Will the Celtics make the playoffs this year?

[AO street ballin]

What do you think about this?

I think so because they're division is so weak they can make it.

[slinky]

The East is so weak right now almost any team has a chance.

[DONtheGREAT23]

i think they may make it but at the bottom. they just arent good

[Jeff]

Gary Payton won't last. I do got some love for "The Glove" though.

[doublee]

The teams that have no realistic shot at the playoffs in the east are Charlotte, New Jersey, Atlanta, and Chicago everyone else has a legit shot at getting to the postseason.

[Secret Asian Man]

I put no but they will come close. I'm hoping the Bulls can actually get a win and then take the 8th seed in the East.

Celtics have Pierce and Payton but it's not enough. They'll win games though

[doublee]

Pierce, Payton, and Ricky Davis is enough. They made the playoffs last year with essentially the same core of players, the main difference begin Payton instead of Chucky Atkins at the point.

[slinky]

The east got more competitive this year like the Cavs are improving, and so are the Magic. The Sixers and Raptors all were close to the Celtics last year, and almost beat them for the spot. It isn't a walk in the park.

[Street]

knicks , knicks, knicks can you gues my answer?

[yankeesfan26]

They might make it in the seventh or eight spot in the East. I don't think they will do much this year though. They have a small chance, but my preditction is no, they won't this year.

[hehateme71]

yes they will get in, but if they play like the did against the crappy pacers team (well for now) then they will be in trouble. I say they could make the 7th or 8th spot

[McMaster]

They can easyily pull it off. The east is just that wide open!

[doublee]

They need to play better D than what I saw against the Sixers tonight. The Sixers of all teams shot 50% on them tonight. Not a good effort at all.

[Penning10]

They have Paul Pierce; it'll be close.

[BigJabber]

No doubt they will. With Indiana losing all those players the celtics are sitting on a nice chance of landing a good seed. Last season, which was arguablly Pierces worst, he lead them to the 8th seed. Add in a huge upgrade of Payton, better play from Ricky, good play from Blount Banks and Welch still, PLUS adding Lafrentz(he was out all season with a knee injury) the C's can easily get a 5th-8th seed.

[AO street ballin]

No doubt they will. With Indiana losing all those players the celtics are sitting on a nice chance of landing a good seed. Last season, which was arguablly Pierces worst, he lead them to the 8th seed. Add in a huge upgrade of Payton, better play from Ricky, good play from Blount Banks and Welch still, PLUS adding Lafrentz(he was out all season with a knee injury) the C's can easily get a 5th-8th seed.

This is my new best friend. Plus, he's actually right. Raef is a good player he just didn't play AT ALL last season. Payton can still pass the ball so don't hate on him. Davis can score if he gets the ball (showed that in Cleveland). Blount, all he needs to do is just like do something. McCarty can hit threes lights out so don't doubt him. There are also so many young players to so they got a good chance.

EDIT: Also look at thier division: Knicks, Raptors, Nets, and the 76ers so it's not to hard.

[Sam-ES]

Who cares? :P

I think with veteran leadership from Gary Payton and superstar Paul Pierce, the Celtics will definitely be a factor come playoff time. The question is and always is, how will they fair down the stretch?

[AO street ballin]

I think they should trade to get Tony Battie back and they'll get to the ECF

[BigJabber]

I think they should trade to get Tony Battie back and they'll get to the ECF


Dont forget about Eric Williams! :)

[AO street ballin]

Him to. He's really good.

[twins15]

They need to play better D than what I saw against the Sixers tonight. The Sixers of all teams shot 50% on them tonight. Not a good effort at all.

What are you trying to say? :D

Anyway, I said no. At best, they are a little bit better than last year's team that finished 8th, and Cleveland is much better just because LeBron is so good. Orlando is improved, Philly is improved, the Raptors look a little better. I would expect the Celts to finish around 10th. Of course they have a shot being in the Leastern Conference, but I don't think they will.

