Author Topic: What if David Robinson had opted for FA and joined the C's?  (Read 6227 times)

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What if David Robinson had opted for FA and joined the C's?
« on: September 09, 2009, 06:36:26 PM »

Offline screwedupmaniac

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I found this interesting read via redsarmy, and it discusses the what-ifs of David Robinson's career. The NBA we know today would be completely different looking than it is right now. Very good article, and I think it could "spur" (pun intended) some good what-if conversation on a slow off-season day. I know we're all good with what-if discussions  ;D

http://projectspurs.com/2009-articles/september/the-butterfly-effect-robinson-as-a-celtic.html

Re: What if David Robinson had opted for FA and joined the C's?
« Reply #1 on: September 09, 2009, 06:46:41 PM »

Offline lon3lytoaster

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Never heard of Robinson thinking about coming here... Only problem with this whole "what is" scenario is that Antoine isn't involved in our dynasty  :P

Re: What if David Robinson had opted for FA and joined the C's?
« Reply #2 on: September 09, 2009, 06:49:35 PM »

Offline screwedupmaniac

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Never heard of Robinson thinking about coming here... Only problem with this whole "what is" scenario is that Antoine isn't involved in our dynasty  :P

haha, but "if" David Robinson came here, would Antoine not being involved in our dynasty be such a big deal? i lean towards yes, antoine's the man  ;D

Re: What if David Robinson had opted for FA and joined the C's?
« Reply #3 on: September 09, 2009, 06:50:04 PM »

Offline PosImpos

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"some other team would have been destroyed by rick pitino."

good stuff
Never forget the Champs of '08, or the gutsy warriors of '10.

"I know you all wanna win, but you gotta do it TOGETHER!"
- Doc Rivers

Re: What if David Robinson had opted for FA and joined the C's?
« Reply #4 on: September 09, 2009, 06:55:38 PM »

Offline jackson_34

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Never heard of Robinson thinking about coming here... Only problem with this whole "what is" scenario is that Antoine isn't involved in our dynasty  :P
Nor Gerald Green, Nor Will Solomon!!!!...wait what?

Re: What if David Robinson had opted for FA and joined the C's?
« Reply #5 on: September 09, 2009, 07:01:49 PM »

Offline screwedupmaniac

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yeah, missing out on Mark Blount would have really ruined my life...

Re: What if David Robinson had opted for FA and joined the C's?
« Reply #6 on: September 09, 2009, 07:46:19 PM »

Offline RebusRankin

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Good read. He does undervalue KG in my opinion. I do agree that a Robinson/Lewis combo with the Big 3 would have won some tittles.


Re: What if David Robinson had opted for FA and joined the C's?
« Reply #7 on: September 09, 2009, 08:35:22 PM »

Offline lon3lytoaster

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Could we still manage to get Ray around this time, though? Even after screaming at the TV on the 2007 draft night when we got Ray.. I have grown to love him. So if we could've won those titles with Robinson, then Pierce... Could we have continued winning with Ray and (maybe) Al Jefferson?

That would have been a hell of a big crossover, though.. From Robinson to Al Jefferson? That'd be an amazing translation.

Re: What if David Robinson had opted for FA and joined the C's?
« Reply #8 on: September 09, 2009, 08:37:56 PM »

Offline screwedupmaniac

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Could we still manage to get Ray around this time, though? Even after screaming at the TV on the 2007 draft night when we got Ray.. I have grown to love him. So if we could've won those titles with Robinson, then Pierce... Could we have continued winning with Ray and (maybe) Al Jefferson?

That would have been a hell of a big crossover, though.. From Robinson to Al Jefferson? That'd be an amazing translation.

The question is, would we have still gotten Big Al? The writer still fantasizes that we would have gotten Paul Pierce, but I don't think we would have been as lucky a second time around. My question is who would we have gotten instead in that draft?

Re: What if David Robinson had opted for FA and joined the C's?
« Reply #9 on: September 09, 2009, 08:42:23 PM »

Offline lon3lytoaster

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Could we still manage to get Ray around this time, though? Even after screaming at the TV on the 2007 draft night when we got Ray.. I have grown to love him. So if we could've won those titles with Robinson, then Pierce... Could we have continued winning with Ray and (maybe) Al Jefferson?

That would have been a hell of a big crossover, though.. From Robinson to Al Jefferson? That'd be an amazing translation.

The question is, would we have still gotten Big Al? The writer still fantasizes that we would have gotten Paul Pierce, but I don't think we would have been as lucky a second time around. My question is who would we have gotten instead in that draft?

