Remember When We Almost Landed Durant in 2016?

[GreenlyGreeny]

And remember why we almost landed him? It was our wiz coach who could turn bronze into gold. And what has changed since then? We’ve handed the keys to two guys we’ve drafted since then. And now we’re about on par with where we were in 2014-2015, not even close to 2015-2016, and far worse than 2019-2020 and 2020-2021. Perhaps the issue is one or both of these two players? And if it’s one of the two, perhaps we should change course before it’s too late?

This may be quite controversial to say, but if not for JB there are some of us who have the feeling that Tatum, Kyrie and Hayward (or KD) would be killing it right now…it’s clear JB and Kyrie had issues, and it’s clear JB is not friends with these fellas. Tatum is easy-going and can probably get along with anybody, so he’s probably not the issue here…just think about it…

[Csfan1984]

Brooklyn and KD is why Irving left nothing to do with Brown. Only issue Irving had with Brown is on the topic of flat Earth.

If Brown was disliked why would Olympic players who won gold reach out to him saying it should have been his year and gold too. They felt empathy for Brown being out. You only do that for a guy you respect.

Hayward did want out because of being cursed here and money not a Brown thing.

Every team in the NBA would want Brown. There is nothing wrong with Brown. The team isn't good with just Tatum and Brown. Neither is a MVP caliber player and they need a better team as they can't do it alone. So unless you trade for a MVP guy expect the same results or worse if you move Brown.

[Moranis]

Not landing Durant was the beginning of the end of Ainge as a truly effective GM.  He had 1 more good move in him i.e. the Fultz/Tatum trade, but did basically nothing correctly after missing out on Durant, including signing Horford.  Horford would have been fantastic as a compliment to Durant, but he never should have signed him to that contract without Durant.  It just altered how Ainge handled the team going forward and led to all of these other strange moves that made the team better, but took it further from actual contention. 

[GreenlyGreeny]

If we had landed KD and Horford in 2016, and still landed Irving and Tatum in 2017, imagine how many titles we’d have right now? Winning cures all.

It’s too bad the pitch for KD and Horford had not resulted in both, with a quiet pitch to KD that BFF Irving would be the next target.

Instead of all that and all those great hopes/feelings we had as recently as five years ago, we’ve got .500 with JT/JB and the coach JT/JB wanted, not the coach who could turn bronze into gold before JT/JB. No wonder Kyrie and Hayward both left this Gen Z disaster, and even Stevens jumped hot on the opportunity to save face.

[86MaxwellSmart]

Jerry West.

[Atzar]

I'm confused by your latest crusade against Jaylen Brown.  I'm confused by most of the stuff you post, but especially this.  How is it "clear" that Brown isn't friends with these people?  Why do you think the team would be rolling right now if it were still built around Kyrie, of all people?  And you think that Tatum is easy-going and therefore "probably not the problem?"  What kind of assertion is that?  What does that have to do with basketball?

Especially given that our putrid basketball over the course of this road trip has happened without Brown.  Is it Jaylen's fault that Smart and Tatum brought the wrong attitude to Phoenix?  Is it Jaylen's fault that Horford and Robert Williams have been largely invisible lately?  Or that Grant Williams is apparently the only guy on the roster who can hit a f***ing three anymore? 

This makes no sense. 

[Sophomore]

I'm confused by your latest crusade against Jaylen Brown.  I'm confused by most of the stuff you post, but especially this.  How is it "clear" that Brown isn't friends with these people?  Why do you think the team would be rolling right now if it were still built around Kyrie, of all people?  And you think that Tatum is easy-going and therefore "probably not the problem?"  What kind of assertion is that?  What does that have to do with basketball?

Especially given that our putrid basketball over the course of this road trip has happened without Brown.  Is it Jaylen's fault that Smart and Tatum brought the wrong attitude to Phoenix?  Is it Jaylen's fault that Horford and Robert Williams have been largely invisible lately?  Or that Grant Williams is apparently the only guy on the roster who can hit a f***ing three anymore? 

This makes no sense.

All of this.

[Adelaide Celt]

Durant was never going anywhere other than Golden State for his cupcake titles.

[nickagneta]

I'm confused by your latest crusade against Jaylen Brown.  I'm confused by most of the stuff you post, but especially this.  How is it "clear" that Brown isn't friends with these people?  Why do you think the team would be rolling right now if it were still built around Kyrie, of all people?  And you think that Tatum is easy-going and therefore "probably not the problem?"  What kind of assertion is that?  What does that have to do with basketball?

Especially given that our putrid basketball over the course of this road trip has happened without Brown.  Is it Jaylen's fault that Smart and Tatum brought the wrong attitude to Phoenix?  Is it Jaylen's fault that Horford and Robert Williams have been largely invisible lately?  Or that Grant Williams is apparently the only guy on the roster who can hit a f***ing three anymore? 

