The Best Part about this Playoff Run

[LarBrd33]

I'm a massive pessimist.  I think we're on the verge of being swept by the Heat.  We just had our best offensive performance of the playoffs and still lost.  I think injuries hurt us this year (Jeff Green, Bradley... I'll throw in Nenad Kristic staying overseas), but I also think injuries helped us in a huge way.  JO and Wilcox getting injured forced KG into the starting center spot... which completely saved our season.  Clearly injuries to Al Horford, Dwight HOward, Derrick Rose, Joaquim Noah, etc paved an easy path to the ECF.  Injuries were a gift.  Frankly we should have been swept by the Bulls in the second round.  A healthy Horford on the Hawks probably would have been too much size for us to deal with.  I mean, it took us 7 games to beat a fringe playoff team (Philly).  But nonetheless, here we are... in the Final 4...

So ignore my the previous paragraph laced with pessimism.  The bottom line is that we made it to the ECF.  We are one of the 4 teams still standing.  That's fantastic!  That's wonderful!  That's far better than expected!  It, by default, means we are still "relevant".  You can't make the Eastern Conference Finals and not be relevant.  That's the best part, if you ask me.  No matter how we got here, the fact remains that we are still on everyone's radar as a team that matters.  Looking towards the future that could be big. 

Being "relevant" could impact us in a number of ways heading forward... especially considering we have "theoretical" cap space next year and flexibility.  It means that if we "stand pat" (no cap space), we are still in play for a quality role player to take the MLE and chase a championship.   If we decide to utilize cap space (let Bass, Ray, Jeff Green, etc walk), we are still a premium destination for a quality free agent (sadly there really aren't any quality free agents... all the best ones are restricted).  Being "relevant" means that a guy like Dwight HOward (who supposedly still wants a trade) might put us on his "Desired Trade Destinations" list.  Rondo has been incredible... the rest of the league has to take notice.  When a guy is dropping 44-10-8 in an ECF game, it's hard not to notice.  Perhaps a young star will demand a trade to play with Rondo.  On that same topic... rumors suggested that many of our attempted Rondo trades were rejected this year (supposedly we went after Chris Paul, Pau Gasol and Stephen Curry and all of them were rejected)... what does Rondo's huge performances on a huge stage do to his trade value if we decide to trade him (which probably seems like blasphemy at this point, but I have to bring it up).  Similarly, sprained MCL and all... you gotta figure this playoff run proves Paul Pierce still has trade value (if we decide to head in that direction).   

I specifically remember that when Boston initially pursued KEvin Garnett, he wanted nothing to do with Boston.  But once we added Ray Allen, KG was on board.   The fact that Rondo has established himself as a quality young all-star and Boston has established itself as a quality "top 4" team probably makes us a really desirable destination.  Who wouldn't want to play here?  As this team heads forward with our future completely up in the air... I like the fact that we've had this run.   We displayed a ton of heart and proved to be very competitive.  Our old guys proved they still have something in the tank (KG and Pierce still have 2-3 years left in them if they want them). 

Then when it comes to our own players (some of who were on the verge of retirement), you can't underestimate what this playoff run has done.  Why would KG retire when the team came "this close" and he performed this well?  Perhaps he and Ray will take a massive pay cut to stay?  Garnett has looked like the 2nd best center in the entire league during this run.  I'm sure the team is already convincing themselves that a healthy Bradley and some proper reffing could have pushed them into the Finals.  No sense in quitting now.  Shoot... maybe they decide to take the vet minimum for one last go at it. 

I like the position we are in as we head into the offseason.  You couldn't have asked for more from this bunch.  Very pleased. 

[jdub1660]

As much as I'd love to see us win 18, then see the Big 3 ride off into the sunset, I don't see it likely unless we kill the Heat for 3 straight games, and close out in game 6 in Boston.

Either way, I'm kind of tired of hearing the "old" comments, the "almost but not quite enough" analyses. Let this be the last run. KG and Ray, call it quits but please consider coming back as coaches or player development.
Pierce, be the captain and work your magic and hope Jeff Green learns something from you, at least how to shoot a basketball.