Well actually, Robinson retired before Al came into the league.. So I'm going to say Sebastian Telfair or Robert Swift :-X

Re: What if David Robinson had opted for FA and joined the C's?
« Reply #10 on: September 09, 2009, 08:47:38 PM »

Offline screwedupmaniac

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Could we still manage to get Ray around this time, though? Even after screaming at the TV on the 2007 draft night when we got Ray.. I have grown to love him. So if we could've won those titles with Robinson, then Pierce... Could we have continued winning with Ray and (maybe) Al Jefferson?

That would have been a hell of a big crossover, though.. From Robinson to Al Jefferson? That'd be an amazing translation.

The question is, would we have still gotten Big Al? The writer still fantasizes that we would have gotten Paul Pierce, but I don't think we would have been as lucky a second time around. My question is who would we have gotten instead in that draft?

Well actually, Robinson retired before Al came into the league.. So I'm going to say Sebastian Telfair or Robert Swift :-X

Definitely Robert Swift...unless Danny never took over the decision making of the Celtics? who knows what would have happened if we had David Robinson? almost every draft pick and every personell decision we made could have changed as a result of one man. crazy to think about, huh? sorta like that movie "the butterfuly effect"...

Re: What if David Robinson had opted for FA and joined the C's?
« Reply #11 on: September 09, 2009, 08:58:28 PM »

Offline lon3lytoaster

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Just for fun, I put together possible teams for the Celtics in those title years

1990 may have looked something like this..

Dennis Johnson/John Bagley
Reggie Lewis/Jim Paxon
Larry Bird/Kevin Gamble
Kevin McHale/Ed Pickney
Robert Parish/David Robinson

Shame Danny still might have been gone. Either way, that team is STACKED.

1991

Almost the same team, with a host of different role players. One problem is the lack of Dennis Johnson who retires. Celtics would need a point guard and some bench depth, I think.

1999-2000

Kenny Anderson (Who I just assume they'll still get)
Dana Barros, maybe?
Paul Pierce
Danny Fortson
David Robinson

Meh, unless we had a better cast I don't see a title there. Remember, Paul had little experience then.

2002 is anyone's guess, I believe the article had us winning four titles.

Just my best guesses, though. Anyone else have any idea where the role players would come from, and who they were?

Re: What if David Robinson had opted for FA and joined the C's?
« Reply #12 on: September 09, 2009, 09:00:26 PM »

Offline lon3lytoaster

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Could we still manage to get Ray around this time, though? Even after screaming at the TV on the 2007 draft night when we got Ray.. I have grown to love him. So if we could've won those titles with Robinson, then Pierce... Could we have continued winning with Ray and (maybe) Al Jefferson?

That would have been a hell of a big crossover, though.. From Robinson to Al Jefferson? That'd be an amazing translation.

The question is, would we have still gotten Big Al? The writer still fantasizes that we would have gotten Paul Pierce, but I don't think we would have been as lucky a second time around. My question is who would we have gotten instead in that draft?

Well actually, Robinson retired before Al came into the league.. So I'm going to say Sebastian Telfair or Robert Swift :-X

Definitely Robert Swift...unless Danny never took over the decision making of the Celtics? who knows what would have happened if we had David Robinson? almost every draft pick and every personell decision we made could have changed as a result of one man. crazy to think about, huh? sorta like that movie "the butterfuly effect"...

I still would have taken it. It honestly bothers me the Celtics only decade where they didn't win a championship was the 1990's. I think I'd honestly trade the Pierce/KG/Allen championship for the four with David Robinson.

Re: What if David Robinson had opted for FA and joined the C's?
« Reply #13 on: September 09, 2009, 09:09:14 PM »

Offline screwedupmaniac

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yeah, and who knows what would of happened after David Robinson retired? lottery balls could have fallen differently...i don't think we could have still gotten Paul Pierce. But what if we ended up getting a good draft pick in the Dwade, Lebron, Mello draft and landing one of those guys? it's impossible to tell what could have happened, but it sure is fun to speculate!

one thing's for sure, having David Robinson as a rock to build around in the 90's would have made it a lot easier to draw FA talent to Boston than it was...

Re: What if David Robinson had opted for FA and joined the C's?
« Reply #14 on: September 09, 2009, 09:12:56 PM »

Offline screwedupmaniac

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here's a good list to speculate from about what our team would have ended up looking like: http://www.nba.com/history/draft_round1_1990s.html

i'm trying to think out how everything might have happened myself...