If We Falter in 2021, Should We Move On From Ainge?

[GreenlyGreeny]

2008 was over 12 years ago. 2010 was over 10 years ago. I say if we do not at least make an appearance in the NBA Finals in 2021, he has gotta go.

Possible replacements: Coach/GM Popovich or Coach/GM Tony Bennett.

[RPGenerate]

I'd rather just wait until 2021 is over before we talk about this.

[SparzWizard]

Yeah I'm with you on this. Since his hiring in 2003 there's only been 1 championship and that was over 12 years ago. Eastern Conference Finals appearances don't mean much if we got all these talents. It's too bad Wyc treats Ainge and Stevens like a close family, unlike other teams; just dumping 'em left and right while they still can.

[gouki88]

I feel like we’re close to passing the torch to Zarren soon anyway

[tazzmaniac]

Don't see any reason to get rid of Ainge.  Ainge makes good trades and good free agent signings.  Contrary to a lot of the griping, he drafts well too.  Finally, he's done a good job of cap management. 

The team had plenty of talent to make the finals.  If anyone needs to go, it is Stevens. 

[coco]

No.  Ainge is a top 5 GM.

LAL GM job is easy; players want to move there.  No one had to sell LAL to LeBron.  He was moving to LA even if an incompetent GM was running the show. 

Miami is warm and no taxes.  So that’s another easy destination.

Isn’t this the second or third ECF in the last 5 years?
Ainge has done very well.

[ozgod]

If we've a championship or bust mentality then by all means we should get rid of Ainge.

[soulman]

Nope. Danny Ainge is a legend.

[Bobshot]

I say no, because Danny is a real Celtic  and a very good drafter. Time is certainly running out on him to repeat a championship, but I don't see it as his fault.
In my view, more the coaches fault. Stevens has his strengths and weaknesses. His main weakness is he doesn't play bigs who can defend the paint. I've heard the complaint in the media that he didn't put Williams on Bam at critical times. That may have cost them the series against what many view as a weaker team.  Charles Barkley doesn't like the Celtics because he says they don't always pass for the best shot (Red Auerbach's dictum), instead at times sitting selfishly on the perimeter bombing 3s. To me, that's the coach. Overly dependent on the 3, and not in complete control.

Danny and Austen seem to have recognized the need for a rim protector, having drafted 3 or bigs the last couple years, but I don't see the coach much complying with their views. I think there's a conflict, and something will have to give.

[Roy H.]

Which available GM is better?

He’s won a title, he has built a team that will be a top-5ish team for a decade.  We’ve missed the playoffs once is the last 12 seasons, making the ECF six times (including a championship and another Finals run).

If Danny was fired, 20+ franchises would call him that day.

[Uncle_Stingfinger]

I don't want to fire him, but the whole organization needs to be a little less patient.  I'm glad him and Brad  are finally starting to feel some heat.   It's time to win something.

[LilRip]

Definitely not. DA has done a really good job, comparatively.

CBS? I’m less convinced but I’m not calling for his head right now either.

[wiley]

Ainge will retire when he decides to...

[Ogaju]

I voted NO, but only because there is no definite replacement. If the replacment is Popovich the answer is YES.

[pearljammer10]

I absolutely hate threads like this.

Since 2010, you know how many different teams have made an NBA Finals appearance? 8....Just 8!

Danny has blessed us with a title in 2008. You know many different teams have won a title? 7... Just 7!

We’ve gone to the ECF 3 of our last 4 years with our two best players being 23 years old or younger.

It’s ludicrous and infuriating that people would even bring up the idea of moving on from Ainge. Hey, I heard Chris Wallace is available. Rick Pitino is too. What a joke.