Re: Playing is Pierce's No. 1 priority & Rivers says "Tanking is not my priority" <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Paul Pierce is acutely aware that there's a sizable number of Celtics fans who would prefer he take his sweet time and let nature take its course.In other words, why come back and help the team perhaps, um, actually win, when a few more victories now might mean a few less ping-pong balls in May?"My job is to go out and play the game and try to win," Pierce said before making his long-awaited return last night against the Nets in the Celtics' 92-78 loss. He had missed the previous 24 games with a stress reaction in his left foot. "For me to sit out, I just can't do it. Maybe it will be for the good of the franchise. Maybe it won't. How many people in here have won a lottery? So it's all a risk."What's driving the "Take your time, Paul" talk is, of course, the possible (some would say probable) presence of two difference-makers in this year's draft: collegiate freshmen Greg Oden of Ohio State and Kevin Durant of Texas. Scouts are slobbering over both fellows, who could well have gone 1-2 in the 2006 draft had they been eligible.The Celtics are 12-37 and in prime position to get one of them -- assuming the ping-pong balls tumbled fairly, which they rarely do. Memphis had a worse record entering last night but it beat Minnesota and now stands at 13-38, and the Celtics still have three more losses than the next-worse team, the 76ers."I know we've still got fans out there that want me to come out there and play, but they're knowledgeable basketball fans," said Pierce. "I know what they're thinking. They want me healthy, but at the same time they feel like this season is lost and they feel like by me not playing we have an opportunity at the No. 1 pick. But I don't think like that."Neither does coach Doc Rivers."There's no guarantee and I'm never going to [tank it]," Rivers said. "I do understand that philosophy. But those fans have a short memory. The last time they did that [1997], it didn't work out so well."</div>Source: Globethoughts?
Re: Playing is Pierce's No. 1 priority & Rivers says "Tanking is not my priority" They're saying what they're supposed to say. Obviously Pierce wants to play and win, and even if Doc actually does want to tank and get the pick (highly unlikely... no one likes losing), neither he, nor any other person in the Celtics organization will admit to or wanting to tank.
Re: Playing is Pierce's No. 1 priority & Rivers says "Tanking is not my priority" <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (yankshater213 @ Feb 10 2007, 09:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>They're saying what they're supposed to say. Obviously Pierce wants to play and win, and even if Doc actually does want to tank and get the pick (highly unlikely... no one likes losing), neither he, nor any other person in the Celtics organization will admit to or wanting to tank.</div> Nobody that works within an NBA organization will publicly state that they are tanking. Why? Not only is it unprofessional, they would get penalized by David Stern. At the same time, however, Stern knows who does and who doesn't tank. I think it's pretty clear that this Celtics team is not a tanker.
Re: Playing is Pierce's No. 1 priority & Rivers says "Tanking is not my priority" Even if we don't tank, chances are highly likely that we will end up with a high lottery pick anyway, 12-37 isn't easy to comeback from no matter who you are.
Re: Playing is Pierce's No. 1 priority & Rivers says "Tanking is not my priority" <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (envygreen @ Feb 11 2007, 08:19 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Even if we don't tank, chances are highly likely that we will end up with a high lottery pick anyway, 12-37 isn't easy to comeback from no matter who you are.</div> Exactly. Even if Pierce and Wally grind out the rest of the season, we'll still have one of the top picks. I say no lower than 3-4, must most likely around #2 still.
Re: Playing is Pierce's No. 1 priority & Rivers says "Tanking is not my priority" The Spurs said these types of things in 1997 when Tim Duncan was going to be the top pick. David Robinson had so many injuries that year, yet he was never in any rush to get back because it was a lost season. Nobody admits to losing on purpose, but they can't deny that it's in the back of their minds. By the looks of it this is going to be the second best draft this decade (behind 2003 of course), so it's definitely a good year to be a bad team. Plus it's the East. You can turn it around quick. If the Celts are smart (and I don't know if Danny "I love guards" Ainge is) then they will be more than happy to draft the best player available in the draft and then maybe trade some of their younger guys for some veterans that can help them get better fast. They can turn this around fast. If they're smart.
