For those of you who thought the Celtics were unlucky last night . . .

[Lucky17]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/15583495/the-gravity-absurdity-nba-draft-lottery

After the lottery gods awarded the Lakers the No. 2 pick, league officials began drawing the four-number combo that would determine which team would pick third. The first three numbers: 9, 4, 7. If the final number were eight or higher, Minnesota, in the No. 5 slot, would leapfrog both Phoenix and Boston. If it came up as a 5 or 6, Phoenix and Boston would flip places. A 1 or 2 would mean a re-draw, because the Sixers and Lakers owned those combinations.

Wyc Grousbeck, the Celtics owner and drawing room rep, was reduced to this: hoping for "3," the only ball that would hold Boston in the No. 3 slot, a one-in-eleven shot at that exact moment.

"I was just thinking, 'Oh, no! Only one ball can save us now!'" Grousbeck told me afterward, when we were all sequestered in the drawing room.

Like the tune goes, just be thankful for what you got.

[Donoghus]

Wow.

[libermaniac]

They should televise that process. The way they show it is built up fake drama that led to our disappointment.

[The Rondo Show]

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/15583495/the-gravity-absurdity-nba-draft-lottery

After the lottery gods awarded the Lakers the No. 2 pick, league officials began drawing the four-number combo that would determine which team would pick third. The first three numbers: 9, 4, 7. If the final number were eight or higher, Minnesota, in the No. 5 slot, would leapfrog both Phoenix and Boston. If it came up as a 5 or 6, Phoenix and Boston would flip places. A 1 or 2 would mean a re-draw, because the Sixers and Lakers owned those combinations.

Wyc Grousbeck, the Celtics owner and drawing room rep, was reduced to this: hoping for "3," the only ball that would hold Boston in the No. 3 slot, a one-in-eleven shot at that exact moment.

"I was just thinking, 'Oh, no! Only one ball can save us now!'" Grousbeck told me afterward, when we were all sequestered in the drawing room.

Like the tune goes, just be thankful for what you got.

Yikes. Thanks for sharing this

[droopdog7]

Two things:

Actually any one of three numbers would have been okay (redraw a decent outcome).  Second, is there that much difference between 3 and 5 this year?

[Lucky17]

Two things:

Actually any one of three numbers would have been okay (redraw a decent outcome).  Second, is there that much difference between 3 and 5 this year?

Bender is apparently a tier unto himself, so I would say yes.

[Roy H.]

Why was it 1/11 odds, instead of 1/7? (10 balls, three of them drawn. Of the seven left, only one good outcome).

Anyway, the Celts beat the odds to remain in the top three. I'm happy.

[Lucky17]

Maybe we should give Isaiah Thomas some credit for another clutch shot?

[Donoghus]

Why was it 1/11 odds, instead of 1/7? (10 balls, three of them drawn. Of the seven left, only one good outcome).

Anyway, the Celts beat the odds to remain in the top three. I'm happy.

Aren't the balls numbered 1-14 not 1-10?

[alldaboston]

Why was it 1/11 odds, instead of 1/7? (10 balls, three of them drawn. Of the seven left, only one good outcome).

Anyway, the Celts beat the odds to remain in the top three. I'm happy.

Aren't the balls numbered 1-14 not 1-10?

Yeah

[Roy H.]

Why was it 1/11 odds, instead of 1/7? (10 balls, three of them drawn. Of the seven left, only one good outcome).

Anyway, the Celts beat the odds to remain in the top three. I'm happy.

Aren't the balls numbered 1-14 not 1-10?

Ah, right. So Minnesota got a "bad beat" there.

[heyvik]

Great post....we got exactly what we expected. We need to live with it considering it could have been worse.....

Imagine how we would have felt if Minnesota or another team leapfrogged the top 3, we would have gotten #4 or worse. How would we feel then?