RealGM

I want to take the pulse of Celtic nation here on RealGM. Plenty of mixed reaction after last night's meltdown. I want to start this poll now because the next few games are going to bring out even stronger emotions about this team.

What are your thoughts/suggestions/predictions for the remainder of the season? Are we done? Do we just need to be patient with our aging (aged) core? is it essential to make a trade? Don't hold back, I'm looking for honesty here ( not that I have to ask any of you for that ).

Because you worded the response, "when healthy CAN contend" rather than WILL contend, that was my choice. There are plenty of factors that are rightfully cause for concern, even beyond the health of the team. But there is a significant amount of season left and any good team and coaching staff will make adjustments as the season evolves. The bench is in disarray. You will be hard pressed to convince me that a second unit with TA, House, Daniels, and Wallace cannot operate an offense. I've seen glimpses recently of what I believe to be the right approach to putting that unit in a position to succeed.

Post up TA or Daniels and have the other on the weakside wing for a cut to the basket or a swing pass and penetrate opportunity. I'm more inclined to find a way to put KG in there when Baby is playing center and Pierce/Ray/Rondo are on the bench.

none of these express my view. I don't think it has to do with health, to me it is still about desire.
I missed the fourth quarter last night but I didn't like how they played in the third and still think if these guys will put in 48 minutes they will be in at least game 6 or 7 of the finals.

Only the Lakers could take on this team and the main reason is Ray Allen defense, he will have to cover either Kobe or Artest and I am not looking forward for that on Sunday nevermind the finals.

I'm sticking with this team until they lose 4 games in a series during the playoffs. I'm not blind. I think this team can sure as hell make a run, with the current roster, when fully healthy. The others teams are not all that great either, and that's why I think that. But I would like a trade or a couple of signings to improve this team a little bit. Defensively, I think we are the best team in the NBA. Even with out struggles, and injuries we still play very good defense. Once KG gets settled, we will be hands down the best defensive team in the league, by far. But offensively we have hit some tough stretches in which we can't buy a basket. Send out a package of Giddens, Scal, Walker, Shelden, and maybe even Tony Allen, for a SOLID 3 who can score...give a contract to Lue and see if he can still play, and we should be fine.

option c

amazing how no one has voted we're done, yet if you look at the front page of our board you would think we haven't won a game all year..

I really have no interest in the opinions of anyone who didn't vote C. Its one of those things that fundamentally shapes your view on the state of the team.

Hemingway wrote:I really have no interest in the opinions of anyone who didn't vote C. Its one of those things that fundamentally shapes your view on the state of the team.

As I have very little interest in the opinions of those who didn't vote D. I value the opinions of those who deal with reality, and not the fanstasy of their own choosing. This team, as is, is doomed to get knocked out. If you think that "being positive" is enough, just consider that fact that the teams WITH the appropriate talent to truly win it all will be thinking just as positively.... they will just have more reason to do so.

I don't think anyone here is bailing out of this team because we are all die hard fans and not bandwagon fans. So that term doesn't apply. With KG playing at about 50% of his former self, are chances on winning a title this season are slim.

Also Pierce and Ray Allen can't take over games on a regular bases anymore.

Just because I think this team, with a banged up KG, won't win doesn't mean I am not a fan of the Celtics. If I wasn't a true fan I wouldn't be spending my disposable income on season tickets (before KG and Ray until now)

Everyone should just respect other opinions and agree to disagree. Because if the Celtics don't win do you have to eat crow? If they win do I have to eat crow?

I will always root for the Celtics to win no matter what the circumstances.

^^^The intention of this thread is for people to discuss whether they think this team is for real or not and why they what they think. I believe it's more appropriate than people throwing their barbs out here and there in different threads saying, "this team has no chance at a title" or "you guys are a bunch of bandwagon fans" , which btw have both absolutely been said by many more than just one poster over the course of the year. Maybe the word "bailed" is a bit harsh but if I didn't get the impression that it's exactly what many people have expressed recently, I wouldn't have put it that way. Admittedly I'm on the other side of the spectrum but don't feel like you're being railroaded here because you're not.

I created this thread because I think it is more than appropriate for people to air out their differences in a thread created for exactly that then creating 15 different threads over the next 3 days to more or less discuss the same issues.

