Danny Ainge CAN NOT split this group

[lon3lytoaster]

The team will not win a championship without a major overhaul, period.

I'd bet everything I own.

KG and Paul are no longer a legit 1-2. Ray goes without saying.

Separate your emotions from reality.

Kg is still a 20ppg 10rpg. On 50% shooting. He had the highest per in the playoffs...that is bettr than a lot of pf/cs younger than him

You're putting too much stock into stats. Kevin Garnett is not physically capable of carrying this team for 82 games and the playoffs.

His help defense, his most defining asset is declining significantly. If Kevin can't carry the defense at an almost otherworldly level, which he can't do for long stretches anymore, this team is not a contender next year.

KG is still one of the top big-men in the league. obviously, he cant carry us by himself all those games..but, if we can get him down to 28-30minutes a night he can dominate for that portion

that's why we need depth and we need another quality Big man....the spurs contend every year because of their depth while limiting duncans minutes

I'm obviously not suggesting that kg carry the team all by himself

but, with Rose out likely all the way until next march...we can contend with the right moves

We need an athletic PF who can grab 8-12 boards a game, stretch the floor a little and cover for Rondo's gambling and KG's more and more frequent defensive lapses and we need a legitimate go to scorer at the 2 or 3.

If we do contend next year, it's going to have to be a fairly drastic overhaul. Depth signings alone won't get us to that level and it seems unlikely we have the pieces and luck to grab those impact players.

If, however, there's a josh smith and monta Ellis in our future, along with Rondo and KG, sure. We could potentially contend. Just not holding my breath.

[jambr380]

I think the fact that this free agent class is so weak will be a highly motivating factor for Danny to keep this group together.  And that's not even counting the other benefits, like what KG and Ray can teach young players and how much more money Wyc will make keeping them together, rather than going into pseudo-rebuilding mode. 

Plus, I really like what Bradley and Green could bring to this team with the Big Three.  With Bradley and Green in tow, this team really could keep KG, Ray, and PP all around 30 mpg without going into terrible scoring droughts. 

I am stoked at what a Rondo/Green/Bradley trio would be like running wild

I am still getting over the loss, but, like many others, was not totally surprised after the game 6 blow out.

Honestly, with Bradley, Green, and [even] Wilcox our team would have gotten so many more easy transition baskets and the defense would have been much more energetic. I am totally in line with those that want to bring back this group, even for two more years [as that is when Pierce will be up]. Unless there is a guarantee at a Howard/Williams FA signing, I don't see any reason to fall into 7-10 range in draft position.

Plus, what if KG, Ray, and Green come back on very reasonable contracts? For KG/Ray, are they really playing for money at this point and Green does have something to prove. It would be even more exciting to add a guy like J. Smith. What a way to move on to the next generation.

So if we're operating under the assumption that Green, Bradley, and Wilcox are all healthy, are we also saying all this under the assumption that Rose isn't injured, and that the Magic didn't lose Dwight for the playoffs?

I love this team, and I love what happened this post season as far as overachieving, but the truth is, we didn't have to play a STRONG Bulls team, and we didn't have to play a potentially dangerous Magic team.  We had almost everything go our way this post season up until the 8 minute mark of the fourth quarter last night.  No Rose, No Dwight, and No Bosh up until the last few games...  We still couldn't do it though.  It's going to get HARDER as the Heat get BETTER, and we get SLOWER.  Face reality.

That wasn't really my point. I get that Bosh wasn't totally healthy, but Haslem played pretty out of his mind this series with his rebounding. Basically the Heat were healthy, but to make it fair, I would have happily taken Green, Bradley, Wilcox, and O'Neal for a completely healthy Bosh.

As for the Bulls and Magic - again, I would have felt quite confident with our mix of experienced veterans and energetic younger players against both teams. We weren't even close to healthy and we still did very well.

[cman88]

The team will not win a championship without a major overhaul, period.

I'd bet everything I own.

KG and Paul are no longer a legit 1-2. Ray goes without saying.

Separate your emotions from reality.

Kg is still a 20ppg 10rpg. On 50% shooting. He had the highest per in the playoffs...that is bettr than a lot of pf/cs younger than him

You're putting too much stock into stats. Kevin Garnett is not physically capable of carrying this team for 82 games and the playoffs.

His help defense, his most defining asset is declining significantly. If Kevin can't carry the defense at an almost otherworldly level, which he can't do for long stretches anymore, this team is not a contender next year.

KG is still one of the top big-men in the league. obviously, he cant carry us by himself all those games..but, if we can get him down to 28-30minutes a night he can dominate for that portion

that's why we need depth and we need another quality Big man....the spurs contend every year because of their depth while limiting duncans minutes

I'm obviously not suggesting that kg carry the team all by himself

but, with Rose out likely all the way until next march...we can contend with the right moves

We need an athletic PF who can grab 8-12 boards a game, stretch the floor a little and cover for Rondo's gambling and KG's more and more frequent defensive lapses and we need a legitimate go to scorer at the 2 or 3.

