Props to Danny Ainge

[pokeKingCurtis]

It cracks me up that some still criticize Danny.  If it were up to fans on this blog, we’d be building around Julius Randle, Kris Dunn and Markelle Fultz.

You're being overly kind, Roy. Those fans would have traded all those picks for Greg Monroe, Jahlil Okafor, Drummond, and Kevin Love. We'd have an army of rebounders and would get outscored by 50 points a game.

That's actually pretty hilarious...

But it was kind of working in Cleveland no? An army of centers with Love, Markenen, Mobley, Allen - too bad they're injured.

And I gotta say to the fans' credit, playing 2 bigs has been a huge reason for this monster run. I was gung ho about getting a small ball 4, like what everyone else is doing in the league, and laughed off the Thad Young ideas to get us a rebounder, but the TL-Al pairing is huge.

[Walker Wiggle]

The one unifying principle behind almost every player Ainge went after was their competitiveness and their work ethic. Ainge valued guys who truly cared about winning and about getting the most out of themselves. It’s one reason he (to take one example out of many) rolled the dice on an athletic, hyper-motivated brainiac with no jump shot and no dribbling skills in Jaylen Brown. Somehow, it’s the work ethic and the attitude that triumphs in the end.

[kraidstar]

It cracks me up that some still criticize Danny.  If it were up to fans on this blog, we’d be building around Julius Randle, Kris Dunn and Markelle Fultz.

You're being overly kind, Roy. Those fans would have traded all those picks for Greg Monroe, Jahlil Okafor, Drummond, and Kevin Love. We'd have an army of rebounders and would get outscored by 50 points a game.

That's actually pretty hilarious...

But it was kind of working in Cleveland no? An army of centers with Love, Markenen, Mobley, Allen - too bad they're injured.

And I gotta say to the fans' credit, playing 2 bigs has been a huge reason for this monster run. I was gung ho about getting a small ball 4, like what everyone else is doing in the league, and laughed off the Thad Young ideas to get us a rebounder, but the TL-Al pairing is huge.

Yes, but unlike the guys mentioned above, Al and Timelord actually play defense. The fans were partly on the right track but had no clue what type of big man talent we should be pursuing.

I got mocked here for saying that the bruiser/rebounding bigs who don't play defense are detrimental to a team's title chances. I'm wrong a lot, but I was right about that one.

Agree our size has been a major benefit though. Tall humans are rare on this earth. Ainge and Stevens did a good job filling out the roster with guys who not only have that size and physicality but can actually play both ends with finesse and intelligence.

[pokeKingCurtis]

It cracks me up that some still criticize Danny.  If it were up to fans on this blog, we’d be building around Julius Randle, Kris Dunn and Markelle Fultz.

You're being overly kind, Roy. Those fans would have traded all those picks for Greg Monroe, Jahlil Okafor, Drummond, and Kevin Love. We'd have an army of rebounders and would get outscored by 50 points a game.

That's actually pretty hilarious...

But it was kind of working in Cleveland no? An army of centers with Love, Markenen, Mobley, Allen - too bad they're injured.

And I gotta say to the fans' credit, playing 2 bigs has been a huge reason for this monster run. I was gung ho about getting a small ball 4, like what everyone else is doing in the league, and laughed off the Thad Young ideas to get us a rebounder, but the TL-Al pairing is huge.

Yes, but unlike the guys mentioned above, Al and Timelord actually play defense. The fans were partly on the right track but had no clue what type of big man talent we should be pursuing.

I got mocked here for saying that the bruiser/rebounding bigs who don't play defense are detrimental to a team's title chances. I'm wrong a lot, but I was right about that one.

Agree our size has been a major benefit though. Tall humans are rare on this earth. Ainge and Stevens did a good job filling out the roster with guys who not only have that size and physicality but can actually play both ends with finesse and intelligence.

Man, just from a sort of topological standpoint, JB and JT - the 6'7 shooting guard and the 6'9-6'10 small forward who are young, skilled and athletic... JB going bananas against the Nets is just so satisfying for so many reasons after the media kept BS'ing all this garbage.