Trade Bradley and both picks for a top 3-10 pick and maybe, just maybe, we can start a rebuilding team with similar results to OKC and Denver; one or two pieces or years away from legit contenders.

[KGs Knee]

I've generally had very little to say lately.  I am just trying to enjoy this run as best I can.

This thread has peeked my interest though.  For me, Rajon Rondo has been the best thing about this run.  He is showing once again, in the playoffs he is a beast.  Players are gong to want to play with a guy who averages 13+ assists.  Players are going to want to play with a guy who doesn't give a "eff" about LeBron/Wade and puts up 44/10/8 against them in the ECF.

Rondo is the future and our beloved C's are in goods hands with him.  It is no longer debatable.

[Celtics18]

Nice post, Larry.  However, I'm tired of hearing about who would have beaten us if they were healthy.  Being healthy is a part of being good in sports.  When you are not healthy, you are not as good as you could be.  The Celtics have had plenty of devastating injury issues of their own during this current era.  

I could sit here and say that we'd have at least three titles by now if KG hadn't gone down in '09, if Perk hadn't gotten injured in the finals of '10, or if Shaq hadn't gone down last year.

But, I'm not going to say that.  This team's had a good run, and they are still in the midst of what looks like an uphill battle, but one that I'm still believing that they can at least make competitive.

I'm not going to whine about poor luck, but I do take exception to people making an issue of the bad luck for the competition.  I have no sympathy.  

[LarBrd33]

Nice post, Larry.  However, I'm tired of hearing about who would have beaten us if they were healthy.  Being healthy is a part of being good in sports.  When you are not healthy, you are not as good as you could be.  The Celtics have had plenty of devastating injury issues of their own during this current era.  

I could sit here and say that we'd have at least three titles by now if KG hadn't gone down in '09, if Perk hadn't gotten injured in the finals of '10, or if Shaq hadn't gone down last year.

But, I'm not going to say that.  This team's had a good run, and they are still in the midst of what looks like an uphill battle, but one that I'm still believing that they can at least make competitive.

I'm not going to whine about poor luck, but I do take exception to people making an issue of the bad luck for the competition.  I have no sympathy.  

Yup... bottom line is that we're one of the only 4 teams standing.  This team has a winning culture and others will see it.  It makes it easier to sell Boston to other players... and sell our players to other teams.

[clover]

Some nice points, but I don't really consider the C's as constituted a top-4 team going into next year.  Since they're old and declining, Philly and maybe even Atlanta look to equal or pass them unless Danny does some nice work in the next six weeks.  Miami and Chicago still have to be considered ahead of them--and that's only in the East.

Also, I think Pierce looked better in the 2nd half of the regular season than he has in the playoffs of late, though we know he's injured.  Still, I'd love to see him traded for something good like a turbo-boost in the draft.

It is great news to hear that KG should be back next year, and I'm actually optimistic that Danny could retool on the fly.  This next four weeks could be his most important month for working magic in the last five years. I think it's possible he could set the franchise on course with the right deal(s) and picks.

[mctyson]

5 straight Division titles, 5 straight 50-win seasons (we probably would have won 50 this year with a full schedule), 5 straight trips to at least the 2nd round, 3 Eastern Conference Finals, 2 NBA Finals, 1 Championship.

Most franchises would kill to have that kind of stretch (*cough* New York *cough*).  Yet it still feels like it could have been more, so I understand even the pessimistic Celtics fans.

But...if we bring back this entire team next year, maybe sans Ray, with Jeff Green and some extra pieces...I see no reason we cannot win 50 games again, win the division again, and make a deep playoff run again.

[Shad0wman]

Theres one very important fact that many seem to be missing. Not winning a CHAMPIONSHIP is a FAILURE. There are no moral victorys or consolation prizes. Its all or nothing in sports so, if they win this year which is highly unlikely, then you can be happy. Anything less than that, you SHOULD be p---ed off and unhappy that your team lost.

There's something that I feel missing in players and even fans. Passion. I wonder how many of you ever played sports at a high level? If you had then you would understand there is nothing less than a ring and giving it your ALl EVERY SINGLE MOMENT YOU ARE ON THE FLOOR. This is why we wont win a ring and why I'm not happy with anything this team has done this year.

