Shaugnessy: Celtics are not tha good

Everyone's favorite local scribe's take on our beloved 2015-2016 Boston Celtics:

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/celtics/2016/04/28/celtics-just-aren-that-good/tbminTMpd42qsE2MGn7cGI/story.html

Done. Finis. Over. O-va. The end.

The not-so-great Atlanta Hawks put the Celtics out of their playoff misery Thursday night at the Garden, beating the wobbly, wounded, and overwhelmed Green Team, 104-92, in Game 6 of their first-round Rock Fight.

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The season bled out on the parquet floor in the same ugly fashion that stamped the entire series: The Celtics couldn’t make a shot (36.2 percent), the more-talented Hawks flexed their muscles and built a 28-point lead, and Brad Stevens was forced to deploy patchwork lineups that had virtually no chance of succeeding.

“We’ve got to get a lot better, that’s pretty evident,’’ said Stevens. “It’s a sour ending to an otherwise really good season.’’

“It’s a disappointing ending,’’ said Celtics basketball boss Danny Ainge. “It’s not what we hoped for or expected. We did not play as well as we’re capable of playing . . . Obviously, this was not the team we had most of the year. We have some work to do to get better.’’

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Photos: Hawks defeat Celtics in Game 6
Did Celtics really make progress this season?

I ask you, loyal Green Teamers. Did you really want to see these Celtics — as presently constituted — play LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round?

Here’s another question: Now that it’s over, are fans satisfied with the third season of the Stevens regime? We’ve seen the Celtics go from 25 to 40 to 48 wins. They went from no playoffs, to a first round 0-4 series, to a first round 2-4 series. Is that enough progress for you?

It’s nice to know that Ainge has a pocket full of primo draft picks and the Celtics have thus far gotten better every year of the Stevens era, but it’s hard for some of us to look at what we saw in the playoffs and feel good about this team. The Celtics simply don’t have enough talent. It’s hard to imagine Boston as a destination for blue-chip free agents. The 2016 playoff experience only reinforced how far the Celtics are from being good. Fortunately for the Celtics, they have a tolerant and sometimes hopelessly optimistic fan base. The Bruins and Red Sox should have it this good.

The last game of the 2015-16 Celtics season was played on the 50th anniversary of the final game of the 1965-66 season. On April 28, 1966, the Celtics beat the Los Angeles Lakers, 95-93, in the seventh game of the NBA Finals at the old Garden. It was the eighth consecutive championship for the Celtics. It was the last game in the Hall of Fame coaching career of Arnold “Red” Auerbach. Celtics center Bill Russell had 25 points and 32 rebounds. That was when men were men, the Finals were played in an appropriate month, and the Celtics were annual champions.

Eighty-two-year-old Russell was on campus Thursday night, sitting just a few feet from the Celtics bench, lending every ounce of his dignity and championship pedigree to the proceedings. Unfortunately, it was not enough. Big Bill had to watch and suffer with the rest of us.

It was again ugly from the jump: another 10-3 football game between a couple of rock-ribbed defenses. The Celtics made only 7 of 24 shots (29 percent) in the first quarter and trailed, 20-17. Struggling Jae Crowder pitched a shutout in the first 12 minutes and Atlanta blocked five Boston shots. Al Horford (Tommy Heinsohn was right) was also scoreless in the first quarter. Jonas Jerebko kept the Celtics in the game with 8 early points.

The Hawks stretched their lead midway through the second and Stevens called a timeout with the Celtics trailing, 32-21. Things felt a little desperate. R.J. Hunter was getting meaningful minutes in a win-or-go-home game.

The Celtics’ best shot to stay in the game was the raucous crowd. The Hawks are clearly not comfortable and not accustomed to playing in a noisy gym, and Causeway Street’s vaunted Sixth Man made its presence felt throughout the night.

But it was hard for the crowd to stay energized with the Celtics shooting 28 percent and scoring only 33 points in the first half. Despite only 2 points from Horford, Atlanta led, 41-33, at intermission. It would take some Hawk-ish choking for the visitors to blow this one.

It didn’t happen. The Hawks went on a 12-3 run at the start of the third. An uncontested three by Horford made it 53-36 with 9:39 left in the quarter. It was 80-59 after three. Twelve minutes left in the season.

