2008-09 Celtics: From Champs to Chumps?

return2glory · Post #1 » by **return2glory** » Thu Jan 8, 2009 9:57 am

We have gone from Champs to chumps. We have now lost 7 of our last 9 games. Yes, I'm already counting the loss against the Cavs.

Last year's team was hungry and had a point to prove. This years team is too cocky. Their is a differnce between confidence and cocky and this team became too cocky. Hopefully theses losses have humbled this team.

Make all the excuses you want, but championship caliber teams don't haves stretches like this. We aren't good enough right now to win it again. Another bad loss to a team we should have beaten. Houston without T-Mac is not a good team, especially on the road. They played with T-Mac, without Shane Battier, and Artest fouled out and we still couldn't beat them at home.

But somehow I can't blame the big 3. They are tired and playing 3 on 5 on the floor. Perkins hasn't played well since the Christmas game and Rondo is playing worst than last year after playing very good ball for about 15 games early on.

Doc also has failed to change the proper adjustments. The good news is the season isn't half way finished, the bad news is this team is already tired and it's only January. It's time to bench Rondo until he can make a 18-20 footer on a consistant basis. He should come off the becnh and play about 20-25 minutes. House needs be benched completely.

It's no time to panic by making trades. But at the same time it time to make some changes within. It's time to insert some energy to this team. Pruitt needs to start and play about 25 minutes a night. Walker needs to be called up soon and provide some excitement as well.

MyInsatiableOne · Post #2 » by **MyInsatiableOne** » Thu Jan 8, 2009 2:43 pm

^^Already counting the loss to Cleveland? Wow, what a "fan!" :roll:

Kefa461 · Post #3 » by **Kefa461** » Thu Jan 8, 2009 6:01 pm

return2glory wrote:We have gone from Champs to chumps. We have now lost 7 of our last 9 games. Yes, I'm already counting the loss against the Cavs.

Last year's team was hungry and had a point to prove. This years team is too cocky. Their is a differnce between confidence and cocky and this team became too cocky. Hopefully theses losses have humbled this team.

Make all the excuses you want, but championship caliber teams don't haves stretches like this. We aren't good enough right now to win it again. Another bad loss to a team we should have beaten. Houston without T-Mac is not a good team, especially on the road. They played with T-Mac, without Shane Battier, and Artest fouled out and we still couldn't beat them at home.

But somehow I can't blame the big 3. They are tired and playing 3 on 5 on the floor. Perkins hasn't played well since the Christmas game and Rondo is playing worst than last year after playing very good ball for about 15 games early on.

Doc also has failed to change the proper adjustments. The good news is the season isn't half way finished, the bad news is this team is already tired and it's only January. It's time to bench Rondo until he can make a 18-20 footer on a consistant basis. He should come off the becnh and play about 20-25 minutes. House needs be benched completely.

It's no time to panic by making trades. But at the same time it time to make some changes within. It's time to insert some energy to this team. Pruitt needs to start and play about 25 minutes a night. Walker needs to be called up soon and provide some excitement as well.

Be careful not to break a leg jumping off that bandwagon..... 8-)

ps....and you wonder why trolls are drawn to your posts :lol:

cfan79 · Post #4 » by **cfan79** » Thu Jan 8, 2009 6:05 pm

Chill-lax, Danny will do something that will help the team eventually. I've watched seasons where the C's have lost 19 in a row and years where we've had no hope. This team can still win the title with minor tinkering.

tombattor · Post #5 » by **tombattor** » Thu Jan 8, 2009 6:07 pm

R2G, chill! What did you expect the Celtics to do this year? Go 80-2? These guys have been playing out of their minds to start the season, but a little plateau is to be expected. You can't go all out every game.

Bottom line is this. Are they still going to win 60+ and most likely one of the top 2 seeds in the East? Yes. So what's the problem? I see none.

return2glory · Post #6 » by **return2glory** » Thu Jan 8, 2009 6:37 pm

Kefa461 wrote:
return2glory wrote:We have gone from Champs to chumps. We have now lost 7 of our last 9 games. Yes, I'm already counting the loss against the Cavs.

Last year's team was hungry and had a point to prove. This years team is too cocky. Their is a differnce between confidence and cocky and this team became too cocky. Hopefully theses losses have humbled this team.

Make all the excuses you want, but championship caliber teams don't haves stretches like this. We aren't good enough right now to win it again. Another bad loss to a team we should have beaten. Houston without T-Mac is not a good team, especially on the road. They played with T-Mac, without Shane Battier, and Artest fouled out and we still couldn't beat them at home.

