Blowing it up is probably the best thing to do to be better in the future.

[nickagneta]

if we (as fans in general) can't wait 5 - 6 months to start the rebuild process, how are we going to manage waiting through the rebuild process itself (assuming Ainge can't turn things around on a dime)?

Hope.  The excitement of watching young players.  The prospect of the next big thing coming via a lottery pick.

Witness even this season the excitement that people have to see JJJ play, or the fact that the rocky development of Avery Bradley has been the most interesting storyline of the season so far.

  I don't know about people in general, but in terms of this website I don't think we'll see a ton of hope during the rebuild unless we score a franchise player fairly quickly. I think it will be more like the negative attitudes on HGH, kind of like it was before.

Yeah, I think the game threads during some of the losses the C's have had this year and last are proof of that.

I don't see excitement over younger players. I see derision of our coach for not playing them or for playing the young player you don't like, or for keeping an older player in to long. I see ridicule of our current players and the need for change and yet when the younger players come in and are not good, more ridicule of the team and the coach as a whole.

I don't expect an upbeat and happy atmosphere in CB once constant losing and rebuilding starts. I don't see hope sustaining the masses.

[PosImpos]

if we (as fans in general) can't wait 5 - 6 months to start the rebuild process, how are we going to manage waiting through the rebuild process itself (assuming Ainge can't turn things around on a dime)?

Hope.  The excitement of watching young players.  The prospect of the next big thing coming via a lottery pick.

Witness even this season the excitement that people have to see JJJ play, or the fact that the rocky development of Avery Bradley has been the most interesting storyline of the season so far.

  I don't know about people in general, but in terms of this website I don't think we'll see a ton of hope during the rebuild unless we score a franchise player fairly quickly. I think it will be more like the negative attitudes on HGH, kind of like it was before.

Yeah, I think the game threads during some of the losses the C's have had this year and last are proof of that.

I don't see excitement over younger players. I see derision of our coach for not playing them or for playing the young player you don't like, or for keeping an older player in to long. I see ridicule of our current players and the need for change and yet when the younger players come in and are not good, more ridicule of the team and the coach as a whole.

I don't expect an upbeat and happy atmosphere in CB once constant losing and rebuilding starts. I don't see hope sustaining the masses.

I didn't say everything was going to be great and dandy, but at least we'll have the illusion that we're headed somewhere.  I'm sure the atmosphere here won't be as great as it was during the height of contention, but it'll be better than it is now, I'd be willing to bet.

Plus, when we're rebuilding, a moral victory will be a nice condolence, and an occasional victory over a good team will be thrilling; those things won't just be reminders that our team isn't nearly as good as we hoped.

[PosImpos]

if we (as fans in general) can't wait 5 - 6 months to start the rebuild process, how are we going to manage waiting through the rebuild process itself (assuming Ainge can't turn things around on a dime)?

Hope.  The excitement of watching young players.  The prospect of the next big thing coming via a lottery pick.

Witness even this season the excitement that people have to see JJJ play, or the fact that the rocky development of Avery Bradley has been the most interesting storyline of the season so far.

Have you watched this team when they've been in that position? Not as fun as fun as you'd think it is

Again: not fun, but better than watching a bunch of old guys receding into retirement.  You can convince yourself that the team is on the way up, at least in theory.  Not on the way down.

In short, there'll be a more compelling reason to watch than we have now.

[BballTim]

I didn't say everything was going to be great and dandy, but at least we'll have the illusion that we're headed somewhere.  I'm sure the atmosphere here won't be as great as it was during the height of contention, but it'll be better than it is now, I'd be willing to bet.

  I'd be fairly curious about whether you spent much time here before we traded for Ray and KG.

[PosImpos]

I didn't say everything was going to be great and dandy, but at least we'll have the illusion that we're headed somewhere.  I'm sure the atmosphere here won't be as great as it was during the height of contention, but it'll be better than it is now, I'd be willing to bet.

  I'd be fairly curious about whether you spent much time here before we traded for Ray and KG.

I admit I was not here prior to the trade.  Still, I think there will be a difference between the attitude of Celtics fans post-Big 3 versus the attitude just prior.  Before the Ray / KG acquisitions, this was a fan base that was used to mediocrity, poor management, and disappointment for the last 15-20 years. 

[Fafnir]

I didn't say everything was going to be great and dandy, but at least we'll have the illusion that we're headed somewhere.  I'm sure the atmosphere here won't be as great as it was during the height of contention, but it'll be better than it is now, I'd be willing to bet.

  I'd be fairly curious about whether you spent much time here before we traded for Ray and KG.

