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The Celts only allowed the Wiz 86 total pts tonight.

Also, the Wiz only shot 30% from 3pt land and 43.6% overall.

[/QUOTE]

While the Cs shot  even worse.... 42.9% overall.

The Wiz bench outplayed the Cs starters... and came within a hair's breadth of winning.

Pud

_

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In response to Fiercest34's comment:

Fierce, I don't get this one.  Sully is not a dominant 1-1 player in the paint.  Plus, even dominant 1-1 players need outside shooters to spread the floor.  With Rondo, the spacing is not there.  Sully can work one defender.  But he can't manage multiple collapsing on him.

This is going to be a tough one.  If Doc tries to install a ball movement system, I am not sure of the creatative and passing skills of others.  Then Rondo is not a shooter.  At the same time, Doc does not have the shooters/scorers to keep the old system.

It looks to me like the Celts will have to keep the system from last year.  That means that they will not be a running team.  It also means that the defensive schemes need to be worked out.  At this point I see too many issues.  The pieces are not fitting.

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In response to Neal Page's comment:

In that case, you can call me an apologist too.

Two embarassing losses followed by an embarassing win.

Most of the pro and con talk  on the C's is meaningless at this  point, IMO.

Until we get to January, (maybe the next matchup against the Heat, to be specific), I don't think we'll know if we're a strong contender or pretender.

Five reasons why.

1. Doc getting a bead on what  works best. 

2. New players understanding and buying in  to Doc's system.

3. Whether KG is having  the same type of season  he did last year or whether Father Time  has at last caught up with him.

4.  AB's return.  I haven't forgotten  whart he  meant  to the team  last year.

5. Rondo playing  consistently and  not shying away from his weaknesses.

Until then, any judgements on the Celtics are liable  to turn on a dime.

In response to prakash's comment:

Sully IS a dominant 1 on 1 player in the paint. The only reason why Sully is not scoring a lot is because Doc doesn't want to give him touches in the paint. Tonight, Sully only attempted to shoot 3 times in a little over 30 minutes.

There are 2 things that Sully does well, inside scoring and rebounding. That's the 2 things that made him a top 5 pick in 2011 and a top 10 pick in 2012. The Celts are fortunate that Sully fell all the way to #21.  

As long as Sully is not defended by 7-footers like Dwight, Bynum, or Tyson Chandler, Sully can score on any PF in the paint. He's got skills!

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Fierce, I don't get this one.  Sully is not a dominant 1-1 player in the paint.  Plus, even dominant 1-1 players need outside shooters to spread the floor.  With Rondo, the spacing is not there.  Sully can work one defender.  But he can't manage multiple collapsing on him.

This is going to be a tough one.  If Doc tries to install a ball movement system, I am not sure of the creatative and passing skills of others.  Then Rondo is not a shooter.  At the same time, Doc does not have the shooters/scorers to keep the old system.

It looks to me like the Celts will have to keep the system from last year.  That means that they will not be a running team.  It also means that the defensive schemes need to be worked out.  At this point I see too many issues.  The pieces are not fitting.

[/QUOTE]

Too early to make that call (the pieces are not fitting).   These guys have only been together as a team less than a couple of months including training camp and pre-season.   At this point last year, I think they were 0 and 3 and look how it turned out.  Its early in the season, man.  Don't panic.

Heck, Lakers started out  0 and 3.  Heat get beat by 20 in their second game.   Nets barely get by Toronto at home.   Its early season, man!  This is the NBA - any and everything happens early in the season!

In response to Petey62's comment:

It is a good sign when you start these game day threads. 

 

In that case, you can call me an apologist too.

Two embarassing losses followed by an embarassing win.

Most of the pro and con talk  on the C's is meaningless at this  point, IMO.

Until we get to January, (maybe the next matchup against the Heat, to be specific), I don't think we'll know if we're a strong contender or pretender.

Five reasons why.

1. Doc getting a bead on what  works best. 

2. New players understanding and buying in  to Doc's system.

3. Whether KG is having  the same type of season  he did last year or whether Father Time  has at last caught up with him.

4.  AB's return.  I haven't forgotten  whart he  meant  to the team  last year.

5. Rondo playing  consistently and  not shying away from his weaknesses.

Until then, any judgements on the Celtics are liable  to turn on a dime.

