Doug Collins on the C's

[The_Ghost_of_JB]

Nice words from Collins. I always liked him and he knows his stuff. I believe this team can get out of the first round. However in the second round they are going to face Bulls or Miami. As we saw Thursday the bulls are a horrible match up for this team. As for the heat. It is a better match up for the Celtics but my prediction is that no team in the NBA is going to win a 7 game series against the heat.

[jmr07019]

This recent run of good play has convinced me we could win 18 although we'd absolutely need a little luck along the way. KG is gonna have to play like 40 mpg in the playoffs. Lack of big men is concerning. Ray is the best player we've had off the bench in the 08-current era.

[Scalamental]

Celtics are taking it to a higher level, just as the sixers are taking it to a lower level. This is not the same sixers team we played earlier this season. Not discounting the celtics at all because the team looks great. The big judgement is whether or not the c's can make it through miami in the play offs.

[Gomes3PC]

I agree that nobody wants to play the Celtics, but I just don't think they have enough in crunch time to win against the elite teams. If the game is tied or the C's are down 1-3 points with under a minute, I basically shut the TV off because I know what will happen - the Clogged Toilet Offense. The last 5 minutes of games against great teams are so hard to watch because the C's simply lack the elite halfcourt scoring to make a play when the other team is bearing down defensively.

I'm going to enjoy this playoff run, hopefully they win a series or two and make life miserable for Chicago / Miami. But anyone expecting the C's to move on past round 2 is a bit delusional given how bad the team is in the waning moments of games against elite defense.

[2Mas]

I'm just glad everyone isn't all .. Let's tank & blow it up, this team sucks anymore. It's been a long but yet short season. We're hitting our stride in the right spot. Let's go at least 6-4 over these next 10 games. If we really get up on NY & Phi with a few days rest, I'll take a couple L's to rest our guys. Why not?

This teams exciting.. Wish all NBA teams could feel the Celtic Pride.

[jfs1000d]

Ray didn't go to doc, that's some face saving BS. What happened was an assistant coach went to Ray who then went to Doc and said let's try it.

Goodness, it's meaningless, and people fawn over this like it's a big deal. This isn't a brilliant coaching job by Doc, or, some kind of magnanimous gesture by Ray. They got something out of Bradley and they want to keep that production while adding in ray's ability to score and shoot.

As far as Celtics, they are why the term dark horse was coined.

I am a bit annoyed at the lack of people bringing up the fact Rondo was a one armed man last year. He was worthless out there for games 3-4-5. A healthy Rondo, that's a 7-game series with the Heat. We definitely win game 4 and down 3-2 game 6.

Are we the favorites? No. But, chicaog isn't invincible and if KG outplays Bosh we can really hammer the Heat at the PG spot.

We are a good team, if we get scoring and are just slightly beaten on the boards (not crushed) we are a dark horse threat. I would rank NBA title chances like this.

1. OKC
2. Heat
3. Bulls
4. Lakers
5. Spurs
6. Boston
7. Dallas


I don't think anyone else can realistically win it.

[2Mas]

JF's I'd put the Grizzlies over the Mavs. I bet you the grizz go on a playoff run & if they finish 5-8 they upset at least one or two teams.

The Mavs just seem to have lost it. I know they're vets & experienced like us but they just look different.

[return2glory]

So why did it take Doc for Ray to go to him, till he decided to keep this energetic disruptive defensive force in the formerly lethargic stating unit, when the proof was there?! Glad Ray is the true professional he is and saw the truth. I feel greater about our chances at another title now then when a few weeks ago, when we had such an un-balanced team.

Same reason it took a season ending injury for JO to come out of the starting lineup. I've said this many times, Doc is a good guy and a great motivator, but he is very slow to make lineup adjustments.

A lot of fans, including myself said this team would be better with JO in a very limited role and Ray coming off the bench with reduced minutes, but it took injuries for Doc to realize this. JO had no business starting for this team.

[GuyClinch]

It's the OFFENSE people. That's the secret - we have been playing some great defense sure. But we have done that every year. If you look at the total year - its the OFFENSE that has been way way down.

Our offensive rating is 28th out of 30th for 100.6. So on balance we are one of the worst offensive teams in the league.

Now don't me wrong - Rondo,Bradley,Pierce, KG, Bass has been good for 116 on offense (that lineup). The question is can we continue to play at that level of offense or will we slip back to the INCREDIBLY AWFUL offense that we have been showing all year long..

My hope is we keep Ray on the bench. Our offense has been so much better with Bradley and Bass in there - as well as KG at the center spot. Its been fantastic.

[RondoToKG]

I want to believe it. My heart is telling me yes, but my mind is telling me maybe. The one thing I'm surprised with is the elite level defense we've kept up with all year (particularly the 2nd half). That's championship defense, and with the championship type offense we've been playing it could happen. Steamer is playing the 5 off the bench perfectly, Bradley has emerged, Pavlovic might have a coming out party, and we still have Pietrus who probably will return soon. Imagine how much better we'd be with no injuries though? Damn.... talk about some **** luck this year.

[ddb]

Steamer and Bradley saved the season. They have been the unsung heros. Obviously, Rondo KG and Pierce have been the stars but it's been Steamer and Bradley that have stepped up and filled in the rotation. completly changed the culture of this team

[jfs1000d]

JF's I'd put the Grizzlies over the Mavs. I bet you the grizz go on a playoff run & if they finish 5-8 they upset at least one or two teams.

The Mavs just seem to have lost it. I know they're vets & experienced like us but they just look different.

lol. I think griz are possible finals, I just think Memphis is a year away. Randolph and gay need a full 82 game season.

[bigboi]

Could we possibly win the second seed if Heat keep on slumping and we win the rest of our games?

[jfs1000d]

The big thing is we are not old anymore. We have 3 starters who are athletic and under 30. We are more quick and athletic now. Ray Isis a bench guy and our old 2 are having great years. We are different than the ray and jermaine oneal starting lineup that was ancient and couldn't move.

[jfs1000d]

Could we possibly win the second seed if Heat keep on slumping and we win the rest of our games?

not enough games. Heat ma be top seed. Look at he loss column.