series should be interesting, though, as the Celtics matched up well during the regular season. They need Ray Allen to find his shot.

[Upton]

16. Don't think they have much chance against the Heat and LeBonds....

I'll be rooting for them nonetheless....as I suspect most fans will. Nobody likes an arrogant carpetbagger. Something you would think LeBonds should have realized long ago, seeing the way his idol was treated, but he went ahead with that ESPN show anyhow, told his hometown to shove it, and now he probably wonders why so many people love to see him lose..

Come on LeBonds..ignorance is no excuse for stupidity.

[Upton]

20. That's the best you can do?

The most damning evidence you can come up with?

What is it supposed to prove anyway..that Upton has changed his stance on Bonds? Something I've already informed you of on numerous occasions? You just don't like it, because it takes away a talking point from the rather limited arsenal you actually thought of yourself. This explains why you've turned to your now dear departed great leader for ideas..

Another Edit: I'm not just comparing James to Bonds. I'm asserting that were they to be rated on a character scale, LeBonds not only wouldn't surpass Barry, but he would actually finish lower....

[trumad]

21. When talking in the 3rd person...

Does that make two Douchebags?

You may fool a few newbies with the change your mind shit.....but the rest of us laugh our asses off with your revisionist history.

Sorry Choy/Upton..... you are so far up Barry Bonds ass that you will never extricate yourself from it.

[Upton]

22. You do realize...

by using my past defense of Barry as a way to justify your current defense of LeBonds, you are in essence admitting they are in indeed very much alike.

This is another one of those posts of yours that >>>works for me!!

[madinmaryland]

23. Uhh. LeBron has NEVER use ROIDS. Not even "knowingly". Un-fucking-believable.

[bigwillq]

24. Was really happy for a Philly win.

Let's GO HEAT!