[/QUOTE]

Great analysis and comments.   C's will be fine - just takes time.   Only person I'm a little upset with is Terry.   He talks a big game and has not delivered....looking lost.  Ray has lit it up 2 of the 3 Heat games and Terry looks lost.   If he's going to be the replacement and even an improvement, he has to step it up!

Maybe some of you guys are forgetting that KG is 36 years old and Pierce is 35.

This year is supposed to be a rebuilding season for the Celts. 

So no defense and weak or limited effort is part of the deal. I mean we have to take the good with the bad. 2 of the Celts 3 best players are old. What you guys expect?

Again, basketball is a game for young people. Old people just don't have the same energy that 25 or 27-year olds have.

In response to Neal Page's comment:

God, I hate what BDC does when  you reply to a post.

I think 90% of the C fans here  agree the team looks like sh*t so far.

If we  haven't seen them playing up to their potential after 10 games, you'll see a "blow it up" thread posted.  But, barring serious injury to a  key player,  I'm waiting one week post AB's return to seriously analyze this team.

Too many new parts and too early.

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In response to Neal Page's comment:

Maybe you didn't know the Celts only have 4 players from last year's team that went to Game 7 against the Heat. So it's expected that the Celts will struggle early in the season.

I thought Barbosa, Terry, Bass, Lee and Wilcox were terrible.................Green came around a little, but how in God's name can he step out of bounds on that 3 point attempt??  Makes me nuts.

Sully was okay, but I was hoping for a little more.....guess I need to be patient!

In response to hedleylamarr's comment:

Sully only attempted 3 shots.

The Celts have a surplus of guards and Green needs more playing time. So you're right, you have to be more patient.

In response to Celtsfan4life's comment:

My concern is that so far, KG, Pierce and Ray have had to adjust their game to incorporate Rondo with his brilliance and his limitations.  This time, it will be imperative that Rondo adjusts his game somewhat.

Yes, it is early and I am ready to be patient.  I hope that Doc just stays with Sully and lets him build his confidence and presence.  I hope that Green keeps building his confidence and becomes a strong contributor.  I hope that Avery Bradley will return with his defensive presence and a shot.  I hope that the Celts can make a trade for a big.  There is just a lot that has to happen.  I am not panicking.  I am just looking at everything that needs to happen and wondering if all of that will fall into place.

In response to snakeoil123's comment:

Agreed.  Last year people were trying to trade Garnett when they started out poorly.

They will compete and probably be in the Eastern finals.

But I think it is pretty clear that Jeff Green is not very good.  He wasn't very good before his medical emergency and he is not very good after it.

 

 

In response to hedleylamarr's comment:

On Green, I think just about every 3 point shooter has stepped out of bounds at one point or another.  There's not much space on that sideline.  Not a big deal. The Wizards got called on the same thing late in the game.

Our 2 guard position gave us very little last night.   Collectively, they were 5 for 18 including 1 for 9 from 3 pointers (and they were WIDE OPEN 3 pointers most of the time).  This is what shooting guards are supposed to do well!!   Ours didn't last night.

Let's hope it improves in the coming weeks and its just a bad shooting night.

In response to Celtsfan4life's comment:

Too early to make that call (the pieces are not fitting).   These guys have only been together as a team less than a couple of months including training camp and pre-season.   At this point last year, I think they were 0 and 3 and look how it turned out.  Its early in the season, man.  Don't panic.

Heck, Lakers started out  0 and 3.  Heat get beat by 20 in their second game.   Nets barely get by Toronto at home.   Its early season, man!  This is the NBA - any and everything happens early in the season!

[/QUOTE]

Nice post Cfan.  You are correct.  Sully is no where near a dominate 1/1 player at this time.  Doubt he will ever be.  That doesn't mean he can't be a very effective player.  He COULD eventually be a dominant rebounder though.  He is tough and get the right position.  If/when he plays 30 something minutes a game I could see him getting 20 rebounds in a game.

In response to hedleylamarr's comment:

Stepping out of bound irritates the hell out of me.  They are so worried about being behind the line that it costs us to's.  

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In response to OneOnOne's comment: