<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"I think the playoffs are great for the players, coaches and fans, but I'm not going to lie about it," Ainge said. "For the long-term part of this, it's obviously better for us to get a higher draft pick. That's just the truth. "I understand that it's good for your players to get playoff experience. But I'd rather take a hit on that if it means getting us better players so we can get to the postseason and then make a serious run."</div> Full Story <font size="1">(scroll down)</font> Celtic fans?
Understanding The Celtics are currently undergoing a rebuilding process, I believe it's simply a non-issue. Sure, a lottery pick would be great for Ainge's rebuilding. Sure, making the playoffs would be great for the die hard Boston fans. It all really depends on which you perfer, a high draft pick for future success, or a lower pick so Boston can play a few more games and make a first round exit. I think that Ainge's theory makes more sense...
I know that with Boston's rough schedule coming up that they would slide out anyway, but these are the things you leave open to the public. Sure they would not win it, but that is why you play the games, you never know what kind of run a team can go on. Knicks were an 8 seed that went to the Finals in the east if I am correct. An 8th seed Nugget team knocked out a 60+ win Sonic team with a leagues top defense and they took the Jazz to 6 games the next round as well. I know these are rare things, but you can't tell me these players would not like a shot at the playoffs, and I am sure some of these younger Celts could use the experience.
These guys are 4-10 years from a serious run at the playoffs and by that time Ainge will be toast. How can this guy talk about serious runs in the playoffs when he totally dismantled a team that was playoff contender. Got rid of Walker, got rid of Eric Williams and Tony Battie and then he makes a trade to Detroit that really just contradicts everything he says by taking in a bigger contract. My big issue here is: Why would Ainge want to rebuild when he already had a solid team going to the playoffs every year? He is just making excuses for his dumbass decisions. I don't see why Boston fans don't call for his head right away. He has to go...
4-10 years from a serious playoff run? Boston plays in The Eastern Conference, they could make a serious playoff run at any time. Look what Ainge has done. Draft Picks - In next two years Boston has 4 first round and 3 second round selections. Young Talent - Ainge has stockpiled on young potential talent, Boston is now the youngest overall team in The Eastern Conference I predict if Boston can move Raef LaFrentz (10 million per) off their payroll and sign someone who can contribute alongside Pierce, develop their young talent, and learn how to play fastbreak basketball, They can be a force in the East in JUST 2 years.
Is that why he took a destroy and rebuild approach to this season to make them into the aforementioned force in the East? Rebuilding a team that was already a potential force in the East is a waste of time so to speak. Being/having a young team is no excuse for the moves he made in the offseason and this current one no matter what amount of draft picks he has. I also forgot about the fact that he practically drove away the coach who made Boston competitive in the first place. Add in the fact that he is currently driving Paul Pierce away from the organization as well. I really don't think this guy is good for the team. Like I said, all of these draft picks and young talent is just Ainge's excuse about his boneheaded moves. I ask the Boston fans whether they would want to be in the playoffs now or.......maybe in the playoffs 2 years from now where they have no gurantee that they will do well at all?
I don't have any sources on this, it's just my own guess, but I think Ainge is doing exactly what he was hired to do. It was time to rebuild the team and the owners knew that was the only way to make a legitimate contender. They chose to build around Pierce and get rid of Walker, which was a good move. If there was no pattern to what Ainge is doing, I would agree with CourtVision about him, but I can see what he is doing and why it will provide for a better future for the team. What point is there in making the playoffs when you're only going to get knocked out in an early round? I can't believe I'm saying this, but I side with Ainge on this one. The best thing for this team would be to get a high draft pick. In fact, they'd do well to get high picks for the next two or three years. I certainly don't like that he tore up the team the way he did, but he deserves a few years to show us where he's going with this.
Well almost all Celtic fans know that it is better for the team to not make the playoffs, but an upper management guy like Ainge doesn't need to come out and say it. The Celtics are about to go on one of there losing streaks. Look at this schedule: Sun 7 at Minnesota L Tue 9 at New York W Wed 10 LA Lakers L Fri 12 Indiana L Sat 13 at Washington W Wed 17 Denver L Fri 19 at Dallas L Sat 20 at San Antonio L Fri 26 New Jersey L Sun 28 Philadelphia L Mon 29 at New Jersey L Wed 31 Portland L At least that's how I see the rest of the month going. Ainge didn't need to come out and say it, he could have let the team lose by itself. One thing I have a problem with is when people say O'Brien made the team competitive, OB was a good coach, but he gets way too much credit, if Pitino had waited around for Pierce to develop, the team would probably have acheived the same success. O'Brien was a good defensive coach but his offensive sets consisted of Pierce and Walker standing at the three point line, then taking a 3 pointer as the shot clock expired. But anyway, a good win yesterday. Great game from Pierce(24, 10, and 8), he's finally regaining his fourth quarter magic. [quoteright]"I think the chemistry is starting to come together," Pierce said. "This was a big win for us. This was a team that we are battling with for the eighth spot for the playoffs."[/quoteright] They've won four consecutive games after losing 17 of their previous 20. Marcus Banks had a good game with 12 points off the bench, he provided some much needed speed and he ran the fast break well. Note: Chris Mihm sustained a cut under his left eye that required four or five stitches.
