5 Reasons to Stay Positive

Another opinion...








5 Reasons to stay positive in the middle of this mess of a season


John - Red's Army December 19, 2012




I read what everyone’s saying.


I’ve had public and private conversations with people who, despite
what decades of history has taught us, are giving up on this team before
Christmas.

And I’ve determined, once again, that I’ve got to be Mr. Happy Pants
around here. So here we are… for what feels like the fifth year in a
row… needing a pep talk.

Ok, here it is.

First, I have to acknowledge the obvious. The Celtics are mediocre
at best at the moment. I fully acknowledge that this team needs help.
However, those of you who are calling this team done need a little dose
of reality.

1. Avery Bradley is coming back

If you haven’t heard my argument for why this is a big deal, then you
haven’t read the 20 things I’ve written about him in the past 2 days.
Here’s the thing about him, though…. I’m basing my opinion of his
impact based solely on him playing the same way he did last year
defensively. I’m not asking him to score any more than he has before.
Overflow offense is just fine for him.

So step one is to not give up on a team when a key guy… a guy who
last year made a tremendous impact on the team… hasn’t even played yet.

2. Courtney Lee is slowly coming around

He’s now dropped double-digits in two straight games on 12-22
shooting. You can expand that to 15-29, better than 50%, for the entire
road trip since he’s been inserted in the starting line up.

Folks, he’s played 24 games in a new city, in a new system, with new
teammates. He’s got a long history of shooting well. He’s not going to
suddenly forget. He’s figuring it out.

3. Danny Ainge has no fear, but he also isn’t going to overreact

Make no mistake, the Celtics are in a win-now mode. And they’re not
going to switch to a rebuilding mode mid-stream. They’ve actually set
themselves up to do both fairly well.

Danny Ainge is very willing to make moves. We know that. But while a
lot of people are hitting the trade machine hard and pitching
nonsensical trades, Danny is taking a long look at who is actually
available, what it might actually take, and what this team really needs.
Getting Bradley back is the first step. And if his return doesn’t
trigger the chain of events many of us expect, then he’ll start ramping
up his efforts for sure.

4. Paul Pierce is fooling everyone

As of right now, Paul Pierce is at his second-HIGHEST scoring average
of the Kevin Garnett era. He’s taking more free throws per game than
he has since ’08-’09. Yes, his shooting percentages are down, but don’t
let that fool you. Pierce knows damn well what he needs to do.

I’ve heard people say he looks old and done.

Folks… he’s TENTH IN THE LEAGUE IN SCORING! And he’s doing it while coasting.

5. With 58 games to play, the Celtics are just SIX games from the top seed in the East.

That’s it. Six games. For all the madness… for all the doomsday
crying to blow it up… The Celtics have played their worst and still only
sit SIX measly games from the New York Knicks, who have played their
absolute best basketball.

The Miami Heat only have FOUR more wins than the C’s. That’s all.

I know we all live in our little bubbles where we watch these games
very intensely and are focused way too much on every little failure.
And while the Celtics have some very real problems that need to be
acknowledged, there is help on the way. Meanwhile, the Celtics have the
league’s 10th leading scorer, the league’s top assist man, and the
invaluable Kevin Garnett who may have as big an impact his team’s
success as anyone. Courtney Lee is slowly getting better and Jason
Terry will settle into his role. And despite all of the doom-and-gloom,
the Celtics are very attainable winning streak away from vaulting into
the top half of the East.

So chill out folks. Take a step back and take in the whole picture.
The Celtics are struggling, for sure… but there are plenty of reasons
to be positive.




bob




.

1. It isn't even the Winter Solstice yet
2. and it ain't Christmas yet either
3. nor New Year's
4. let's talk after the all star break
5. Give up? The season doesn't even start until April!