Thank You once again Danny Ainge

[bbd24]

[dang] this roster is straight up sick. Is Paul still crying about 'adding' people ?  We still haven't even seen J. O'neal take the floor yet.  Holy hells bells.

Danny, when you told us back in the day that you wanted a consistent winner day in and day out, and that Boston deserved one, you weren't lying were you ?

I loved you back in the 80's when you were hitting 3's in noses, and I love you still to this day.  Thank you for creating something I enjoy watching day in and day out.  Helluva roster my man.  Shoot, your 2nd/3rd unit could win 25 games in this league by themselves alone.

They mocked you and booed you on 'Maxwell' night.  They lambasted you when you made Walker disappear.  You were laughed at when Coach O'brien took his ball and went home.  Now whose laughing ?

Hang up #44 now.  No need to wait any longer.

[Birdbrain]

TP

I know it's blasephmy to even hint at this but, I think Danny did an even better job this off season than he did in the off season when he traded for Garnett and Ray.  Simply because of the limitations he was dealing with regard to the salary cap. 

Thank You DA

[Celtics/Run]

Is it just me or does Paul Pierce look thinner and more rejuvenated?

[guava_wrench]

Is it just me or does Paul Pierce look thinner and more rejuvenated?

I don't think so. He looked just as lean the last 2 seasons.

Most players are rejuvenated after a vacation of healing. That probably doesn't carry over to May.

[guava_wrench]

TP

I know it's blasephmy to even hint at this but, I think Danny did an even better job this off season than he did in the off season when he traded for Garnett and Ray.  Simply because of the limitations he was dealing with regard to the salary cap. 

Thank You DA

The reason that I think 2007 was better for Danny is that the riskiest of all the moves was the Ray Allen trade. That took guts to make that move without any assurance of future moves.

This offseason was easier as be brought in vets who wanted to play with the guys he got in 2007. Shaq (minimum) & West (non-guaranteed) are also no risk moves. the Nate move was really last year, as was Daniels. Semih (if he turns out to be anything worth mentioning) was from 2008.

[Birdbrain]

TP

I know it's blasephmy to even hint at this but, I think Danny did an even better job this off season than he did in the off season when he traded for Garnett and Ray.  Simply because of the limitations he was dealing with regard to the salary cap. 

Thank You DA

The reason that I think 2007 was better for Danny is that the riskiest of all the moves was the Ray Allen trade. That took guts to make that move without any assurance of future moves.

This offseason was easier as be brought in vets who wanted to play with the guys he got in 2007. Shaq (minimum) & West (non-guaranteed) are also no risk moves. the Nate move was really last year, as was Daniels. Semih (if he turns out to be anything worth mentioning) was from 2008.

Fair points especially when you consider the Ray Allen move like you said was done without the assurance that they would get KG.  Although to be honest I think there were 'some' talks between the 2 that may have precipitated the Ray trade.  I just can't see him making that first trade without some semblance of belief that there was going to be some additional moves.  But you make some valid points.  TP.

[mmbaby]

TP OP! LOVE THIS POST!

[Cman]

TP to the OP.

Great reminder of the night Danny was booed.  Also, remember when so many of us (myself included) doubted Doc Rivers?  The article on the front page is about Doc possibly being around longer than this next season.  I was happy when I read that... These are a few of the reminders why I am here typing away on celticsblog.com, and Danny is in the GMs seat (wherever that may be... Waltham?)

[mgent]

Danny has made some pretty good moves, but he's made his share of bad ones too.  I don't mind him as our GM but he's not a god.

[ScoobyDoo]

Good Post and TP for giving credit where credit is due. You can make an argument that had Perkins not gotten injured last year, we'd already have hung #18, with a very good chance at #19 this year...

If we can hang #18 this year, it will mean 2 titles in 4 years and being 4 minutes from three titles in 4 years..

But let me ask all you Danny Ainge lovers a question?

If you love him now, how much are you going to love him in the summer of 2102, when, because of the way he's structured all his current contracts, he will be in a position to add two max contracts to Rondo, Pierce Perkins, Erden, Baby, DWest, Bradley and Co.?

That means that going into the 2012 or 2013 season, we could "conceivably" have a team that looks like this:


Dwight Howard / Kendrick Perkins
Big Baby / Erden
Pierce / Young gun
Tyreke Evans / DWest
Rondo / Bradley

or something similar, which means we'd be immediately competing for titles again.

The key thing is that Ainge has put himself in position to at least "try" to put two max guys along with Perkins and Rondo. In the meantime, he's competing for titles right up until that point. The guy is very good.

How much will you love him then?  

Ainge is the best GM we've had since Auerbach and he will likely build 2 or 3 different championship teams before he is done.

If he gets lucky in 2012, our current team that might have won only two titles could end up looking like a warm up act for Ainge's second championhsip team, that could win 5-6 titles...again, if he gets lucky in the summer of 2012.

or how about this?

Perkins / Erden
Blake Griffin / Big Baby
Pierce / Someone
Tyreke Evans / DWest
Rondo / Bradley

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

That means that going into the 2012 or 2013 season, we could "conceivably" have a team that looks like this:


Dwight Howard / Kendrick Perkins
Big Baby / Erden
Pierce / Young gun
Tyreke Evans / DWest
Rondo / Bradley

or something similar, which means we'd be immediately competing for titles again.

If he gets lucky in 2012, our current team that might have won only two titles could end up looking like a warm up act for Ainge's second championhsip team, that could win 5-6 titles...again, if he gets lucky in the summer of 2012.

or how about this?

Perkins / Erden
Blake Griffin / Big Baby
Pierce / Someone
Tyreke Evans / DWest
Rondo / Bradley

You're optimistic, and that's good -- I'm hoping for a similar scenario with 2 max free agents in 2012.

[GreenFaith1819]

Yep - Danny is Masterful.

The biggest thing here is that people want to come here, and play for almost nothing. Shaq and Delonte will be huge for us, and they accepted vet mins to come here.

JO will prove to be huge - he still has a lot to offer us.

You don't create that kind of culture overnight - a culture of winning.

And right before our eyes, and under the radar for sure - Doc Rivers has put up Greg Popovich-type seasons for going on 4 seasons now?

66-16 in 07-08, plus Banner 17.

62-20 in 08-09, lost KG and Powe, but still almost beat ORL in Conference Semis.

50-32 last season, in spite of myriad numbers and type of injuries, many assorted lineups, getting Sheed and Nate integrated, upsetting CLE, ORL and then came a Perk Short of Banner 18 - on the road, in LA.

Masterful Job by Danny and Doc!! Hope the run isn't done.

[Redz]

We're deep!

Thanks Danny.

Should be a fun year.