Houston, (OK, Atlanta) Do we have a problem?

I know I'm premature with this but after tonight, we will have a better picture or whether Altanta is going to be a huge problem for us come playoff time.

If we are swept through 3 games after tonight, we may need to have some help from say, Cleveland, Miami or Orlando to knock these guys out in the first or second round, depending upon where ALT (and we) finishes. I don't think ATL has the strength to finish #2 maybe #3, certainly #4 or #5. Otherwise, we may need to face the music.

While there is lots of speculation here and I don't expect any grand, season-altering conclusions to come from this, it would be great to hear from everyone to analyze whether we do have a legit problem this season with this team and overcoming them, or am I just over-reacting.

I know we have been in both games, but we just can't seem to get over the hump. Are we slow playing a set of Aces or are we not capable of blowing this team back to the Stone Age this season?


Sincerely,

Concerned in NC

It is way too early to be concerned, IMO. Some teams match up well with other and the quick, athleticism of the Hawks is a touch match up for the slower, older Celtics. But with KG and Daniels – I think the Celtics are far too talented to lose to ATL.

Atlanta gets up big time for the Celtics – as witnessed by the fact that they usually lose a game or two right after beating the Celtics. This is their Superbowl, they world series and world cup all rolled into one. But it does pose some questions.

I think the Celtics come out tonight, lay the smack down early, and put them back in their place. Perk needs to put Crawford on his back the first time he drives the lane. Rondo needs to expose molasses slow Mike Bibby. Paul Pierce is playing well and needs to take it right at Marvin Williams. And if Sheed plays well again tonight, it will be a much different outcome than Friday.

Time will tell, but over a 7 game series – the Celtics are the better team without question.

Hi dbrown,
IMHO, Atlanta is beatable. If the Celtics keep the intensity level even through out the game they'll win by 5-8 points. If they crank it to the level similar to the second Magic game in the 3rd or 4th, they'll coast to 12-15 point win.
And this is without KG. I hope he's up and running by the playoffs at or close to 100%. So, Celtics, if they get Hawks, will win in 6.

Stay warm,
AK

I believe there's no way that anything about the present Celtics as offers us much insight into the future until (1) both KG and Daniels are back with the team and (2) the team has had some time to coalesce and seek its true level of excellence. The evolutions of Tony and Sheed with this team have been palpable but gradual. Baby needs more of that. So does Daniels. And KG will be rejoining a slightly different mix than he left.

It's an ongoing process, and the objective of that process is to be ready come playoff time. It's difficult to project how that will go while the process is unfolding.

Sam

Atlanta is a young, talented and athletic team on the upswing. I think they would give us, Orlando or Cleveland a tough time in a seven game series.

In many ways, it's nice to see another team step up as a contender; just not when they play us.

Sam, point well taken, however, their innate ability to recreate themselves and adjust seamlessly goes a very long way. We have no idea if we will be 100% come playoff time. We did find out last year a clue that we could almost make it down our biggest defensive specialist. If you go by the motto "Defense wins championships", having the Celtics do what they did last season was truly remarkable.

This season is showing they have plugged that hole quite well. I'm actually glad that, if and when injuries happen, they are happening earlier rather than later in the season. Gives them more practice and tinker time.

I think we are all hoping we're at 100% come playoff time. I just don't know how realistic a goal that is for any playoff team. If you save yourself for the playoffs, you run the risk of getting a lower seed and a bad draw.

Keep in mind we are still just 1 loss out of the best record in the league with all this bs going on. Once again, truly remarkable.

One question on the current injuries. Are we any worse or better off injury-wise compared to the rest of the league? Compared to the contenders? I know. Hard to measure

Injuries are a way of life for every team. CLE has been the most fortunate so far, I think. But their time is coming. It's impossible to avoid. LAL is starting to feel a very horrifying kick in the gut of life with a less than 100% KoMe. If he's gone, they're gone. CLE hasn't had to deal with that yet this season to any great extent. But they will. Absolutely unavoidable. Lord help them and the city of CLE if the King goes down or anyone else of significance.

Atlanta is definitely a tough match up for us, what with their young legs and athletic ability, but the thing that's bothered me most about our two losses to them is that the C's didn't seem to play with any fire. I don't think that ATL is more talented than us. I'd like to see the C's take them more seriously. I'll be at the game tonight, so they better play with heart or I'm asking for a refund!

Kelly,

Let's all hope you leave feeling like you got your money's worth!

Regards

Thanks NY! I suppose if the C's play poorly I can just drink enough $8 beers not to feel anything at all...until morning that is!

How much are tickets in general for Celtics games?

Should one expect to have to take out a mortgage?

Swede,

No, your first born will do nicely.

Sam

Swede, tickets range in price from $10 (though I've never been able to find seats available at this price) to around $300. You can get decent Loge seats behind the basket for around $75. The best seats I've sat in are the mid-court club seats and they are a little over $200 per seat. Mid-court floor seats are in the $300 range.

Dbrown,

I don't think anyone's "saving himself" for anything. They're trying their best, but their best sometimes seems to reflect lack of effort that I feel is far more due to frustration and the need for onstant ragtag adjustments than to laziness or pacing themselves.

As for looking toward the future, there are qualifiers all over the place. Among them:

• The Celtics haven't played as difficult a schedule (as measured by .500+ opponents) as L.A. or the Cavs. The Lakers, on the other hand, have fattened up on home games.

• The Celtics have definitely had more injury adversity than any of the other contenders.