But somehow I can't blame the big 3. They are tired and playing 3 on 5 on the floor. Perkins hasn't played well since the Christmas game and Rondo is playing worst than last year after playing very good ball for about 15 games early on.

Doc also has failed to change the proper adjustments. The good news is the season isn't half way finished, the bad news is this team is already tired and it's only January. It's time to bench Rondo until he can make a 18-20 footer on a consistant basis. He should come off the becnh and play about 20-25 minutes. House needs be benched completely.

It's no time to panic by making trades. But at the same time it time to make some changes within. It's time to insert some energy to this team. Pruitt needs to start and play about 25 minutes a night. Walker needs to be called up soon and provide some excitement as well.

Be careful not to break a leg jumping off that bandwagon.....

ps....and you wonder why trolls are drawn to your posts

You're logic is whack. Bandwagon? Just because I feel the Cavs are going to beat us like a dog doesn't team I don't like them anymore. It means that I know what's up. You can't lose to weak ass teams and beat the best team in the league, especailly on the Road.

Pierce is even calling the Cavs the best team in the league.

cfan79 · Post #7 » by **cfan79** » Thu Jan 8, 2009 6:40 pm

I understand being frustrated, but its still early. If we are playing like this in March then we can start worrying. But I think Danny is willing to do anything to turn this **** around.

nonplayerzealot · Post #8 » by **nonplayerzealot** » Thu Jan 8, 2009 6:46 pm

return2glory wrote:
[b]Make all the excuses you want, but championship caliber teams don't haves stretches like this

Sure they can. In 2000, LA had a 3-6 stretch and Portland finished the year 15-12 after starting off 45-11.

You have to look at the severity of the underlying causes when judging that kind of thing.

MyInsatiableOne · Post #9 » by **MyInsatiableOne** » Thu Jan 8, 2009 6:49 pm

return2glory wrote:
You're logic is whack. Bandwagon? Just because I feel the Cavs are going to beat us like a dog doesn't team I don't like them anymore. It means that I know what's up. You can't lose to weak ass teams and beat the best team in the league, especailly on the Road.

Pierce is even calling the Cavs the best team in the league.

Dude, you already, in your original post, stated that you're already counting the game tomorrow night as a loss for the Celtics. Did you also count the Finals as the Lakers' 10th title before they started last June? :roll:

cfan79 · Post #10 » by **cfan79** » Thu Jan 8, 2009 6:55 pm

The bumps in the road are a result of not having a good enough bench. James Posey was a key component. We should have resigned him and a big guy to replace PJ. Instead Danny was acting cheap and brought back Tony and Eddie. But I'd trade both of them for Posey to be back on the roster.

I have a belief in Danny though. His signings aren't that good, but his trades are what put us back on the NBA map.

Man_Up · Post #11 » by **Man_Up** » Thu Jan 8, 2009 6:58 pm

http://www.celticsblog.com/2009/1/8/713870/history-repeating-market-c

Something to calm your nerves courtesy of Jeff at Celticsblog.

Longest Win Streaks In League History (*won NBA title)
Year Team Wins Following the Streak
1971-72 Lakers* 33 Lost 4 of 6
2007-08 Rockets 22 Lost 5 of 8
1970-71 Bucks* 20 Lost 5 of 6
2008-09 Celtics 19 Lost 6 of 8

cfan79 · Post #12 » by **cfan79** » Thu Jan 8, 2009 7:04 pm

Man_Up wrote:http://www.celticsblog.com/2009/1/8/713870/history-repeating-market-c

Something to calm your nerves courtesy of Jeff at Celticsblog.

Holy toledo tito. Man up like a proper CSI has found some evidence of when great teams go bad.

Prophet_C · Post #13 » by **Prophet_C** » Thu Jan 8, 2009 7:10 pm

He said we wouldn't beat the Hawks or the Cavs as well last year in the playoffs and threw in the towel. I'm a huge pessimist but I gotta admit you are more doom and gloom than me R2G.

Yes we are sucking but it's a long season and I have to believe that the Cavs/Magic and Lakers will also have some bumps in the road. There is room for concern but not bridge jumping.

return2glory · Post #14 » by **return2glory** » Thu Jan 8, 2009 7:15 pm

cfan79 wrote:I understand being frustrated, but its still early. If we are playing like this in March then we can start worrying. But I think Danny is will to do anything to turn this **** around.

I'm not frustrated as much as disappointed with this team's mind set. They got too cocky. I'm just glad this is happening now as apposed to happening late in the season like you said.

