Dream Off-season

[BballTim]

What lesson do they need to learn? Just becuase they didn't sign the guys you wanted doesn't mean they FAILED. You guys are so thick headed, we won 62 games with KG out for 1/3 of the season, he didn't play for the entire playoffs and we were one game away from the ECF's.

The team won 62 games, but couldn't count on more than 1/3 of its roster for contributions (Walker, Giddens, Pruitt, Tony, Moore, and really, Starbury too.)  With two major injuries, less than 50% of the team was playing and contributing consistently.  There's a lesson to be learned there, I think, which is to fill the roster with legitimate NBA players.

  I don't think there's a team left playing that could survive the injuries we did. If KG was healthy we could have gotten away with playing the subs a little more, we'd have swept the Bulls instead of playing 7 games + 7 OTs. The issues with the bench were magnified because of injuries but the bench was never going to be strong enough to overcome an injury to KG and win the title.

but it could have been strong enough to get us to a point where maybe KG could have started playing again...

  First of all if KG was extremely close to coming back he'd have suited up for game 7. He'd still have to be, right now, 2-3 games from even thinking about playing. And then you're talking about bringing back someone who's played a handful of minutes over the last 3 months and hasn't been able to stay in anything approaching game shape because of his knee.

well we're never going to know how this whole thing would have gone down had we made it to the ECF or even the Finals.

All i know is that KG held off on surgery. And if the bench had been deeper, we could possibly have given KG more time to attempt to come back.

  Too funny. Remember, though, with a better bench we'd have dispensed with Chicago sooner and possibly Orlando as well. We'd already be a game or two into our duel with Cleveland, so best case KG would be testing his knee in a game for the first time in game 5 or 6. More likely we'd have to beat Cleveland without him and hope he was ready for the Finals.

and being two games into the ECF is a bad thing?

plus your best case scenario sounds pretty good to me right about now.

  Best case scenarios always sound good. The most likely scenario is that KG doesn't play again this year.

well, even in just the most likely scenario, we're still playing and KGs return is still possible...

better than where we are now, no?

  In terns of winning a title the most likely scenario leaves us right where we are now, unless you think we could get past the Cavs without KG.

except now there's no "likelihoods" of KG returning and us winning a Title...

much different than being in game two of the ECFs.

and I'd take that - slim chances and all.

the fact is, the longer we went in the playoffs, the more time KG had to come back.

  The point is there's really no time left. Clearly he's not anywhere near making a contribution if he didn't even suit up on Sunday. What if Perk had fouled out with a few minutes left in the game? Wouldn't it have been worth it to have KG dress in case that happened instead of dressing Walker? Based on the way the series had gone a few minutes from KG might have tipped the scales. But now someone who A) can't even give you a few minutes 2 days ago and B) probably hasn't run the length of the court since April is going to play enough minutes at a high level that he'll push us past the Cavs? Sure, we'll never know, just like we'll never know that Scal wouldn't have averaged 30 against the Cavs or that Davis wouldn't have shut down LeBron whenever Paul was on the bench. You're grasping for straws.

[winsomme]

What lesson do they need to learn? Just becuase they didn't sign the guys you wanted doesn't mean they FAILED. You guys are so thick headed, we won 62 games with KG out for 1/3 of the season, he didn't play for the entire playoffs and we were one game away from the ECF's.

The team won 62 games, but couldn't count on more than 1/3 of its roster for contributions (Walker, Giddens, Pruitt, Tony, Moore, and really, Starbury too.)  With two major injuries, less than 50% of the team was playing and contributing consistently.  There's a lesson to be learned there, I think, which is to fill the roster with legitimate NBA players.

  I don't think there's a team left playing that could survive the injuries we did. If KG was healthy we could have gotten away with playing the subs a little more, we'd have swept the Bulls instead of playing 7 games + 7 OTs. The issues with the bench were magnified because of injuries but the bench was never going to be strong enough to overcome an injury to KG and win the title.

but it could have been strong enough to get us to a point where maybe KG could have started playing again...

  First of all if KG was extremely close to coming back he'd have suited up for game 7. He'd still have to be, right now, 2-3 games from even thinking about playing. And then you're talking about bringing back someone who's played a handful of minutes over the last 3 months and hasn't been able to stay in anything approaching game shape because of his knee.

well we're never going to know how this whole thing would have gone down had we made it to the ECF or even the Finals.

All i know is that KG held off on surgery. And if the bench had been deeper, we could possibly have given KG more time to attempt to come back.

  Too funny. Remember, though, with a better bench we'd have dispensed with Chicago sooner and possibly Orlando as well. We'd already be a game or two into our duel with Cleveland, so best case KG would be testing his knee in a game for the first time in game 5 or 6. More likely we'd have to beat Cleveland without him and hope he was ready for the Finals.

and being two games into the ECF is a bad thing?

plus your best case scenario sounds pretty good to me right about now.

