[CAnthony15]

The Boston Celtics. They got decent play out of Blout, who just got a new contract, McCarty is very underrated, and if LaFrentz bounces back from his injury, and Pierce is usual good self, and Jefferson preforms up to standards, then they could make a lot of noise in the playoffs.

[g_prince_4_lyfe]

Originally posted by <b>CAnthony15</b>!
The Boston Celtics. They got decent play out of Blout, who just got a new contract, McCarty is very underrated, and if LaFrentz bounces back from his injury, and Pierce is usual good self, and Jefferson preforms up to standards, then they could make a lot of noise in the playoffs.

Probably not! Although they may have a better record this season now that Pierce will hopefully be done adjusting to the concept that the Celtics is HIS team, I just don't see them doing much in the playoffs. I mean, I see them getting like the 6th-8th seed, meaning they'll have to face either Miami, Detroit, or whichever team is the Atlantic division leader.

Now, the ONLY true way for the Celtics to make some sort of impact is if Ricky Davis gets a clue and is committed to winning. Doc Rivers will probably give him that chance. Other than that, I don't see the Celtics making the "noise", as you call it!

[HKF]

a) If they actually decide to run, b) if Raef Lafrentz is actually healthy and c) if Paul Pierce is actually in shape (this one being the most important), then it's possible for the Celtics to win their division.

Hopefully 2 of the 3 will happen, with a and c being the most important.

[banner17]

Well, there is some talent on the team, but the only chance I see them making some noise is if Jefferson is a BIG contributor immediately - like 12 and 8, which would be huge for a 19 year old rookie pf. Point Guard play is also crucial. I personally don't think Banks is the answer. I don't want to give up on him yet, and have it come back to bight my team like Chauncy, but I just don't see Marcus blossoming into a legitimate starter at the point position.

Chucky can only do so much. I'm intrigued to see what Doc can put together with this squad. We're fairly strong on the wing with Pierce, Davis, Welsch and hopefully Allen if he's as good as people are saying.

Raef is adequate when healthy nothing spectacular. So, without rambling further, I feel as the pg & pf play goes, so goes the Celtics. Dangerous this year, who knows, probably not, but we do have some young talent, so I feel better about the start of this year than last.

[Flanders]

For the Celtics to surprise the league, Paul Pierce would have to take over the team.

Pierce is very capable of averaging 30 a game. Now, all Doc has to do is realize that and set up plays for Pierce. Ricky will be the 2nd option, which isn't a bad thing, because he's a talented player...he just needs to realize that the Celtics need to win games, not dunk competitions.

Blount is an emerging center who can do some damage. Raef needs to get healthy and learn how to post up. And who is Boston's PG now?...anyway, yes, any team in the East can make the playoffs...except for Atlanta.

The teams that are locked for the Playoffs in the East are: Detriot, Indianna, Miami...and that is it.

[The MAgiC]

Miami is not a lock by any means. Shaq gets injured and they're going fishing for the #1 pick.

[Pacers Fan]

Originally posted by <b>CAnthony15</b>!
The Boston Celtics. They got decent play out of Blout, who just got a new contract, McCarty is very underrated, and if LaFrentz bounces back from his injury, and Pierce is usual good self, and Jefferson preforms up to standards, then they could make a lot of noise in the playoffs.

Your right, Mark Blount is solid, but solid doesn't cut it for a starter. McCarty is underrated, he can hit the 3, play in the clutch, and play solid D, but isn't very underrated. LaFrentz will miss at least 30 games this year (my prediction) and when he is healthy, who wants a 3-point shooting Center? Al Jefferson is a project, Kendrick Perkins will get more minutes than him.

Off topic, but why start a club to bring the NBA back to Buffalo when your from Rochester which is somewhat nearby? Why not start a "bring the NBA back to Rochester" club?

[agoo101284]

Originally posted by <b>The MAgiC</b>!
Miami is not a lock by any means. Shaq gets injured and they're going fishing for the #1 pick.

There are very few teams in the East that you couldn't make that statement about. There aren't many in the West that wouldn't be lotto bound if their star was hurt.

As for the Celtics, I think they will suprise a lot of people who aren't Celtic fans. They were 8th in the East last season. The teams ahead of them were Detroit, Indiana, Miami, New Jersey, Milwaukee, New Orleans, and New York. Detroit, Indiana, and Miami will still be better. New Orleans is out west now, so they're not really an issue.

