Not sure I see the issue with the bench. When our starters are out, and bench guys need to take on those minutes/roles, they get exposed. They’re not starters. If our team is fully healthy in the playoffs, I bet you never see more than two of Tatum/Brown/Kemba/Hayward/Smart off the floor at any given time. The bench is not exactly a great strength but we have solid guys who can give good minutes when the starters are healthy. What, Ainge is supposed to go out and get starter-caliber bench players, too? After going out and assembling a top-5 starting lineup when we all thought these guys were toast without Horford and Kyrie? Well, we have at least one of those too: Smart could be a starter.
I won’t repeat the points made about money, which are correct: you don’t spend like the warriors unless you know you’ll win like the warriors. Meantime, yeah, when we have 2 starters out and another on a minutes restriction, we’ll have trouble. Find me another team in the league that won’t. LAL/LAC? Denver? Maybe MIL but take out Giannis and Middleton, say, and what’s left? Health is No. 1. Healthy C’s in the playoffs are a finals contender; less than that we’re not.