hollinger ranks celtics third in east

Posted on | August 27, 2009 | Comments

Just read this gem in today’s ESPN.com Hollinger chat:

Chris (Nevada)

Best in East in order 1) Magic 2) Celts 3) Cleveland. Tell me im correct

John Hollinger (3:07 PM)

I think it’s basically a dead heat between Orlando and Cleveland at the top; I have to pick one of them eventually but will take my sweet time. Boston to me is clearly third in the pecking order based on their age issues and the uncertainty with how Garnett can come back. The other oddity about the East is the rock-paper-scissors nature of the match-ups last season — Orlando beats Cleveland, Cleveland beats Boston, Boston beats Orlando. If that holds up this season, playoff seedings could matter even more than usual.

Oh no he didn’t! Thems fightin’ words baby!

How can Stan Van Gundy whine about not being respected when all these mainstream sports honks are ranking his team above the Celtics? My main issue with all this ranking bs is that its impossible to tell yet how these teams’ new additions are going to pan out. The Shaq & LeBron major monster ego collide could be a disaster. Vince Carter could tear an ACL or get a hangnail. Sheed could punch a ref. Come on now. It’s completely unpredictable!

I realize they get paid to make predictions, but I just don’t see how you put the Boston Celtics third. The team is stacked. Like built-for-another-championship stacked. Maybe, just maybe, I can handle being ranked behind the Cavs, for now… but the Magic? Uh uh. I’m not buying it. No wait, I’m gonna backtrack. I can’t handle being ranked behind the Cavs either.

Grrr! This season can’t start soon enough for me… Hopefully, we’ll quickly separate the chaff from the wheat! Bring. it. on.

ps. Celtics tix went on sale today, but I’m holding off. Last season, I bought 4 tix within the first 2 minutes they went on sale and they were the worst seats in the history of awful seats. I’m going to wait this season and try and grab some better seats that season ticket holders want to sell.