The Celtics Will Be Taking A Step Back This Upcoming Season

[eyeatoma]

I think this is more wishful thinking than presenting any strong evidence for your case. The KP trade was a risk and i think it's fine to have doubts about it but its not like the Celtics competition in the East has improved.

Are the Bucks, Heat and Sixers better than a season ago because i think these teams have likely stagnated or gotten worse.

Are teams like the Knicks and Cavs ready to tske another jump up?? I dont quite see it

Because their is no dominant team in the East i think it comes down to the perennial contenders the last few years which Boston is in the mix in with Milwaukee and Miami

Spoken like a true homer.

Porzingis, has had one healthy season, that was last year, good luck on him repeating, especially given that he's already injured and the season hasn't even started yet.

You lost your heart and soul in Smart, the defensive grit, and intensity will be gone.

Robert Williams' knees are set to explode.

Horford looks like frankenstein.

Brogdon is incensed with the Celtics, for surprise surprise, another instance of the Celtics trying to cut loose on an injured guard.

Tatum was middling in the playoffs (except against the Sixers), because that's how it always goes.

Brown still can't drive to his left.

Oh and let's not forget about Joe Mazulla.

Totally wishful thinking though.

You can boil down critique any team in this way. Not sure why the Celtics are single out when the other perennial contenders havent got better.

The Bucks got a perennial MVP but haven't been back to the Confrence Finals the last few years but in a weak East they wil be up there. So will the Celtics and the Heat will be to if they get Dame.

The Celtics have been a contender for a long time. They have not gotten better though, they have raised their ceiling but significantly lowered their floor. They are depending on 3 injury prone big men, one guard who had his first injury free season in years as their PG, and have another disgruntled guard. Their stars are both flawed, and have each had issues in the playoffs. Neither has had a long term injury so they are very lucky in that department, but past health does not guarantee future health. If the Celtics were going to trade smart they needed to get a better PG, they got worse or at best made a lateral move with White, and now have tied theirselves to Porzingis, who to no ones surprise is hurt again. Celtics fans need to take off their rose tinted sun glasses.

[Floody100]

Spoken like a true homer.

Porzingis, has had one healthy season, that was last year, good luck on him repeating, especially given that he's already injured and the season hasn't even started yet.

You lost your heart and soul in Smart, the defensive grit, and intensity will be gone.

Robert Williams' knees are set to explode.

Horford looks like frankenstein.

Brogdon is incensed with the Celtics, for surprise surprise, another instance of the Celtics trying to cut loose on an injured guard.

Tatum was middling in the playoffs (except against the Sixers), because that's how it always goes.

Brown still can't drive to his left.

Oh and let's not forget about Joe Mazulla.

Totally wishful thinking though.

You can boil down critique any team in this way. Not sure why the Celtics are single out when the other perennial contenders havent got better.

The Bucks got a perennial MVP but haven't been back to the Confrence Finals the last few years but in a weak East they wil be up there. So will the Celtics and the Heat will be to if they get Dame.

The Celtics have been a contender for a long time. They have not gotten better though, they have raised their ceiling but significantly lowered their floor. They are depending on 3 injury prone big men, one guard who had his first injury free season in years as their PG, and have another disgruntled guard. Their stars are both flawed, and have each had issues in the playoffs. Neither has had a long term injury so they are very lucky in that department, but past health does not guarantee future health. If the Celtics were going to trade smart they needed to get a better PG, they got worse or at best made a lateral move with White, and now have tied theirselves to Porzingis, who to no ones surprise is hurt again. Celtics fans need to take off their rose tinted sun glasses.

So much wrong with everything you just said.
- We have 2 injury prone big men, not 3 (Horford hasn’t had a significant injury for us)
- White like 90% of the league has had multiple niggling injuries in the past but has only had one season where he missed a significant amount of games due to injury.
- If you did some research regarding Brogdon being “disgruntled” you’d realise it was just a Boston journalist speculating that he might be.
- Both our stars are somewhat flawed but their also 25 & 26 respectively.
- We we’re significantly better last season when Smart was out injured & White was our point guard.