[LarBrd33]

Some nice points, but I don't really consider the C's as constituted a top-4 team going into next year.  Since they're old and declining, Philly and maybe even Atlanta look to equal or pass them unless Danny does some nice work in the next six weeks.  Miami and Chicago still have to be considered ahead of them--and that's only in the East.

Also, I think Pierce looked better in the 2nd half of the regular season than he has in the playoffs of late, though we know he's injured.  Still, I'd love to see him traded for something good like a turbo-boost in the draft.

It is great news to hear that KG should be back next year, and I'm actually optimistic that Danny could retool on the fly.  This next four weeks could be his most important month for working magic in the last five years. I think it's possible he could set the franchise on course with the right deal(s) and picks.

It has been reported that the Celtics actually did try to trade Pierce to Brooklyn at the deadline for Brooklyn's top 3 protected pick (that ended up #6)... but that supposedly Pierce (or his agent) put a stop to it.  That's fairly interesting...   That's really a base-case scenario of a Pierce trade right there.  A top 6 pick and dumping his salary would have been nice.  It would have given us potentially 41 million in cap space + Rondo + Bradley + the #6 pick + the our own pick (which would have been higher since we presumably would have tanked the rest of the regular season) + Clippers pick.    

As-is, I wonder if Pierce still has that kind of trade value (could you get a lotto pick and cap space for him?  Doubt it).  Even so, my guess is Pierce would rather retire than go play for a lotto team.  Not sure he can even be traded if he has veto power.

[LarBrd33]

5 straight Division titles, 5 straight 50-win seasons (we probably would have won 50 this year with a full schedule), 5 straight trips to at least the 2nd round, 3 Eastern Conference Finals, 2 NBA Finals, 1 Championship.

Most franchises would kill to have that kind of stretch (*cough* New York *cough*).  Yet it still feels like it could have been more, so I understand even the pessimistic Celtics fans.

But...if we bring back this entire team next year, maybe sans Ray, with Jeff Green and some extra pieces...I see no reason we cannot win 50 games again, win the division again, and make a deep playoff run again.

It's a slightly less-impressive stretch than what Billups/Wallace/Hamilton did in Detroit...  7 straight 50-win seasons, 7 straight trips to at least the 2nd round, 6 straight trips to the Eastern Conference Finals, 2 NBA Finals, 1 Championship...  But the fact Rondo is going to be 27 and is in his prime gives us a leg-up on rebuilding.

[clover]

Some nice points, but I don't really consider the C's as constituted a top-4 team going into next year.  Since they're old and declining, Philly and maybe even Atlanta look to equal or pass them unless Danny does some nice work in the next six weeks.  Miami and Chicago still have to be considered ahead of them--and that's only in the East.

Also, I think Pierce looked better in the 2nd half of the regular season than he has in the playoffs of late, though we know he's injured.  Still, I'd love to see him traded for something good like a turbo-boost in the draft.

It is great news to hear that KG should be back next year, and I'm actually optimistic that Danny could retool on the fly.  This next four weeks could be his most important month for working magic in the last five years. I think it's possible he could set the franchise on course with the right deal(s) and picks.

It has been reported that the Celtics actually did try to trade Pierce to Brooklyn at the deadline for Brooklyn's top 3 protected pick (that ended up #6)... but that supposedly Pierce (or his agent) put a stop to it.  That's fairly interesting...   That's really a base-case scenario of a Pierce trade right there.  A top 6 pick and dumping his salary would have been nice.  It would have given us potentially 41 million in cap space + Rondo + Bradley + the #6 pick + the our own pick (which would have been higher since we presumably would have tanked the rest of the regular season) + Clippers pick.    

As-is, I wonder if Pierce still has that kind of trade value (could you get a lotto pick and cap space for him?  Doubt it).  Even so, my guess is Pierce would rather retire than go play for a lotto team.  Not sure he can even be traded if he has veto power.

