The Celtics are unraveling...

[Andrew]

At this point I would tend to agree with you, last week I thought it was a bit early to be saying that but they've really got themselves in a bit of a tailspin at the moment with losses to teams they really should beat. They've still got a long way to fall though before their season turns into a disaster though, there's a good chance this stretch will turn out to mean very little by the end of the season but it's a situation they need to remedy sooner rather than later.

[Valor]

they just lost to the Bobcats
Repeating? dream on Paul Pierce

[Lenne]

Cavs play this week against both charlotte and boston! So with wins they can have a better record then the C's!!!

[JaoSming]

The Celtics are losing because I haven't watched a game since the week before Christmas.

I'll start watching games again and just watch, They'll get 75 wins and sweep everyone to the Championship.


/Thread

[BIG GREEN]

At this point I would tend to agree with you, last week I thought it was a bit early to be saying that but they've really got themselves in a bit of a tailspin at the moment with losses to teams they really should beat. They've still got a long way to fall though before their season turns into a disaster though, there's a good chance this stretch will turn out to mean very little by the end of the season but it's a situation they need to remedy sooner rather than later.

When I made this thread I could understand the skepticism...as most would think it was a little premature. However, I pride myself in my basketball IQ and i paid close attention to the first couple of losses they suffered. They don't even have any major injuries...so I'm guessing the fire was taken out of them as well since losing to the lakers. There is a very good chance this is just a slump...but they won't be repeating champions. In my opinion, think even the Magic have a better chance than this team.

[hova-]

Well Its getting tougher and tougher. Did you see how hot the Cats were? Now that every team knows that the Cs are vulnerable, its getting more and more difficult.
The whole Arena went crazy when the Cats scored on fastbreaks even before halftime. The players were so motivated.

The Cs will face many more opponents who are way more confident in beating the Cs .. and that will make it hard for them to stay on the right track.

[Andrew]

:lol: they just lost to the Bobcats
Repeating? dream on Paul Pierce

Losing four of their last six is more significant than any one particular loss. I'd say pretty much every champion has dropped at least a game or two to a basement team during the regular season.

When I made this thread I could understand the skepticism...as most would think it was a little premature. However, I pride myself in my basketball IQ and i paid close attention to the first couple of losses they suffered. They don't even have any major injuries...so I'm guessing the fire was taken out of them as well since losing to the lakers. There is a very good chance this is just a slump...but they won't be repeating champions. In my opinion, think even the Magic have a better chance than this team.

I'd rate their chances better than that, if they can get their act together and regain the form they had as recently a few weeks back. With their current form, they definitely look very vunerable to the Cavs and Magic.

[Matthew]

When I made this thread I could understand the skepticism...as most would think it was a little premature. However, I pride myself in my basketball IQ and i paid close attention to the first couple of losses they suffered. They don't even have any major injuries...so I'm guessing the fire was taken out of them as well since losing to the lakers. There is a very good chance this is just a slump...but they won't be repeating champions. In my opinion, think even the Magic have a better chance than this team.

Lol, is this guy fucking serious?

I pride myself in the size of my cock...

I'd rate their chances better than that, if they can get their act together and regain the form they had as recently a few weeks back. With their current form, they definitely look very vunerable to the Cavs and Magic.

Dude, you're talking to an idiot fanboy who hates the celtics because Boston accomplished everything that Cleveland hasn't. What surprises me though, and I'm glad you mentioned Orlando, because it's not just Boston that's losing games they could be winning. The Lakers and Cavs have lost games against teams with very suspect records over the last month, and Cleveland has yet to play any of the big contenders. Orlando and San Antonio have been the best teams the past month.

But being the best team from mid December to mid January means absolutely nothing. Just ask Dallas, Phoenix and other regular season wonder teams that have posted great regular season records only to fall flat on their face in the playoffs.

[Amphatoast]

maybe Marbury will be there savior? In any case, it ain't over yet. They can play championship-level basketball again with so many months remaining. They just quiet the talks of 70+ wins

[Bodz]

Another loss, this time to Houston Rockets...

[Andrew]

They've still got a long way to fall though and the upcoming game against the Cavs is a great opportunity to make a statement and snap out of this funk but it has been night and day this stretch immediately following the ninteen game winning streak.

[Matthew]

They've still got a long way to fall though

A long way to fall until where? Do you expect them to be a 4th or 5th seed?

the upcoming game against the Cavs is a great opportunity to make a statement

In alot of ways I think this is means alot more to Cleveland then Boston. Of their 28 wins, 20 have come against teams under .500. They are just 8-5 against teams with winning records and have already lost to the Celtics. If Cleveland loses this game, at home, I think it will show that they are the team with a mirage of a record that has only beat bad teams.

