What Do You Believe In...7th or Hell?: The OFFICIAL 2014-15 Boston Celtics Thread

[BlackStarLine]

A Celtics thread? Never thought I'd see this. I think the team can compete for the 8 seed, but I see them not making the playoffs again. Zach Lowe (Grantland) predicts that Rondo will stay and Jeff Green will be traded. I agree with Rondo not being traded. Ainge wants a big return and a team won't give much for Rondo unless he agrees to re-sign (which he won't do). I don't see JG getting traded either, teams may be interested but I doubt they will give anything up that will interest DA.

Mainly, I looking forward to see how Smart turns out and seeing how a fully healthy Rondo (with no game restrictions) works with team.

 

[Raquinotj]

I think the Thread starter IS Jeff Green....

 

[Kang Deezy]

Young and Smart are not superstar prospects. Smart projects out to a great defender with an inconsistent jumper without great playmaking skills.

James Young can't play defense, hasn't shown ball-handling skills, and is a total gunner. Both are talented, but they are not superstars in the making. And I thought both of them were great choices by Ainge.

Rondo is 28, still can't shoot, hurt, and playing with guys that don't suit his skillset. He needs scorers around him, preferably two stars to get the ball to. He's still a freak, and still fun to watch... but he needs a cast.

Sullinger is a starter-level talent, who can score against players around his size, but struggles with length/altheticism. He can't defend at all. But as a stretch 4 that can also score on the block a little... he's a solid rotational forward, a fringe starter.

Jeff Green - grow up, kid.

You didn't mention Olynyk, who is better than green... but yeah, you didn't even mention him, so...

With Rondo as a chip, and another bad year ahead... you're in position to score more talent, which is great. But this team, as it stands... is not talented.

No hate, I'm a knick fan, and our team isn't talented either. Gotta hope the system takes.

You're wrong about Smart.

The coaching is good enough on this team to exceed the 26 wins in my opinion. I'd put money on it, but the future of this team is too unpredictable with so many potential trades between now and February that I can't. There's really not one player on this team I could guarantee you will still be on the roster after the deadline.

But I can especially seeing Brad being able to put Marcus Thornton is a position that plays off his strengths and they are able to trade him for picks at some point. I'd love to see Gerald Wallace's salary off the books at some point before the trade deadline as well.

I think the goal is to get a top 3 pick (and hopefully a center there) and add some big free agent pieces in the offseason but Brad Stevens doesn't take losing well so who knows... Either way, the Celtics are set up nicely for the future

 

[SchoolboyC]

I have us finishing as the 10th seed.

I don't think Smart will win ROY since they just give that award to whoever averages the most points and I doubt he'll be able to outscore Wiggins or Jabari as a 6th man.

I do think Sullinger will average something like 18/11, Rondo will have a bounce back year and make the all-star team and that Bradley will make the all-defense team. Jeff will be Jeff. Every 5 games he looks like an all-star and the games in between he looks like he's sleep walking on the court. I like James Young but I have pretty low expectations for him this year, I expect him to ride the bench. As for Olynyk, I like the fact that Stevens is going to start him & Sully together, but I'm still skeptical of him starting at center due to how soft he is. But at the same time, it's either him or Zeller so I guess you gotta roll with the punches.

I also think Evan Turner will be this year's Jordan Crawford for us.

 

[William F. Russell]

I have us finishing as the 10th seed.

I don't think Smart will win ROY since they just give that award to whoever averages the most points and I doubt he'll be able to outscore Wiggins or Jabari as a 6th man.

I do think Sullinger will average something like 18/11, Rondo will have a bounce back year and make the all-star team and that Bradley will make the all-defense team. Jeff will be Jeff. Every 5 games he looks like an all-star and the games in between he looks like he's sleep walking on the court. I like James Young but I have pretty low expectations for him this year, I expect him to ride the bench. As for Olynyk, I like the fact that Stevens is going to start him & Sully together, but I'm still skeptical of him starting at center due to how soft he is. But at the same time, it's either him or Zeller so I guess you gotta roll with the punches.