Pulling Al out of nowhere is just nuts.

This series has not been kind to Derrick White though. But I have a feeling he'll come up huge at some point, especially on defense and maybe with his playmaking.

[gouki88]

I was fully going along with these recent comments until someone brought up Moose Monroe.

I love Moose! Bring him back

[pokeKingCurtis]

I was fully going along with these recent comments until someone brought up Moose Monroe.

I love Moose! Bring him back

Throwback center/power forward

But also legendary Celtic small forward for 1 quarter, leading us to the win vs. the Bucks (I think).

[gouki88]

I was fully going along with these recent comments until someone brought up Moose Monroe.

I love Moose! Bring him back

Throwback center/power forward

But also legendary Celtic small forward for 1 quarter, leading us to the win vs. the Bucks (I think).

His per-minute stats this season have been epic!

[cman88]

In hindsight kyrie trade and getting kemba as a consolation prize were both mistakes.

But idk how some fans can't appreciate the fact that 4 of the starting 5 we're drafted by ainge as well as two big contributes off the bench. Not to mention ainge signed theis.

The brown pick was booed when he was drafted. And prichard, grant, time Lord were all picked in the 20's

[Vermont Green]

Man, just from a sort of topological standpoint, JB and JT - the 6'7 shooting guard and the 6'9-6'10 small forward who are young, skilled and athletic... JB going bananas against the Nets is just so satisfying for so many reasons after the media kept BS'ing all this garbage.

I agree with your overall sentiment on the Celtics but Brown is 6'-6" and Tatum is 6'-8".

No need to exaggerate.  The NBA does actual measurements now so what is listed is what is real.  Jayson Tatum is not 6'-9", 6'-10", he is 6'-8" and that is fine, plenty of size to be an elite wing in this league.  Kevin Durant is 6'-10".

[gouki88]

Man, just from a sort of topological standpoint, JB and JT - the 6'7 shooting guard and the 6'9-6'10 small forward who are young, skilled and athletic... JB going bananas against the Nets is just so satisfying for so many reasons after the media kept BS'ing all this garbage.

I agree with your overall sentiment on the Celtics but Brown is 6'-6" and Tatum is 6'-8".

No need to exaggerate.  The NBA does actual measurements now so what is listed is what is real.  Jayson Tatum is not 6'-9", 6'-10", he is 6'-8" and that is fine, plenty of size to be an elite wing in this league.  Kevin Durant is 6'-10".

Are these not their measurements without shoes on?

I don't think that makes them any more "real", given they do in fact play in shoes

[Vermont Green]

As to Ainge, this team was built primarily through the draft, Ainge's drafts.  There is no debating that.  Ainge gets criticized here all the time for any and all bad draft picks or misses (and he has some, no doubt) but this team was built through the draft.  Picking Brown was criticized plenty and most everyone would have been happy to draft Fultz.

The team was then rounded out first with the Horford-Walker trade which likely did have a lot if input from Ainge.  It is Stevens' trade though, it happened on his watch and so he gets the credit.  This trade was mostly panned.  The most common remark was I can't believe we had to give up a draft pick to dump Kemba.  I admit, I did not expect Horford to be this good but that trade now looks brilliant.

And then the final trade deadline things that got White and Theis.  Not a huge impact but moves that have proved helpful.

Then here is the coach.  Yes, Ime is a good coach but I am not sure the team is any better right now than it would be if Stevens was the coach.  Stevens got teams to the ECF so no reason to think he couldn't have gotten this team to up 3-0 on the Nets.

So what does this all add up to?  What did each of these three contribute:

Draft                 80%
Horford Trade    15%
Trade Deadline    5%
Coach                 ?

These are just rough numbers off the top of my head.  So I give Ainge 80% of the credit for this team.

