They're a scrappy gritty team of underdogs that plays defense....they are well-coached with a team-first philosophy, and they always gives max effort!
The way they came into Oakland and defeated the Warriors (snapping a 53-home game winning streak) proved as much! Don't sleep on this team
I love the thought but they still don't have enough talent to win a critical 7 game series
But I for one wasn't shocked they beat the Warriors. They play a similar style of game and even though the Cavs beat them in 4 games in the playoffs last year, the Celtics actually played the Cavs tougher than anyone except the Warriors
That being said this is still a team that lost to Brooklyn. Twice.
Ainge is still about 2 players removed from where he knows he has to be to truly have a contender
One of those players could come from the draft this year, but we need a quality veteran in free agency as well
There's so many moving parts to NBA team mechanics that ultimately Ainge could be a genius but it still comes down to luck... whether a free agent will chose Boston and whether the draft - a crap shoot by nature - results in a franchise player.
I'd say I'd be all for Ainge moving up to grab whoever he likes - however past rumors about who Ainge has liked haven't had me feeling all that confident.
Still - credit where credit is due. Stevens has taught this team how to win - conversely look at the 76ers and their perpetual top of the lottery leaving them seemingly always in last place.
I know fans get excited about top picks but I much prefer winning now - and who knows, as with the 2001 Patriots maybe they get ultra hot at the right time.
