20 Game Rule

I remember you broke the rule last year….

I think 20 games is a good guideline to go by. Yet I’m more on the 40 game rule. I think a teams schedule has a lot to do with it. Is the team playing more home games then road games in their first 20 games? How many play-off teams from a year ago are they playing in that span? Have those team improve or taken a step back? That is why I think 40 games a little less then half the season is enough to tell me if my team one of the top teams in the league or will they be in a dog fight to get into the play-offs?

There is two caveats to the 20 game rule. First, while I think chemestry is overrated, the team should get better as the year goes on as they learn how to play together. Second, Boston is in the unique position of being both a contender and having the ability to offer a quality vet real rotation time. Boston will be a prime desitination for any vet that gets bought out this year. I really think that before February they will add at least one quality player to the bench this way. Absent injuries, the team should be better in its last 20 than it is in its first 20.

yes you are. You manage the media, collect opinions, and distribute them. It doesn’t have much to do with your own opinion, as your ability to distribute the info to so many people, at their leisure. Which makes your medium more important than theirs. Here is your 15 minutes – which could be 15 years. Make the most of it and enjoy.

Well said Jeff. That is a great game plan, but come on… Do you really think the majority of the posters/readers here have any chance of reserving judgement for 20 games?! They can’t make it through an entire preseason game without flipping back and forth. I agree one hundred percent with the concept, but it’s not really going to happen. After that Cleveland preseason game I myself was giddy with the idea we were a lock for the finals. Then look what Cleveland did last night. We may be better than Cleveland, but how will we stack up after a Western road trip. That’s what I want to see. How do we respond to a loss where there is some controversy on shot selection by one of the Big Three (probably PP) and there is some tension. Then I will be able to judge where we are headed to more than the W-L after 20.

Unless the Cs seriously upgrade their defensive commitment, they will be a disappointment. I see Garnett, Tony Allen, and Rondo there. Perk is halfway there. Other than that, I’m concerned. BTW, Delonte West looked lost last night and Iverson picked him clean for baskets at least three times.

Atlanta played extremely well in the preseason. The Hawks are no pushover. IMHO the worst team on tap in games 1-20 is Miami without Wade. Charlotte always plays the Celtics tough, particularly at home.

Could it be that Brick’s posts are about 1/10 of what they used to be? Like them or not his comments inspired comments.

Could it be that the majority of posts on here when there were tons were whining, negative, and critical. Now that we have the team in place that we do there isn’t very much to complain about yet!

BTW – Po, you can definitely reserve the right to change your mind after every game. It doesn’t help your pretty high credibility though. It is fine to be wrong, but it is nice to see you believe in something regardless of which side it is.

I’ve been too busy watching other teams to post alot here. I also had some trouble logging on until I figured out how with the new site. The “control panel” at the top still doesn’t work for me.

I plan to watch the game tomorrow. Jim O’Brien was able to beat the Wiz without Jermaine O’Neal (who is headed to the Lakers IMHO). Let’s see if Rivers can do the same.

Hey Jeff,

Ever think of getting everyone who posts together in one event…… ala the Big Winnie Award show………

20 games is a good barometer but by game 40 we’ll either have Coach Ainge or Coach Thibodeau. Rivers will be in the broadcast booth where he belongs.

I don’t think there’s much variable between home and away games as far as expectations are concerned. Expectations are way too great for a Rivers’ coached team to come close to fulfilling. By mid-season, Danny will have to make a move to save his job.

Master Po said:
  and BTW Brick how are those Raptors doing?

1-0 so far.

Hey, I own that same green shirt. Though it doesn’t fit me anymore. The sleeve reach my elbows nowadays, so either my arms got twice as long or the shirt shrunk in the wash ;)

But Jeff – during the summer, all we could do was talk(and gripe, complain, etc.) Now we can watch games, we don’t need to talk as much. That, plus more posts, limits the number of comments.

My only concern KG saves energy for the end of the year. 1st 20 games 1st unit, out of this world most improved lineup in 1 year. Concerns, building a rotation with a balance of defense and offense. Coaching will be tough because role players are less consistent then the 3 stars. I am OK with 10-10 start because the role players and the defense will start to gel in games 20-40.