What gurantees that in two years of drafting Boston will even make the playoffs? I guess I go by the old saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CourtVision:</div><div class="quote_post">What gurantees that in two years of drafting Boston will even make the playoffs? I guess I go by the old saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".</div> But it was broke, maybe for some teams making the playoffs and losing in the first or second round is a good thing, but the Celtics were never winning a championship, let alone the Eastern Conference. Maybe they won't draft wisely, but I'll take my chances with three firt rounders.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Court Vision:</div><div class="quote_post">Is that why he took a destroy and rebuild approach to this season to make them into the aforementioned force in the East? Rebuilding a team that was already a potential force in the East is a waste of time so to speak.</div> No. Rebuilding was necessary. It's a tough thing to buy into because Boston was experiencing SOME success in the East, but for the most part they were over achieving when they made it to the conference finals a few years back, and they had limitations on their success. They had no cap space, no low post presense, no young talent, and their draft picks weren't high enough to select effective players. So how was this team going to get over the hump? They simply weren't going to, thus it's time to realize when to rebuild, as tough as it may be. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Being/having a young team is no excuse for the moves he made in the offseason and this current one no matter what amount of draft picks he has. I also forgot about the fact that he practically drove away the coach who made Boston competitive in the first place. Add in the fact that he is currently driving Paul Pierce away from the organization as well. I really don't think this guy is good for the team.</div> He is rebuilding, it's never a popular move when you've had some decent success in the past. Once again, their team had limitations on their success, they would never compete for a championship with the roster they had. Realizing this Ainge decided to rebuild, perhaps the Walker trade wasn't the greatest, but thus far he's done the right thing by stock piling draft picks, young talent, and attempting to make room for a free agent signing with their pay roll. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Like I said, all of these draft picks and young talent is just Ainge's excuse about his boneheaded moves. I ask the Boston fans whether they would want to be in the playoffs now or.......maybe in the playoffs 2 years from now where they have no gurantee that they will do well at all?</div> Fans want a team who can be JUST AS SUCCESSFUL as The Celtics of decades past. Regardless if Boston was in the playoffs the past few years, their chances of being a serious contender in The East alone were slim to none. I think the fans would much rather see a team who can contend seriously for that championship rather than a team who JUST makes the playoffs every year JUST to make an early exit. Just look at Portland, sure they're making the playoffs but they aren't likely to be seeing a championship anytime soon. Go ask their fans what they rather have, a longer playoff berth streak, or giving up success for a few years so you have rebuild your team and possibly make a run at a championship. It's a risk that every fan would be willing to take, trust me. Ainge knew it, the majority of the fans knew it, rebuilding was the only option. Having young talent and draft picks is not Ainge's excuse for his moves, it's his obligation to the fans being carried out. He promised he would rebuild Boston, stock piling draft picks and young talent is a MAJOR part of that process.
Yeah I agree that this is discouraging to announce to the public and fans...I personally think Ainge is ruining that team...they were just a few key players away from being legit Finals contenders, and now they're back to square one...
That statement remains the one true and undebateable mistake thus far by Danny Ainge, IMO. As President of Basketball Operations for the Boston Celtics, which is not only the most storied franchise in the NBA, but also BannerTown NBA,those words never escape your lips, even if you think it and feel it. It's simply not done with this fanbase. Was it broke? Unfortunately, we'll never really know. The main fact is that the C's were likely never going to get past the stumbling blocks that were keeping them from hanging another banner with the personell they had. Banners are the only thing besides a team that gives 100% everynight, that matters to Boston Fans. We accept nothing less and never will. By draft day, you can expect that if we excercise the rights to all of our available draft picks, there will likely only be one, maybe 2 used and the others will be packaged in a trade to move up in the draft or for a post player.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting hagrid:</div><div class="quote_post">By draft day, you can expect that if we excercise the rights to all of our available draft picks, there will likely only be one, maybe 2 used and the others will be packaged in a trade to move up in the draft or for a post player.</div> What post player do you think Ainge likes? I don't think theres anyway he'll be able to get Okafor or Howard. I think Ainge could get Rafael Araujo with the Mavs or Pistons pick and take a chance with a European player like Andris Biedrins or Kosta Perovic.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">What post player do you think Ainge likes?</div> From the draft? IMO, NONE. I honestly think that Dannyboy wanted the low draft pick as trade leverage. However: Okafor: Perhaps the only ready made impact player coming out of the draft. Problem is, he's got the king of all physical maladies: A BAD BACK. Howard: HS project player Araujo: BIG Body. 2 concerns: 1. Is he only a force because he's a man among boys right now? 2. Can his skills be developed further? He's got a pretty polished hook and fair footwork already. Worried that he doesn't have much more physical talent to develop and right now, he's not skilled enough to be a factor in the NBA on a consistant basis. Hope that helps.
