Could winning this series extend our window?

[Roy Hobbs]

I'm not sure who locked this, but there will be heck to pay.

[the_Bird]

Two separate questions.

IF we win, LeBron's more likely to bail on Cleveland (99% certain to leave, versus 98% certain if they win).  He'll view the team around his as simply not good enough to win it all; this is their best chance of a title.  They're so far streched, dollars-wise, not a ton they can do to get much better, and if LeBron DOES re-up in Cleveland, they've got much less incentive to keep spending millions and millions and millions of dollars in lux tax.  They spend all that money now because they need to convince LeBron to stay; if he stays, will they keep CTC'ing as aggressively?

IF we win this series but don't make the finals, I don't think much changes for the C's.  This is realistically our last hurrah.  

If Cleveland storms back and beats us bad in the next three games, Danny will do what he can to start blowing the team up ASAP.

If it's a hard-fought series but we lose, they'll keep the core together but not add any money after 2012 except maybe for Pierce.  The core will stay the same, but they'll let it start eroding (let Ray walk, etc).  

If we win it all, they'll do what they can to extend the window further, meaning spending the MLE for three years and maybe taking back some salary in some trades (like, for Ray in a S&T).  They'll add to the core.  If we're real close in the finals, they may do the same.

Outside of that, though, our window's still closing.

[MMacOH]

Interesting OP point but I can't say that I agree with the theory.  I think LeBron only goes to another team if he is sure that team has the ponies.  I foresee the most likely scenario of LeBron in NY with Amare coming along to.  NY will probably need to S&T Lee to Phoenix but LeBron and Amare won't need all that much more around them to be instant trouble for the aging C's.

I see the Cavs moving Hickson for Amare...or at lest trying their best to do so

[BballTim]

First off, our window ends this year. This will be the best chance we have at another championship with this group, IMO. Yes, Rondo's game still has growth and the Celtics could snare a Kevin Martin or David Lee or Rajon Rondo or Tony Parker or George Hill or Anderson Varejao type talent at 19 but I don't see Perk's or Baby's game getting any better than it is and I don't see them adding anyone via free agency that is going to make up for the decline in game and body of Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Rasheed Wallace and Paul Pierce.

  I don't agree with this, assuming they can sign a good wing with the MLE (Outlaw or Miller, for example). That would help mitigate the decline in Ray and Paul's game. KG's knee should be healthier, I'd expect him to be about as good next year as he is now. Perk may be slightly better. Baby should be somewhat better, in a contract year and presumably avoiding pre-season fistfights. Rondo should be somewhat better, and his improvements could have a big impact if he plays like he is now and isn't as shy about taking games over. I think that at least some of the meshing problem will dissipate as the big three let him take more control of the offense.

  I'm wondering what kind of contract LeBron signs. He could sign a 6 or so year max contract, but I think he'll stay with his current strategy, signing a deal with an opt-out after a few years. He'll be better off if he goes with the longer deal. The gm of whichever team he signs with won't be able to build a good team around LeBron because he'll be forced to improve the team asap or James will opt out and move on.

[JSD]

If we win and don't make it to the finals that would be devastating. Cleveland or Boston are the only two teams that could beat the Lakers in my opinion. And if that franchise win's another title I'm jumping off the Tobin... The fear keeps me up at night.

As far as the window extension, I think Roy makes at excellent point. If Bron leaves, a contender is knocked out of the equation for at least a year or two.

[indeedproceed]

I'm not sure who locked this, but there will be heck to pay.

Not it.

[TitleMaster]

The only way to extend our window is to once again, ditch the regular season record. But this time... do it for real.

Make Pierce the sixth man, play the entire bench for much of the games, trade Ray unless he comes back at vet's minimum, and also cut down KG's minutes to 18 per contest. Key substitutions...  put the original starters back in for the start of the 3rd quarter and then 'em out, one at a time, till the end of the 4th.

That'll insure a 45 win season but by the playoffs, we'll have the most battle tested bench of the league. One of the rookies will surely emerge as a mini-star during this. Since we'll probably be 7th seed, I suspect that we'll be playing Orlando. And then, we can throw pretty much the entire team against 'em and beat 'em in 6.

[nickagneta]

Interesting OP point but I can't say that I agree with the theory.  I think LeBron only goes to another team if he is sure that team has the ponies.  I foresee the most likely scenario of LeBron in NY with Amare coming along to.  NY will probably need to S&T Lee to Phoenix but LeBron and Amare won't need all that much more around them to be instant trouble for the aging C's.

I see the Cavs moving Hickson for Amare...or at lest trying their best to do so

I just can't see where this is even remotely a possibility any longer. Phoenix has Lopez and Frye at center so Big Z is not going there. I doubt they take on Jamison as part of a package for Amare and Cleveland doesn't have the draft choices Phoenix would be looking for. A 4 or 5 for one trade is also out of the question in my opinion.

I could New York with Curry on an expiring contract with Galinarri and Chandler being a possibility. I could see Miami with Beasley a sign and trade for Haslem and picks being a possibility. If Houston fails to land Bosh, I could lots of possibilities there. I could see Phoenix standing pat with Amare and/or extending him. All those look much, much more likely than an Amare in Cleveland scenario.

[indeedproceed]

The only way to extend our window is to once again, ditch the regular season record. But this time... do it for real.

Make Pierce the sixth man, play the entire bench for much of the games, trade Ray unless he comes back at vet's minimum, and also cut down KG's minutes to 18 per contest. Key substitutions...  put the original starters back in for the start of the 3rd quarter and then 'em out, one at a time, till the end of the 4th.