[td450]

As to Ainge, this team was built primarily through the draft, Ainge's drafts.  There is no debating that.  Ainge gets criticized here all the time for any and all bad draft picks or misses (and he has some, no doubt) but this team was built through the draft.  Picking Brown was criticized plenty and most everyone would have been happy to draft Fultz.

The team was then rounded out first with the Horford-Walker trade which likely did have a lot if input from Ainge.  It is Stevens' trade though, it happened on his watch and so he gets the credit.  This trade was mostly panned.  The most common remark was I can't believe we had to give up a draft pick to dump Kemba.  I admit, I did not expect Horford to be this good but that trade now looks brilliant.

And then the final trade deadline things that got White and Theis.  Not a huge impact but moves that have proved helpful.

Then here is the coach.  Yes, Ime is a good coach but I am not sure the team is any better right now than it would be if Stevens was the coach.  Stevens got teams to the ECF so no reason to think he couldn't have gotten this team to up 3-0 on the Nets.

So what does this all add up to?  What did each of these three contribute:

Draft                 80%
Horford Trade    15%
Trade Deadline    5%
Coach                 ?

These are just rough numbers off the top of my head.  So I give Ainge 80% of the credit for this team.

The point I've tried to make is that you can put all that stuff together and still end up as a third tier team if you don't see the viable path to a contender. The only way to go from where we were to where we are was to plug all of the holes in the defensive rotation, and fix the ingrained problem with ball movement. We don't have a Durant or a LeBron or a Curry. Ainge just didn't get that.

A lot of that is on the coach. But a coach can't turn a Kemba or a Fournier into defenders. Ainge was masterful up until the first offseason after the Kyrie trade, but he just didn't understand the final steps. Stevens and Udoka figured it out.

[Goldstar88]

Man, just from a sort of topological standpoint, JB and JT - the 6'7 shooting guard and the 6'9-6'10 small forward who are young, skilled and athletic... JB going bananas against the Nets is just so satisfying for so many reasons after the media kept BS'ing all this garbage.

I agree with your overall sentiment on the Celtics but Brown is 6'-6" and Tatum is 6'-8".

No need to exaggerate.  The NBA does actual measurements now so what is listed is what is real.  Jayson Tatum is not 6'-9", 6'-10", he is 6'-8" and that is fine, plenty of size to be an elite wing in this league.  Kevin Durant is 6'-10".

Scal had mentioned that measurements are done when the players first enter the league as rookies. They don’t do it again after that. Scal also mentioned that he’s interviewed Tatum on several occasions and stated, “I’m a legit 6’9” and Tatum is bigger than me.”

[jambr380]

As to Ainge, this team was built primarily through the draft, Ainge's drafts.  There is no debating that.  Ainge gets criticized here all the time for any and all bad draft picks or misses (and he has some, no doubt) but this team was built through the draft.  Picking Brown was criticized plenty and most everyone would have been happy to draft Fultz.

The team was then rounded out first with the Horford-Walker trade which likely did have a lot if input from Ainge.  It is Stevens' trade though, it happened on his watch and so he gets the credit.  This trade was mostly panned.  The most common remark was I can't believe we had to give up a draft pick to dump Kemba.  I admit, I did not expect Horford to be this good but that trade now looks brilliant.

And then the final trade deadline things that got White and Theis.  Not a huge impact but moves that have proved helpful.

Then here is the coach.  Yes, Ime is a good coach but I am not sure the team is any better right now than it would be if Stevens was the coach.  Stevens got teams to the ECF so no reason to think he couldn't have gotten this team to up 3-0 on the Nets.

So what does this all add up to?  What did each of these three contribute:

Draft                 80%
Horford Trade    15%
Trade Deadline    5%
Coach                 ?

These are just rough numbers off the top of my head.  So I give Ainge 80% of the credit for this team.

The point I've tried to make is that you can put all that stuff together and still end up as a third tier team if you don't see the viable path to a contender. The only way to go from where we were to where we are was to plug all of the holes in the defensive rotation, and fix the ingrained problem with ball movement. We don't have a Durant or a LeBron or a Curry. Ainge just didn't get that.

