First things first: Rondo will be a celtic. For years to come.

2. Jared Sullinger is taking the step this year. 18 and 10, better than Greg Monroe, Derrick Favors, and all those other niggas with hype.

3. Marcus Smart will display a great nba player trajectory, however lack of opportunity in a deep backcourt and parker being able to gun his way to impressive numbers in Milwaukee will keep him from serious Roy discussion

4. This is the perfect environment for Jeff Green to really start showing his ass, unfortunately he'll probably get traded before the deadline. Hopefully Bass goes with him.

5. Evan Turner will make Green lightweight expendable. As expendable as you can be on a team like this. Yes, Evan Turner has game.

6. This year's team will be a 7-8 seed unless we are still in tank mode, then we'll win less than 34 games.

Am I missing anything?

I'm excited about this year. Smart is playing great defense. Sully is doing damage in the paint. Turner, reminds me of Pierce a little bit with his physical, big body play. Green will be Green. I know he can be great, but I've been waiting for too long for it to be consistent. Thornton is a beast, I love his fearless play. Rondo is looking like he hasn't lost a step. Olynyk needs to cut his hair, but he's looking great as well. Bass is the usual reliable, hard working Bass.

I'm hoping to go to a few games this year. I can definitely see them in the playoffs, making a little noise if they can keep it together.

AT ALL...

they play team ball...and it'll get you far in the NBA when most teams don't...

I do still think they will makea trade...

Pretty much anyone in that lineup is someone I want to see on the court.

They will frustrate at points I'm sure.

I try hard to move Bass and Wallace, just don't fit in on this team and they could be of use somewhere else.

without a whole lot of expectations. But if guys stay healthy, I can see them reaching the playoffs as a low seed as well.

Now that that's out the way, here we go:

1. A decision has to be made on Jeff Green. I think he's a good player, but on the current roster he seems like a #1 option when he clearly isn't. Rondo isn't the #1 only because he doesn't look to score (which he should). Rondo is the most important piece bar none, but Jeff Green is the 1st option offensively. Are the Celts keeping him or moving him at the deadline? Because I don't think Evan Turner's the answer.

2. I've always been a Sully fan. I hated the fact that teams stayed away from him because he wasn't athletic enough when his game is SO POLISHED. That being said, he has to take the next step. He's gotta grow into a Z-Bo like player, with the same set around the rim, and the same tenacity on the boards. He's still young, and if he can stay healthy, he might be a real beast.

3. I don't know what to feel about Olynyk. I've watched him play, and although I don't think he's a dominant player, you can't leave him open at any point. A great pickup in the draft by Boston, but overall don't know what to make of him

4. Marcus Smart might be that dude

5. Keep Avery Bradley. He's getting better, and defensive players with a solid offensive game are hard to come by in this league.

6. Rondo: I hate this dude. But he's the key. Not to say the Celtics will have a good year, but he's GOT to be more aggressive on offense. His pure PG skills always make him pass to other players which is a great attribute, but he can't pass up layups for other guys like he's done in the past. He's shown the ability to be crafty offensively, and I think he should hover around 19ppg. He HAS to.

7. Brad Stevens: Now that he's gotten his feet wet, and he has his PG back for (hopefully) the whole season, let's see what he runs with Rondo. He's got athletes to make it an uptempo game (which is what Rondo really likes to do, push the ball), but he's got a few skill guys that can hit shots if the game slows down.

If that happens, I think the Celtics fight for that last spot. Anywhere from 34-38 wins. If they get 38, it'll come down to the last week of the season.

>Now that that's out the way, here we go:
>
>1. A decision has to be made on Jeff Green. I think he's a
>good player, but on the current roster he seems like a #1
>option when he clearly isn't. Rondo isn't the #1 only because
>he doesn't look to score (which he should). Rondo is the most
>important piece bar none, but Jeff Green is the 1st option
>offensively. Are the Celts keeping him or moving him at the
>deadline? Because I don't think Evan Turner's the answer.

Jeff Green will never be a first option. He's the best scorer on the time but not number 1 option.


>2. I've always been a Sully fan. I hated the fact that teams
>stayed away from him because he wasn't athletic enough when
>his game is SO POLISHED. That being said, he has to take the
>next step. He's gotta grow into a Z-Bo like player, with the
>same set around the rim, and the same tenacity on the boards.
>He's still young, and if he can stay healthy, he might be a
>real beast.


