So should the Cs be favored to repeat or not?

Fencer reregistered · Post #1 » by **Fencer reregistered** » Fri Oct 31, 2008 1:32 pm

The conventional wisdom is:

The Cs will be a little worse, because Posey is gone and the Big Three aren't getting any younger

The Cavs, who gave the Cs a very tough series, will be somewhat better because of

[*]Mo Williams
[*]More familiarity after mid-season trade or another mid-season trade
[*]Lebron's continued improvement

The Lakers, who actually gave the Cs a tough series, will be better because of

[*]Bynum
[*]More familiarity after the mid-season trade
[*]Farmar's continued improvement

But of course Kobe, Big Ben, and Ilgauskas aren't getting any younger either, and Kobe, Gasol, and Lebron played in the Olympics, with Kobe letting some health issues fester.

And Rondo seems to be on nice improvement curve himself. Ditto Powe (defensive rotations). Tony is back. And we still have hope that Ray will be more consistent.

I don't think the Lebron Cavs will ever win a championship. And I think the rumors will come true and he'll be out of there in a couple of years, even if not to the Nets.

I'm more worried about the Lakers. Jackson has coached unstoppable teams a couple of times before, despite the talent level not clearly being there.

I'm REALLY worried about the Lakers in a couple of years, because LA always seems to be able to land FAs. With a decent PG and a decent C, they can grab a couple of stars, shockingly let Kobe and Gasol move on, and once again be very, very dangerous.

Tricky Ricky · Post #2 » by **Tricky Ricky** » Fri Oct 31, 2008 1:40 pm

Yes we should be considered the favorites and in my mind we will repeat!

MyInsatiableOne · Post #3 » by **MyInsatiableOne** » Fri Oct 31, 2008 2:13 pm

Tricky Ricky wrote:Yes we should be considered the favorites and in my mind we will repeat!

^What he said

Hemingway · Post #4 » by **Hemingway** » Fri Oct 31, 2008 2:26 pm

I don't see why we wouldn't be. But I didn't see why anyone would pick the Lakers over us last year.

Dave_From_NB · Post #5 » by **Dave_From_NB** » Fri Oct 31, 2008 2:44 pm

We should be favored to repeat, but I'm very happy we're not the favorite of the talking heads. There is nothing better to motivate the Celts than people not respecting them.

humblebum · Post #6 » by **humblebum** » Fri Oct 31, 2008 4:14 pm

The Celtics continue to be the best defensive team in the NBA with an offense that is improving. Ya, they most certainly should be favored to repeat. Coming into this whole big 3 experiment mostly everyone said that year two would be their strongest season, now since they won people are just doubting/hating + slobbering LA's collective you know what. In my mind the Celtics are still the best and will most likely repeat.

TonyMontana · Post #7 » by **TonyMontana** » Fri Oct 31, 2008 4:38 pm

You guys are favored.

Post #8 » by **ParticleMan** » Fri Oct 31, 2008 5:23 pm

most mediaheads and most GMs picked the Lakers as the faves.

whatever. defense wins championships. if bynum is as good as his contract, he will take the Lakers to an elite defensive level, and they will win. but that's a lot of ifs to put on a 21 year old kid. my money's still on the C's. we should be better than last year. the only thing to derail us will be injuries.

Post #9 » by **sully00** » Fri Oct 31, 2008 7:03 pm

If you picked the Lakers to beat the C's in the finals why wouldn't you pick them to be the favorite for the reasons above?

Now what are they missing? I think we saw a glimpse of it the other night, #34 wasn't just talking **** when he said he was the best player in the game. I think there is a damn good chance that at 31 years old Paul Pierce is going to have one of those seasons that go down in Celtic lore.

SonicYouth34 · Post #10 » by **SonicYouth34** » Sat Nov 1, 2008 1:30 am

We should be, but apparently the Lakers are better because they lost to us. I take us ten times out of ten in a match-up with any team in the League.