How soon until the Celtics are competing for an NBA Championship again?
540451
If the young members of the team live up to their potential, and Boston picks up a few decent veterans to help them along the way, they could compete for a championship in 3 or 4 years. The only problem is, that if and when their young players are probably experienced enough to contribute in a major way, Pierce will be in his early 30s. They are going to have to have a different franchise player or two by that time, so keep your fingers crossed that one of the kids really steps up. Also, it will depend on whether the Celtics can resign their talent when their rookie contracts expire. If these high draft picks start playing well, what is going to keep them in Boston? Are the Celtics a team that players think they can compete for championships with at this point? Will the Celtics spend the money to keep these players, assuming they work out? There are a lot of factors, but if everything goes well, 3 years, minimum.
951869
Bottom half of the Playoff bracket again. If Kobe will put some trust into his teammates, next season they cold break into the top half. They could sneak into the second round this year.
247640
Rangers VS CELTICS perhaps?
528499
If the Spurs were not a championship team then it will be over. BUT since they are a championship team they can play under pressure really well. So the Spurs are going to take this round.
251522
Back in the Jordan days, there wasn't as much competition as there is today be frank. Today it takes more than a one-man show to make a team. He's gonna' need at least a Scottie Pippen...he's got the Luc Longley in Z--but who knows how long he'll last. \nFinal answer: no championship unless the Cavs bring in more firepower.
1161342
Trade Winds Blow at Draft; Telfair, Ratliff and Rondo in the Fold\nBy Peter F. Stringer\nCeltics.com\nJune 28, 2006\n\n\nWALTHAM - It was a long night in the War Room, but Danny Ainge was very pleased with the Celtics draft, as they nabbed Sebastian Telfair and Theo Ratliff from Portland, and acquired the draft rights to Rajon Rondo via the Phoenix Suns. \n\n"I think it was a great night," said Ainge. "We addressed some needs and we think we got two terrific young players and got some cap management at the same time." \n\nThe Celtics kicked off the night by taking Villanova's Randy Foye at #7, but Foye was dealt to the Blazers along with Dan Dickau, Raef LaFrentz and cash considerations in exchange point guard Sebastian Telfair, Theo Ratliff and a second round selection in 2008. Telfair is a guard that Ainge has liked since he was a rookie in 2004. \n\n"Telfair is [more ready than] all of the point guards in the draft, he had 1,500 minutes under his belt and fills a need for us," said Danny Ainge. "He is a playmaker, a passer with great vision and speed." \n\nReached by phone at about 10 p.m., Telfair was excited about becoming a Celtic and returning to the East Coast. Telfair played high school ball in Brooklyn and was the focus of the basketball documentary Through the Fire.\n\n"Yes I was surprised, I didn't really know when it was coming. I heard rumors but when it was finalized I was very happy that it went through. I'm excited to play for a team that plays up-and-down, that's a better fit for me," said Telfair, who scored his first NBA points in the FleetCenter and will compete for the Celtics in the Vegas Summer League next month. \n\n"This is my third season and I'd like to be in the playoffs," Telfair said. \n\nDoc Rivers also said that Telfair and Delonte West would compete for the starting point guard gig. \n\n"This trade has been talked about for a couple of weeks. There were times when we thought it wouldn't go through," said Rivers. \n\nMeanwhile, Ratliff gives the Celtics an interior shot blocking and rebounding presence at the four spot, and is a guy who Telfair says "knows how to win games and hold down the paint." \n\nThe Celtics did end up with a first round pick, selecting at #21 when they reached a deal with the Phoenix Suns, acquiring the draft rights to Kentucky point guard Rajon Rondo and Brian Grant in exchange for a future first round pick. Rondo worked out for the second time in Waltham on Monday and regularly blew by his opponents throughout the workout and finished strong at the basket. He is expected to be introduced in Waltham Thursday afternoon.\n\n"We had Rondo rated very, very high in this draft. When we saw he was available around 15, 16, we started exploring some opportunities to get him," said Ainge. "We feel like speed is the way the game is going right now." \n\nAs for Foye, he was dealt again later and ended up with the Minnesota Timberwolves. \n\nhttp://www.nba.com/celtics/news/draft-central/notes062806-draft-trade.html?rss=true
1114628
Team: Boston Celtics; 16\nPlayer: Bill Russell; 11
1065240
Paul Pierce has made it clear to Celtics management that he would like to see them explore trade options w/ the number 7 pick in this year's draft they have - he mentioned KG and Jermaine O'neal's names.\n\nThe Indiana Pacers are definitely looking at offers being made for J. O'neal; he could be traded for a team's best big man, or a high draft pick + a team's second best player.\n\nPretty much everyone on the Denver Nuggets aside from Carmelo Anthony can be traded for assuming a team offers something enticing enough in return. The Nuggets are desperately trying to rid themselves of Kenyon Martin's 5 year, $71 million dollar contract.\n\nAndrew Bynum of the Lakers is up for grabs, Lakers are pretty set on Kwame Brown in the post for them.\n\nTimberwolves guard Marcus Banks is close to signing a contract with the Lakers.