“We put a lot of pressure on ourselves to play from behind,’’ said Stevens.

The Hawks stretched it to 89-61 in yet another garbage-time fourth quarter. Russell stayed in his seat until the final buzzer.

Bill Russell beat the (St. Louis) Hawks in 1957 to help win the Celtics’ first championship. Russell went 10-0 in seventh games. For a few fun hours leading up to Game 6 we thought maybe there would be another Game 7 this year. We thought maybe the Celtics could go back down south and steal the series in apathetic Atlanta.

Then reality visited Causeway Street and it became crystal clear: Much as we may love ’em, these Celtics are just not that good.

Lets give credit where credit is due. This Celtic team was without question one of the best teams in the conference. That's the good news. But, being the best vs the very worst teams (conference) doesn't have me jumping with joy. This team needs a serious upgrading of talent before it will be ready to challenge the big boys.

swish

Yea, yeah yea..tell us something we do not know.

Yes I was expecting a second round match up with the Cavs.

Yes I am satisfied that Boston has improved 23 games in 2 years

US fans know we are not contenders yet.

Go Celts

Dboss

Shaugnessy just couldn't resist raining on the parade, could he?

Is this club a championship contender yet?  No.

Did we exceed expectations, but in a weak-sister conference?  Yes.

The main point is, we made progress regardless.  Good progress, while giving fans an exciting product to watch.  We have developed a good and improving batch of guards. We have identified a few players that may be keepers as future depth, have one or two with some degree of trade value, have cash (although that is in a state of change for all teams thanks to the new TV deal as it pertains to the CBA, and anticipated higher contract demands), and draft picks.

This is an improving team, with the ingredients to keep growing, that just finished a completely enjoyable season for it's fans.  Shaugnessy needs to lighten up.


(And Dboss, that's Go Bills)

Progress, not perfection.

Blah, blah, blah.

Celtics fans are hopeless optimists. Red Sox and Bruins fans are pessimists.

Blah, blah, blah.

The Celtics of old always won it all.

Blah, blah, blah.

Back when the Dead Sea was just sick. And when men were men. And sheep were nervous.

Blah, blah, blah.

The Celtics finish to the season was ugly. And so's your mother.

Blah, blah, blah.

The Celtics need to improve, they aren't that good. Russell, Russell, Russell.

Oh, give me a break! The Celtics actually were a fun team to watch and never pretended to be contenders. Shaugnessy writes like a internet troll.

One last thing . . .

Go Patriots and Go Brady!!!

I gave up even listening or reading Shaunessey quite a while ago. He is one of the most negative writers in Boston, and thinks he is so knowledgeable.  Sorry Dan, you lost me years ago. And if anyone ever tries to compare you to Bob Ryan, they will get a fight from me. Even Jackie Mac is ten times better than you.  I cannot imagine there are many players who enjoy being interviewed by you. After all, you learned it all from Michael Felger, the other aggitator on televisionl/  So, look in the mirror and talk because that is the only one who will listen to you

I think Boston has done as well as expected over the last 2+years.
They are a legit 48 win team who can almost win a 1st round playoff match up.
Danny couldn't make any big trades last summer or during the season. He couldn't sign any top free agents last season.
But when a team like Boston makes consistent progress and with the draft picks they have, you just have to give them time. This is a huge summer for Danny and Boston. It's time they have to upgrade their talent. They are a good, united scrappy team, but they don't have the talent to be real contenders.
I understand writers need to write stories.
Boston kind of crashed and burned over the last few weeks.
But, things could change so quickly with a top 2 pick and a big trade or free agent signing.
Let the haters hate.
Let Danny continue with the task he started years ago.

Isn't Shaughnessy a baseball writer?  I don't remember seeing any columns by Bob Ryan or Jackie Mac on the Red Sox.  Maybe they just realize where their expertise lies and sticks to it. A lesson worth learning...


bob


.

For the most part, yes Bob he has been a baseball writer for quite a while. His problem is that he gets more negative as he gets on television on Cpmcast with Felger, Tanguay, et all. I have noticed that he takes on any sport and acts like he is an expert. Stick to baseball Danny Boy, we do not need you covering the Celtics!

When Bob Ryan retired, Dan tried to take his place, it will never happen and he knows it That is why is so antagonistic