Let me preface my latest remarks by reiterating that we really haven't beaten anybody worth a hoot. "Worth a hoot," of course, is a relative term. But at this time, let us define the term as any team with 6 or fewer losses, also known as Chicago, Miami, or OKC. I do acknowledge that we have defeated a couple of second tier teams, Orlando and Indiana. But let's see how we do against the Lakers, the Clippers, the Spurs, the Sixers and the like, especially on the road, before we concern ourselves too much with beating the elite teams, home or away.
Meanwhile, back to the topic de jour.
Under what circumstances would I adjust my expectations upward, beyond my rather dismal pre-season prediction of 28-33 wins? The answers are pretty clear.
1. Role players would need to become impact role players. Think Leon Powe, Baby Davis, James Posey, Eddie House, and PJ Brown from the 2007-2008 season.
2. Young players would need to play with an effectiveness beyond their years.
3. The dinosaurs would need to figure out a way to refill their tanks and then stay healthy.
4. Doc would need to get global buy-in for Ubuntu among another group of Celtics.
Finally, the Celtics would need to hit on all four of these requirements for the rest of the season, not just a few of them now and again.
I think we are starting to see signs that Celtics could accomplish this. The season is still young, Doc needs to overcome his tendency to play the old fogies big minuets during important stretches of the season, and the role players need to start showing they can play big in big games. None of this is beyond the pale, and so, fingers crossed, let's see how things unfold as the interesting part of the season begins.
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The Los Angeles Lakers are in need of a point guard and the word is that the team wouldn't mind doing a deal with the Boston Celtics to land Rajon Rondo.
Lakers GM Milt Kupchak tells Lakers.com that there is definitely something he'd like to do before the trading deadline: "If there were a way for us to get a 25-year-old, All-Star, ball-handling guard we'd love to do it … but that's not likely in February. So you look at other alternatives, and see if it's better than what you have. That's all."
As Hoopsworld points out, Rondo is the only 25-year-old, All-Star, ball-handling guard in the league right now. Sources also tell the site that, in exchange for Rondo, the Celtics "have interest" in forward/center Pau Gasol, who has two years left on his contract after this season.
Gasol is averaging 16.4 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 0.5 blocks per game. Rondo is averaging 13.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 9.8 assists per game for the Celts.
oh yeah, trades may force us to adjust expectations too
: )
fingers crossed!
For Boston, the true test of how far they've come is on the horizon with a schedule that gets significantly tougher, beginning with Thursday night's game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
After the Lakers game, Boston (14-10) has seven games prior to the All-Star Break.
Of those seven opponents, the C's face Chicago twice (Feb. 12 at the Garden, Feb. 16 at Chicago's United Center), along with road games at Dallas and Oklahoma City.
tough part of the season off to bad start
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