This makes no sense.

The amount of ridiculous takes where he creates a strange narrative that paints Jaylen as a problem is strange.

Jaylen is only going to run home to California when his contract is up(Jaylen's home is in Atlanta). Jaylen isn't accepting his role as a #2 when Jaylen has only shown the opposite. JB has no friends on the team(how would anyone on this board know this). Hayward and Kyrie left because of Jaylen. Brown isn't worth much lesser players for trades. JB will be the reason Tatum leaves after the end of his contract.

It's all really bizarre given just how great Brown has been for this team both on and off the court. I find Jaylen to be one of the most likable, hardworking Celtics in a long time. I don't get what Greenly is selling. Not even a little bit

[GreenlyGreeny]

Someone’s gotta take the blame for this mediocrity. When JB knew his place as a member of the supporting cast, we were a lot better off. We’ve stunk ever since we’ve made JB the number two, and he’s not even fine being the beta to JT’s alpha. It’s like increasingly  trying to field a team with two Carmelo Anthony wannabes and it’s not working. Dump one and see if the other wisens up and tries to be more like KD and less like Carmelo.

[Atzar]

Someone’s gotta take the blame for this mediocrity. When JB knew his place as a member of the supporting cast, we were a lot better off. We’ve stunk ever since we’ve made JB the number two, and he’s not even fine being the beta to JT’s alpha. It’s like increasingly  trying to field a team with two Carmelo Anthony wannabes and it’s not working. Dump one and see if the other wisens up and tries to be more like KD and less like Carmelo.

"When JB knew his place?"  Seriously?  Is this a personal thing?  It sounds like it.

He's not fine being "the beta to JT's alpha?"  Based on what?  I've never seen any sign that Jaylen is displeased with his role next to Tatum, and I still have no clue how this pertains to the road trip we just flunked.  Again:  why are you blaming Brown for the problems that are obviously still present when he isn't on the court?

I don't understand this attempt to make Jaylen the fall guy for this team's present state.  "Someone's gotta take the blame?"  Try everybody. 

[GreenlyGreeny]

I personally like JT and JB as they present themselves, but this isn’t working and behind the scenes I’ve got a feeling there’s major issues. I suspect it’s not JT behind the scenes.

In any case, I’m very frustrated and see us being able to improve only by moving one or the other. It would seem Tatum is a superstar and JB is just an all-star, so it would seem silly to ship JT and build around JB. But I agree it’s not all JB’s fault.

I definitely don’t have the answers. I’m going to take a break from here because maybe I’m very, very wrong about JB, and JT is the issue.

[Ogaju]

Someone’s gotta take the blame for this mediocrity. When JB knew his place as a member of the supporting cast, we were a lot better off. We’ve stunk ever since we’ve made JB the number two, and he’s not even fine being the beta to JT’s alpha. It’s like increasingly  trying to field a team with two Carmelo Anthony wannabes and it’s not working. Dump one and see if the other wisens up and tries to be more like KD and less like Carmelo.

"When JB knew his place?"  Seriously?  Is this a personal thing?  It sounds like it.

He's not fine being "the beta to JT's alpha?"  Based on what?  I've never seen any sign that Jaylen is displeased with his role next to Tatum, and I still have no clue how this pertains to the road trip we just flunked.  Again:  why are you blaming Brown for the problems that are obviously still present when he isn't on the court?

I don't understand this attempt to make Jaylen the fall guy for this team's present state.  "Someone's gotta take the blame?"  Try everybody.

Problem with this team is not displeasure about roles. The problem is there are no defined roles. They just do what pleases them at any given time.

[Somebody]

Someone’s gotta take the blame for this mediocrity. When JB knew his place as a member of the supporting cast, we were a lot better off. We’ve stunk ever since we’ve made JB the number two, and he’s not even fine being the beta to JT’s alpha. It’s like increasingly  trying to field a team with two Carmelo Anthony wannabes and it’s not working. Dump one and see if the other wisens up and tries to be more like KD and less like Carmelo.

"When JB knew his place?"  Seriously?  Is this a personal thing?  It sounds like it.

He's not fine being "the beta to JT's alpha?"  Based on what?  I've never seen any sign that Jaylen is displeased with his role next to Tatum, and I still have no clue how this pertains to the road trip we just flunked.  Again:  why are you blaming Brown for the problems that are obviously still present when he isn't on the court?

I don't understand this attempt to make Jaylen the fall guy for this team's present state.  "Someone's gotta take the blame?"  Try everybody.

Problem with this team is not displeasure about roles. The problem is their are no defined roles. They just do what pleases them at any given time.

Sounds like a problem with the guy responsible for defining roles on the team

[PhoSita]

Ah yes, the days when I still felt hope