604986
The Celtics won the most championships...
815633
I think they most definitely will.  Dwight howard is a beast.  He has really developed into one of the most promising big men in the league, and is really starting to anchor down that defense.  Grant Hill is back and playing well, though who knows if he'll stay healthy.  What i like the most is their depth.  With Nelson, Dooling and Arroyo, they can play whoever has the hot hand at point guard, and also can go small when needed, playing two out of the three.  They have the outside shooting of garrity and turkoglu and it will only get better once Redick comes back.  I think they'll make the playoffs,  but they won't be a contender until Howard really develops some post moves.  Right now he overpowers everyone, but soon he'll just be able to score eery time from 8 feet in like shaq or duncan.  The other big thing that will help is if Darko can continue to develop as a defender and rebounder to complement howard.  If he can do this, as well as hit some open jump shots then the magic can be a serious contender in the east.
1080116
To Batmen:\n\n   I happened to have had the pleasure of seeing Len Bias play in person at Cole Field House while I was living at the DC area at the time. He was incredible. He could simply take over the game with his shotmaking and impressive dunks..and he played defense real well too. He may not have played a single nba game but i assure you had he lived his impact on the game would have been tremendous. In a way there is some basis for thinking of his demise as a curse. The celtics won a championship in every decade till that point (50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s). They have not made the finals since 1987. They're one shot was the Tim Duncan draft year but they didnt luck out in getting the top pick in in the lottery.This is the longest drought in celtics history in terms of championships and it all started with the death of Bias. If you want to interpret it as a curse of the Bias legacy it wont be far off the truth. Dont disrespect Bias? Oh pleeeze the guy threw his life away on a cocaine binge. If he deserves respect for that then please join Osama and his mindless minions. And don't blame Ainge for their troubles. Given what he has to deal with Danny has done a decent job
823853
The Jazz are a DEEP team... even though the NBA season still has 85-90% left to play, I think they are a shoe in for the playoffs.\n\nNow, as for the FINALS... the West is going to be pretty tough to get through. So, it would not surprise me to see the Western champs lose the finals in 5 or 6 games like last year. \n\nThe East will be cake walk, and the West will be a war!
1052672
Is this even disputable? Celtics!
686912
Do they have what it takes? Yes.  Will they? Don't know.  I think so, but the series could go either way.  Regardless, the winner of the series will win the NBA championship.  There is only one team that can beat the Mavs in a 7 game series, and that is the San Antonio Spurs.  That being said there is only one team that can beat the Spurs in a 7 game series and that is the Dallas Mavericks.  With Dallas resting I think they have a very good chance to take out the Spurs, especially with Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili not at 100% and they proved they could beat them in their house with the last match-up in the regualr season.  This series goes 6 or 7 and Dallas wins.  At least I hope so, being a Dallas fan.  One thing I can guarantee is that I will be screaming at the TV during all of the games.  And hopefully Robert Horry will keep his mouth to himself!
10140
No, they are a 500 club right now and they dont look like they are willing to make the changes to be better.  That puts them roughly in the 8-9 spot in the west. Also, they probably will have a big injury in the next few months.  Maybe Kobe, Mabye Lamar.  A loss of either one of those guys for a few games would pretty much close out any playoff chances.
628277
I'm tired of the same teams in the Finals, so I hope the Mavs, Clippers, Suns, Cavs, or Nets make it.  Of those teams, I think the Mavs have a realistic chance.
882424
celtics going to win this game. there defensive presence in tyson chandler is not playing. but the celtics have great depth. hopefully all these players will be here come playoff time