That'll insure a 45 win season but by the playoffs, we'll have the most battle tested bench of the league. One of the rookies will surely emerge as a mini-star during this. Since we'll probably be 7th seed, I suspect that we'll be playing Orlando. And then, we can throw pretty much the entire team against 'em and beat 'em in 6.

If the team makes it clear that the regular season doesn't matter to them, who is going to bother shelling out 60 bones a seat for a game?

Interesting theory, but it'll never happen.

[Evantime34]

If we win, it will extend our window but not because it means the dismantling of the Cavs.

Winning this series would extend our window because it will let the league know that the C's are still good. With only 6 players (I think) having contracts for next season with the C's we will need to sign some players at a discount to make a run next year. No player is going to play at a discount to come to Boston unless they think they can win a ring. If we win this series it might convince players around the league that we're a contender next year.

[JSD]

Interesting OP point but I can't say that I agree with the theory.  I think LeBron only goes to another team if he is sure that team has the ponies.  I foresee the most likely scenario of LeBron in NY with Amare coming along to.  NY will probably need to S&T Lee to Phoenix but LeBron and Amare won't need all that much more around them to be instant trouble for the aging C's.

I see the Cavs moving Hickson for Amare...or at lest trying their best to do so

I just can't see where this is even remotely a possibility any longer. Phoenix has Lopez and Frye at center so Big Z is not going there. I doubt they take on Jamison as part of a package for Amare and Cleveland doesn't have the draft choices Phoenix would be looking for. A 4 or 5 for one trade is also out of the question in my opinion.

I could New York with Curry on an expiring contract with Galinarri and Chandler being a possibility. I could see Miami with Beasley a sign and trade for Haslem and picks being a possibility. If Houston fails to land Bosh, I could lots of possibilities there. I could see Phoenix standing pat with Amare and/or extending him. All those look much, much more likely than an Amare in Cleveland scenario.

For Cleveland to have a shot at Amare they would have to sign Wally and trade him with $$$ (ala Van Horn). That's an unlikely scenario.

[Chris]

Well, there are two issues here.

First, there is the question of whether Lebron leaving the Cavs makes him more of a threat in the next couple years.  To that, I say, absolutely.  Obviously, it depends on the details, but if you pair him with someone like Bosh, and then a couple other quality players, then it would absolutely be more dangerous than having him on the Cavs, who are all but stuck with the roster they have, which is decent, but still lacking that true #2.

The second issue is with the C's.  I have been saying for a while that I do not think the C's will be basing any major decisions about their core on this playoffs, and I stand by that.  I have however, changed my mind a bit about the C's chances to contend for another year or two.  With the way Rondo seems to be making the leap, and just as important, the way his teammates are finally accepting him as the star of the team, I think they absolutely could contend for another couple years with this core.  They would need to get lucky with health, and reinforce it a bit, but I think its absolutely possible. 

I still think Danny will be open to making any trades this offseason that bring back good value to help them reload, but now, I don't think it will be such a negative, if they can't find the right deal, and need to stay the course, waiting for some contracts to expire, if nothing else presents itself.

[Greenbean]

The only way to extend our window is to once again, ditch the regular season record. But this time... do it for real.

Make Pierce the sixth man, play the entire bench for much of the games, trade Ray unless he comes back at vet's minimum, and also cut down KG's minutes to 18 per contest. Key substitutions...  put the original starters back in for the start of the 3rd quarter and then 'em out, one at a time, till the end of the 4th.

That'll insure a 45 win season but by the playoffs, we'll have the most battle tested bench of the league. One of the rookies will surely emerge as a mini-star during this. Since we'll probably be 7th seed, I suspect that we'll be playing Orlando. And then, we can throw pretty much the entire team against 'em and beat 'em in 6.

TM youve done it again.

TP!

[rondohondo]

The only way to extend our window is to once again, ditch the regular season record. But this time... do it for real.

Make Pierce the sixth man, play the entire bench for much of the games, trade Ray unless he comes back at vet's minimum, and also cut down KG's minutes to 18 per contest. Key substitutions...  put the original starters back in for the start of the 3rd quarter and then 'em out, one at a time, till the end of the 4th.

That'll insure a 45 win season but by the playoffs, we'll have the most battle tested bench of the league. One of the rookies will surely emerge as a mini-star during this. Since we'll probably be 7th seed, I suspect that we'll be playing Orlando. And then, we can throw pretty much the entire team against 'em and beat 'em in 6.

If the team makes it clear that the regular season doesn't matter to them, who is going to bother shelling out 60 bones a seat for a game?

Interesting theory, but it'll never happen.

The spurs did this exact thing this year and it seemed to have payed off. I still think fans would go to the game if Ray or PP came off the bench.

[youcanthandlethetruth113]

I think LeBron moving would be worse for us. I think the team he would choose to go to will be better than Cleveland and probably have another superstar in it already or in position to acquire one.

Great point by ROY/OP, but I agree with the above comment.

If he's'going anywhere he's going to NYC. He is very intreagued by Gallinari ALONE, and add in the fact that NYC has cap-flexibility (aka Joe Johnson), some young pieces (Walker + Lee - who they'll get something for) and the obvious exposure playing in the Garden every night and I think it's game, set, match.

Roy's point is a good one though, the Cavs are old as well and being defeated by the Celtics in this series would have long-term implications for the Cavs/Lebron.