Ainge: “Kemba wasn’t himself. Not 100%”

[Donoghus]

Also, can we all take a moment to applaud our team and their toughness? Kemba played three playoff rounds on a bad knee. Does anybody think that our former superstar, Kyrie, would have done the same?

It’s why I will always remember guys like Larry, McHale, Havlicek and Isaiah.  Playing basketball was more than a job for them. They sacrificed their bodies to win.

Yeah, Kemba and Hayward, despite their actual performances being below what they can do, have gone up in my book. Playing on a dodgy knee and an under-recovered ankle respectively, and not complaining once.

Which is why I really hope those two are still around when this team finally breaks through.

[gouki88]

Also, can we all take a moment to applaud our team and their toughness? Kemba played three playoff rounds on a bad knee. Does anybody think that our former superstar, Kyrie, would have done the same?

It’s why I will always remember guys like Larry, McHale, Havlicek and Isaiah.  Playing basketball was more than a job for them. They sacrificed their bodies to win.

Yeah, Kemba and Hayward, despite their actual performances being below what they can do, have gone up in my book. Playing on a dodgy knee and an under-recovered ankle respectively, and not complaining once.

Which is why I really hope those two are still around when this team finally breaks through.

Me too. I've posted my fair share of trade ideas (mainly because I'm bored beyond belief), but I want those two to raise a banner alongside Jayson, Jaylen and Marcus.

[Csfan1984]

If this was the case they should have shut him down.

[gouki88]

If this was the case they should have shut him down.

Why?

[Roy H.]

Can someone post link of Ainge's entire post season press conference? I can only fine a snippet.  Thanks!

I haven’t seen the press conference, but here are more quotes:

https://www.nba.com/celtics/news/sidebar/misc-100120-ainge-dives-2019-20-impressions-offseason-goals-and-more

[Csfan1984]

If this was the case they should have shut him down.

Why?

Further injury risk. Think KG and IT for C's or Kawhi for Spurs among others. Sometimes players try to fight through stuff that they shouldn't. We have a young club and the window isn't close to closing so if a guy wasn't right he should stay out and get ready for next year.

[gouki88]

If this was the case they should have shut him down.

Why?

Further injury risk. Think KG and IT for C's or Kawhi for Spurs among others. Sometimes players try to fight through stuff that they shouldn't. We have a young club and the window isn't close to closing so if a guy wasn't right he should stay out and get ready for next year.

Risk v reward. We thought we had a title shot and he was scoring 20PPG. Made sense to me

[Csfan1984]

If this was the case they should have shut him down.

Why?

Further injury risk. Think KG and IT for C's or Kawhi for Spurs among others. Sometimes players try to fight through stuff that they shouldn't. We have a young club and the window isn't close to closing so if a guy wasn't right he should stay out and get ready for next year.

Risk v reward. We thought we had a title shot and he was scoring 20PPG. Made sense to me

Some thought.

[ozgod]

If this was the case they should have shut him down.

Probably Kemba on one knee is still better than Carsen Edwards on two knees. I'm sure if they had even the slightest thought that it would affect him long term they would have shut him down.

[Sophomore]

If this was the case they should have shut him down.

Probably Kemba on one knee is still better than Carsen Edwards on two knees. I'm sure if they had even the slightest thought that it would affect him long term they would have shut him down.

Better than Carsen on three knees.

[LilRip]

Doesn’t surprise me but who isn’t banged up this time of year?

Anyway, as much negative reax Kemba got here, I think people overlook how positive his presence has had on our chemistry. I’d still want to build around him, Tatum and Brown. The rest of the team needs to be viewed as the role players who complement this budding Big 3.

[Surferdad]

Doesn’t surprise me but who isn’t banged up this time of year?

Anyway, as much negative reax Kemba got here, I think people overlook how positive his presence has had on our chemistry. I’d still want to build around him, Tatum and Brown. The rest of the team needs to be viewed as the role players who complement this budding Big 3.

If Kemba is back to himself and you add a Tristan Thompson and a vet shooter off the bench, I like their chances next year.

[footey]

Can someone post link of Ainge's entire post season press conference? I can only fine a snippet.  Thanks!

I haven’t seen the press conference, but here are more quotes:

https://www.nba.com/celtics/news/sidebar/misc-100120-ainge-dives-2019-20-impressions-offseason-goals-and-more

Thanks.

I found the following from Karalis on MassLive to have the most information/quotes from Ainge.  I'm mostly curious on Ainge's view of Robert Williams' future, and while I wouldn't read too much into it, sounds like he still expects great things from him.

https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2020/10/heres-everything-danny-ainge-said-in-his-season-ending-news-conference.html

[Donoghus]

Can someone post link of Ainge's entire post season press conference? I can only fine a snippet.  Thanks!

I haven’t seen the press conference, but here are more quotes:

https://www.nba.com/celtics/news/sidebar/misc-100120-ainge-dives-2019-20-impressions-offseason-goals-and-more

Thanks.

I found the following from Karalis on MassLive to have the most information/quotes from Ainge.  I'm mostly curious on Ainge's view of Robert Williams' future, and while I wouldn't read too much into it, sounds like he still expects great things from him.

https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2020/10/heres-everything-danny-ainge-said-in-his-season-ending-news-conference.html

Karalis does a really good job. He's a great Twitter follow too.

[RJ87]

Sounds like knee surgery.

Yeah, certainly does.  Let's just hope its routine and nothing with long term implications.

It was pretty apparent something was off.  Give him all the credit in the world for trying to grind through it.

Ainge specifically stated that he wouldn't need surgery, so I'm curious as to what the plan is. We had months off between the shutdown and the bubble, Kemba's knee doesn't seem to respond to extended rest.

I think that’s odd.  This team has learned time and time again that if surgery is a strong possibility, it should be done sooner than later. Play in a wait and see approach with KG cost us at least one championship, and it set back IT’s career.  We had the same thing with Al Jefferson, with rumors that he was a malingerer.  Turns out he had bone chips in his ankle, and as soon as those were removed he improved remarkably.

If surgery is likely to provide a better outcome, get the dang surgery, and get it soon.  Playing through pain just seems to be a really bad strategy.

I agree 100% which is why I was surprised he mentioned surgery wasn't on the table. Because if it's not, then what is the course of treatment going forward and why didn't we try it when the NBA was shutdown?

On the hand, I want to be happy he doesn't need surgery but on the other, I'm a bit concerned it'll be more of the same next season with Kemba.