Yes the Celtics still have a lot of questions to ask (like every other team) but where in a hell of a lot better situation than your mob is right now.

[eyeatoma]

I think this is more wishful thinking than presenting any strong evidence for your case. The KP trade was a risk and i think it's fine to have doubts about it but its not like the Celtics competition in the East has improved.

Are the Bucks, Heat and Sixers better than a season ago because i think these teams have likely stagnated or gotten worse.

Are teams like the Knicks and Cavs ready to tske another jump up?? I dont quite see it

Because their is no dominant team in the East i think it comes down to the perennial contenders the last few years which Boston is in the mix in with Milwaukee and Miami

Spoken like a true homer.

Porzingis, has had one healthy season, that was last year, good luck on him repeating, especially given that he's already injured and the season hasn't even started yet.

You lost your heart and soul in Smart, the defensive grit, and intensity will be gone.

Robert Williams' knees are set to explode.

Horford looks like frankenstein.

Brogdon is incensed with the Celtics, for surprise surprise, another instance of the Celtics trying to cut loose on an injured guard.

Tatum was middling in the playoffs (except against the Sixers), because that's how it always goes.

Brown still can't drive to his left.

Oh and let's not forget about Joe Mazulla.

Totally wishful thinking though.

Celtics homer is actually a pretty sweet gig.

Since Celtics drafted JB
2023 | Celtics eliminate Sixers in ECF
2022 | Celtics in The Finals
2021 | JB injured
2020 | Celtics eliminate Sixers in 1st Round
2019 | Celtics in EC Semi
2018 | Celtics eliminate Sixers in EC Semi
2017 | Celtics in EC Final

But you bring up a good point -- if:
a. Porzingis is injured
b. Smart can't be replaced
c. Rob is injured
d. Horford regresses
e. Brogdon is injured/moody
f. Tatum regresses
g. Brown leads The League in turnovers, and
h. Mazzulla's first season was a fluke,

... Sixers might have a chance lol.

Hoping the Celtics suck must be The New Process. Talk about wishful thinking.

Congratulations you guys have beaten the leagues most incompetent franchise consistently. They also took you guys to the brink during the last playoffs and were one Jayson Tatum **** up (he was pretty bad for most of the series, so it was quite possible, good on him for getitng them over the hump) from not advancing to the conference finals. Not sure I would be celebrating that, but hey Celtics/Sixers bad blood, so I somewhat get it. But just because the Celtics have the Sixers number doesn't mean they are the favorites, or have vastly improved. Every team has bad matchups, the Celtics have athletic wings, which are the Sixers kryptonite.

[Zeno]

As much as I don't want it to be the case, I think they'll be great this year.

[eyeatoma]

You can boil down critique any team in this way. Not sure why the Celtics are single out when the other perennial contenders havent got better.

The Bucks got a perennial MVP but haven't been back to the Confrence Finals the last few years but in a weak East they wil be up there. So will the Celtics and the Heat will be to if they get Dame.

The Celtics have been a contender for a long time. They have not gotten better though, they have raised their ceiling but significantly lowered their floor. They are depending on 3 injury prone big men, one guard who had his first injury free season in years as their PG, and have another disgruntled guard. Their stars are both flawed, and have each had issues in the playoffs. Neither has had a long term injury so they are very lucky in that department, but past health does not guarantee future health. If the Celtics were going to trade smart they needed to get a better PG, they got worse or at best made a lateral move with White, and now have tied theirselves to Porzingis, who to no ones surprise is hurt again. Celtics fans need to take off their rose tinted sun glasses.

