So we're back?!

[CelticSooner]

Starting to look like it.

:D

[meta4]

yeah, i saw that. Pierce is putting up familar numbers, ray is on a tear and shows no sign of stopping, Rondo--well you know Rondo. Perk in my book has been steady all season. KG is slowly but surely. He was a little gun shy but I think the atmosphere of the playoffs will bring that hunger back. Just like March Madness...anything is possible.

[setshot33]

Clara Pellar anyone??


Where's the BENCH??!!


(my only complaint about tonight's contest)

[jcpry]

Things do look a bit more rosey and PP seems to be back!

[OB- wan]

I hope they are back to contending but probably just back to what they were last year. KG is still a shell. 2 fun playoff series and exit.

[RAH]

They seem to be peeking at just the right time. Pierce is definitely looking a lot like his old self, which is very encouraging. I've felt all along that his problems were injury-related and have just been hoping that he'd heal fast, in time for the end-of-season and playoffs. Seems to be happening! Some of his drives to the basket against the Mavs were huge! Like the good old days, for sure.

KG is still a worry, and I agree this could wind up like last year's playoffs. But maybe not - if he continues to improve, we may be healing at exactly the right time!

[Celtics17]

In last year's playoffs we had 0 KG. I'll definitely take 75-85% KG over that.

[meta4]

In last year's playoffs we had 0 KG. I'll definitely take 75-85% KG over that.

Exactly...I hope they are taking the criticisms personally.

[OB- wan]

In last year's playoffs we had 0 KG. I'll definitely take 75-85% KG over that.

Looks like he's currently 35-40% of what he would need to be to help a team win a title.

Dude is a liability on defense. He's a shell and at this point and only brings reputation.

[Celtics17]

Sorry, dude, wholeheartedly disagree. His D is not what is was in '07-'08, but his play has been improving steadily since his return.

Offensively he's still very skilled for a seven footer, excellent passer and perimeter shooter who can still finish inside at times and drop that little turnaround fade away.

Defensively he's not complete toast either. His recovery to bigs on the pick and rolls is not what it was, but he's still very, very mobile. He's alert with quick hands and good footwork, if not as much foot speed. He can still be effective challenging drivers and slashers at the rim, as well.

The man is still one of the best power forwards around, and he may still continue to improve incrementally going into the post-season.

Add to this a Paul Pierce who is starting to look like, well, Paul Pierce, and I like our chances of doing better than most thought we would. I'm not going to be so brash as to make any guarantees or predictions, but I think this team is far from being toast.

[OB- wan]

Didn't Scola rip KG a new ass hole the other night?

'nuff said.

[RAH]

In last year's playoffs we had 0 KG. I'll definitely take 75-85% KG over that.
Yes, of course. But I just don't think it will be enough to get us out of the second round somehow. Everything needs to be really clicking to go all the way, and I'm not too optimistic. However, things are definitely looking up! :)

[jcpry]

Didn't Scola rip KG a new ass hole the other night?

'nuff said.

-4 Plus Minus for KG and a -2 for Scola. Doesn't look quite as bad as a new ass hole being torn. Pehaps Scola should have spent more time trying to win instead of trying to achieve a new methodology that KG can use to relieve himself...

[OB- wan]

I just saw KG getting exploited by Houston when they had the ball. That's bad. +/- be damned. If teams start going AT KG and succeding, then the C's are back to where they were last post season.

[dutchguy]

OK KG didn't exactly dominate defensively in the mavs game, but he got 5 steals and was much more mobile in 1on1 situations. I loved to see him (somewhere 2nd quarter) directing traffic, telling PP to move weak side, passing and telling PP to stay back when he came around the screen to pick up the ball. pushing people into position on D. He didn't do that for a while.
He's not there yet, but there's definitely progression.
It's funny how you can read all across the web how the Celtics seem to be back in the saddle (admittedly a bit positive) even a dutch newspaper wrote about it. But on these boards people call KG a shell/stiff

[CaptChris]

KG got torched, but that isn't the problem. That happens to anyyone. Remember when they were touting Perk as "D" player of the year? Tell that to Mr. Bogut with Milwaukee. Bogut destroyed Perk. It was brutal. If we draw the Bucks in the 1st round, he cold kill us. In fact, Perk has had problems with a lot of Centers lately.

PP has looked better, but at a cost. The "3" usually take about 12 shots each. PP cranked up 17 and 5 more that he got fouled on to get his 29 Pts. If this keeps happening, he better hit the shots.

[Celtics17]

I doubt Paul Pierce will be taking 17 shots/game for the remainder of the season, but if he does, and can get 29 points per game out of it,that will equal spectacular points per shot production, and I'll take it.

[meta4]

And I was going to order league pass to watch em the rest of the season, thinking they were back/changed their ways, lol, this is like a bad marriage.

[CelticSooner]

That loss to the Jazz doesn't mean much IMO. I think they were content with the road trip and lost to a team that is really good at home. Tomorrow's game with the Nuggets will speak volumes as to where this team is really headed. They need to play well.