[BigJabber]

What are you trying to say? :D

Anyway, I said no. At best, they are a little bit better than last year's team that finished 8th, and Cleveland is much better just because LeBron is so good. Orlando is improved, Philly is improved, the Raptors look a little better. I would expect the Celts to finish around 10th. Of course they have a shot being in the Leastern Conference, but I don't think they will.

I dont understand how they are just "a little" improved. They added a vetern point guard who is playing well(7th in the NBA in AST, 12 ppg and 2 stls a game, They added a nice shooter big man in Lafrentz. Reaf was injured all season last year and gives boston a nice option, a big guy who can go insde, shoot the mid range jumper, and hit 3's. Raef also plays solid defense. Paul Pierce turned the ball over more times then any "star" of any NBA team last season, was the only option scoring wise outsaide of Davis, who might i add wasn't the ricky of this season, or 2 seasons ago. MArk Blount, a inside pressence to match up with other Centers can hit the jumper and plays tight defense. 11 ppg 8 rpg thus far is exactly what we need from him. He also blocks shots and gets to the FT line. Banks is like night and day from last season, and Welch has been superb since coming into the starting lineup. Throw in the mix of a talented PF Al Jefferson who has been nothing short of phemoninal for us in the times he gotten, Tony Allen and 3 point man Walter Mcarty, who can not only hit 3's but can drive to the basket and hit the jumper i see the celtics as much better then last season.

[Street]

if they make it iwll be the 8th spot or the 3rd sport

[MiamiU083]

I think the Boston Celtics will make the playoffs.

[AO street ballin]

Celtics only really have to compeat with the Knicks and that's not much so it's over.

[twins15]

Celtics only really have to compeat with the Knicks and that's not much so it's over.

And Sixers.

[BigJabber]

Yeah, the Celtics do have more then the Knicks to go threw, it wont be easy. But ultimitly, i see them getting the 6th seed.

[Penning10]

The Knicks have some major chemistry issues to get passed before they want to win games...but..Once Houston gets back, the Knicks have the potential to average 100 ppg.

[BigJabber]

Not an Allen Houston fan myself, and even if he is in the lineup, i dont see him contributing to the point where they top 100 ppg.

[Penning10]

Not an Allen Houston fan myself, and even if he is in the lineup, i dont see him contributing to the point where they top 100 ppg.
They'd have a guard rotation capable of producing 45-50 ppg alone. Then you've got Mohammed who has shown so far that he can put up 15 if he gets the minutes, Kurt Thomas is good for 10 points, Sweetney would probably average around 8. That leaves around 18 points or so out of the SF rotation of Thomas, Ariza and Penny + the rest of the bench.

[AO street ballin]

They'd have a guard rotation capable of producing 45-50 ppg alone. Then you've got Mohammed who has shown so far that he can put up 15 if he gets the minutes, Kurt Thomas is good for 10 points, Sweetney would probably average around 8. That leaves around 18 points or so out of the SF rotation of Thomas, Ariza and Penny + the rest of the bench.

Yeah but it'll take a while for Houston to get into gear and that doesn't solve chemistry problems. That solves point production. Another thing that, in the case of what you said, needs to be done is for everyone to be consistant.

[Penning10]

Yeah but it'll take a while for Houston to get into gear and that doesn't solve chemistry problems. That solves point production. Another thing that, in the case of what you said, needs to be done is for everyone to be consistant.
They've got enough of a weird mix of washed up talent and potential talent to the point when one guy is cold he can be benched in favor of Penny or Jerome Williams or one of the other guys sitting on the very end of the bench.

I don't expect Houston to really hit his groove right away..BUT..he has always been one of the best pure shooters in the game, and that's what he's always been counted on to do. IMO, that's the one thing that'll always be there if your 21 or 41.

[slinky]

One thing is that the Celtics don't exactly have the best team chemistry either. They don't have great defense either, and isn't exactly deep. Raef will only do so much, he is good offensively and can block shots, but isn't good with man coverage.

Allan Houston is capable of scoring plenty in bunches. Remember the 50 point games, he can still shoot like that. He lost that first step, but guys like Marbury can create for him.