So much wrong with everything you just said.
- We have 2 injury prone big men, not 3 (Horford hasn’t had a significant injury for us)
Horford might has well be injured, the dude was a corpse the second half of the season. Sure, old age, still not good.
- White like 90% of the league has had multiple niggling injuries in the past but has only had one season where he missed a significant amount of games due to injury.
Spurs fans were tearing their hair out about how injured he has been. Again it's compounding, you have injury prone big men, and a guard who hasn't been the healthiest over his career. His backup has dynamite for knees.
- If you did some research regarding Brogdon being “disgruntled” you’d realise it was just a Boston journalist speculating that he might be.
Fact of the matter is he has paper mache for knees and now an elbow, and the team tried to trade him. Not the greatest for lockerroom vibes.
- Both our stars a flawed but their also 25 & 26 respectively.
Oh yes, perpetual fountain of POTENTIAL. Brown just got the largest contract in league history, and is so not worth it..
- We we’re significantly better last season when Smart was out injured & White was our point guard.
Again, not the healthiest dude. Fact of the matter is the Celtics don't run a good offense, and are prone to terrible bouts of ISO ball, and your turn my turn basketball. They need a PG who can lead an offense, White is not it.

Yes the Celtics still have a lot of questions to ask (like every other team) but where in a hell of a lot better situation than your mob is right now.

Did I say that you weren't? Sixers have been the most miserable franchise since Hinkie was removed. We have dealt with more pain that you guys can imagine. This is horrible, but eh, we still got a star thats better than your two stars. The mob of the franchise took you guys to the brink. If the Sixers could actually put a guard around Embiid who doesn't turn into a 5 year old when the playoffs begin, we might have a chance. But that's besides the point. Fans who think that the Celtics have vastly improved and are the clear cut favorite are kidding them selves. This thread stated the Celtics took a step back. That is absolutely true.

[AussieCeltic]

You can boil down critique any team in this way. Not sure why the Celtics are single out when the other perennial contenders havent got better.

The Bucks got a perennial MVP but haven't been back to the Confrence Finals the last few years but in a weak East they wil be up there. So will the Celtics and the Heat will be to if they get Dame.

The Celtics have been a contender for a long time. They have not gotten better though, they have raised their ceiling but significantly lowered their floor. They are depending on 3 injury prone big men, one guard who had his first injury free season in years as their PG, and have another disgruntled guard. Their stars are both flawed, and have each had issues in the playoffs. Neither has had a long term injury so they are very lucky in that department, but past health does not guarantee future health. If the Celtics were going to trade smart they needed to get a better PG, they got worse or at best made a lateral move with White, and now have tied theirselves to Porzingis, who to no ones surprise is hurt again. Celtics fans need to take off their rose tinted sun glasses.

So much wrong with everything you just said.
- We have 2 injury prone big men, not 3 (Horford hasn’t had a significant injury for us)
- White like 90% of the league has had multiple niggling injuries in the past but has only had one season where he missed a significant amount of games due to injury.
- If you did some research regarding Brogdon being “disgruntled” you’d realise it was just a Boston journalist speculating that he might be.
- Both our stars a flawed but their also 25 & 26 respectively.
- We we’re significantly better last season when Smart was out injured & White was our point guard.

Yes the Celtics still have a lot of questions to ask (like every other team) but where in a hell of a lot better situation than your mob is right now.

Maybe we should’ve signed Kelly Oubre, Danny Green and Mo Bamba instead

[lonzo_pelota]

Brogden should've been traded not smart, to trade smart who was a glue guy and defensive stallworth is just not Smart no pun intended. That being said Tatum and Brown come back a year stronger mentally and in there physical primes, so i wouldnt count them out by any stretch this may be there year if the Unicorn stays healthy in the postseason.

[xchange55]

I'm surprised that so many people think the trade of Smart will be some major disruption. I think on the national level, the media likes to call him the heart and soul of the team and point out his defense. At the local level, for those of us who watch every single Celtics game, he's caused more headaches than cheers. He tries to be the offensive hero way too often when that's an area he really needs to take a back seat on with this roster. He is propped up way more nationally than he's beloved locally. Don't get me wrong, I love his level of hustle - the problem is his talent and decision making don't match that level.