Re: Playing is Pierce's No. 1 priority & Rivers says "Tanking is not my priority" Would you say it would be a lost season if we traded and got a superstar..got that 8th seed somehow because of the weakness of the east and got to the finals by some chance..then got swept?
Re: Playing is Pierce's No. 1 priority & Rivers says "Tanking is not my priority" <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (playaofthegame @ Feb 11 2007, 01:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Would you say it would be a lost season if we traded and got a superstar..got that 8th seed somehow because of the weakness of the east and got to the finals by some chance..then got swept?</div> IF we even traded for Pau Gasol at the deadline, which I don't think will happen, we wouldn't win enough games to make the playoffs. And even if we did, they couldn't make the Finals. They'd have no chemistry and we'd still be way too young.
Re: Playing is Pierce's No. 1 priority & Rivers says "Tanking is not my priority" <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (playaofthegame @ Feb 11 2007, 01:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Would you say it would be a lost season if we traded and got a superstar..got that 8th seed somehow because of the weakness of the east and got to the finals by some chance..then got swept?</div>You're too far back to make the playoffs even with a trade. Forget about the playoffs. Get a high draft pick and maybe make a trade. You can turn it around fast. Look at my Raptors. Nine new players in one season and it's likely that we'll be division champs.
Re: Playing is Pierce's No. 1 priority & Rivers says "Tanking is not my priority" <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (JC Malaka @ Feb 11 2007, 11:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>You're too far back to make the playoffs even with a trade. Forget about the playoffs. Get a high draft pick and maybe make a trade. You can turn it around fast. Look at my Raptors. Nine new players in one season and it's likely that we'll be division champs.</div> You have a point, and I respect it, but here's the difference: the Raptors have a direction/vision. The Celtics don't. Nobody knows what's going on with this team or what the future plans are.
Re: Playing is Pierce's No. 1 priority & Rivers says "Tanking is not my priority" That is true, man. Feel bad for ya. Toronto lucked out in getting Colangelo because we had five really bad years in a row there. I don't think Ainge is a good GM. They need to find the right guy for the job. Not sure who that is, though.
Re: Playing is Pierce's No. 1 priority & Rivers says "Tanking is not my priority" <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (JC Malaka @ Feb 12 2007, 10:49 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>That is true, man. Feel bad for ya. Toronto lucked out in getting Colangelo because we had five really bad years in a row there. I don't think Ainge is a good GM. They need to find the right guy for the job. Not sure who that is, though.</div> Yeah you guys found a gem in Colangelo. He's great. He is a very good evaluator of talent, he makes good moves, and he comes into each situation with a plan and he sticks with it. Major props to him, he did a great job in Phoenix and he's doing a great job in Toronto. And Ainge, well... he isn't necessarily "bad," but he is too hesitant. I think as far as scouting and evaluating talent goes, he's one of the best in the business without question. If we could have Danny as just our #1 scout, that would be ideal. But like I said, he's too hesitant and he has not picked a direction after 4 years. This summer is the make-or-break year for Danny, IMO. And you know what scares me the most? Our management is hesitant too, they won't fire Ainge if we don't get around .500 next year because of his history as a Celtic player. I don't know, maybe Ainge does have a master plan lined up for the summer. All I can say is that he better get his act together this summer or you'll be seeing Danny's name on those Fire Doc signs in the Garden as well.
Re: Playing is Pierce's No. 1 priority & Rivers says "Tanking is not my priority" <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Feb 11 2007, 01:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'> IF we even traded for Pau Gasol at the deadline, which I don't think will happen, we wouldn't win enough games to make the playoffs. And even if we did, they couldn't make the Finals. They'd have no chemistry and we'd still be way too young.</div>I was just sayinghypotheticallywould that be a lost season or would making it to the finals and losing not be good enough?
