Danny on T&R: We're Not Good Enough

[LilRip]

I feel like Danny is fixated on acquiring a 3rd star (like KAT) when really, all this team really needs IMO is real, legit role players to supplement Jaylen, Tatum, Kemba and Smart. Or even if Kemba isn't here long term, Jaylen/Tatum/Smart to go along with legit role players.

Problem is, almost all our role players are garbage and a handful of them wouldn't even make the roster on other teams. Pritchard, Timelord and maybe Nesmith are the only ones worth it and they are still developing.

This isn't just a "now" problem, it's been the case for many years now. The C's contend but Danny does nada at the trade deadline while other teams do. Not even for bench help, and then it costs us in a playoff series.

To be fair, his Kyrie team was stacked. We had Kyrie, Smart, Brown, Tatum, Horford, Rozier, Morris, and Hayward. Ainge swung and hit on talent but missed badly on chemistry.

Since then though, we’ve been trading away talent for chemistry to the point that now we have a LOT of chemistry (guys willing to do their roles, not complaining, etc.) but not enough talent. Smart, Brown and Tatum are the holdovers but our rotation has done three positional trades that read:

- Hayward for Semi (huge drop off in talent)
- Morris and Horford for Theis and TT (still a drop off in skills given how versatile the 2 on the left are, despite many here disliking them)
- Kyrie and Rozier for Kemba and Pritchard (I’d say this is closest to even but we still downgraded in talent, IMO)

[tenn_smoothie]

https://twitter.com/Toucherandrich/status/1362405762052595720

Danny Ainge just told us that he thinks the Celtics as constituted right now are not good enough to win a championship. #Celtics

Really ?  When did this dawn on him ?

[tarheelsxxiii]

https://twitter.com/Toucherandrich/status/1362405762052595720

Danny Ainge just told us that he thinks the Celtics as constituted right now are not good enough to win a championship. #Celtics

Really ?  When did this dawn on him ?

He's failed to get us a legitimate Center for nearly a decade.  At this point, I think the players should be complaining to the media about management, not vice versa.

[smokeablount]

https://twitter.com/Toucherandrich/status/1362405762052595720

Danny Ainge just told us that he thinks the Celtics as constituted right now are not good enough to win a championship. #Celtics

Really ?  When did this dawn on him ?

He's failed to get us a legitimate Center for nearly a decade.  At this point, I think the players should be complaining to the media about management, not vice versa.

TP, this made me laugh and sadly I can’t say I totally disagree.

[tenn_smoothie]

I completely agree with Ainge that the best way to improve this team is to get better from the inside out.

Get everyone healthy. Re-establish the chemistry of last year's playoff starting five that was so successful. Put others into their defined roles. Establish a set rotation with set 5 man groupings for consistency. Start to give better effort, in order to get better performance on the defensive side of the ball. Hope like hell that the youth develop quickly.

Do all that for the next month plus, until the deadline, then, if a trade(s) comes up that makes sense, make it(them).

Good plan.

Just two things - First, If a trade is made, make it for now and the future, don't make some stop-gap move just to get a playoff seeding in a season we aren't winning a title anyway. Every single move needs to be made with the priority that it contributes to title contention over the next 5 years, at least. Second, stop playing Brown and Tatum too many minutes. Save their legs for their prime seasons ahead when we will hopefully be contending on an annual basis. I'd even say nobody plays more than 30 minutes/game, except in certain circumstances (holding a 10-point lead vs Lakers in the 4th quarter). Oh wait, we already tried that.

[tenn_smoothie]

https://twitter.com/Toucherandrich/status/1362405762052595720

Danny Ainge just told us that he thinks the Celtics as constituted right now are not good enough to win a championship. #Celtics

Really ?  When did this dawn on him ?

He's failed to get us a legitimate Center for nearly a decade. 

The one true center we did have was traded for a soft, "athletic" wing who promptly wilted under the bright lights, costing us #18.

[wiley]

Danny hit the nail on the head with the maturity thing and not respecting the opponent's ability enough.....

I like that no panic trades are coming.

Our best guys are super young.

Smart will help...

[Tr1boy]

Danny hit the nail on the head with the maturity thing and not respecting the opponent's ability enough.....

I like that no panic trades are coming.

Our best guys are super young.

Smart will help...

Doesnt make much sense

Team has already lost to terrible teams.

Celts should have been humbled yesterday

The young guys respect everybody. New to the league

Whats next, Semi thinks Hawks are nothing?

[Tr1boy]

Danny got trapped in a corner by Rich and Adam Jones

I honestly dont think he will return back to that show anytime soon.  Never heard a player or gm picked apart like that.

Brad on the other hand... the guy was smooth as velvet on Zolak lol. Calmly answered everything

At the end he said along the lines, "no worries we will turn it around". Smiled and left the show.  The hosts were reassured

Night and day difference

[GreenlyGreeny]

Danny got trapped in a corner by Rich and Adam Jones

I honestly dont think he will return back to that show anytime soon.  Never heard a player or gm picked apart like that.