Now looking at the Celtics guard situation, you have Brown, White, Smart and Brogdan. Brown of course will start. Brogdan has more or less accepted he will be a 6th man and not a starter given his defensive limitation and injury history. Bascially what happend is White over took Smart as the clear choice to start. You cannot really play small ball and start 3 guards in the EC with Embiid, Giannis and Bam. To improve the team, you are overloaded at guard and deficient at other positions - somebody has to go.

It would have been interesting if the Brogdan trade worked out, and Smart stayed. In that case you have 3 starter worthy guards and not enough minutes for all of them. I think the C's would be willing to trade both Brogdan and Smart if the right deals materialized. Becausae in playoff games, Brown and White are going 40 min +.

[AussieCeltic]

I'm surprised that so many people think the trade of Smart will be some major disruption. I think on the national level, the media likes to call him the heart and soul of the team and point out his defense. At the local level, for those of us who watch every single Celtics game, he's caused more headaches than cheers. He tries to be the offensive hero way too often when that's an area he really needs to take a back seat on with this roster. He is propped up way more nationally than he's beloved locally. Don't get me wrong, I love his level of hustle - the problem is his talent and decision making don't match that level.

Now looking at the Celtics guard situation, you have Brown, White, Smart and Brogdan. Brown of course will start. Brogdan has more or less accepted he will be a 6th man and not a starter given his defensive limitation and injury history. Bascially what happend is White over took Smart as the clear choice to start. You cannot really play small ball and start 3 guards in the EC with Embiid, Giannis and Bam. To improve the team, you are overloaded at guard and deficient at other positions - somebody has to go.

It would have been interesting if the Brogdan trade worked out, and Smart stayed. In that case you have 3 starter worthy guards and not enough minutes for all of them. I think the C's would be willing to trade both Brogdan and Smart if the right deals materialized. Becausae in playoff games, Brown and White are going 40 min +.

Exactly.

Celtics were 14-7 without him last season.

Of those 7 losses, 4 were essentially “scheduled losses” as they call them these days.

OT with Bucks without Tatum/Brown/Horford
By 3 to Heat without Brown/Horford/Brogdon (2nd night of B2B)
Magic without Horford/Rob Williams/Brogdon
By 1 to Jazz without Horford/Rob Williams (2nd might of B2B)

[NZB2323]

The Celtics will still be a top 4 team in the East with the Bucks, Heat, and 76ers.

I don’t have a lot of faith in the Zinger to perform well in the playoffs, but the Celtics should still be a top 4 team in the East.

I still think it’s crazy they were favorites over the Nuggets though.

[BHF]

I always hated the Celtics org, but as long as they have Tatum and Brown they will have a chance to compete for the title.

[chilluminati]

Porzingis will always be a chemistry disrupting piece that costs far too much for his overall team impact at this point in his career. Put him in a situation where the ball is in his hands more than half the time? His value rises. He goes to an actual team where he might not be the first option (or in this case, even the 2nd option)? He struggles and his value falls. This is becoming a trend.

Chipping away at the foundation of what made this Boston team what it is could cause Tatum to lose interest in believing this is a winning situation, causing a rift. Or maybe these types of moves are what further solidifies that this is Tatums team, putting more ball handing duties in his own hands.

Who knows, but this season is gonna be interesting at least. I'd tend to agree with OP, but it could easily go the other way with a skilled offensive big unlocking the C's offensive consistency.

[ryan in Maine]

Spoiler:

Spoken like a true homer.

Porzingis, has had one healthy season, that was last year, good luck on him repeating, especially given that he's already injured and the season hasn't even started yet.

You lost your heart and soul in Smart, the defensive grit, and intensity will be gone.

Robert Williams' knees are set to explode.

Horford looks like frankenstein.

Brogdon is incensed with the Celtics, for surprise surprise, another instance of the Celtics trying to cut loose on an injured guard.

Tatum was middling in the playoffs (except against the Sixers), because that's how it always goes.

Brown still can't drive to his left.

Oh and let's not forget about Joe Mazulla.

Totally wishful thinking though.

Celtics homer is actually a pretty sweet gig.

