Putting Things In Perspective

Cyclical · Post #1 » by **Cyclical** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 10:22 am

There's been a lot of criticism and general worry about the Celts since the last loss. There are some issues the team needs to address but let's put things in perspective.

We lead the league in Point Differential at 10.18. Two whole points better than the second place team.

We hold opponents to 88.27 points - 2nd best in the league.

We lead the league in FG% - an amazing 50%.

We just held the highest scoring team in the league to 20 points below their average, short handed as they may have been.

We lead the league in assists per game at 25.18

KG is working his way out of a 6 months layoff. He may never be the 07-08 KG again but he'll still be better than any PF we'll face not named Duncan.

Marquis is the best wing backup this team's ever had.

Shooting slumps happen - Eddie will be in and out of them throughout the year. As long as he's on a good wave heading into the playoffs that's all that counts.

Atlanta is a top 4 team. They played out of their minds - we played badly, and it was still a close game.

We're 3rd in the league in steals per game at 8.81.

We're good right now. Not great. Looking a bit lethargic on defense at times, not fighting for rebounds as forcibly as we should (not you Sheldon) and not always focused on the crisp pass, but still, good. We're going to get better. Barring injuries we're a top 3 team in the league, deep in the hunt for another ring. The seasons is 82 games long and we're only about a 1/7th of the way through. Patience.

Post #2 » by **canman1971** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 10:54 am

Nice perspective! Well, even though I am not in any sort of panic mode, the Celtics just don't look good right now; the stats will keep me at bay, but what I see with my eyes is a team that has a long way to go before they are ready to compete for the title. Now, that could be due to various reasons, such as chemistry with the new players, they are on cruise control, KG is still playing into shape, etc...But, they just look "blah" to me for whatever the reason is, especially on defense. I do believe when all is said and done, they will be fine (health permitting), but this is some pretty tough basketball to watch.

MyInsatiableOne · Post #3 » by **MyInsatiableOne** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 12:08 pm

canman, I agree, they look almost uninterested...the first half last night was a perfect example, had that not been against a shite team like GS we would have gone into the half down double digits, I guarantee...I think we'll be fine soon, but getting there sure isn't fun right now!

Kids Are Alright · Post #4 » by **Kids Are Alright** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 12:51 pm

I miss the Captain of old, I think he sets the tone more than KG ever did, he's lethargic and gimpy. That steal last night by Corey M made him look lazy out there.

John Locke · Post #5 » by **John Locke** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 12:52 pm

I like that they don't look good now. Just coast a little bit until we hit playoff-mode.

exculpatory · Post #6 » by **exculpatory** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 1:14 pm

Kids Are Alright wrote:I miss the Captain of old, I think he sets the tone more than KG ever did, he's lethargic and gimpy. That steal last night by Corey M made him look lazy out there.

Give him a frigging break. He was playing All Pro for the first 5 games, so-so for a couple of games after that, and then twisted his knee last Friday, which is why his D sucked against the Pacers, and why he still looked gimpy last night - even though he scored 19 points on 60% shooting. He is the ultimate gamer and, if he was Wince, he would not have played against Indiana or even last night!

This is a temporary downtime for our team. Wanna make a bet we give the Tragic hell on Friday?

Ex. :0)

MyInsatiableOne · Post #7 » by **MyInsatiableOne** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 1:38 pm

Kids Are Alright wrote:I miss the Captain of old, I think he sets the tone more than KG ever did, he's lethargic and gimpy. That steal last night by Corey M made him look lazy out there.

Dude, he's gimpy because he tweaked his knee a few days ago...if anything, it's a BETTER example that he's out there not at 100%...

Wolves2011 · Post #8 » by **Wolves2011** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 2:11 pm

Many of those stats cited in the first post are from the first 5 games. Since then, with one exception, we have mostly looked old. Even in last nights win against the warriors, it was because Rondo played the whole second half, and we played totally out of character, mostly going inside.

Don't know where we go this season, but the Celtics don't looked like a team that gets out of the 2nd round right now. It can change, but thats what my eyes see now. Think about how we started our championship season. Does this look like the same team?

[and we have a better bench on paper.]

Bos 95 - Clev 89 - very nice win
bos 92 - Char 59 - crushing win - Great!
Bos 118- chi 90 - beautiful win
Bos 97- NO 87 - close win - closer than score indicated
Bos 105 phi 74 - crushing win - Great!

Most of our POSITIVE STATS built up in first 5 games.

and here things started to change

Bos 92-Minn 90 - behind whole game to 1 win team, Jefferson playing 60% and no Love
Pho 110 Bos 103 - Loss, in what should have been easy win
Bos 86 NJ 76 - close game thoughout to 0 win team - Nets missing Harris, Yi, Lee, Douglas- roberts

return to "normal" for one game

bos 105 Utah 86 - nice win

then it gets worse - we looked even older.

Atl 97- bos 86
Ind 113- Bos 104
Bos 109- GS 95 - Rondo played whole 2nd half, we went inside, playing out of character for this team.

Cyclical · Post #9 » by **Cyclical** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 4:24 pm

Wolves2011 wrote:Many of those stats cited in the first post are from the first 5 games.

No they're not. They're up to date as of last night.

DorfonCeltics · Post #10 » by **DorfonCeltics** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 5:01 pm

Cyclical wrote:
Wolves2011 wrote:Many of those stats cited in the first post are from the first 5 games.

No they're not. They're up to date as of last night.

Cyclical, let the man spew his agenda and highjack threads but just try not to quote him. I have him blocked but are forced to read his biased posts when quoted.

MyInsatiableOne · Post #11 » by **MyInsatiableOne** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 5:04 pm

DorfonCeltics wrote:
Cyclical wrote:
Wolves2011 wrote:Many of those stats cited in the first post are from the first 5 games.

No they're not. They're up to date as of last night.

Cyclical, let the man spew his agenda and highjack threads but just try not to quote him. I have him blocked but are forced to read his biased posts when quoted.

Is there any way the mods can just ban his ass?

SichtingLives · Post #12 » by **SichtingLives** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 5:11 pm

Cyclical, nice post and good points. My own perspective is that I don't want this team playing their best basketball of the season in the first 30 games like last year, only to watch everything fall apart by the new year. I'd rather they start slow than come out of the gate in championship mode.

It's 12 games into the season. What does that leave, 70 more warmups before the real games start? Stay healthy, let them move at whatever pace they need to move at. I don't care about first seed, second seed or third seed. Give me this group of guys, healthy and clicking on all cylinders in April and I'll be happy.

captain green · Post #13 » by **captain green** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 5:40 pm

DunkOnFace wrote:Cyclical, nice post and good points. My own perspective is that I don't want this team playing their best basketball of the season in the first 30 games like last year, only to watch everything fall apart by the new year. I'd rather they start slow than come out of the gate in championship mode.

It's 12 games into the season. What does that leave, 70 more warmups before the real games start? Stay healthy, let them move at whatever pace they need to move at. I don't care about first seed, second seed or third seed. Give me this group of guys, healthy and clicking on all cylinders in April and I'll be happy.

x's 2

Wolves2011 · Post #14 » by **Wolves2011** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 8:17 pm

Cyclical wrote:
Wolves2011 wrote:Many of those stats cited in the first post are from the first 5 games.

No they're not. They're up to date as of last night.

What I mean is that we played great in the first 5 games. In the games since we mostly have played poorly. But our stats for the season, are still heavily weighted toward the positive because of the first five games.

To clarify, after the first 5 games our average margin of victory was about 20, now its about 10

After the first 5 games, in the next 7 games, our average margin of victory has been 2.6 ppg

Get it!!