Quick look at Celtics dubious Title hopes

Few expect the Boston Celtics to walk away with the NBA Championship and Banner #18 this season, but here is what things look like right now.

The Green's odds to win the 2021 Title stand at +5000.

There is little more to say here. Feel free to read my first sentence.

Celtics currently the 7th seed in the East with 34-31 record.

If the Play-In tournament started today, Boston would be in it and taking on the Charlotte Hornets. The good news is that Boston will most-likely finish the regular season in the top-10 in the East. The bad news is that they really need to avoid the Play-In tournament and reacquire at least the 6th seed. Moving up to #4 or #5 would be a really tough road, but a better situation for a still-inconsistent crew.

The 76'ers, Nets & Bucks have all clinched playoff spots and would be heavly favored to take out Boston in a 7-game series.

Nothing to add here.

The West presents a much-tougher challenge for Celtics

The Suns, Jazz, Clippers and Nuggets have all locked up a playoff spot, with Denver at the 4th seed with a 43-22 record (.662). Phoenix has won five-in-a-row and are tops in the West with a 47-18 record, and Utah has the identical 47-18 record.

Celtics 5-5 in last 10 games - still trying to find consistency

I rarely write anything derogatory about Marcus Smart, but in the last 10 games, he has reverted to bad decisions on his shot attempts. In that 10-game span he is hitting 36.4% from the field and 27.4% on treys. Marcus will never be a dead-eye shooter, and he doesn't have to be. His ferocious defense, crisp facilitation and major disruption of opposing offenses are his roles.

The road forward

I find the iso-ball so prevalent in the NBA non-entertaining and a waste of player energy, particularly in the heat-of-battle in the post-season. Evan Fournier, Payton Pritchard and Aaron Nesmith are all shooters, and it is highly-likely that all three will see significant time in the playoffs.

They need to see the ball in advantageous situations, and Marcus Smart is the guy to see to that. Both Grant Williams and Semi Ojeleye should still get time in the post-season, but they have limitations, mostly on the offensive end. Play Fournier. Play the rookies - and let things fall where they may. There is little to lose this season. Title hopes are faint. But "Anything can happen".

Comments

The Elm Street Nightmare

A true-and-suspenseful horror tale of haunting, homicides and the hunt for triple-murderer, Daniel Laplante - as told by the cops that were there By Lt. Thomas Lane (Ret.) Daniel Laplante - cold, calm, clever, calculating- Photo: YouTube Elm Street surfaces on six (6) occasions in the Laplante saga: 1.) He resided on Elm Street in Townsend, Massachusetts 2.) He kidnapped a woman at gunpoint on Elm Street, Pepperell , Massachusetts 3.) That kidnapped woman fled to the Gillogly residence on Elm Street after escaping from the armed fugitive, Laplante. 4.) He was arrested and transported to Massachusetts State Police Barracks on Elm Street in Concord . 5.) He was tried, convicted and sentenced for the murders at Superior Court , corner of Elm Stree t and Gorham Street, Lowell, Massachusetts. 6.) The author, Thomas Lane, lived on Elm Steet, Pepperell, Massachusetts while a police Sgt./Lt. for the town police force. When evil and cleverness reside in the same mind, the st

In defense of Marcus Smart

Let me make it clear first of all that I am totally against making a threat of any kind that even hints at harming, or certainly killing, another human being. Marcus Smart was wrong in doing so in the Celtics loss to the tanking Oklahoma City Thunder , and he deserved the one-game suspension. But to be honest, part of me loved that it occurred. . This type of thing can happen when a player gets to a point "beyond frustration" and is having a bad game. Marcus and his teammates have been under-performing generally - were in the process of losing to a pathetic-and-tanking Thunder team - and Smart was having a bad game . And he let loose verbally at the closest target - an NBA official. Wilt Chamberlain did a similar act versus referee, Earl Strom when Wilt was having his usual tortuous time at the free throw line (per Chicago Tribune's Sam Smith): ''He was in one of those 1-for-13s,'' recalls referee Earl Strom. ''Nothing was getting close. S

Did the Celtics Kevin McHale really have a wingspan of 8-feet?

According to many sources, the Celtics Kevin McHale did indeed have an estimated wingspan of 8-feet. One of those sources is Wikipedia, as seen below: Kevin McHale American basketball player DescriptionKevin Edward McHale is an American retired basketball player who played his entire professional career for the Boston Celtics. He is a Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, and is regarded as one of the best power forwards of all time. He was named to the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team. Wikipedia Born: December 19, 1957 (age 61 years), Hibbing, MN Wingspan: 8′ 0″ Height: 6′ 10″ Spouse: Lynn McHale (m. 1982) NBA draft: 1980, Boston Celtics (Round: 1 / Pick: 3) Hall of fame induction: 1999 Number: 32 (Boston Celtics / Power forward, Center) Kevin was listed at 6'10" tall when he was drafted with the 3rd pick in the 1980 draft. Red Auerbach, in yet another heist, brought in both McHale and center Robert Parish (via trade) prior to the Celtics' 1980-81 Champion

Celtics ☘️ Sentinel

Search This Blog