A Zen View

[RJ87]

The team isn't playing well. You know it, I know it. It is what it is.

Yet I don't find myself angry or sad - I'm not willing to fire the staff or ship out our two All-Stars wholesale. I kind of expected us to underperform because we're top heavy but we don't have bonafide superstars. Perhaps it's that belief that's allowed me to reach a point where I'm willing to take in this season win, lose, or draw. Maybe we've been spoiled by underdog teams that went further than we thought. Maybe we've been spoiled by adding top end young talent in Tatum and Brown without tanking for them. Maybe we're finally experiencing the growing pains of watching a young team lose and have to earn it. Maybe I'm drunk, I don't know.

Let this thread be a place of zen for those who have come to terms with it for better or worse (seriously, there's 50-11 threads to be negative in, go do that there.)

[Ogaju]

that you need a Zen thread says it all. Many knew this team wasn’t ready.

[RJ87]

that you need a Zen thread says it all. Many knew this team wasn’t ready.

Uhhh... There's some preseason threads that say otherwise. The win prediction thread is a doozy. But... I digress.

Namaste.

[jpotter33]

The team is playing well. You know it, I know it. It is what it is.

Yet I don't find myself angry or sad - I'm not willing to fire the staff or ship out our two All-Stars wholesale. I kind of expected us to underperform because we're top heavy but we don't have bonafide superstars. Perhaps it's that belief that's allowed me to reach a point where I'm willing to take in this season win, lose, or draw. Maybe we've been spoiled by underdog teams that went further than we thought. Maybe we've been spoiled by adding top end young talent in Tatum and Brown without tanking for them. Maybe we're finally experiencing the growing pains of watching a young team lose and have to earn it. Maybe I'm drunk, I don't know.

Let this thread be a place of zen for those who have comes to terms (seriously, there's 50-11 threads to be negative in, go do that there.)

You lost me there - you must really be drunk. 

But believe it or not - I agree for the most part. Since the past dozen or so games I've been in this camp that we're not really close to contender status right now and need to just ride out this year and shoot for major changes in the summer. There's really nothing out there right now that's going to change the course of this season.

Though I think that's where we differ, as I'd clean house with the coaching staff and bring in a much more player-oriented staff that has history with the NBA. I'd also put Tatum, Brown, and Timelord on a bulletin board and build the rest of the roster around them, with everyone else being expendable and tradeable assets, obviously at different price points.

[RJ87]

The team is playing well. You know it, I know it. It is what it is.

Yet I don't find myself angry or sad - I'm not willing to fire the staff or ship out our two All-Stars wholesale. I kind of expected us to underperform because we're top heavy but we don't have bonafide superstars. Perhaps it's that belief that's allowed me to reach a point where I'm willing to take in this season win, lose, or draw. Maybe we've been spoiled by underdog teams that went further than we thought. Maybe we've been spoiled by adding top end young talent in Tatum and Brown without tanking for them. Maybe we're finally experiencing the growing pains of watching a young team lose and have to earn it. Maybe I'm drunk, I don't know.

Let this thread be a place of zen for those who have comes to terms (seriously, there's 50-11 threads to be negative in, go do that there.)

You lost me there - you must really be drunk. 

But believe it or not - I agree for the most part. Since the past dozen or so games I've been in this camp that we're not really close to contender status right now and need to just ride out this year and shoot for major changes in the summer. There's really nothing out there right now that's going to change the course of this season.

Though I think that's where we differ, as I'd clean house with the coaching staff and bring in a much more player-oriented staff that has history with the NBA. I'd also put Tatum, Brown, and Timelord on a bulletin board and build the rest of the roster around them, with everyone else being expendable and tradeable assets, obviously at different price points.

You got me on the typo. TP.

As I said in the game thread, this team is a lot like last year's Sixers, the pieces just don't fit. I think the ship can be righted, just not this season. I'm prepared to latch onto whatever to ride this out - mostly that's individual player development.

[Who]

I do not understand the fatalism surrounding this team right now. Yeah, things bad but they are not permanent. The team is underperforming. Guys have been injured. Tatum struggled since his return from covid. Smart is just back. This is a team without depth. And it's lost his cohesiveness through it all.

It'll take some time but things will get back on track. This is still the 5th best team in the East. Things will trend upwards again before the season is out.

[RJ87]

I do not understand the fatalism surrounding this team right now. Yeah, things bad but they are not permanent. The team is underperforming. Guys have been injured. Tatum struggled since his return from covid. Smart is just back. This is a team without depth. And it's lost his cohesiveness through it all.

It'll take some time but things will get back on track. This is still the 5th best team in the East. Things will trend upwards again before the season is out.

TP.

I haven't lived in Boston for a few years now, and I think that's changed my panic level about the team overall. Just a bit of local sports radio lends to the idea that this team is a bottom of the heap scrap scraper with no hope of improving. There's a buttload of issues here, but there are also reasons for optimism.

[Ogaju]

not the fifth best in the east...more like the sixth.

[Csfan1984]

I think sitting guys might improve the team's mental approach. Maybe they need to step away for a bit and maybe they need an attitude adjustment. Id look at resting and solo playing Kemba, the Js and Smart. Sit three out the four per a game for the next two weeks and if you tank so be it. Send Kemba out there without the Js and Smart to remind him of his Hornets days. Send Tatum out there alone so he can understand why trying to do it all and not involve your other star players is a problem. Send Smart out there alone so he can understand he can't even do half as good to carry a team and needs to differ. Send Brown out there alone so he can see life is better working off Tatum and Kemba. They need a attitude adjustment towards each other, they need to want to play with and for each other. Right now they are just watching the clock and checking out mentally. They want to play their game and ignore the coach and teammates right now.

If they see they can't do it alone and watch the playoffs from home maybe that turns the switch in their heads. They get angry going into the off season to train harder and the start off next year focused on winning their teammates trust back. Be more focused on fitting together. Each player is a single torch in a dark field only together can they be a pyre to shine across the whole field.

Edit: Maybe sending out one leader per a whole game also wakes BS' creative and inspiring self again. When he only had IT and role players. BS had to work with guys and play no favorites. He demanded tough play and execution. It was expected of all the players or they don't see the floor. Maybe BS can also benefit and re-center.

[RodyTur10]

The Celtics are like a car that Ainge purchased for Stevens to drive. First he got a little engine (Thomas), who was nice but needed an upgrade. Unfortunately the upgrade (Irving) turned out to be unreliable. Now Stevens is trying like hell to start the car, but it isn't working and so he has asked the team to push the car to get it going without knowing that there's no engine in at all! Most of the team have realized this and have stopped pushing, while only the kids keep on pushing aimlessly.

By the way the Celtics are 12-18 over their last 30 games, you could say that we're officially in a slump.