This losing streak shows we need help. And I'm sure Ainge will make some additions to help the team out because we still have time to make moves. We should be a much better team in the 2nd half off the season. I just hope that somehow Billy Walker is part off the 2nd half plans because he can help this team.

cfan79 · Post #15 » by **cfan79** » Thu Jan 8, 2009 7:21 pm

return2glory wrote: I'm not frustrated as much as disappointed with this team's mind set. They got too cocky. I'm just glad this is happening now as apposed to happening late in the season like you said.

This losing streak shows we need help. And I'm sure Ainge will make some additions to help the team out because we still have time to make moves. We should be a much better team in the 2nd half off the season. I just hope that somehow Billy Walker is part off the 2nd half plans because he can help this team.

I concur, Bill Walker looked really good in the preseason. He could be a solid roleplayer. Hopefully Tony and/or Eddie gets shipped out to make room for him.

return2glory · Post #16 » by **return2glory** » Thu Jan 8, 2009 7:27 pm

Prophet_C wrote:He said we wouldn't beat the Hawks or the Cavs as well last year in the playoffs and threw in the towel. I'm a huge pessimist but I gotta admit you are more doom and gloom than me R2G.

Yes we are sucking but it's a long season and I have to believe that the Cavs/Magic and Lakers will also have some bumps in the road. There is room for concern but not bridge jumping.

I said if we continue to play like we were at the time we were playing the Hawks and Cavs, we would lose. It took 7 games to beat both teams. It took an unbelievable game 7 by Pierce and clutch shots by P.J. Brown to pull out a home win.

This current team is not the same team as last year. We are finally understanding what Posey meant to this team. At the same time the Cavs have gotten better with the addition of Mo Williams. The Lakers have also gotten better and deeper with the return of Bynum and the improved play off Trevor Arriza.

This current roster has a very little shot up winning it again. But I know that Ainge realizes this and will make the chnages that we need. How knows, by next week we could acquire Marbury, or J. Fargo, or Bonzi or two out of the 3. We may still trade for Joe Smith. I ain't counting out Ainge.

MyInsatiableOne · Post #17 » by **MyInsatiableOne** » Thu Jan 8, 2009 8:09 pm

r2g and JoeBiscuit are their own "cheering" squad... :lol:

Bad-Thoma · Post #18 » by **Bad-Thoma** » Thu Jan 8, 2009 8:39 pm

Wow another loss and like 10 more RTG posts about how bad the team sucks. When parades go by do you stand on your roof and piss on them? I can't wait til we start winning again just so I don't have to read this reactionary **** everytime I come to the board. I know, I know, "Well don't read it and move on,", which has some merit but it's difficult when every other thread I open is more of your doom and gloom crap. Get laid, get drunk, do something to cheer up man, it's been 20 years since we've had a team this good and you can't even enjoy it. A couple rocks in the road don't have to spoil a nice ride.

MyInsatiableOne · Post #19 » by **MyInsatiableOne** » Thu Jan 8, 2009 8:56 pm

Bad-Thoma wrote:Wow another loss and like 10 more RTG posts about how bad the team sucks. When parades go by do you stand on your roof and piss on them? I can't wait til we start winning again just so I don't have to read this reactionary **** everytime I come to the board. I know, I know, "Well don't read it and move on,", which has some merit but it's difficult when every other thread I open is more of your doom and gloom crap. Get laid, get drunk, do something to cheer up man, it's been 20 years since we've had a team this good and you can't even enjoy it. A couple rocks in the road don't have to spoil a nice ride.

r2g and JoeBiscuit do this, you see...even when things are going well, the team sucks, there's always SOMETHING wrong...

return2glory · Post #20 » by **return2glory** » Thu Jan 8, 2009 9:49 pm

MyInsatiableOne wrote:
Bad-Thoma wrote:Wow another loss and like 10 more RTG posts about how bad the team sucks. When parades go by do you stand on your roof and piss on them? I can't wait til we start winning again just so I don't have to read this reactionary **** everytime I come to the board. I know, I know, "Well don't read it and move on,", which has some merit but it's difficult when every other thread I open is more of your doom and gloom crap. Get laid, get drunk, do something to cheer up man, it's been 20 years since we've had a team this good and you can't even enjoy it. A couple rocks in the road don't have to spoil a nice ride.

r2g and JoeBiscuit do this, you see...even when things are going well, the team sucks, there's always SOMETHING wrong...

I didn't think things were going well. I guess my expectations of this team are a little higher than your.