I admit I was not here prior to the trade.  Still, I think there will be a difference between the attitude of Celtics fans post-Big 3 versus the attitude just prior.  Before the Ray / KG acquisitions, this was a fan base that was used to mediocrity, poor management, and disappointment for the last 15-20 years. 

I spend a fair amount of time in other teams game threads to see the other sides perspective on things when they play the Cs.

It won't be better, it will be much worse only with a larger crowd being angry and perhaps more irrational Celtic binkie love.

[BballTim]

I didn't say everything was going to be great and dandy, but at least we'll have the illusion that we're headed somewhere.  I'm sure the atmosphere here won't be as great as it was during the height of contention, but it'll be better than it is now, I'd be willing to bet.

  I'd be fairly curious about whether you spent much time here before we traded for Ray and KG.

I admit I was not here prior to the trade.  Still, I think there will be a difference between the attitude of Celtics fans post-Big 3 versus the attitude just prior.  Before the Ray / KG acquisitions, this was a fan base that was used to mediocrity, poor management, and disappointment for the last 15-20 years. 

  What you had was a fan base that was expecting the Celts to return to their rightful place at the top of the league.

[ianboyextreme]

False. There is not enough we could get in trades that would make a difference in the future unless we trade Paul, which would be terrible.

[Roy H.]

It won't be better, it will be much worse only with a larger crowd being angry and perhaps more irrational Celtic binkie love.

That's pretty much how it played out.  There was definitely a large contingent of people who were excited and hopeful about the future.  Heck, you can argue that the "optimists" at that time were more vocal than they are right now.  However, the "pessimists" were louder, too.  Additionally, there was indeed a lot of binkie love, as we'd have endless (and sometimes pretty hostile) debates over things like "Delonte vs. Banks".

As a blog, things were much more divisive.  Of course, you're starting to see that a bit again now, between the "blow it up" and "wait and see" people, or the "pro-trade" and "anti-trade" folks. 

The game threads were different back then, though.  There would be a little bit of squabbling, and disappointment when we actually won a game, but I don't remember quite so much negativity.  I guess that comes with diminished expectations.

[PosImpos]

I guess my point is that I would probably be more optimistic / interested as a fan of a team like the Wizards than the team that the Celtics currently are.

As dysfunctional as the Wizards are, and despite the fact that they play incredibly ugly basketball, they still have a talented young player they can hope will become the next Derrick Rose, and they have plenty of players with potential they can look forward to developing.  As awful as that team is, there's still plenty there to inspire the imagination. 

With the Celtics as they are now, there's not much to inspire the imagination . . . the current Celtics just inspire memories.

[nickagneta]

It won't be better, it will be much worse only with a larger crowd being angry and perhaps more irrational Celtic binkie love.

That's pretty much how it played out.  There was definitely a large contingent of people who were excited and hopeful about the future.  Heck, you can argue that the "optimists" at that time were more vocal than they are right now.  However, the "pessimists" were louder, too.  Additionally, there was indeed a lot of binkie love, as we'd have endless (and sometimes pretty hostile) debates over things like "Delonte vs. Banks".

As a blog, things were much more divisive.  Of course, you're starting to see that a bit again now, between the "blow it up" and "wait and see" people, or the "pro-trade" and "anti-trade" folks. 

The game threads were different back then, though.  There would be a little bit of squabbling, and disappointment when we actually won a game, but I don't remember quite so much negativity.  I guess that comes with diminished expectations.

The binkie love squabbles were funny.

Everyone knew that each player was young and on average, not very good, but they argued who was better like crazy. The Powe/Baby ones were the best, even if they did happen post Big Three.

The games threads up until KG's injury in 2009 were always rather enjoyable. Disappointment for losses, loud discussions about Doc and his rotations(some things never change), but the utter negativity, the willingness to call it a game, a devastating loss, regardless of the game still being in the first quarter or first half, the need to repeat seriously negative things over and over again and the "I told you so" posts, didn't exist. It was still rather fun, all in all.

Times and expectations have changed though and I get the feeling this won't be a fun place come rebuilding time. So, yeah, I will cheer and hope these old guys have one more run in them. Its better than complaining about everything.

[Inside-Out]

With a young team, a fan can root for the underdog and hope for an upset.

With an old team, a fan can root for...them still having something in the tank?  The occasional throwback game?  It's usually pretty appparent in the first quarter whether the old guys are going to hit it that night.  I can understand why some folks might not stick around to watch if the guys don't have their legs under them.

I suppose there's a pretty good reason for either side, from a fan perspective, but youth can be what youth is:  anything-can-happen excitement.

But it rarely competes for titles.