[Andrew]

I mean from being an elite team and one of the top seeds. At 29-8, they're still not doing terribly; they've still got a long way to fall before the season becomes a disaster. I don't expect that to happen though.

[Matthew]

What would constitute a disaster in your eyes for them?

[Andrew]

Realistically, losing home court in the Playoffs and bowing out in the first round. "Disaster" might be too strong a word but for a defending champion who were/are favoured to have another shot to win it all again and had such a great start to the year, falling that far would be a tremendous disappointment. The absolute worst case scenario of course would be missing the Playoffs altogether but they'd have to lose pretty much every game from here on out so I don't see them falling that far.

[Matthew]

Can you see them slipping to a 5th seed or lower though? This team, without the drama, reminds me of the 2001 Lakers. Of course, I don't think they will go 15-1 in the playoffs, but they win the championship the year before. They have a huge regular season, they struggle in the playoffs, then they kind of sleepwalk in the regular season. Even if they are the second or third seed in the East, I would still have them as favourites to win the conference.

[Andrew]

At this point no, I don't see them doing that. They're struggling right now losing six of their last eight but they're still six games ahead of Detroit who's currently in fifth place, so they've got a decent cushion and they are capable of playing better. Depending on how long the slump lasts, maybe it becomes a reality or they nosedive temporarily and then shoot back up the standings in the second half of the year but right now, I doubt they slip that far.

[The X]

I'm not worried about Boston, when all is said & done, they'll be there battling the Cavs, Magic & Hawks for a shot to get to Finals to repeat....

I do however think they need to find a bit more of a punch of scoring off the bench....apart from that, they are the champions, so until somebody takes them out....and besides, it's not like they don't have a chance like the Heat after their title year....

[Jackal]

Are you questioning his basketball IQ? Seriously?

[Andrew]

I do however think they need to find a bit more of a punch of scoring off the bench....

In that respect, I can see why they'd be interested in Marbury though I don't think he'd really fill the role the same way Posey could because he prefers to have the ball in his hands. Posey seemed pretty comfortable being the guy who simply took advantage of being open when the defense collapsed on the stars. Marbury's style of play, if not his attitude, doesn't seem to fit that role.

[The X]

I do however think they need to find a bit more of a punch of scoring off the bench....

In that respect, I can see why they'd be interested in Marbury though I don't think he'd really fill the role the same way Posey could because he prefers to have the ball in his hands. Posey seemed pretty comfortable being the guy who simply took advantage of being open when the defense collapsed on the stars. Marbury's style of play, if not his attitude, doesn't seem to fit that role.

Antoine Walker perhaps now that would be ironic

[Andrew]

If they're considering Marbury should he become available then Walker perhaps isn't all that unreasonable. Donyell Marshall has barely played for the Sixers this year, perhaps he's someone who would be available. He doesn't replace Posey defensively but he's capable of being a spotup shooter off the bench and his size would create a mismatch into the bargain.

[Drex]

Welp...with another loss again this makes their 5th loss since facing the lakers with the 19 game winning streak. The trolls can try to flame me(waste of my time)....and the others can doubt me...but fact is fact. I've stated what I think of the celtics..and "unraveling" just might have been the correct words to use for them. Their faults become more and more obvious. Let's see what happens with them shall we? It should be entertaining.

What facts? You've only stated your opinions, that's hardly a fact. And haven't replied to anything so far.

When I made this thread I could understand the skepticism...as most would think it was a little premature. However, I pride myself in my basketball IQ and i paid close attention to the first couple of losses they suffered. They don't even have any major injuries...so I'm guessing the fire was taken out of them as well since losing to the lakers. There is a very good chance this is just a slump...but they won't be repeating champions. In my opinion, think even the Magic have a better chance than this team.

Well, I can't fight with your basketball IQ.

Boston has a huge bullseye in their backs, just as every champion has the next year they're crowned. Most of the teams that had beat the Celtics lose their next game by a large margin. Like Rivers said, this team has to play 82 game 7's.

And BTW, the Magic ibeat the Hawks by 34. Damn.

[Andrew]

Cleveland avenged their opening night loss with an emphatic win. I still think the Celtics are capable of being an elite team, I wouldn't count them out so early because it's a long season and we're not even halfway through it yet but they are unquestionably struggling right now.

[BIG GREEN]

I knew they would lose to the cavs at home...cause the cavs are the best at home in the league. However, being blown out by them...and peirce reportedly saying even before the game that he couldn't guard lebron - they have a morale problem. This is not a team who have swagger and are simply taking the season lightly. People can try to sugar coat this celtics unraveling as much as they want....but once again..fact is fact..and the fact is in the way they lose. Real elite teams rise to challenge when teams have a target on their back and rep themselves.