  Best case scenarios always sound good. The most likely scenario is that KG doesn't play again this year.

well, even in just the most likely scenario, we're still playing and KGs return is still possible...

better than where we are now, no?

  In terns of winning a title the most likely scenario leaves us right where we are now, unless you think we could get past the Cavs without KG.

except now there's no "likelihoods" of KG returning and us winning a Title...

much different than being in game two of the ECFs.

and I'd take that - slim chances and all.

the fact is, the longer we went in the playoffs, the more time KG had to come back.

  The point is there's really no time left. Clearly he's not anywhere near making a contribution if he didn't even suit up on Sunday. What if Perk had fouled out with a few minutes left in the game? Wouldn't it have been worth it to have KG dress in case that happened instead of dressing Walker? Based on the way the series had gone a few minutes from KG might have tipped the scales. But now someone who A) can't even give you a few minutes 2 days ago and B) probably hasn't run the length of the court since April is going to play enough minutes at a high level that he'll push us past the Cavs? Sure, we'll never know, just like we'll never know that Scal wouldn't have averaged 30 against the Cavs or that Davis wouldn't have shut down LeBron whenever Paul was on the bench. You're grasping for straws.

If that were really the case, everybody would have been on board to let the surgery be scheduled.

they wouldn't have postponed the surgery until after the playoffs...

[WedmanIsMyHero]

As I have said elsewhere, the Celtics seem to lack the Trevor Ariza-style athletic swing player that many other teams seem to have.  Maybe Doc and Danny just aren't great at picking/developing those sorts of bench guys.

[winsomme]

As I have said elsewhere, the Celtics seem to lack the Trevor Ariza-style athletic swing player that many other teams seem to have.  Maybe Doc and Danny just aren't great at picking/developing those sorts of bench guys.

that would be my focus as well...

[ToppersBsktball10]

yup yup, that article got me salivating about Marion as well.

Here's my dream come true.

FA signings:  Marion, McDysse
Keep:  Davis, Powe, Scal, House and Walker

Then we can play Davis purely as a backup Center, where he is most effective defensively.  And we'd have big time players like Dice and Marion coming off the bench.  I'm not convinced that KG comes back 100%, so I'd prefer signing a big like Dice who can more effectively fill in at pf if need be while still having enough length to play some center.

Brining in Marion as our 6th man would be a home run though.

add jones and thats a sick offseason maybe make a trade too

[winsomme]

yup yup, that article got me salivating about Marion as well.

Here's my dream come true.

FA signings:  Marion, McDysse
Keep:  Davis, Powe, Scal, House and Walker

Then we can play Davis purely as a backup Center, where he is most effective defensively.  And we'd have big time players like Dice and Marion coming off the bench.  I'm not convinced that KG comes back 100%, so I'd prefer signing a big like Dice who can more effectively fill in at pf if need be while still having enough length to play some center.

Brining in Marion as our 6th man would be a home run though.

add jones and thats a sick offseason maybe make a trade too

McDyess and Marion would be an insanely good off season. As good as this past one was not...

I think Danny is going to really deliver this off season. not sure if it will be as high profile as these two guys, though.

[fairweatherfan06]

Here's my wish list:

For the people on the roster currently

Baby:he's prove his worth we should keep him (for reasonable money)

Powe:This is such a tough situation I like him as a player and a person, but we need size on the frontline and that injury makes it tougher to keep him, I say if anything don't sign him and hold a roster spot for him to be signed after the all-star break when he rehabs

Tony Allen: he's had his chances to prove himself and now he's having on and off court struggles time to trade or release him

Marbury: Contrary to popular opinion around here I don't think he's lost, I just think he's a guy that needs a start to get the most production out of him, and he can't do that in Boston so he needs to move on there are several teams that will pay him a lot more money to start (miami, maybe the blazers, several non-playoff teams) Thanks for stopping by stay classy....

Mikki Moore: Unless we are really desperate he won't be back, and even then he'll be Scott Pollard, that colorful character on the bench who is decent insurance but who nobody (including them) wants to see play that many meaningful minutes.

House: I hope he doesn't exercise his ETO we see what he can do when he doesn't have to be a primary ball handler.

Pruitt: hasn't had the chance TA has had but I think he'd better served somewhere else, but I'd still take him as a 3rd string PG

Scal: good trade chip and good team guy in the meantime

The rest:  not going anywhere


Needs: I left out Restricted's because I don't presume we can afford them

C/PF:
McDyess: great pro good team guy, good defender, wants a ring easy plug in

(I refuse to list Sheed because NOBODY is paying him 8mil least of all the Celtics)

Rasho Nestorevic: good backup for Perk offensively and defensively, may cost too much though

Joe Smith: Same as McDyess except I feel a certain way about him passing on the Celtics (who rolled out the red carpet) for Cleveland, and he may want to stay there especially if they win a title.