Of course nobody has to comment or vote if they don't want to, and can start whatever thread they like. I personally would rather confront the issue head on and talk about it than see all this sniping going on in different threads, and if creating a thread like this can make that happen, good.

- also, I don't think anyone is any less of a fan whether they are optimistic, pessimistic, realistic or delusional about this team. You all post here, you're all obviously fans of the Boston Celtics....even the people I don't see eye to eye with or even understand their position.

I'm in. All the way. Balls deep.

This team can still win it all.

If i can wear my boston cap proudly during the pitino era .
this isn't even close to those times i'm with ryan here

ryaningf wrote:I'm in. All the way. Balls deep.

This team can still win it all.

In all I do think we need a trade though.

I have concerns specifically that KG and Wallace look like crap together on the floor and we don't have legit perimeter player or pg to overcome the loss or foul trouble to PP, Ray, or Rondo. Daniels can bring something but he isn't a pg and he can't shoot so that something is more of the same of TA and House.

That said losing by 2 to the Magic on their floor in Jan doesn't have me peeing my pants. They as currently constructed will struggle against anyone in the postseason. The Cav's have a great record but they still don't have a great team, I don't know if they have anyone on that squad as good as Rondo and Perk even if LeBron is probably better than any two of the big 3. I wouldn't favor us against the Lakers but I think we can still get there and give 'em hell.

But if this is all we are going to get out of KG we got problems, that said just before he went down with the knee he was looking pretty damn good. I will give it till after the All Star break to decide what we have with Garnett and that is when we can decide what this team's chances are.

Dunk-

I was speaking in generalities not to anything specific. This thread isn't any more different than any of the other ones. Those who think they can't or won't win will be called fair weather fans by those that think they can or will. People will continue to say that anything negative on this board is a reaction to something that happened or something that was said.

I respect peoples opinions regarding this team and their players, but want and expect the same in return. Its hard to take anything serious on this board when because I think KG's knee is worse than we are led to believe, its just a reaction to 1 bad game. Let's be adults and reasonably discuss not just be stubborn to our own beliefs. I've eaten crow a lot on this board with the original KG trade, the Rondo contract, some things I didn't think would actually happen when they did. To be honest I would love to eat another helping come June, I just don't think we are good enough at 75% health to do it. To me that's a reasonable opinion.

However, that doesn't mean I won't root for them all the way like some other posters have suggested because I didn't vote the same way they did. Again, as you can see, I don't post much I come for the insightful thoughts I get to read everyday, but sometimes people need to just look in the mirror and say what makes my opinion worth more than your opinion. We have the greatest tradition in the NBA, some of the most knowledgeable fans, but even they can be very unrelenting when it comes to accepting criticism, negative views, or in general, views that don't correlate with their own beliefs when it comes to their team.

With the current line up they cannot win it all. They cannot solve their rebounding problem with out a change of personel and they and nobody is going to suddenly emerge as someone that can get to the rack and finish. Many many games are are won when you get team in the penalty early. The C's are really really bad at that. That acutally got the Magic in penalty with 6 minutes left in the 4th and never even tried to take it to the cup. Sorry to say that's the advantage of having a superstar like Kobe Lebron Durant Wade Melo etc...they are going to drive to the basket and get FT's and kill the runs teams make that the C's can't right now.

return2glory wrote:
Also Pierce and Ray Allen can't take over games on a regular bases anymore.

This bothers the hell out of me. These guys NEED to score more points. Pierce only went over 30 ONE time this season, and Ray has only hit 27. Everytime we need someone to take a game over, neither of the two can get it done. Pierce did it the first game of the season VS Cleveland, and maybe a couple more times...he used to do it, everytime we needed him too.

I think we run the string for the year. KG is rusty, Daniels is a key reserve missing, Davis will get in better shape and timing. I think there could be a move for some bench help with (finally) some expiring contracts.

I'm not too optimistic a big trade with Ray going out is going to net the Celtics anything that is going to win a championship this year anyway. Certainly looks to me like the remaining window is very short, but that doesn't mean it needs to be abandoned a year too early. Too early to give up on winning the championship and start a painful retool/rebuild.

I'm in.....no matter what.