Thus far in the off season, the Celtics have retained Mark Blount and added Al Jefferson, Tony Allen, and Delonte West. Three rookies who look ready to play and contribute immediately. Raef LaFrentz should be ready to play and will be at PF with Blount at center. While he's not the greatest player ever, he can easily be a 12 and 7 guy who will block and alter a few shots and solidify the starting lineup with his outside shooting. They also have Marcus Banks with a year of experience and Kendrick Perkins who looks ready to play. Chucky Atkins and Ricky Davis will be here all season who helps as well. Davis isn't the idiot he was in Cleveland. If you look at how he played in Boston last season, you'd know what I was talking about. Not just the dunking incident against the Lakers (which no one would know about if he hit the dunk, as he did against Minnesota when he did the exact same thing), but the total effort he put forth. He just needed to be in a situation where he felt wanted and in Boston, he feels that. Now with a legit coach and not just someone keeping the seat warm, he should finally have his head on straight and start to play as he should have been since he entered the league. Jiri Welsch's hand should be healed and that will make him a better shooter and player. Over all, the team looks pretty deep and vastly improved over last season. And they still have the MLE to spend, if they choose to.

Now look at the division. I don't see any reason why they can't win it. New Jersey lost Kenyon Martin and could lose Jason Kidd, if they cave to his trade demand. Either way, losing Martin will be a significant blow to that team. While I think he's a horribly overrated player, he's still a terrific defender and worked incredibly well in that system. What's their starting front court now? The European guy and Brian Scalabrine backed up by Jason Collins and Aaron Williams? And now Kittles is gone for nothing. I think the Nets are a mess and could easily end up in the lottery this season.

New York finished three games ahead of the Celtics last season and have done nothing of note this off-season. They're old and getting older and they don't have any flexibility at all. Mike Sweetney is the one tradeable piece they have and he's also pretty much their only young prospect. I don't see them finishing ahead of the Celtics next season.

The other two teams in the division are Toronto and Philly who finished behind the Celtics last season and have only added overpaid MLE career backups and a rookie. Philly picked up Andre Igoudala, which is irrelivent because O'Brien has never and will never play a rookie and Brian Skinner, who will probably get 15-20 minutes a game off the bench. Toronto got Raffy Araujo who will be a good player, but can't make up for the fact that they have Rafer Alston at point guard. Also, Vince wants to be dealt, and they're stuck with Jalen Rose. I don't see either team overtaking the Celtics in the standings this year.

Milwaukee finished five games ahead of the Celtics. However, they're losing several key free agents and they're not getting Etan Thomas to add to what will be a fairly thin front court. Also, TJ Ford is a big time question mark because of his neck injury. If they doesn't come back and return to atleast his rookie form, they won't have a point guard to get Redd the ball or hit Mason on the break. That would make it a very, very long season for the Bucks.

Cleveland finished a couple of games behind the Celtics and added Eric Snow and Luke Jackson (who will be a good player this season and for years to come). However, as we all know, they lost Carlos Boozer. They're replacing him with Drew Gooden, who is a good player in terms of production, but just does not seem to help the team that he is with. But they have LeBron, who apparently now has Karl Malone's body, in addition to Jordan's athleticism, and Magic's court vision, so they'll be improved and in the playoffs.

Other teams that did something this off season were Atlanta, who finished 8 behind the Celtics and added Al Harrington and Washington, who were 11 back and added Antwan Jamison. Orlando finished waaaay back and its open to discussion if they actually improved this off season. I say they didn't. Clearly Atlanta is not going to be a playoff team. Washington will improve after adding Jamison and retaining Etan Thomas, but will that make up 11 games difference? I don't think so. And even if you do think that Orlando got better, that's your call, but are they better enough to make up the 20 or so games back they were last year?

Here's what I see for the seeding in the East, assuming Kidd stays in New Jersey.

1. Detroit
2. Miami
3. BOSTON
4. Indiana
5. Washington
6. Cleveland
7. New Jersey
8. New York

In the playoffs, I take Detroit over New York, Miami over Jersey, Boston over Cleveland, and Indiana over Washington, in the one series that goes to the limit. Boston won't get by Miami to lose to Detroit in the conference final, but I don't think they'll get swept either.

[dork]

Originally posted by <b>agoo101284</b>!


There are very few teams in the East that you couldn't make that statement about. There aren't many in the West that wouldn't be lotto bound if their star was hurt.

As for the Celtics, I think they will suprise a lot of people who aren't Celtic fans. They were 8th in the East last season. The teams ahead of them were Detroit, Indiana, Miami, New Jersey, Milwaukee, New Orleans, and New York. Detroit, Indiana, and Miami will still be better. New Orleans is out west now, so they're not really an issue.

