anyone still feel this team is a piece away?

[Roy H.]

No, I think this team's championship days are behind them.  If the off-season had gone perfectly -- CP3 and/or healthy Green + David West -- I'd like our chances, but right now the team seems old and broken.

I think we would still have a chance in a playoff series against any team other than the Heat, Bulls, or Thunder.  However, to close the gap with those teams, we'd need more help than we can realistically acquire.

I still think we're 1 piece away. That piece just so happens to be a legitimate defensive center who can help anchor the defense. You're not gonna find that guy in trade that doesn't mortgage the future or hurt the core.

If we added Varejao, do you think that would be enough?

I don't.  I think he'd get us close, but not over the hump. 

[indeedproceed]

No, I think this team's championship days are behind them.  If the off-season had gone perfectly -- CP3 and/or healthy Green + David West -- I'd like our chances, but right now the team seems old and broken.

I think we would still have a chance in a playoff series against any team other than the Heat, Bulls, or Thunder.  However, to close the gap with those teams, we'd need more help than we can realistically acquire.

I still think we're 1 piece away. That piece just so happens to be a legitimate defensive center who can help anchor the defense. You're not gonna find that guy in trade that doesn't mortgage the future or hurt the core.

If we added Varejao, do you think that would be enough?

I don't.  I think he'd get us close, but not over the hump. 

Varejao (and the Simmons 1sts deal) was what I was thinking about.

[rickyfan3.0...]

Absolutely. This piece is a time machine.

Hahaha that's a GREAT line.

[Who]

No, I think this team's championship days are behind them.  If the off-season had gone perfectly -- CP3 and/or healthy Green + David West -- I'd like our chances, but right now the team seems old and broken.

I think we would still have a chance in a playoff series against any team other than the Heat, Bulls, or Thunder.  However, to close the gap with those teams, we'd need more help than we can realistically acquire.

I still think we're 1 piece away. That piece just so happens to be a legitimate defensive center who can help anchor the defense. You're not gonna find that guy in trade that doesn't mortgage the future or hurt the core.

If we added Varejao, do you think that would be enough?

I don't.  I think he'd get us close, but not over the hump. 

I think Varejao would make the C's a second tier contender.

Not a frontrunner but a team with a legitimate shot at winning the crown. A team with enough talent to have a real chance at knocking off the superior teams.

[MBunge]

A piece away from what?  Winning the title this year?  That was probably never going to happen unless they could have traded a couple of ball boys for Dwight Howard.  A piece away from being a competitive playoff team?  This team should already be that.

Take a look at Dallas' top 10 man rotation.

Marion.
Nowitski.
Brendan Haywood.
Jason Kidd.
Vince Carter.
Jason Terry.
Lamar Odom.
Brendan Wright.
Delonte West.
Ian Mahinmi.

Are you going to tell me THAT team should be 20-12 and fourth in the West while Boston is 15-15 and desperately hanging onto the 8th spot in the East?

Mike

[Chris]

No, I think this team's championship days are behind them.  If the off-season had gone perfectly -- CP3 and/or healthy Green + David West -- I'd like our chances, but right now the team seems old and broken.

I think we would still have a chance in a playoff series against any team other than the Heat, Bulls, or Thunder.  However, to close the gap with those teams, we'd need more help than we can realistically acquire.

I still think we're 1 piece away. That piece just so happens to be a legitimate defensive center who can help anchor the defense. You're not gonna find that guy in trade that doesn't mortgage the future or hurt the core.

If we added Varejao, do you think that would be enough?

I don't.  I think he'd get us close, but not over the hump. 

I think he would give us a punchers chance.  Basically, the same as the Mavs had last year.  We would need some luck to win a championship, but in this league, if you can even have a chance, you need to give it a shot.

[Inside-Out]

A piece away from what?  Winning the title this year?  That was probably never going to happen unless they could have traded a couple of ball boys for Dwight Howard.  A piece away from being a competitive playoff team?  This team should already be that.

Take a look at Dallas' top 10 man rotation.

Marion.
Nowitski.
Brendan Haywood.
Jason Kidd.
Vince Carter.
Jason Terry.
Lamar Odom.
Brendan Wright.
Delonte West.
Ian Mahinmi.

Are you going to tell me THAT team should be 20-12 and fourth in the West while Boston is 15-15 and desperately hanging onto the 8th spot in the East?

Mike

Great point, Mike.

If this team played every night like they're going against Chicago, Miami, or LA, we'd probably be 20-10 easily.

[jdpapa3]

I still think we're 1 piece away. That piece just so happens to be a legitimate defensive center who can help anchor the defense.

We already have a top defense and a .500 record. We ideally need a guy who can score 20 points and make it look easy and command tons of defensive attention. Pierce gets slowed down by good defenders(Tayshaun, Deng, Marion, Lebron) these days and that forces our offense into a messy situation where turnovers and bad shots are aplenty. Those types of guys are not acquirable.

[ManchesterCelticsFan]

Only if that 'piece' is Michael Jordan in his prime.

Would Dwight Howard right now do the trick?