Danny put out those reports about his back and kept teams away haha



>3. I don't know what to feel about Olynyk. I've watched him
>play, and although I don't think he's a dominant player, you
>can't leave him open at any point. A great pickup in the draft
>by Boston, but overall don't know what to make of him
>
>4. Marcus Smart might be that dude
>
>5. Keep Avery Bradley. He's getting better, and defensive
>players with a solid offensive game are hard to come by in
>this league.
>
>6. Rondo: I hate this dude. But he's the key. Not to say the
>Celtics will have a good year, but he's GOT to be more
>aggressive on offense. His pure PG skills always make him pass
>to other players which is a great attribute, but he can't pass
>up layups for other guys like he's done in the past. He's
>shown the ability to be crafty offensively, and I think he
>should hover around 19ppg. He HAS to.
>
>7. Brad Stevens: Now that he's gotten his feet wet, and he has
>his PG back for (hopefully) the whole season, let's see what
>he runs with Rondo. He's got athletes to make it an uptempo
>game (which is what Rondo really likes to do, push the ball),
>but he's got a few skill guys that can hit shots if the game
>slows down.
>
>If that happens, I think the Celtics fight for that last spot.
>Anywhere from 34-38 wins. If they get 38, it'll come down to
>the last week of the season.
>

I respect everything you contributed. Word

Greg Monroe did that in his rookie year

http://www.nba.com/playerfile/greg_monroe/career_stats.html

Id have never spit that out without looking it up, but i must have been looking at something i misread badly

>First things first: Rondo will be a celtic. For years to
>come.

Given the contracts being shelled out so far this season, Rondo's looking like a max dude. Just not sure I want to invest that kind of coin on him. But I think Ainge will.

>2. Jared Sullinger is taking the step this year. 18 and 10,
>better than Greg Monroe, Derrick Favors, and all those other
>niggas with hype.

I think this team is going to spread out scoring and minutes might be shaky. I'm going 16 & 8 as my hope/expectation.

>3. Marcus Smart will display a great nba player trajectory,
>however lack of opportunity in a deep backcourt and parker
>being able to gun his way to impressive numbers in Milwaukee
>will keep him from serious Roy discussion

This rookie class isn't looking too hot so I think Smart will be in the discussion. I just don't think his offense is there yet. My guess is 3rd or 4th place in rookie voting.


>4. This is the perfect environment for Jeff Green to really
>start showing his ass, unfortunately he'll probably get traded
>before the deadline. Hopefully Bass goes with him.

Jeff Green is Jeff Green. He'll never be consistent. He'll never be more than a tease. I just hope he can show enough so we can get some value for him,

>5. Evan Turner will make Green lightweight expendable. As
>expendable as you can be on a team like this. Yes, Evan Turner
>has game.

Evan Turner will have more night that make you think "I want to strangle him" than "Man, I want this guy on our team forever!" On the bright side, we have enough depth that we can bench him on those night.
Ditto for Marcus Thornton, who after being dumped by a couple of teams and becoming an afterthought, will be a serviceable albeit overpaid and inconsistent offensive threat off the bench.

>6. This year's team will be a 7-8 seed unless we are still in
>tank mode, then we'll win less than 34 games.

A few weeks ago, I would have scoffed at this this but, good lord, the East is bad. I still think Milwaukee might be the surprise 8th seed (with Detroit being a disappointment for many) but I think the C's could be in the hunt. The biggest issue is our November schedule. It's pretty brutal and the team needs to fight through it. If they can run this gauntlet intact, they could surprise some people.

I'd also add:

7. Kelly Olynyk wins over some of his haters (like me) and proves to be a solid stretch big. Kind of like Ryan Anderson.

8. James Young is mostly MIA in his rookie season with a few awful games and a couple of promising ones.

Except not being sure about rondo.

Thing about him is this: he's irreplaceable. For all the things he brings... Once we do get that guy in place we'll wish we had rondo to pair with him.

Plus, what available guys are out there that are worth throwing that money at? We could probably throw it at them anyway

Wow, this year is going to be so fun

Celtics, given how young and inexperienced they are, showed a ton of heart to cut a 31 pt lead all the way to 1 (could have tied it had Avery hit all 3 of those FTs). Most impressive part was after they cut it to 4 or 5, the Mavs shot it right back to 10 with 2+ mins left and the C's responded by getting it down to 1 in about a minute and a half. Smart had several big plays in the 4th too.

That said, Jeff Green had his typical night of showing he CAN go off and drop 30+ but will prob fail to put up 30 pts in his next 2 games combined.

Been calling for him

I would think he'd be high on the radar of a team like the Clippers.

Apparently the C's are getting Nate back. This team is slowly becoming very fun to watch. (While also losing, ideally.)

EDIT: Interesting. He was traded for Jameer. Don't really get it for Denver but whatever.

