Can this team win a title?

by Wicklow on Jul 16, 2011 3:42 AM EDT

PG: Rondo / West / Bradley

SG: Allen / Anthony Parker / Wafer (or E'Twaun Moore)

SF: Pierce / Green / Josh Howard

PF: Garnett / JaJuan Johnson / Troy Murphy

C: O’Neal (Jermaine) / Przybilla / Kwame Brown

I've altered my predicted 2011-12 roster over the past few weeks (draft picks and Krstic left), and here is where I am. I've worked the numbers and been as realistic as possible. I want to know if you guys think this roster can win a title next year.

If not, throw in a realistic switch-a-roo. Drop a player and add another. Nothing miraculous or unrealistic (JR Smith + Dwight Howard + Grant Hill + Greg Oden). Guys want to get paid, and usually do, and the C's don't have money to spend. They need MLE and Bi-Annual -level guys. I want to work at putting together a realistic roster.

Thanks, and Cheers!

Be respectful and keep it clean. Thanks.

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Comments

yeah..

why not? i like it, and it’s realistic

by KP43 on Jul 16, 2011 4:40 AM EDT reply actions

maybe..

there is still room for improvement with this roster, we can offer the MLE (or part of it) to sign DeAndre Jordan. If the clips match it we can offer the full MLE to JR Smith. I would prefer Gilbert Brown for the other SG/SF spot so it would be cheaper. Murphy and Kwame are good additions to the team for the vet. min. I think the C’s should focus to add youth (which is equated to “energy”) and athleticism, I really hope we get either Jordan or Smith. Go Celts!

by ball is green on Jul 16, 2011 10:36 AM EDT reply actions

I like it but i dont think we need to add josh howard

I would rather sign a better C like DJ or Dalembert But other then that i like it I think its are best shot

by Little ticket on Jul 17, 2011 8:01 PM EDT reply actions

No

Przybilla and Kwame are injury prone, we don’t need more injured centers. Also they both are really bad and expensive for their talents. Josh Howard is getting really old and is bad. Anthony Parker is the best of the additions here but is getting old. This team wont get past New York if they played each other next year in the first round. Add DeAndre Jordan, and another young center of free agency, possibly a undrafted center. You got your centers there… Make a trade for a Josh Smith or a a player with his caliber. You got your PF… For SF only add Wilson Chandler and you got the SF. Next for the SG add Shannon Brown. I love his talents he is young and athletic and also add Gilbert Brown and send him down if he doesn’t do good. Defenitly Sign West, He is amazing. With this team you can win a Championship and have cap space for 2012.

by shaq36 on Jul 18, 2011 1:17 PM EDT reply actions

Where does the team get the money...

…for Jordan, Chandler, Brown, and West (+ additionals to round out the roaster)???

The C’s have only their Mid-level Exemption, Bi-Annual Exemption, and Veteran Minimum deals. Jordan eats up the entire MLE, if that’s even enough to get him away from the Clips (he’s restricted). The other three guys will each get, at least, the Bi-Annual amount. There is no way to sign all 4 of them.

And whom do you propose they trade for Smith??? A straight-up sign-and-trade with Big Baby doesn’t work. The rumors were that KG or Ray would have to be sent to ATL in a trade for Smith. You’d be willing to trade them?

The good thing about Przybilla is that, when healthy, he’s nasty. Guys would think twice about going to the hole when they know he has 6 fouls to give them.

by Wicklow on Jul 18, 2011 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions

How about let Murphy Go on another team....and let Green play the 4 while J.Howard plays the 3.

Also I like the parker Idea

by LBJ34 on Jul 18, 2011 2:48 PM EDT reply actions

too small

Green is way more effective at the 3.

Murphy is just one season removed from being a solid double-double guy. He got off to a crap start last year by clashing with The Little General in ‘Jersey and never got fully un-tracked. Let’s give him a full camp under Doc and I’ll bet we can get more of the ‘good’ Murphy back than last season.

NBA Officiating - Corrupt? Incompetent? Which is worse? Does it matter? It sucks.

by mmmmm on Jul 20, 2011 11:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Win a title?

Sure….the Atlantic Division title!

by Title 18 on Jul 20, 2011 8:05 AM EDT reply actions

It doesn't look like a winner to me.

I think 2008 was it. Just being realistic. But you can still start rebuilding while still being competitive. Gain some good young players and develop them..while you still have the aged Pierce, Garnett, and Allen.

by tenkaistar on Jul 20, 2011 2:36 PM EDT reply actions

I agree

I’ve tried numerous times to put together a “realistic” roster (according to the current/potential CBA) that has a 50/50 shot of winning a championship, and I have not been able to find one that leaves me saying, “Yeah, I think this team can get past New York, Orlando, Chicago, Miami, and the best the West has to offer.” Of course the C’s can win the Atlantic and get out of the first round, but marching all the way to mid-June is a different story. I don’t see a way for the C’s to win another title with this team. Yet, I don’t want them to blow it up by trading KG or Ray.

The only way this team can realistically compete for a championship is if Rondo takes a MASSIVE jump in production and efficiency this year. Production-wise, he has to learn to shoot jump shots and hit free throws. Efficiency-wise, he has to turn the ball over less and (gulp) increase his already-astounding assist numbers. In other words, Rondo must play a perfect season (and stay healthy!). I don’t see it happening though. They have no true center to dump the ball too for easy points. They have no true center to man the paint on defense. They have an aging core of shooters who go to the rim less frequently each season. And, yet again, they have to patch their bench together with MLEs and BiAEs.

4 minutes. 4 MINUTES away from Banner 18 and Pierce didn’t close out on Artest’s three. G.D. That was their last shot at a title and they blew it. [Full disclosure: I still have nightmares about the end of Game 7]

by Wicklow on Jul 21, 2011 9:24 AM EDT up reply actions

I agree with much of our concerns

but your statement:

They have an aging core of shooters who go to the rim less frequently each season.

Needs comment. If your implication is that the Celtics shy away from attacking the rim, then that doesn’t quite jibe with reality.

The Celtics lead the NBA in FG% last year largely because they took a larger percentage of their shots at the rim than anybody else.

We didn’t lose to the Heat because we couldn’t attack the rim. We lost because our PG had his arm bent to a ridiculous angle and the Heat shot at a ridiculous abnormal (for them) percentage from deep outside.

Health will, just like each of the past years, ultimately determine how well this team goes. Last year our Big 3 stayed healthy, but the team around them crumbled as Shaq, JO, Delonte’, BBD, Semih & Rondo all suffered significant injuries that dramatically impacted the team’s fate (not to mention Perk starting out the season injured).

If we get to the playoffs, and could actually have a healthy top-8 rotation for the first time in years, then we’ll have as good a chance as any team.

NBA Officiating - Corrupt? Incompetent? Which is worse? Does it matter? It sucks.

by mmmmm on Jul 21, 2011 10:58 PM EDT reply actions