Rejuvenating an old debate

[JohnBoy65]

Trade deadline Feb '15 we swing a last minute deal for IT. We then turn around finish the year as one of the hottest teams.

The playoffs that year was the hottest debate on these forums.

Argument 1) I don't care about playoff experience, and how much experience are you really going to get by getting swept by the Cavs? We need to lose games and get the best lottery pick possible.

or

Argument 2) We need to do everything in our power to make the playoffs. It establishes a winning culture. Our young guys need that!

I wanted to make the playoffs. I didn't care about what happened. I just wanted to get there. I think we learned a lot in those 4 games against Cleveland. We learned just how hard it is to win in the playoffs. We ended up with pick 16 that turned into Rozier, that's paying off so far.

Anyone still think argument was the way to go, or does anyone think those playoffs had nothing do with the success of these playoffs

[TheTruthFot18]

Everyone wanted to tank and get Winslow (Keep the wins low for Winslow).

If we missed the playoffs and grabbed Winslow in the late lotto instead of Rozier, where would we be? Would we have won 6 games in a row these playoffs or less? How would Winslow in his 2nd year affect Brown's development or would someone else have been drafted?

I think making the playoffs in 2015 was the right move for this team long term. We got our 1st round losses out of the way in 15 and 16 and now improving and learning from it.

[celtics2030]

Let me put it to you like this


In the playoffs now more than ever, it's all about matchups.

Look at Chicago. That is about as bad as it gets for an 8th seed.


Then you got Washington.

We are very lucky that they do not play defense.

I think Atlanta barring team turmoil that they had would have been more of a nightmare for us because we also allow teams to kill us on the glass and score more than they should.

[drogbagarnett]

TP!
Thanks for bringing this up.
Something else to mention, they were are a lot of teams tanking that year...
PO Experience for that team was exactly what we needed.
It instituted the winning culture deep inside their minds.
We had 3 top picks coming  (not even counting smart at 6th the year before) so no need to waste winning culture for a 4th one that would have ranked 7th to 12th at best...
As you mentioned, we also got Rozier from that draft so very happy the way it turned out.
Now lets go finish up WAS and draft Tatum and I will be the happiest!

[Darío SpanishFan]

We got into the playoffs, which gave the players (bitter, but) valuable experience.

We got Rozier in a weak draft. Some people said he was a reach, but we're seeing his great tools.

In the end, it was a win-win situation for us, so the debate should be less intense than it was in 2015, in my opinion.