If we do contend next year, it's going to have to be a fairly drastic overhaul. Depth signings alone won't get us to that level and it seems unlikely we have the pieces and luck to grab those impact players.

If, however, there's a josh smith and monta Ellis in our future, along with Rondo and KG, sure. We could potentially contend. Just not holding my breath.

well, im basing alot of this on bradley continuing to develop and maybe give us 9-12ppg like he did when healthy and Green being able to give us the 15ppg he averaged in OKC

if those 2 guys can produce like that, thats a BIG boost to the team.

[More Banners]

The team will not win a championship without a major overhaul, period.

I'd bet everything I own.

KG and Paul are no longer a legit 1-2. Ray goes without saying.

Separate your emotions from reality.

Kg is still a 20ppg 10rpg. On 50% shooting. He had the highest per in the playoffs...that is bettr than a lot of pf/cs younger than him

You're putting too much stock into stats. Kevin Garnett is not physically capable of carrying this team for 82 games and the playoffs.

His help defense, his most defining asset is declining significantly. If Kevin can't carry the defense at an almost otherworldly level, which he can't do for long stretches anymore, this team is not a contender next year.

KG is still one of the top big-men in the league. obviously, he cant carry us by himself all those games..but, if we can get him down to 28-30minutes a night he can dominate for that portion

that's why we need depth and we need another quality Big man....the spurs contend every year because of their depth while limiting duncans minutes

I'm obviously not suggesting that kg carry the team all by himself

but, with Rose out likely all the way until next march...we can contend with the right moves

We need an athletic PF who can grab 8-12 boards a game, stretch the floor a little and cover for Rondo's gambling and KG's more and more frequent defensive lapses and we need a legitimate go to scorer at the 2 or 3.

If we do contend next year, it's going to have to be a fairly drastic overhaul. Depth signings alone won't get us to that level and it seems unlikely we have the pieces and luck to grab those impact players.

If, however, there's a josh smith and monta Ellis in our future, along with Rondo and KG, sure. We could potentially contend. Just not holding my breath.

well, im basing alot of this on bradley continuing to develop and maybe give us 9-12ppg like he did when healthy and Green being able to give us the 15ppg he averaged in OKC

if those 2 guys can produce like that, thats a BIG boost to the team.

I think the team could come back with only those additions and be a winning, contending team next year mostly as-is, with a healed-up Ray at backup SG, healthy JGreen at backup SF, and a healthy Bass backing up a healthy Wilcox at PF.

I really think that team, with Rondo, Pierce, and KG starting, could win and contend.  Bradley would help...and a backup C (but Wilcox would work).

But I don't think we have an iso player any more, which is a killer in crunch time when a play breaks down.

And that's the piece I think Danny tries near-desperately to line up first.

And if there's a way to keep this nice, balanced group around whomever that player is, Danny will do it.

But who could that player be?

[jambr380]

The team will not win a championship without a major overhaul, period.

I'd bet everything I own.

KG and Paul are no longer a legit 1-2. Ray goes without saying.

Separate your emotions from reality.

Kg is still a 20ppg 10rpg. On 50% shooting. He had the highest per in the playoffs...that is bettr than a lot of pf/cs younger than him

You're putting too much stock into stats. Kevin Garnett is not physically capable of carrying this team for 82 games and the playoffs.

His help defense, his most defining asset is declining significantly. If Kevin can't carry the defense at an almost otherworldly level, which he can't do for long stretches anymore, this team is not a contender next year.

KG is still one of the top big-men in the league. obviously, he cant carry us by himself all those games..but, if we can get him down to 28-30minutes a night he can dominate for that portion

that's why we need depth and we need another quality Big man....the spurs contend every year because of their depth while limiting duncans minutes

I'm obviously not suggesting that kg carry the team all by himself

but, with Rose out likely all the way until next march...we can contend with the right moves

We need an athletic PF who can grab 8-12 boards a game, stretch the floor a little and cover for Rondo's gambling and KG's more and more frequent defensive lapses and we need a legitimate go to scorer at the 2 or 3.

If we do contend next year, it's going to have to be a fairly drastic overhaul. Depth signings alone won't get us to that level and it seems unlikely we have the pieces and luck to grab those impact players.

If, however, there's a josh smith and monta Ellis in our future, along with Rondo and KG, sure. We could potentially contend. Just not holding my breath.

well, im basing alot of this on bradley continuing to develop and maybe give us 9-12ppg like he did when healthy and Green being able to give us the 15ppg he averaged in OKC

if those 2 guys can produce like that, thats a BIG boost to the team.

