Who do we have to contend with?

[cfoo]

EArly in the season we have had 3 supposedly tough matchups in Washington, the Raptors and Denver. The Raptors are the only team that has given us a game. There is so much talk about the Patriots having an undefeated season, Im wondering what kind of record we can put up. Boston sports are pretty amazing right now.

So who are the teams that can give us a run?

In the EAst: the Bulls off to a slow start. The Nets are a good team, but we are better than them. Cleveland is still right here, but I don't think Lebron gets over the top until he is surrounded by better talent. Right now he is on a team with Ilgauskis and a bunch of roleplayers. The Cavs need to do better. Milwaulkee and Orlando look improved in the early going.... Miami, Detroit might be able to give us a run. The Bulls and Raptors are pretty deep teams that are well run and have probably the best pg play of the bunch. The Bobcats have talent but it might take them a while to put it all together.

Out west it's tougher: SA is still tops. UTah is one of the best teams this year. Houston looks good. Plus you have DAllas and Phoenix.

[DERRENMATTS]

Talking about the East, I think our only competition is Detroit (I hope I don't jinx us with such high optimism). Miami is 0-4, and don't look anything like a playoff team without DWade.

The West is tougher, but I think one of the Texas teams will win the conference (DAL, SA, HOU). I'd like to see how we fare against those teams.

[cfoo]

I dont want to jinx us either, but I think we are headed to the finals if we keep improving and barring injury. Whether we can beat SA is another story. It depends on how good we are later in the year. If we are really playing to our capabilities I think we win. Utah is also tough, but I still think it's SA. I think we will see a goliath vs Goliath matchup barrign injury of SA and Boston in the finals. DAllas, Houston are tough as well.. Houston has Mcgrady and Yao but I still think they are missing something. Their roleplayers leave a lot to be desired.... Dallas has Dirk and a better supporting cast. Phoenix without Amare at 100% are going to be in trouble. I dont think they play defense enough to get to the finals unless SA or some of the other teams are banged up anyways..

Anyways, not to get ahead of ourselves. We are only 3 games in and have a lot to improve on and we should up burn this thread. But I have been looking at the other teams and I don't see who can really contend with us in the East. Lebron is a guy that might burn us in a game, but not in a 7 game series.

[DERRENMATTS]

When we play the elite teams, that's when our bench players really need to show what they have. We know that the Trilogy will do their part for the most part, but our bench, plus Perk and Rondo, have to play well. We will not be an elite team without the supporting cast carrying their share of the load.

[cfoo]

I agree that's the key. That's why I've been really watching Perk and Rondo and the role guys. Both of them and the bench need to get better. I think the bench has been good for the most part, although they got really sloppy last night at the end. Rondo and Perk need to improve. We need guys like TA, Davis, Powe, Pollard to step in and contribute, Posey has been missing time but I think he will do well once he gets in there. He's been really good when he has been there so far. Same with House.. As far as Perk and Rondo, they have had moments but they still look out of place out there to me a lot of the time. It's weird when you put them next to guys liek Garnett their flaws stand out even moreso. We can't have them sticking out like a sore thumb. We need to get those playing so we look like a well oiled machine. We've been playing well but it's been mainly the trilogy.

[DERRENMATTS]

I think Posey and TAllen have to stand out--they need to prove to be better than the rest of the bench guys. They are the ones who can add punch off the bench. They are the ones who can ignite our offense with the B-Unit and play solid defense.

House and Scalabrine have their roles too, and we need them hitting their shots as well. But Posey and TAllen have to make bigger contributions.

[cfoo]

I'd like to this team to go into every game trying to win it and stay undefeated and just get the best record we can possibly get. Perfection is something this team should strive to be this year not just in regards to our record btu everything involved. Just keep improving.... I honestly believe we do that and everything goes our way we could win 60 maybe 70 games. Establishing a homecourt is also important.

I honestly believe KG is that good. He is Jordan in a 611" frame as far as I'm concerned and he has Pierce and Allen on his team. KG is playing amazing team basketball. He can even get better that is the scary part.

[DERRENMATTS]

You know what's one of the biggest thing about this team? We are playing really hard, and fighting for loose balls and all, but we are having fun doing it. I mean, we are clobbering the competition, but we are doing it good naturedly and having fun in the process. We aren't laughing at teams and we aren't rubbing it in their faces (like we did when Toine was here). We are very professional.

I dig that.

[cfoo]

We just take our win and it's on to the next game. You listen to these guys after the game, Pierce in particular all he talked about and Doc as well, was what we can improve on. Pierce is becoming a leader in that regard and I think the chemistry on this team is great. Rondo was saying the same things when they interviewed him the other night. KG as well. IT's being great and humble at the same time. It's awesome.

[goceltics34]

The pistons are the only team in the playoffs in worried about, but even with pistons everything is a grind for them offensively in the playoffs. it's good that they can spread the wealth, but in the playoofs it's all about superstars and they don't have a guy who can get you 12 pts in a row or dominate at anytime, plus when they get down they start moaning and passing blame to everyone but themselves.

Nothing else in the east scares me.

[celticfan]

I don't think you can accurately access team right now.
Last year we had teams start our strong and fade (Magic) and vice versa (Raptors, Cavs)
Some teams that look good now won't come March and again vice versa.
Count on Detroit to be there, Chicago will turn it around, they're talented enough to go on a 12-3 run anytime and the Raptors will be tough too. Nets are a maybe, Heat I'd say no.
Lebron is Lebron, so I wouldn't discount the Cavs either. They had no right making the finals last year, but they somehow did.

[DERRENMATTS]

GoCeltics34, I would consider Chauncy Billups as the guy who can go out and score 12 pts in a row. He comes up big in big games. But I know what you mean about the Pistons not having a superstar to carry them.

CelticFan, yeah, it is too early to say we will be this good, and that we will be in the Finals. A lot can happen in the next 79 games, such as injuries, slumps, bumps in the road, etc. But I can definitely see some really good things about this team, and if our supporting cast pulls their own weight, we can be a special team.

[Deleted]

no one
we are simply the class of the league

[DERRENMATTS]

Time will tell, StheTruth34, but early indications are we can be an elite team.

Our Trilogy will carry the mother load, but the supporting cast needs to carry their own load. That's when we'll be an elite team.

[findawgg]

Cleveland has taken a step or two back so unless they get LeBron some help or LeBron puts up a season worthy of a statue I think Cleveland may struggle to make the playoffs. Same with the Heat. Toronto is going to be a very good team and will contend for a long run in the playoffs. New Jersey is a tough team as well and so is Detroit. Together with Boston all 4 teams will compete for a spot in the ECF.

--Fin