I also think Evan Turner will be this year's Jordan Crawford for us.

What has been up with Jeff Green though? He has SO MUCH TALENT but is maddeningly inconsistent. He could be an all-star player and he made LeBrick whenever the C's would play the Heat. Remember, this was the player whom Scott Brooks started ahead of JAMES HARDEN when he was in OKC. And he was great at G'town. I want to guess that it's either his heart condition or maybe him struggling to fully acclimate himself with Stevens' style of play that's the cause of his inconsistency. But maybe he just hasn't put it together yet. This is definitely a career-defining year for him and it'd be sad if has has an underwhelming year.

C'MON GREEN!

 

[SchoolboyC]

What has been up with Jeff Green though? He has SO MUCH TALENT but is maddeningly inconsistent. He could be an all-star player and he made LeBrick whenever the C's would play the Heat. Remember, this was the player whom Scott Brooks started ahead of JAMES HARDEN when he was in OKC. And he was great at G'town. I want to guess that it's either his heart condition or maybe him struggling to fully acclimate himself with Stevens' style of play that's the cause of his inconsistency. But maybe he just hasn't put it together yet. This is definitely a career-defining year for him and it'd be sad if has has an underwhelming year.

C'MON GREEN!

I've just to come accept this is who Jeff is and it's time for us to stop holding out hope for him to reach his potential. He's an underachiever. Highly talented but just doesn't have the mindset to be a truly great player, and he was like this before his heart problems. It's mind-boggling that you'll have games where Jeff can't be stopped and then the next game he'll just stand in the corner not even caring if he touches the ball.

 

[Miggs]

I like the system they are employing,i wish our coach would play more of that style...

System is the most interesting thing about this team,Rondo is not going to be an all star this year...
Too many other guards in the East have lapped him...Maybe next year on a better team.

I dont like Olynyk and never will...

 

[Kang Deezy]

I have us finishing as the 10th seed.

I don't think Smart will win ROY since they just give that award to whoever averages the most points and I doubt he'll be able to outscore Wiggins or Jabari as a 6th man.

I do think Sullinger will average something like 18/11, Rondo will have a bounce back year and make the all-star team and that Bradley will make the all-defense team. Jeff will be Jeff. Every 5 games he looks like an all-star and the games in between he looks like he's sleep walking on the court. I like James Young but I have pretty low expectations for him this year, I expect him to ride the bench. As for Olynyk, I like the fact that Stevens is going to start him & Sully together, but I'm still skeptical of him starting at center due to how soft he is. But at the same time, it's either him or Zeller so I guess you gotta roll with the punches.

I also think Evan Turner will be this year's Jordan Crawford for us.

We have Turner under contract for next season at a good price... I think Marcus Thornton is the guy

 

[William F. Russell]

I like the system they are employing,i wish our coach would play more of that style...

System is the most interesting thing about this team,Rondo is not going to be an all star this year...
Too many other guards in the East have lapped him...Maybe next year on a better team.

I dont like Olynyk and never will...

Agree to disagree.

But stats alone will get him in, assuming he averages something like 14pts/11asts/5rebs/2stls; that surely beats most (if not all PGs) in the East. The only PGs who are ahead of Rondo for the ASG are Kyrie Irving and Derrick Rose (and even Rose has to re-establish himself as a premier PG in the league). Remember, coaches choose ASG reserves. Rondo has as good a shot as any PG to be an all-star. It's foolish to write off Rondo.

Also, Joe Johnson is old. Deron Williams is getting old and is too injury-prone. Dwyane Wade is old and his best days are behind him.

 

[NkrumahWasRight Is Wrong]

We have Turner under contract for next season at a good price... I think Marcus Thornton is the guy

That makes him just as attractive as trade bait, if not more so. Pure salary dumps are generally traded to teams not contending. With Turner as a buy-low guy for us on a very nice contract..it makes even more sense for another team to scoop him since they'd have him locked up for an extra year at a reasonable cost. Unless he's in the long-term plans, he gets traded IMO.

