Author Topic: "Blow It Up"...  (Read 2560 times)

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"Blow It Up"...
« on: January 24, 2025, 10:13:22 AM »

Offline Roy H.

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... is what ownership / new ownership is going to be saying after this season if the team doesn't make it to at least the Conference Finals this season.  Ownership can justify a record luxury tax if the team is winning titles.  It can't if we're falling short, particularly if that's in the first or second round.  So if the guys want to keep playing together, they need to lock in for the playoffs.

Until then, though, I think it's premature to talk about major trades that move core players off of the roster, or about firing coaches, or any of that.  It would do more harm than good to trade a top-8 piece of the roster right now, and it's very hard to see any outside coach getting this team more focused and motivated.''

I think that in terms of the current malaise, we just need to give it time and hope for the best.  I know, in most life situations "stick with the status quo and make no changes" isn't always good advice, but I think we have to trust the core group of players.  They've been through the battle before, and they've won.  Physically, they have the capability of doing it again. 

But, it does scare we that this could be the last season we're watching this group of guys together.


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Re: "Blow It Up"...
« Reply #1 on: January 24, 2025, 11:38:37 AM »

Offline green_bballers13

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... is what ownership / new ownership is going to be saying after this season if the team doesn't make it to at least the Conference Finals this season.  Ownership can justify a record luxury tax if the team is winning titles.  It can't if we're falling short, particularly if that's in the first or second round.  So if the guys want to keep playing together, they need to lock in for the playoffs.

Until then, though, I think it's premature to talk about major trades that move core players off of the roster, or about firing coaches, or any of that.  It would do more harm than good to trade a top-8 piece of the roster right now, and it's very hard to see any outside coach getting this team more focused and motivated.''

I think that in terms of the current malaise, we just need to give it time and hope for the best.  I know, in most life situations "stick with the status quo and make no changes" isn't always good advice, but I think we have to trust the core group of players.  They've been through the battle before, and they've won.  Physically, they have the capability of doing it again. 

But, it does scare we that this could be the last season we're watching this group of guys together.

I agree with everything you say here, and yet somehow I'm ok breaking up the band.

I'm happy with the ring. I think Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are both top 15 players in the league. I don't think either are consistent enough to be top 3 like Giannis or Jokic. I'd stick with Tatum over Brown, depending on the trade package.

Winning that ring is money in the bank. We're millionaires now, so we can quibble about whether we want to live in Malibu or Aspen. Should we trade Jaylen Brown for another All Star, or a top 3 pick? Sure. Can injured Porzingis return something valuable for the long term?

This league has transitioned to a system of mercenaries. It started before the Big 3 and Lebron leaving for Miami. There's too much constant movement to expect the consistency (in health, performance, and results) from what we just saw with Tatum and Brown.

One of the things that I like about Danny Ainge was that he was concerned about making moves before the team got stale. He used the late 80's/early 90's Celtics as an example of a situation that could have used more roster movement.

I don't think the Celtics are stale yet. I'm just not married to this current iteration and am ok trying to improve the team for the long term. I wouldn't feel this way if they lost to Dallas.
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Re: "Blow It Up"...
« Reply #2 on: January 24, 2025, 12:43:30 PM »

Offline Wretch

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Repeat championships are hard. Very few teams do it. The Spurs, a dynasty never won back to back.

The core of a championship is here and it's the moves on the edges that will determine if the Cs have sustainable success in a salary and league structure specifically designed to prevent dynastic teams.

Hopefully the next ownership group is patient andmore concerned with winning and brand/franchise value than the salary cap and luxury tax payments.

Re: "Blow It Up"...
« Reply #3 on: January 24, 2025, 12:45:20 PM »

Offline Roy H.

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Hopefully the next ownership group is patient andmore concerned with winning and brand/franchise value than the salary cap and luxury tax payments.

The taxes are so punitive at this point that I'm not sure that any owner of any franchise will be able to ignore them, particularly if the team falls flat.  Let's hope that doesn't happen.


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Re: "Blow It Up"...
« Reply #4 on: January 24, 2025, 02:20:57 PM »

Offline Birdman

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White, Holiday & Al have been bad this season unlike last season
C/PF-Horford, Baynes, Noel, Theis, Morris,
SF/SG- Tatum, Brown, Hayward, Smart, Semi, Clark
PG- Irving, Rozier, Larkin

Re: "Blow It Up"...
« Reply #5 on: January 24, 2025, 02:27:36 PM »

Offline Roy H.

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White, Holiday & Al have been bad this season unlike last season

JB, too.  His eFG% is a career low, his TS% is his lowest since his rookie season, and his turnover percentage is the highest it has been in several years. 


