Should we Tank?

[RodyTur10]

If it could turn out like GSW last year I don't know that I would be against it... Given we don't use our TPE this season. Which, for some reason, I'm getting the feeling we won't.

We could end up with a pretty serious pick as a trade asset. TPE + that pick could be something. Not sure if it's the way to go, but it's interesting.

Our own pick becomes more interesting by the minute. Instead of a very late first 26-30 which doesn't have a lot of value it's now a midfirst 16-20 which generally has value to obtain a good role player. If we 'tank' and that pick goes to 11-15 or even 6-10 then we can really look at a much higher class of players. Using that TPE and an additional asset and perhaps a (borderline) All Star is in the cards. Thinking of guys like: Wood or Vucevic.

Ending the season where we are now and getting bounced in the first round is the worst possible outcome. The team won't learn anything from a beating by the Nets or Bucks. I want to see whether the Celtics can recover in their upcoming streak of home games. If they can't, I'd seriously consider a quiet tanking operation. In fairness Brown and Tatum could use some load management, while our young guys (Pritchard, Langford, Nesmith, G.Williams, R.Williams) need to get more court experience.

Ps: the Celtics are just one game away (Knicks) from being last in the division

[GreenWarrior]

"Should we Tank?"

I don't think we have a choice.

[Androslav]

Not unless Brown and Tatum also get hurt.
Which I don't believe will happen.

[pearljammer10]

We are in 6th place and 1 game behind 4th.

No.

[moiso]

We are way too good to tank.  Sitting Tatum, Brown, or Walker with made up injuries is a ridiculous idea.  I think once we get Smart back we will be a lot closer to the top than to the bottom of the league.  Still not a title contender without a serious shakeup, but way too good to tank.

[boscel33]

We are way too good to tank.  Sitting Tatum, Brown, or Walker with made up injuries is a ridiculous idea.  I think once we get Smart back we will be a lot closer to the top than to the bottom of the league.  Still not a title contender without a serious shakeup, but way too good to tank.

I don't believe they are made up:  Kemba still needs to be managed, JB has a knee issue, and JT still is recovering from Covid.  That said, no I don't want to tank.  I want these managed so when we're healthy, we can make a run.

[Tr1boy]

We are way too good to tank.  Sitting Tatum, Brown, or Walker with made up injuries is a ridiculous idea.  I think once we get Smart back we will be a lot closer to the top than to the bottom of the league.  Still not a title contender without a serious shakeup, but way too good to tank.

They hurtin man 

They will be ok for the all star game. But after that
...ouch

[Phantom255x]

We're only about 2 games ahead of the 12 seed in the East right now, so...

And we would currently be the 10 seed in the West based on record lol

[moiso]

We are way too good to tank.  Sitting Tatum, Brown, or Walker with made up injuries is a ridiculous idea.  I think once we get Smart back we will be a lot closer to the top than to the bottom of the league.  Still not a title contender without a serious shakeup, but way too good to tank.

I don't believe they are made up:  Kemba still needs to be managed, JB has a knee issue, and JT still is recovering from Covid.  That said, no I don't want to tank.  I want these managed so when we're healthy, we can make a run.

They are all playing and none of them appear to be hurting.  Haven't heard any of them complaining lately.  Most players have something that they have to manage.  These three don't have anything more significant than the average player right now.   Plus, whether we are losing games or not, this season is huge for Tatum and Brown's development.  They are figuring out what they can do on the court and they may not have the ultimate green light to go 1 on 5 that they have now when we are competing for a title.  They may have to sacrifice a little bit eventually.  Even though the season isn't going well, it's going very well for Brown's development in particular.

[johnnygreen]

The problem with this team is not the players surrounding Tatum and Brown, it’s Tatum and Brown. They’re seemingly so concerned about getting numbers and making the All-Star team that it has hurt the Celtics in winning games. The ball sticks to them no matter when it is during the game. The ball needs to move to help create rhythm with shots. The one on one garbage between Tatum and Brown needs to stop. They are great individual players but they’re not team players now, and if they continue to play like this, the team will never win a title with them. Hopefully, now that they both made the All-Star team, they can finally start playing team basketball again.

[esel1000]

Everyone who commented on this thread saying they don’t have to try to tank, you may be right.

[RodyTur10]

Everyone who commented on this thread saying they don’t have to try to tank, you may be right.

Since January, 16th: the only two teams with a worse record than the Celtics (7-14) are the Cavs (6-14) and the Wolves (4-18).....

(FYI: 7 of those 14 losses were against below .500 teams)

[Birdman]

Why tank?? There’s not a college player out there who is a game changer

[gouki88]

Why tank?? There’s not a college player out there who is a game changer

This is wildly incorrect. Cunningham, Green, Kuminga, Suggs and Mobley are all elite prospects

[Vermont Green]

There are two extremes in play here.  One is to tank.  The other is to go "all in" and bring in some overpaid veteran who in theory will put us over the top.  Neither is a smart business or sports decision.

The difference between picking say 20th vs say 15th is not worth tanking for.  To me, any discussion of this is just nonsense.  If we do make a mistake, it will probably be in the other direction, reach in a trade or something to bring in a player that doesn't work out and then hampers the team from other moves down the road.

Wyc said out loud what he wants to do.  Stay the course, keep the keepers, don't do anything rash.  This does not mean don't do anything, there may be a good trade opportunity and if there is, I believe they will take it, even if it is a big trade (involving Kemba or whatever).  I don't think this is likely though, the environment just doesn't seem to support it right now but I am sure Danny has his feelers out in all directions.

There is another way to look at the two extremes, one is that we are not good enough to win a title right now.  That is true but will prove to be true for 29 of the 30 teams in the league.  The other is are we as bad as we have looked the last several games.  I don't think that extreme applies either.