A lot of that is on the coach. But a coach can't turn a Kemba or a Fournier into defenders. Ainge was masterful up until the first offseason after the Kyrie trade, but he just didn't understand the final steps. Stevens and Udoka figured it out.

We literally went to the ECF with Kemba as our PG (did the same with IT). And if Hayward didn't get injured, we might very well be talking about the Cs as 2020 NBA Champions. Ainge's biggest issue is that his best players kept getting injured - often at the worst times (or all the time in Hayward's case). I just find it comical that people keep saying Ainge had no idea how to assemble the parts.

I am hopeful for a Title this year, but if we fall short, then it isn't possible people that the passing of time might allow people to be more objective? 3 ECFs in 4 years is pretty decent and Brad is lucky enough to have most all of those same pieces that Danny chose. Where I give Brad credit is on the development of this team with his coaching, not the assembly. Brad's best move by far was knowing when to step aside and his hiring of Ime.

[td450]

As to Ainge, this team was built primarily through the draft, Ainge's drafts.  There is no debating that.  Ainge gets criticized here all the time for any and all bad draft picks or misses (and he has some, no doubt) but this team was built through the draft.  Picking Brown was criticized plenty and most everyone would have been happy to draft Fultz.

The team was then rounded out first with the Horford-Walker trade which likely did have a lot if input from Ainge.  It is Stevens' trade though, it happened on his watch and so he gets the credit.  This trade was mostly panned.  The most common remark was I can't believe we had to give up a draft pick to dump Kemba.  I admit, I did not expect Horford to be this good but that trade now looks brilliant.

And then the final trade deadline things that got White and Theis.  Not a huge impact but moves that have proved helpful.

Then here is the coach.  Yes, Ime is a good coach but I am not sure the team is any better right now than it would be if Stevens was the coach.  Stevens got teams to the ECF so no reason to think he couldn't have gotten this team to up 3-0 on the Nets.

So what does this all add up to?  What did each of these three contribute:

Draft                 80%
Horford Trade    15%
Trade Deadline    5%
Coach                 ?

These are just rough numbers off the top of my head.  So I give Ainge 80% of the credit for this team.

The point I've tried to make is that you can put all that stuff together and still end up as a third tier team if you don't see the viable path to a contender. The only way to go from where we were to where we are was to plug all of the holes in the defensive rotation, and fix the ingrained problem with ball movement. We don't have a Durant or a LeBron or a Curry. Ainge just didn't get that.

A lot of that is on the coach. But a coach can't turn a Kemba or a Fournier into defenders. Ainge was masterful up until the first offseason after the Kyrie trade, but he just didn't understand the final steps. Stevens and Udoka figured it out.

We literally went to the ECF with Kemba as our PG (did the same with IT). And if Hayward didn't get injured, we might very well be talking about the Cs as 2020 NBA Champions. Ainge's biggest issue is that his best players kept getting injured - often at the worst times (or all the time in Hayward's case). I just find it comical that people keep saying Ainge had no idea how to assemble the parts.

I am hopeful for a Title this year, but if we fall short, then it isn't possible people that the passing of time might allow people to be more objective? 3 ECFs in 4 years is pretty decent and Brad is lucky enough to have most all of those same pieces that Danny chose. Where I give Brad credit is on the development of this team with his coaching, not the assembly. Brad's best move by far was knowing when to step aside and his hiring of Ime.

Referring to other people's opinions as comical is rude.

-----

Your argument is that a team with Kemba Walker, Gordon Hayward, and two super talented but still very young wings was a serious threat to win a title.

I think that team overachieved, and Kemba was just never going to be good enough, even if he had only deteriorated at a standard pace for skinny 6 ft guards who rely on quickness. Walker and Hayward are soft players, and it is a pretty huge stretch to expect them to win a title.

Before he left, Ainge expressed the strategy that the team needed to be built around Tatum and Brown. I don't think there was ever a way to get that done any time soon without creating an air tight defense around them. The fact that they can both play intense defense is what makes them different.