I'M THE SILVERBACK GORILLA IN THIS MOTHER——— AND DON'T NONE OF YA'LL EVER FORGET IT!@ 34 minutes

Re: "Blow It Up"...
« Reply #6 on: January 24, 2025, 03:08:15 PM »

Offline Wretch

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Hopefully the next ownership group is patient andmore concerned with winning and brand/franchise value than the salary cap and luxury tax payments.

The taxes are so punitive at this point that I'm not sure that any owner of any franchise will be able to ignore them, particularly if the team falls flat.  Let's hope that doesn't happen.
I agree that's why I believe the new CBA is specifically designed to break up teams like the Cs and eventually OKC.

If OKC doesn't win a championship on Holmgren's rookie contract they're going to have the same problem the Cs are going to next year with taxes and aprons. They have more picks to use to fill role player slots going forward.

They're very good at drafting but if they cant replace Dort and Caruso with drafted players it's going to be tough sledding for them financially.

I think that's why MN traded KAT even though they were a better more competitive team with him.

Re: "Blow It Up"...
« Reply #7 on: January 24, 2025, 03:21:22 PM »

Offline Who

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White, Holiday & Al have been bad this season unlike last season

JB, too.  His eFG% is a career low, his TS% is his lowest since his rookie season, and his turnover percentage is the highest it has been in several years.

TS% = 54.5%

League average = 57.3%

Almost 3% below league average. Poor showing. The man's best attribute is his scoring ability. He can't be underperforming like this.

I said it a few weeks ago but I don't think JB deserves to be an All-Star this season. He hasn't played well enough.

Re: "Blow It Up"...
« Reply #8 on: January 24, 2025, 03:26:45 PM »

Offline Phantom255x

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I've always felt one of KP/Holiday was gonna be gone after 2025 via trade. It sucks but I'd be stunned if they paid 500M for next year's team alone (250M cap + 250M luxury tax). If they did, I'd be ecstatic. Horford will likely retire within the next 2 years and KP's contract will be up after 2026. Just don't know if they are fine paying 500M for one year to keep it together in 2025-2026. As has been stated here, might depend how far they go in the postseason. If they lose before the ECF I can see changes immediately.

I was a bit surprised they extended Holiday at 4/135M but I guess they needed to otherwise he'd definitely walk for nothing in the offseason. Still, 4/135M for a guy his age is a lot. I thought they could potentially get it done for lower.
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Re: "Blow It Up"...
« Reply #9 on: January 24, 2025, 03:57:06 PM »

Offline 86MaxwellSmart

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Whatever happened to the C's saying:
"Our Defense leads to our Offense"?

That's when we are at our best.
Larry Bird was Greater than you think.

Re: "Blow It Up"...
« Reply #10 on: January 24, 2025, 03:57:44 PM »

Offline boscel33

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I've been in the JKJB camp all along, and was one of the guys who was thrilled when we drafted him.  That said, bye bye for Cooper Flagg!  If we can't get him in the draft, guarantee after his first contract they will.
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Re: "Blow It Up"...
« Reply #11 on: January 24, 2025, 05:02:03 PM »

Offline SparzWizard

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Been on the JTJB train (Just Trade Jaylen Brown), got off because he contributed to winning Finals MVPs and the ring. But his handles and issues this season has been unjustifiable that I'm back on #JTJB. He got that brinks truck, and now he's putting up stinker after stinker after stinker this season? Perhaps both Jays cannot coexist, so get rid of one of them.

Trade him for somebody who is willing to go out to war and play excellent ball and has a hard attitude, or get some first-round lottery picks back.


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Re: "Blow It Up"...
« Reply #12 on: January 25, 2025, 01:44:04 PM »

Offline Big333223

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If the C's underwhelm in the playoffs this year, my guess is either Jrue or KP are the guys out the door.

They're the newest and so there's the least amount of attachment. Jrue has the 3rd biggest contract on the team and he'll be 35 next year. KP has the 4th highest contract on the team but he's hurt all the time the team's record is better with Al in the starting lineup (I don't think that's actually KP's fault but it's still true).

If there's concern for the tax bill during the summer, turning either (or both) of those $30 mil contracts into a $15 mil contract for someone 75% as good seems like a likely scenario.

But if they repeat as champs, who knows what happens.
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Re: "Blow It Up"...
« Reply #13 on: January 25, 2025, 03:38:03 PM »

Offline TheReaLPuba

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These guys have played too much basketball.

Bound to catch up with them.

But they still shouldn?t be losing to the Lakers.

Re: "Blow It Up"...
« Reply #14 on: January 25, 2025, 04:53:44 PM »

Offline Surferdad

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My guess is Wyc Grousbeck is not inclined to make a major trade (or any major move really) while he is trying to sell the team. A recent championship with this roster/coach and another one possibly on the way is his biggest selling point. A major move would cast doubt.
« Last Edit: January 25, 2025, 05:07:04 PM by Surferdad »