Rondo is not going to be an all-star this year. He's going to be even more disgruntled than ever and already said he would test the market. The direction of the team seems to have him leaving but its probably 50/50.

Ive been on the Green bandwagon and am still on it. No one in their right mind expected him to get on Pierces level and he never will. I thought he might be able to get to 20 PPG last year but even if he stays around 13-17 PPG he is a very valuable player and we wouldnt be able to get back anything worth it. I want him on the team for the long haul. He's a perfect 3rd/4th guy on a very good team...he's smart, versatile on offense and defense and can occasionally have huge games..he's also shown to be pretty damn good in pressure situations. I'd be very disappointed if he got traded.

 

[Miggs]

Agree to disagree.

But stats alone will get him in, assuming he averages something like 14pts/11asts/5rebs/2stls; that surely beats most (if not all PGs) in the East. The only PGs who are ahead of Rondo for the ASG are Kyrie Irving and Derrick Rose (and even Rose has to re-establish himself as a premier PG in the league). Remember, coaches choose ASG reserves. Rondo has as good a shot as any PG to be an all-star. It's foolish to write off Rondo.

Also, Joe Johnson is old. Deron Williams is getting old and is too injury-prone. Dwyane Wade is old and his best days are behind him.

Lowry,Wall >>> Rondo

Guy coming off a knee injury with no jump shot having as good a shot on a 23 win team

 

[NkrumahWasRight Is Wrong]

Agree to disagree.

But stats alone will get him in, assuming he averages something like 14pts/11asts/5rebs/2stls; that surely beats most (if not all PGs) in the East. The only PGs who are ahead of Rondo for the ASG are Kyrie Irving and Derrick Rose (and even Rose has to re-establish himself as a premier PG in the league). Remember, coaches choose ASG reserves. Rondo has as good a shot as any PG to be an all-star. It's foolish to write off Rondo.

Also, Joe Johnson is old. Deron Williams is getting old and is too injury-prone. Dwyane Wade is old and his best days are behind him.

Not happening. We're not going to be a playoff team and those will be empty stats...stats that he probably won't get to anyway...not to mention the fact he may not even play in more than 60 games this year (if that). He's more likely to be around 10/10/3/1.5. Irving, Wall, Rose and Lowry all will have better stats and be on better teams.

 

[NkrumahWasRight Is Wrong]

Lowry,Wall >>> Rondo

Guy coming off a knee injury with no jump shot having as good a shot on a 23 win team

We will be better than 23 wins but I essentially agree. See post above.

 

[Miggs]

We will be better than 23 wins but I essentially agree. See post above.

Maybe but point is Rondo would have to put up MVP type stats to get in,cuz we know NBA coaches (dont agree with it) favor guys on winning teams.
Thats already goin to work against him...

 

[William F. Russell]

Lowry,Wall >>> Rondo

Guy coming off a knee injury with no jump shot having as good a shot on a 23 win team

Wrong on both counts.

1. Lowry just broke out last season. Teams are now going to focus on him and we'll see how he responds. Rondo is still a better playmaker than Lowry and has a higher b-ball IQ. And a better defender. Likewise, although Wall is a better scorer than Rondo, he's not as good a defender, doesn't have Rondo's b-ball IQ, and has no influence in the game if the defense shuts him down offensively. Also, Wall's jump shot isn't consistent. He's more of a slasher/rim attacker.

2. As explained before, Rondo DOES have a jump shot. This has been proven. Watch the 2012 NBA playoffs. Or the 2013 season until his injury. Dude can shoot, it's just that he doesn't shoot enough.

We can agree to disagree but in no way, shape, or form are either Lowry or Wall better than Rondo. And that's before we talk about Rondo's individual accolades and playoff stats.