Are Celtics "Bored With The Process"????

[DJToLarry]

Doc, KG, Paul etc always talked about not "getting bored with the process" last season. So the question has to be asked. Are the Celtics "getting bored with the process" this season?

[ParticleMan]

definitely. but that's fine. the spurs and lakers got bored with the process on their way to three titles.

[Truthiracy]

Yeah they are, and it makes the games nearly unwatchable.

[campybatman]

The first quarters are hard to watch or listen to. You get off to a slow start and just win the game or you get off to a strong start and lose the game. I think part of the reason is the lack of consistent play out of the bench players. Imagine if Tony played like he'd in the Detroit game every game.

[Celts17Pride]

Correct me if I am wrong but aren't the Celtics 9-2 with the most wins in the NBA. That doesn't look bored with the process to me.

[Rocky5000]

Correct me if I am wrong but aren't the Celtics 9-2 with the most wins in the NBA. That doesn't look bored with the process to me.

True, but we could very easily be 6-5 if a few calls don't go our way and Paul Pierce wasn't able to carry us through games.

Toronto - Pierce has a 22 point 4th quarter, and we squeak out a win. But inexplicably Toronto single covers Pierce with Kapono for the entire quarter.
Atlanta - We needed a last second shot to win, and that was at home, where the calls seem to go our way and Atlanta had no Josh Smith.
Milwaukee - Playing a team without 2 of their best players (redd and villanueva), we went into overtime. Look at who the Bucks had on the floor in the final period: Mbah-A-Moute, Sessions, Gadzuric, Ridnour, and Jefferson. We should be able to put a team with that lineup away.

I'm happy to be 9-2, but I think it's definitely a case where our record is hiding our weaknesses from some people. If you just look at the standings, you might think, the Celtics are dominating teams just like last season, but in reality, we're struggling to win games.

[DJToLarry]

Correct me if I am wrong but aren't the Celtics 9-2 with the most wins in the NBA. That doesn't look bored with the process to me.

The record is great. But look at the point differential:

This season:

Points For: 94.3
Points Against: 89.7

Last season:

Points For: 100.5
Points Against: 90.3

[UGA Hayes]

I'd buy this if it was our offense that was firing and a defense that stunk but it has been the other way around.

[billfromBoston]

I'd buy this if it was our offense that was firing and a defense that stunk but it has been the other way around.

...what he said...

I think there is inevitably going to be a subconscious difference in urgency because they have proven something to themselves that didn't exist last season...but the defensive intensity belays a conscious effort to win....

The offense is behind because the first unit hasn't played together for any significant amount of time and that is being compounded by the opponents intensity level and the extremely front-loaded schedule which is tiresome...

By January 1st, nobody will be worrying about this offense - it'll be one of the best in the league, this i have no doubt about...they are finding their rythm and the bench is discovering their identity as well - this will take 25-30 games to establish...

[campybatman]

...but I think it's definitely a case where our record is hiding our weaknesses from some people. If you just look at the standings, you might think, the Celtics are dominating teams just like last season, but in reality, we're struggling to win games.

Ditto.

The Celtics went 13-2 for the first month of last season. However, unlike this season, those two losses, both road games at Cleveland and Orlando, could've been victories if not for unfortunate circumstances, if you recall. In the two losses this season, Boston has been blown out on the road at Indiana and struggled offensively at home against Denver. They're a different team this season. Or they've lost "something" from last season beside Posey.

[MVP16]

...but I think it's definitely a case where our record is hiding our weaknesses from some people. If you just look at the standings, you might think, the Celtics are dominating teams just like last season, but in reality, we're struggling to win games.

Ditto.

The Celtics went 13-2 for the first month of last season. However, unlike this season, those two losses, both road games at Cleveland and Orlando, could've been victories if not for unfortunate circumstances, if you recall. In the two losses this season, Boston has been blown out on the road at Indiana and struggled offensively at home against Denver. They're a different team this season. Or they've lost "something" from last season beside Posey.

Or maybe it has to do with the fact that last season the team gathered a month before training camp to scrimmage and then during the preseason, Doc played the starters a lot to gain chemistry. Our schedule was also easier so we could squeeze more practices in. This year, we had a shortened summer and Doc ordered the starters out of the gym during the summer and didn't play them much during preseason to preserve their legs for the playoffs. We also have had a bunch of games in a short period of time preventing us from practicing and working out the kinks. So it's perfectly understandable why we don't look as good as we did last year early in the season...our shots aren't falling as much and we are getting a lot of unforced turnovers...things that can be corrected with more practice time.

[sully00]

True, but we could very easily be 6-5 if a few calls don't go our way and Paul Pierce wasn't able to carry us through games.

First off welcome to the NBA. Last season was an anomaly, with the big 3 coming out of the gates hot and the other issue is there was no game tapes on their offense or defense.

I think that another element that can't be denied is all of that effort and blowing people out and we almost got knocked out in the first round by a 37 win team.

This week also sucked KG couldn't get off the ground last night, big fella needs a break and probably isn;'t alone. You just went 4-1 during a 5 in 7 take it for what it is worth.

[sully00]

Another aspect is that we are now the team that everyone gets up for. Right now almost every team can see .500 and the playoffs are still reality, the teams making the transforming moves are playoff teams, now in another two weeks that will not be the case.

[crm0922]

Like Sully said, don't underestimate what a year of game tapes can do to help teams scout the offense. And that is really helping their defense.

Fortunately, many of those teams will lose their focus, especially later in the year.

The Celts are still trying to find their offensive "identity" for this season. Doc has put in a lot of stuff for Ray, the bench is different, etc.

I think they'll be fine.

C

[humblebum]

There are a lot of really great points in this thread that really get at the heart of the issue: short summer, lack of playing time in the preseason, scouting playoff game tapes where more weaknesses are exposed, tough schedule with few practices, and opponents being really fired up. Despite all of these things the defense has really looked great in stretches and the offense, while inconsistent and frustrating has shown flashes.

Overall I think this season is looking a heck of a lot more like the Celtics are going to slowly to but surely round into form and will hopefully be at their peak by seasons end. I think people are also frustrated about two other things: the Lakers have come out really hot and look like the Celtics of last year while the Celtics have come nowhere near their early season performance of a year ago. There's also probably a little bit of Posey hangover and bitterness as well. I think that covers all the bases.

[Tricky Ricky]

Yeah they are, and it makes the games nearly unwatchable.

I think it makes the first 3 quarters nearly unwatchable but it makes the 4th soo much more fun.

[s1ickd]

The problem is this. When Pierce, KG, and Ray are "bored" they still put up the numbers they're supposed to. When guys like Rondo, TA, and Leon are bored... they're absolute no-shows. Those guys have absolutely no right to be bored with anything, as they still haven't proven anything in the league imo.

[DieselCeltic]

I don't understand the question. Bored with the process ?? What process ?

[tombattor]

I don't think they are bored with the process. They are winning with DEFENSE, which comes from effort. So I don't understand how anyone can think this team is bored or not playing hard.