Thus far in the off season, the Celtics have retained Mark Blount and added Al Jefferson, Tony Allen, and Delonte West. Three rookies who look ready to play and contribute immediately. Raef LaFrentz should be ready to play and will be at PF with Blount at center. While he's not the greatest player ever, he can easily be a 12 and 7 guy who will block and alter a few shots and solidify the starting lineup with his outside shooting. They also have Marcus Banks with a year of experience and Kendrick Perkins who looks ready to play. Chucky Atkins and Ricky Davis will be here all season who helps as well. Davis isn't the idiot he was in Cleveland. If you look at how he played in Boston last season, you'd know what I was talking about. Not just the dunking incident against the Lakers (which no one would know about if he hit the dunk, as he did against Minnesota when he did the exact same thing), but the total effort he put forth. He just needed to be in a situation where he felt wanted and in Boston, he feels that. Now with a legit coach and not just someone keeping the seat warm, he should finally have his head on straight and start to play as he should have been since he entered the league. Jiri Welsch's hand should be healed and that will make him a better shooter and player. Over all, the team looks pretty deep and vastly improved over last season. And they still have the MLE to spend, if they choose to.

Now look at the division. I don't see any reason why they can't win it. New Jersey lost Kenyon Martin and could lose Jason Kidd, if they cave to his trade demand. Either way, losing Martin will be a significant blow to that team. While I think he's a horribly overrated player, he's still a terrific defender and worked incredibly well in that system. What's their starting front court now? The European guy and Brian Scalabrine backed up by Jason Collins and Aaron Williams? And now Kittles is gone for nothing. I think the Nets are a mess and could easily end up in the lottery this season.

New York finished three games ahead of the Celtics last season and have done nothing of note this off-season. They're old and getting older and they don't have any flexibility at all. Mike Sweetney is the one tradeable piece they have and he's also pretty much their only young prospect. I don't see them finishing ahead of the Celtics next season.

The other two teams in the division are Toronto and Philly who finished behind the Celtics last season and have only added overpaid MLE career backups and a rookie. Philly picked up Andre Igoudala, which is irrelivent because O'Brien has never and will never play a rookie and Brian Skinner, who will probably get 15-20 minutes a game off the bench. Toronto got Raffy Araujo who will be a good player, but can't make up for the fact that they have Rafer Alston at point guard. Also, Vince wants to be dealt, and they're stuck with Jalen Rose. I don't see either team overtaking the Celtics in the standings this year.

Milwaukee finished five games ahead of the Celtics. However, they're losing several key free agents and they're not getting Etan Thomas to add to what will be a fairly thin front court. Also, TJ Ford is a big time question mark because of his neck injury. If they doesn't come back and return to atleast his rookie form, they won't have a point guard to get Redd the ball or hit Mason on the break. That would make it a very, very long season for the Bucks.

Cleveland finished a couple of games behind the Celtics and added Eric Snow and Luke Jackson (who will be a good player this season and for years to come). However, as we all know, they lost Carlos Boozer. They're replacing him with Drew Gooden, who is a good player in terms of production, but just does not seem to help the team that he is with. But they have LeBron, who apparently now has Karl Malone's body, in addition to Jordan's athleticism, and Magic's court vision, so they'll be improved and in the playoffs.

Other teams that did something this off season were Atlanta, who finished 8 behind the Celtics and added Al Harrington and Washington, who were 11 back and added Antwan Jamison. Orlando finished waaaay back and its open to discussion if they actually improved this off season. I say they didn't. Clearly Atlanta is not going to be a playoff team. Washington will improve after adding Jamison and retaining Etan Thomas, but will that make up 11 games difference? I don't think so. And even if you do think that Orlando got better, that's your call, but are they better enough to make up the 20 or so games back they were last year?

Here's what I see for the seeding in the East, assuming Kidd stays in New Jersey.

1. Detroit
2. Miami
3. BOSTON
4. Indiana
5. Washington
6. Cleveland
7. New Jersey
8. New York

In the playoffs, I take Detroit over New York, Miami over Jersey, Boston over Cleveland, and Indiana over Washington, in the one series that goes to the limit. Boston won't get by Miami to lose to Detroit in the conference final, but I don't think they'll get swept either.

what do u have against canada...we have half man half amazing and the street legend skip to my lou...CB4, Mopete, the "cancer", A-will, etc...well make the playoffs for sure..And if we are really out of it, well trade the " cancer" to the team were chasing and well beat them out...babcock is a smart GM dont underestime his ability to evaluate talent.. Araujo rookie of the year? quite possibly...

[The MAgiC]

Orlando finished waaaay back and its open to discussion if they actually improved this off season. I say they didn't.

What's the point of making these kind of comments if you aren't even going to bother trying to back them up with some kind of reasons why or facts? You should actually have an arguement instead of just stating an opinion with nothing behind it. "I say they didn't" isn't going to cut it. I can say I know they've improved. Does that mean anything? No, because that's all I said.

[HeinzGuderian]

Originally posted by <b>agoo101284</b>!


There are very few teams in the East that you couldn't make that statement about. There aren't many in the West that wouldn't be lotto bound if their star was hurt.

True. But there are very few "top-player" guys in the league that are more injury prone than shaq.