Since Celtics drafted JB
2023 | Celtics eliminate Sixers in ECF
2022 | Celtics in The Finals
2021 | JB injured
2020 | Celtics eliminate Sixers in 1st Round
2019 | Celtics in EC Semi
2018 | Celtics eliminate Sixers in EC Semi
2017 | Celtics in EC Final

But you bring up a good point -- if:
a. Porzingis is injured
b. Smart can't be replaced
c. Rob is injured
d. Horford regresses
e. Brogdon is injured/moody
f. Tatum regresses
g. Brown leads The League in turnovers, and
h. Mazzulla's first season was a fluke,

... Sixers might have a chance lol.

Hoping the Celtics suck must be The New Process. Talk about wishful thinking.

Congratulations you guys have beaten the leagues most incompetent franchise consistently. They also took you guys to the brink during the last playoffs and were one Jayson Tatum **** up (he was pretty bad for most of the series, so it was quite possible, good on him for getitng them over the hump) from not advancing to the conference finals. Not sure I would be celebrating that, but hey Celtics/Sixers bad blood, so I somewhat get it. But just because the Celtics have the Sixers number doesn't mean they are the favorites, or have vastly improved. Every team has bad matchups, the Celtics have athletic wings, which are the Sixers kryptonite.

We share some of the concerns you pointed out, sure. Just sayin', Celtics homer is a pretty sweet gig.

[Johnny Bball]

The Celtics will still be a top 4 team in the East with the Bucks, Heat, and 76ers.

I don’t have a lot of faith in the Zinger to perform well in the playoffs, but the Celtics should still be a top 4 team in the East.

I still think it’s crazy they were favorites over the Nuggets though.

At least one of those teams won’t be top 4 because Cleveland is solidly top 4. And can rule out the Bucks being that team barring any disaster.

[NZB2323]

The Celtics will still be a top 4 team in the East with the Bucks, Heat, and 76ers.

I don’t have a lot of faith in the Zinger to perform well in the playoffs, but the Celtics should still be a top 4 team in the East.

I still think it’s crazy they were favorites over the Nuggets though.

At least one of those teams won’t be top 4 because Cleveland is solidly top 4. And can rule out the Bucks being that team barring any disaster.

I have to see it from Cleveland in the playoffs before I can put them there.

[Triple M]

The Celtics have been a contender for a long time. They have not gotten better though, they have raised their ceiling but significantly lowered their floor.

I agree theyve raised their ceiling and took a risk that could potentially lower their floor. But the Celtics couldn't keep the status quo and hope it worked out. Again it isnt like weve seen our main rivals raise their ceilings. But it isnt the first time weve seen Celtics are overrated/exposed threads in training camp so we will see what happens starting in a few weeks.

[ITYSL]

Porzingis will always be a chemistry disrupting piece that costs far too much for his overall team impact at this point in his career. Put him in a situation where the ball is in his hands more than half the time? His value rises. He goes to an actual team where he might not be the first option (or in this case, even the 2nd option)? He struggles and his value falls. This is becoming a trend.

KP wasn't the first option in Washington. You could argue he wasn't even the second. He was like a 2A/2B with Kuzma.

[xinxin]

I get why the Celts acquired KP.

If KP plays to his potential, the Celts would be a monster.


still a big risk owing to KP's injury history.

[Johnny Bball]

The Celtics will still be a top 4 team in the East with the Bucks, Heat, and 76ers.

I don’t have a lot of faith in the Zinger to perform well in the playoffs, but the Celtics should still be a top 4 team in the East.

I still think it’s crazy they were favorites over the Nuggets though.

At least one of those teams won’t be top 4 because Cleveland is solidly top 4. And can rule out the Bucks being that team barring any disaster.

I have to see it from Cleveland in the playoffs before I can put them there.

You need to see them in the playoffs before you can determine that they can finish top 4 in the regular season? Ok.

[tamaraw08]

As a Lakers fan I am now exhausted waiting for Boston to regress.
Lost Kyrie? Nope
Lost Kemba? Nope
Lost Baynes and Horford the first time? Nah
Lost the freaking Brad Stevens….ugh.