I hadn't heard that about Pierce putting the kibbosh on the Nets trade.  I don't think he gets us a lotto pick, but I'd take an upgrade for one of the 1st rounders Danny already has.  Not really sure there's great potential there, so maybe packaging him and one of the 1sts for a good young big man would work.

[ScoobyDoo]

Nice post, TP. I'm thrilled with where we are whenever this season ends.

I believe if Pierce is traded, KG goes elsewhere so I think we either see both of them next season or neither.

If we then have Pierce, KG and Rondo and we can add a half decent big man or two, I think we absolutely have another run in us next year, for example, just some names:

KG / Hawes or similar / Steamer
Bass / FA PF / JJJ
Pierce / Green
Bradley / Ray
Rondo / someone

Two draft picks, another vet - I would put that team up against Miami or Chicago, no problem.

We also could blow it up and trade Pierce and Bradley in this draft to get more young guys, hopefully one stud, to add to
Rondo, Green, Bass, JJJ, Pietrus, etc.. and then wait pateietly with our cap space for the right max money   free agent as our young core of players develop.

Either way, I'm just really optimistic about the future of the Celtics.

I'd love to see KG, Pierce, Ray and Rondo for another season. But if not, I think we're going to have some exciting young players to pull for and a lot of cap space to add additional young players in free agency.      

[LarBrd33]

Some nice points, but I don't really consider the C's as constituted a top-4 team going into next year.  Since they're old and declining, Philly and maybe even Atlanta look to equal or pass them unless Danny does some nice work in the next six weeks.  Miami and Chicago still have to be considered ahead of them--and that's only in the East.

Also, I think Pierce looked better in the 2nd half of the regular season than he has in the playoffs of late, though we know he's injured.  Still, I'd love to see him traded for something good like a turbo-boost in the draft.

It is great news to hear that KG should be back next year, and I'm actually optimistic that Danny could retool on the fly.  This next four weeks could be his most important month for working magic in the last five years. I think it's possible he could set the franchise on course with the right deal(s) and picks.

It has been reported that the Celtics actually did try to trade Pierce to Brooklyn at the deadline for Brooklyn's top 3 protected pick (that ended up #6)... but that supposedly Pierce (or his agent) put a stop to it.  That's fairly interesting...   That's really a base-case scenario of a Pierce trade right there.  A top 6 pick and dumping his salary would have been nice.  It would have given us potentially 41 million in cap space + Rondo + Bradley + the #6 pick + the our own pick (which would have been higher since we presumably would have tanked the rest of the regular season) + Clippers pick.   

As-is, I wonder if Pierce still has that kind of trade value (could you get a lotto pick and cap space for him?  Doubt it).  Even so, my guess is Pierce would rather retire than go play for a lotto team.  Not sure he can even be traded if he has veto power.

I hadn't heard that about Pierce putting the kibbosh on the Nets trade.  I don't think he gets us a lotto pick, but I'd take an upgrade for one of the 1st rounders Danny already has.  Not really sure there's great potential there, so maybe packaging him and one of the 1sts for a good young big man would work.

Well you might just chalk up that Nets trade to Jersey/Brooklyn's GM being a total certifiable idiot.  They ended up doing the same trade for Gerald Wallace instead.  Stupid... so stupid.  Not sure if Pierce nets a lotto pick from any other team.  The other thing... Pierce has been dropping hints about potentially retiring (as crazy as it sounds).  To me, I take that as a sign that he'd rather retire than start over elsewhere at his age.  So trading him might be out of the question.

We also supposedly traded Ray for OJ Mayo (and more?) to the point that Ray actually believed he was traded, but that one fell through as well.  Not sure what that was about.  Haven't heard much about it.  My total wild guess is that Ray's ankles caused that one to fall apart.  Maybe he failed a physical or something.

[LarBrd33]

Nice post, TP. I'm thrilled with where we are whenever this season ends.

I'm sick of these phantom TPs.  My TP-meter hasn't moved in days.  I think it's broken.  LOL.  Jk.  TP.

[Celtics4ever]

TP for you, perhaps because 82% thought the lottery was rigged.   Time to put our differences aside and root for the C's eh?