Celtics currently holding the 8th playoff spot!

[snively]

It will be challenging to miss the playoffs this year if Cleveland, New York and Milwaukee are the only other teams jockeying for the final 2 playoff spots.

It's hard to guess what Ainge's strategy will be.  In 2003 he happily demolished a fringe playoff team to take add picks and reclamation projects (injured LaFrentz, Ricky Davis, Chris Mihm).  Then in 2005, with a mediocre team with decaying vets (Payton, LaFrentz) on one side and raw young guys (Big Al, TA, West, Banks) on the other, and Pierce in the middle, he sacrificed a pick to rent Antoine Walker and try to make a playoff run.

I don't know what to expect in this case: a 2003/2004 style demo to accumulate picks and projects or a 2005 style quick fix for one last shot with an expiring veteran supporting cast.

[PosImpos]

It will be challenging to miss the playoffs this year if Cleveland, New York and Milwaukee are the only other teams jockeying for the final 2 playoff spots.

It's hard to guess what Ainge's strategy will be.  In 2003 he happily demolished a fringe playoff team to take add picks and reclamation projects (injured LaFrentz, Ricky Davis, Chris Mihm).  Then in 2005, with a mediocre team with decaying vets (Payton, LaFrentz) on one side and raw young guys (Big Al, TA, West, Banks) on the other, and Pierce in the middle, he sacrificed a pick to rent Antoine Walker and try to make a playoff run.

I don't know what to expect in this case: a 2003/2004 style demo to accumulate picks and projects or a 2005 style quick fix for one last shot with an expiring veteran supporting cast.

I'm guessing the answer to that question will depend on the record half way through the season . . . which is to say, I'd bet on the former.

[Celtics18]

link:  http://www.nba.com/standings/team_record_comparison/conferenceNew_Std_Div.html

and with only 6 and 9 record

and better still, the lakers are currently out of the playoffs with a 10 and 8 record.  Fun how that works out eh  sweet!  let's go celtics, pull it together!

Whoopty freakin doo... another one of those years.

In 1994-95 we made the playoffs with a 35-47 record ... the Magic made short work of us 3-1 in the first round.


In 2003-04 we made the playoffs with a 36-46 record ... Pacers swept us 4-0. 

The problem, to me is this...

In 95 we ended had the 10th worst record, but because of our waste of a playoff appearance, we were stuck with the 14th pick.  Certainly 4 spots isn't that big of a deal, but you never know how the ping pong balls are gonna bounce.  I would have rather had 10th best odds at winning the lotto than taking that waste of time playoff spot.

Same thing in 2004.  Ended up having the 10th worst record, but because of our waste of a playoff appearance, we were stuck with the 15th pick.  In this case, it kinda worked out... we ended up getting Al Jefferson with that pick.  But... I would have liked having the 10th best odds of winning the Dwight Howard lotto than watching that scrub team get beaten down by Indiana in the playoffs. 

Not to mention... both of those years had they lost a few more games, they would have had a pick higher than #10.    I don't see the point in getting swept by Chicago or Miami this year. I'd rather we just blow it up and try to land a top 5 pick.

Despite our 6 and 9 start, this team is way better than the '95 team or the '04 team.  Danny's not going to blow it up to tank this season, anyway.  I hate to dash your hopes. 

While I agree that our team is probably better than the 6-9 start, and I think we can expect the team to win at least half their games, I also can't dispute that making the playoffs as a 6-8 seed and getting beaten in 4-6 games by a much deeper / younger / more talented opponent doesn't do much good for this team's future.

We would certainly be better off getting a lottery pick, even a late one.  If we did get a late lottery pick, we could combine that with the Clips pick and maybe another pick that we get in a trade and move up a few spots in the draft (similar to what Charlotte did in the last draft).

I just don't see Danny aiming for the lottery this year.  The impression I've gotten from hearing him talk about potentially moving members of our core group is that he would do so to improve our current chances at a title, not to jump start the rebuilding process.