I think the team could come back with only those additions and be a winning, contending team next year mostly as-is, with a healed-up Ray at backup SG, healthy JGreen at backup SF, and a healthy Bass backing up a healthy Wilcox at PF.

I really think that team, with Rondo, Pierce, and KG starting, could win and contend.  Bradley would help...and a backup C (but Wilcox would work).

But I don't think we have an iso player any more, which is a killer in crunch time when a play breaks down.

And that's the piece I think Danny tries near-desperately to line up first.

And if there's a way to keep this nice, balanced group around whomever that player is, Danny will do it.

But who could that player be?

If Ainge agrees with your assessment that we don't have an iso player anymore [in Pierce], then I don't see a scenario where he doesn't attempt to trade him and his huge contract this offseason.

I guess I am somewhere in the middle here. I get that Pierce isn't quite what he used to be, but he can definitely still be a big game player and can manufacture a shot when needed. That might just be enough with the energy and effective jump shooting we will have next year.

Personally, I think it would just be too weird to see Pierce playing for another team - kinda like when Joe Montana went to KC, it just wouldn't feel right.

[cman88]

I wonder though, how much of Pierce's struggles this year had to do with his MCL strain...alot of his shots were front-rimmed which usually is evidence if you not having the lift you usually should.

its the same with Rays shot...its due to his ankle injury throwing off his lift/rhythm

[More Banners]

The team will not win a championship without a major overhaul, period.

I'd bet everything I own.

KG and Paul are no longer a legit 1-2. Ray goes without saying.

Separate your emotions from reality.

Kg is still a 20ppg 10rpg. On 50% shooting. He had the highest per in the playoffs...that is bettr than a lot of pf/cs younger than him

You're putting too much stock into stats. Kevin Garnett is not physically capable of carrying this team for 82 games and the playoffs.

His help defense, his most defining asset is declining significantly. If Kevin can't carry the defense at an almost otherworldly level, which he can't do for long stretches anymore, this team is not a contender next year.

KG is still one of the top big-men in the league. obviously, he cant carry us by himself all those games..but, if we can get him down to 28-30minutes a night he can dominate for that portion

that's why we need depth and we need another quality Big man....the spurs contend every year because of their depth while limiting duncans minutes

I'm obviously not suggesting that kg carry the team all by himself

but, with Rose out likely all the way until next march...we can contend with the right moves

We need an athletic PF who can grab 8-12 boards a game, stretch the floor a little and cover for Rondo's gambling and KG's more and more frequent defensive lapses and we need a legitimate go to scorer at the 2 or 3.

If we do contend next year, it's going to have to be a fairly drastic overhaul. Depth signings alone won't get us to that level and it seems unlikely we have the pieces and luck to grab those impact players.

If, however, there's a josh smith and monta Ellis in our future, along with Rondo and KG, sure. We could potentially contend. Just not holding my breath.

well, im basing alot of this on bradley continuing to develop and maybe give us 9-12ppg like he did when healthy and Green being able to give us the 15ppg he averaged in OKC

if those 2 guys can produce like that, thats a BIG boost to the team.

I think the team could come back with only those additions and be a winning, contending team next year mostly as-is, with a healed-up Ray at backup SG, healthy JGreen at backup SF, and a healthy Bass backing up a healthy Wilcox at PF.

I really think that team, with Rondo, Pierce, and KG starting, could win and contend.  Bradley would help...and a backup C (but Wilcox would work).

But I don't think we have an iso player any more, which is a killer in crunch time when a play breaks down.

And that's the piece I think Danny tries near-desperately to line up first.

And if there's a way to keep this nice, balanced group around whomever that player is, Danny will do it.

But who could that player be?

If Ainge agrees with your assessment that we don't have an iso player anymore [in Pierce], then I don't see a scenario where he doesn't attempt to trade him and his huge contract this offseason.

I guess I am somewhere in the middle here. I get that Pierce isn't quite what he used to be, but he can definitely still be a big game player and can manufacture a shot when needed. That might just be enough with the energy and effective jump shooting we will have next year.

Personally, I think it would just be too weird to see Pierce playing for another team - kinda like when Joe Montana went to KC, it just wouldn't feel right.

Pretty much agree here.  The only thing I could see is JGreen sopping up minutes so Pierce is fresh in the 4th, and perhaps even taking nights off in the wing rotation if it includes Ray and JGreen plus Bradley.  So...

Is a fresh Pierce in the 4th enough of an iso offensive threat?  I think he can get a jumper off but isn't much of a threat to get to the rim, and I'm not banking on any of those shots.

This is where that misfit offensive star comes in...