Double EDit: He's getting bought out. Oh well.

then the clippers get their backup pg.


Ainge is doing a fabulous job of supplying the Western Conference arms race

Wonder where we send Bass and Thornton.

We didn't want to take on anyone on contract after this year, which meant a third team had to be involved. Guess it didn't happen. Nate's better than Austin so this might kill that.

And it's better for the C's as we dump Jameer's extra year.

guess not lol

That's what I struggle with. Unless we land someone like Okafor in the draft, we're going to have a hard time luring anyone big.

I mean, he could. but would he really do that? team is already damn young.

-----------
Y'all stupid...should've tanked for Lebron/Wiggins in 2014 -Rex LongFellow

Its 2014...there are computers in glasses and people stunt after hitting the ball far. Get over it. -Cenario

It's only funny till someone gets mad. Then it's hilariou

But he may surprise. I'll give him 2 years. If the Patriots don't win the superbowl, then I give him 1. lol

I like Brad Stevens too...

Looks like Ainge is going to let him stick around through this...

Hornets are gonna be out one of their best players in 6 weeks.

I couldn't imagine someone in a position to draft okafor and not doing it

i have little mid-term hope. i don't see a title contender, i don't see a tank anytime soon. i see purgatory. maybe danny can fuck around and trade a ton of picks for a player again.


-----------
Y'all stupid...should've tanked for Lebron/Wiggins in 2014 -Rex LongFellow

Its 2014...there are computers in glasses and people stunt after hitting the ball far. Get over it. -Cenario

It's only funny till someone gets mad. Then it's hilariou

Knowing that we're going to mess around and miss out on a top 2 pick this year which will be a golden pick is just eating me up. Good grief.

Brad Stevens; quietly doing a great job and proving that his style translates to the professional level.

Brad Stevens deserves Coach of the Year consideration...

3rd most wins after Feb. 1...

Rondo traded...Jeff Green traded...possible 7 seed...

I know the Cs are going to try to fight the Cavs...hopefully they make it a series...

That's the apparent target that he's opening up the check book for.

Props to the Cs for returning to the 'offs.

Tried their damnedest to make dude feel like he couldn't play. 6'7, can handle, pass, rebound, tries on defense. That's better than 75% of the league right there.

Dude can play

I don't really care what happens in the playoffs, just glad they'll get some experience under their belts, but if they make Cleveland sweat at all I'll be happy.

If we could add a Marc Gasol or Aldridge this summer we could be back in them mix.

stealing one on the road would've been amazing, but I can't be disappointed by this team.

The Cavs are the more talented team...but Celtics are the more scrappier one...

Gasol or Aldridge would help, but i think they'll still need to find another offensive wing player. I'd really like to see Danny try to do something creative w/ their draft pick and surplus of good but not great young PFs/Cs.

basically, a post defender and a wing offensive player and this team takes the next step easily. plus the brooklyn picks to bolster? shiiiiiiit.

-----------
Its 2014...there are computers in glasses and people stunt after hitting the ball far. Get over it. -Cenario
It's only funny till someone gets mad. Then it's hilarious

A dynamic scoring SF would be nice tho. We might have to hope for one in the draft.

a team that is overpaying a good but not great player or something and wants cap relief could make a deal for some draft picks...maybe a team that gets Kawhi has someone expendable?

in FAgency, getting a big makes sense. But I think that wing scorer is as, or possibly, more useful to improving the team.

-----------
Its 2014...there are computers in glasses and people stunt after hitting the ball far. Get over it. -Cenario
It's only funny till someone gets mad. Then it's hilarious

Apparently Ainge really wants Gasol. I would love it if we got him or Aldridge. But wouldn't mindn Monroe on a decent contract.
Notable unrestricted free agents:
Gasol
Aldridge
Greg Monroe (we at least know we can get him at a decent price)
Milsap
Wesley Matthews
Rondo (never to return lol)
Jordan
Duncan (goingg nowhere or retiring probably)
Tyson Chandler
Asik
Robin Lopez
Josh Smith (lol)

then LMA, then Jordan, then Asik, then Monroe.

Monroe's not a bad option, but he's not the defensive presence i'd want, as my desire for Gasol and Jordan and Asik. I think post defense is more useful than Monroe's offense and the real need for offense is a decent wing 3 pt shooter.

-----------
Its 2014...there are computers in glasses and people stunt after hitting the ball far. Get over it. -Cenario
It's only funny till someone gets mad. Then it's hilarious

He is

----------------------------



O_E: "Acts like an asshole and posts with imperial disdain"




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