Sean Williams: He's young he's talented and he has a character problem.  If Marbury cannot destroy team chemistry, I'd take the chance on this guy I'm sure NJ would take him for Pruitt/TA or even Giddens

Chris Andersen-should've signed him instead of POB, will probably stay with Denver now...and the price has gone up....

Robert Swift: I'm skeptical about him but DA has always liked him, um he's tall....?

Theo Ratliff/Donyell Marshall: both proved they can still play both are in twilight of their careers, Ratliff provides good size, Marshall can hit the 3

Swingmen (ie backup's for Pierce)

Shawn Marion: dream come true may cost too much

Ron Artest: see Shawn Marion

Damien Wilkins: doesn't play and defend 2-4 like the two above but can play 1-3 and has all the tools to be a great backup for Pierce

Quinton Ross: does everything TA does but better, and can hit the 3

Grant Hill: what's not to like

Matt Barnes: Quinton Ross but taller, a nastier attitude

Kyle Korver: not a bad bench option

PG: Shaun livingston-can he still play

Bobby Simmons: good backup PG that can score

Mike Bibby: can score, run an offense and is House's brother in-law, why not?

Sergio Rodriguez: still a big question mark but worth short money if he pans out

Steve Francis: same as Livingston except with more experience, age, but a let serious injury history (believe it or not)

My best guess for what we get


C:Perk/McDyess/Baby
PF: KG/ Williams/(Powe after the all-star break)Scal before the break
SF:Pierce/Marion or Wilkins(if Marion can' be affored)/Walker
SG: Allen/House/Giddens
PG: Rondo/Bibby/Livingston

either way I like our options

[youcanthandlethetruth113]

yup yup, that article got me salivating about Marion as well.

Here's my dream come true.

FA signings:  Marion, McDysse
Keep:  Davis, Powe, Scal, House and Walker

Then we can play Davis purely as a backup Center, where he is most effective defensively.  And we'd have big time players like Dice and Marion coming off the bench.  I'm not convinced that KG comes back 100%, so I'd prefer signing a big like Dice who can more effectively fill in at pf if need be while still having enough length to play some center.

Brining in Marion as our 6th man would be a home run though.

I just don't think McDyess is interested in winning championships.

[winsomme]

yup yup, that article got me salivating about Marion as well.

Here's my dream come true.

FA signings:  Marion, McDysse
Keep:  Davis, Powe, Scal, House and Walker

Then we can play Davis purely as a backup Center, where he is most effective defensively.  And we'd have big time players like Dice and Marion coming off the bench.  I'm not convinced that KG comes back 100%, so I'd prefer signing a big like Dice who can more effectively fill in at pf if need be while still having enough length to play some center.

Brining in Marion as our 6th man would be a home run though.

I just don't think McDyess is interested in winning championships.

I'm not so sure about that. I know that he felt like he owed something to DET for restarting his career, but i think going back to them for short money this year makes that debt repaid.

I think he is going to have a bunch of suitors.

[droopdog7]

I don't understand the infatuation with Wallace on this board at all.  He is a shell of his former self and is NOW only an average player with a still out of control temper.  His whining will be sure to continue the bias against our C's next year IF we sign him.

Given how poorly he finished the season, he should be available cheaply.  I think he's played himself out of a full-MLE contract.  

Ultimately, it depends on whether you think he's due for a bit of rejuvination.  I tend to think that an extremely emotional player like 'Sheed was inevitably going to melt down in Detroit last year, but a year or two playing alongside his buddy KG and competing, legitimately, for another Championship will bring out the best in him.  In the right situtation, I don't think he's done.  Now, I've also concluded that I'd rather have the more-professional McDyess, but I think 'Sheed would come in and fit right in and help alleviate a lot of our issues in the frontcourt.  

This is all predicated on his understanding that he'd be coming in behind Perk.  But, that's be a helluva frontcourt; KG and Perk to start, 'Sheed and BBD as backups, Scal off the bench to play some 3/4 and stretch the court, and Powe coming back at midseason.  If everyone is healthy, that's as good a frontcourt rotation as it gets.

I agree with this latter post.  I too would look real hard at Ra for a few reasons.  He may not command the full MLE is one thing.  He also is an incredibly versatile defender and one of the best overall defenders in the NBA.  I am not sure he can do that as a starter anymore, which may actually help in this case (as we would use him off the bench).  The other thing is that he can stretch the floor with his shooting. 

I'd probably still opt for McDyess and option #1 but I am fully aware of why we would look at Ra. 

[bknova]

As I have said elsewhere, the Celtics seem to lack the Trevor Ariza-style athletic swing player that many other teams seem to have.  Maybe Doc and Danny just aren't great at picking/developing those sorts of bench guys.

Our 2009 second round draft pick, Danny Green SG/SF University of North Carolina