• The Celtics, as I've said a growing number of times, depend more than other teams on precision and fluidity at both ends of the floor (rather than power, speed, superstars, whatever), and their progress is therefore more hindered than that of other contenders by the lack of consistency and chemistry-development opportunities in their lineups.

• One thing I believe the Celtics have demonstrated better than the Cavs or Lakers is the team-wide will to triumph over adversity.

• I believe the Celtics are far less a "finished product" than either the Lakers or the Cavs. IF the Cs get everyone back and they have time to jell properly, THEN we'll get a preview of what the playoffs might be like. And I believe everyone's expecting at least one more player reinforcement in the mix, and he'll need time to jell with the team too.

Whatever happens will happen. I'd feel the same way if they were 10 games behind the leader in the loss column right now. I think that, under the best of circumstances, the Celts should be extremely strong contenders. So, rather than wringing my hands or indulging in a lot of conjecture now, I'd prefer to enjoy the evolutionary process of the moment and hope the best of ultimate circumstances will ultimately emerge.

Sam

Kelly,

I think you are right. They certainly aren't any better than us after losing to ORL by 31. (I know, back-to-back) That's why I want to see them come out of the gate for 48 minutes tonight. With or without KG, we've been in both games so far. But at least evening the score and sending a message is what I'm looking for right now. Even if we can win by 5-10 tonight would be effective.

Dbrown, I think everyone has been waiting all season for them to play 48 minutes! They have done it here and there this season, but they definitely need to be more consistent. I do think that the matchup vs. the Hawks will be better for us once KG returns (stating the obvious). He brings so much more to the floor than just his physical abilites. He brings the heart and the fire that we need against a young motivated team. I honestly think Sheed needs to do a better job in KG's absence...not necessarily skills-wise, because he's doing a good job filling in the stat sheet, but with the emotion and getting his teammates fired up. Of course, if Sheed had been able to channel his emotion positively like KG, he probably would have been one of the greatest PF of all time.

KellyGreen17 wrote:Dbrown, I think everyone has been waiting all season for them to play 48 minutes! They have done it here and there this season, but they definitely need to be more consistent. I do think that the matchup vs. the Hawks will be better for us once KG returns (stating the obvious). He brings so much more to the floor than just his physical abilites. He brings the heart and the fire that we need against a young motivated team. I honestly think Sheed needs to do a better job in KG's absence...not necessarily skills-wise, because he's doing a good job filling in the stat sheet, but with the emotion and getting his teammates fired up. Of course, if Sheed had been able to channel his emotion positively like KG, he probably would have been one of the greatest PF of all time.

Rasheed isn’t anything like KG. He is a fiery personality, but often he uses that fire to motivate himself, not his teammates. KG is a legendary, once in a generation kid of talent, so to say that because Sheed isn’t KG, he has somehow come up short isn’t really fair. Rasheed Wallace is a 4 time all star, 1 time world champion, has scored nearly 16000 points and if he wins another championship this season, is in the discussion as a future hall of famer.

He has been played very well as a starter and was completely into the game yesterday, encouraging his teammates and taking lots of big shots. The Celtics are lucky to have him at this point and would have certainly dropped a couple of additional games during KG’s absence if not for Sheed stepping in and picking up the slack.

damn those hawks

We would have run out of gas with our shorthanded squad against almost any team in the league tonight. And the refs made sure tonight was an L.

steve3344

the refs screwed us? Dinna see it.

The good news is we were in it 10X more depleted than any other team in the league. We've said it all along. Pretty obvious statement but we have to be healthy to win it. That means starting five good to go and a supportive bench. Anything less than that and we will have to call on the Class of '69, which Bill told Kevin he would have 2 maybe 3 total championships in his career. (BTW, LOVED that interview. Is it on Youtube or something? Please someone in the know find that and link it here for me and everyone to enjoy!! Thanks!!) I know KG has that statement burned in and on his heart.

I believe Bill. He spoke the truth. And since time is running down for the Big 3, it will happen this year and maybe next. Worst case, not this year but next for sure. Bill knows what KG is going though, and we will see a '69 after-Game 7 locker room Bill Russell moment from KG in June 2010.

Kleen I don't think you understood what I was trying to say. I'm not discounting Sheed's abilities or his production for the C's this year. I already stated that he's filling up the stat sheet and I think he has a fantastic skill set. I think he'll probably be a HOFer and deservingly so. I don't think I should have to list everything I like about a player before I list one thing I don't like. I simply wish that he could channel his emotions in a more positive manner for the team. I like Sheed but it doesn't stop me from realizing deficiencies and wishing some things were different.

I wasn't trying to compare Sheed to KG. I simply used KG as an example of a player that plays with great emotion and gets his teammates involved and always strives to be the best he can be. We all know that Sheed's preference is to take a backseat. He'd rather be a role player than "the man", and it's perfect for what the C's needed this year. All I was trying to say was that with his skill set, if he had that drive to be the best, he probably could have been in the conversation. I know you like to deal in realities, but sometimes I like to imagine what could have been. Sue me!

Kelly

Well said. There is nothing wrong with hypothetical situations and scenarios. Sorry I missed your initial point.

No worries Kleen, I should have taken more time to explain my thoughts in the initial post.

kelly - Sheed's not going to be in the Hall of Fame unless it's the hall of fame of weed.

Steve, Sheed may not make it to the HOF, but if he doesn't it won't be because of a lack of skill, it will be because of a lack of effort. When you compare his skill set to those of his peers that are HOF bound, like KG, Duncan and Dirk, he's pretty close. Defensively, he's probably the best or second best of those players. He just doesn't seem to want it like they do...maybe it's the weed.