Brad on the other hand... the guy was smooth as velvet on Zolak lol. Calmly answered everything

At the end he said along the lines, "no worries we will turn it around". Smiled and left the show.  The hosts were reassured

Night and day difference

Brad is hot and Danny is not. The only reason we’ve attracted free agents is because of Brad. And the reason why they keep leaving is Danny, who’s reportedly not such a pleasant guy when the cameras are off...and look at what was done to IT. Unforgivable...

Would rather see us force Danny into retirement (he’s gotta be close to 65) and promote Zarren rather than keep this up...

Also, if Danny was ever foolish enough to fire Brad, guarantee LeBron would force Lakers ownership to fire Vogel and pay Brad whatever it takes to become the Lakers HC. What a legacy that would be for Danny...

Bottom-line: Danny’s not out-lasting Brad in Boston...and if we don’t make the playoffs or lose in the first-round, Danny’s done.

[Donoghus]

Bottom-line: Danny’s not out-lasting Brad in Boston...and if we don’t make the playoffs or lose in the first-round, Danny’s done.

I wouldn't bet on that.

[Androslav]

Danny got trapped in a corner by Rich and Adam Jones

I honestly dont think he will return back to that show anytime soon.  Never heard a player or gm picked apart like that.

Brad on the other hand... the guy was smooth as velvet on Zolak lol. Calmly answered everything

At the end he said along the lines, "no worries we will turn it around". Smiled and left the show.  The hosts were reassured

Night and day difference

Brad is hot and Danny is not. The only reason we’ve attracted free agents is because of Brad. And the reason why they keep leaving is Danny, who’s reportedly not such a pleasant guy when the cameras are off...and look at what was done to IT. Unforgivable...

Would rather see us force Danny into retirement (he’s gotta be close to 65) and promote Zarren rather than keep this up...

Also, if Danny was ever foolish enough to fire Brad, guarantee LeBron would force Lakers ownership to fire Vogel and pay Brad whatever it takes to become the Lakers HC. What a legacy that would be for Danny...

Bottom-line: Danny’s not out-lasting Brad in Boston...and if we don’t make the playoffs or lose in the first-round, Danny’s done.

I think that Danny will be done when he decides he is done.
We are in the middle of the least meaningful regular season ever.
We still have huge TPA, all our picks, and young talent to offer in trades.

Celtics are Celtics because they don't panic unlike many other less successful teams in the league.
It is one of the reasons why I am a fan of this franchise.

There is a fitting Arabic saying:
"Dogs bark, caravans pass."

We are on the right track (great coach, owner and front office, 2 young stars locked long-term),
and feet are still under the table.

[todd_days_41]

Bottom-line: Danny’s not out-lasting Brad in Boston...and if we don’t make the playoffs or lose in the first-round, Danny’s done.

I wouldn't bet on that.

Yeah this is nonsense. Ainge is a Top Tier NBA GM. I think he's more likely to retire before he'd ever be fired.

[GreenWarrior]

Can't believe the level of delusion some of you are still under. Too many to quote so I'll just throw my thoughts out there.

That team a few yrs. ago that was stacked that took the Cavs to game 7, the precious chemistry that ainge clinged to was his 1st and most egregious mistake. This is where he started diverting from the plan.

It is my belief that kyrie actually did come in here with an open mind and was all in as much as a guy in his position would be. I think he said if this, this and this happens then I'm staying here.

It was the very next season where we lost kyrie. He saw how the organization handled things in the off season, by the time the season started rozier was a problem. And kyrie was in disbelief at the level of commitment to him and the rest of the team.

It was here kyrie started rolling his eyes at stevens because he folded to the situation as well and the "we just have to be better" comments started.

Ainge didn't go all in on this team following that season. Moves should have been made then. Instead it's been the youth movement - can't trade semi ojeleye, he's too valuable.

The decision on hayward and horford should have been made then, he should have had a plan in place for them at this point. Instead he gambled and lost on both of those guys, and even kyrie.

We've lost all 3 of those guys for absolutely nothing.

Ainge has painted this team into a corner and I'm sure no one will acknowledge this but there's not much of a way left to improve this team dramatically.

[GreenEnvy]

As of right now, I don't think that's groundbreaking stuff or anything.  It's pretty apparent.

What is groundbreaking is that a GM actually said out loud what is obviously true.  I give Danny credit for that.

Yes, but demoralizing from the players' perspective.  It is basically saying that we will need to make trades/cut guys before we can be more competitive.

I agree. Somewhat surprised he put it out there. We aren’t a rebuilding team, we are one that’s been to three of the last 4 ECF. I get our roster is vastly different than it was 4 seasons ago, and hey, maybe it lights a fire under Tatum/Brown. But the other guys, especially the end of bench guys? They have to hear that and think they are on the chopping block to get traded or cut (for a player that gets bought out).