This team has another Run left....

[mctyson]

Don't see it.  Another full season on Pierce and KG's legs is going to again leave them limping into the playoffs.   They're still slow and old.   It's just a waste of time and money. Start getting younger guys that can really benefit from Rondo's open floor ability.   No,  I don't think you can really do both. 

The idea behind the Jeff Green trade was to get a guy who could defend the elite SF's in our conference (Lebron, Carmelo) at an above average ability, but without losing too much offensively when Pierce has to sit.

Jeff Green, at times, did this nicely for us last year, particularly a couple times against Lebron in the playoffs.

I fully expect Pierce's and KG's minutes to be ratcheted down severely next year.  With two 1st round picks, JJJ, Jeff Green, a healthy Stiemer, and possibly 1 or 2 other vet bigs (e.g. Wilcox) we should have more than enough capable bodies to throw at the 3, 4, 5 spots all year to give Pierce/KG breaks.

Moore will (hopefully) be able to spell Rondo so we don't drive him into the ground.  Avery Bradley will play 35 minutes a game, maybe with Pietrus or even Pierce grabbing some minutes behind him.

Rondo and Bradley will carry us next year.  KG and Pierce are along for the ride.

[tonyto3690]

Well the reason it does is because "this team" really never took the floor together in 2011/2012.  We finished the season with an amalgamation (look it up, kids) of a roster.

This roster...

Rondo/Moore
Bradley/Pietrus
Pierce/J. Green
J. Green/JJJ
KG/Stiemer

...is basically the team that had a 70% winning percentage after the All-Star break.  Assuming we are healthy (big assumption as we have learned), there is no reason we shouldn't win 55 games next year.

Um what?  Jeff Green didn't play at any point this season.

[Bosstown]

Guys...it's over. It's time to move on. I would much rather be in the lottery for the next two years and pick up the next great 2 guard Shabazz Muhammed and maybe a nice other piece then watch us limp into the playoffs. It's over. Great run, love this team, but its over. Rondo, it's your turn.

[cman88]

the problem isnt "talent' of our older players, its "minutes"

Pierce and KG played at an allstar level at times this year...the problem is they no longer can carry the team for 40+ minutes...with no bench. but part of that was injuries.

with D.rose out, the path to being the 2nd best team in the East is alot more wide open than it looked a few months ago.

if danny can build a deep roster and get Pierce/KG their rest without compromising our offense than we have a chance

[BballTim]

Guys...it's over. It's time to move on. I would much rather be in the lottery for the next two years and pick up the next great 2 guard Shabazz Muhammed and maybe a nice other piece then watch us limp into the playoffs. It's over. Great run, love this team, but its over. Rondo, it's your turn.

  I'd be happy with the Celts going into the lottery for a year or two as long as they can choose which player they get to draft beforehand.

[LarBrd33]

Guys...it's over. It's time to move on. I would much rather be in the lottery for the next two years and pick up the next great 2 guard Shabazz Muhammed and maybe a nice other piece then watch us limp into the playoffs. It's over. Great run, love this team, but its over. Rondo, it's your turn.

  I'd be happy with the Celts going into the lottery for a year or two as long as they can choose which player they get to draft beforehand.

Not trying to stir the pot here... I'm just saying that if the plan is to spend a couple years in the lottery, then presumably gain steam as a contender (much like the Sonics/Thunder did) does everyone acknowledge that our best-case scenario (Thunder with Durant) involves at least 2 seasons of lotto play followed by a gradual 2-3 years of improving in the playoffs...  and then potentially being an official "Contender" in 5+ season... when Rajon Rondo will be approaching his mid 30s?

The dude is going to be 27 next year.  If we're content to head towards lotto-land, maybe we should consider trading Rondo for an 18 year old like Andre Drummond.  Rondo's "prime" is right now.  Are you comfortable wasting his "prime" on lotto years?

The Thunder did it right.  They tanked to lotto-ville with a bunch of 19 year olds... now they are on the verge of their first title and their star players are 23, 23 and 22 years old.   That's a Dynasty Done Right.  Those guys are still a good 4 years from their prime.  Rondo's in his prime RIGHT NOW.

Btw... that's the "best case scenario" involving a team tanking and landing top 5 picks three years in a row (one of them being a phenom superstar).  More likely what would happen is we spend the next few seasons of Rondo's prime as a 38-45 win team lead by allstar Rajon Rondo... and consistently get average talent in the 12-17 range.  Perpetual mediocrity.

[Bombastic Jones]

Not trying to stir the pot here... I'm just saying that if the plan is to spend a couple years in the lottery, then presumably gain steam as a contender (much like the Sonics/Thunder did) does everyone acknowledge that our best-case scenario (Thunder with Durant) involves at least 2 seasons of lotto play followed by a gradual 2-3 years of improving in the playoffs...  and then potentially being an official "Contender" in 5+ season... when Rajon Rondo will be approaching his mid 30s?

The dude is going to be 27 next year.  If we're content to head towards lotto-land, maybe we should consider trading Rondo for an 18 year old like Andre Drummond.  Rondo's "prime" is right now.  Are you comfortable wasting his "prime" on lotto years?

The Thunder did it right.  They tanked to lotto-ville with a bunch of 19 year olds... now they are on the verge of their first title and their star players are 23, 23 and 22 years old.   That's a Dynasty Done Right.  Those guys are still a good 4 years from their prime.  Rondo's in his prime RIGHT NOW.

Btw... that's the "best case scenario" involving a team tanking and landing top 5 picks three years in a row (one of them being a phenom superstar).  More likely what would happen is we spend the next few seasons of Rondo's prime as a 38-45 win team lead by allstar Rajon Rondo... and consistently get average talent in the 12-17 range.  Perpetual mediocrity.

I believe Danny has said he prefers to build through F.A not the draft.  No link though, sorry.

[clover]

Guys...it's over. It's time to move on. I would much rather be in the lottery for the next two years and pick up the next great 2 guard Shabazz Muhammed and maybe a nice other piece then watch us limp into the playoffs. It's over. Great run, love this team, but its over. Rondo, it's your turn.

  I'd be happy with the Celts going into the lottery for a year or two as long as they can choose which player they get to draft beforehand.

Not trying to stir the pot here... I'm just saying that if the plan is to spend a couple years in the lottery, then presumably gain steam as a contender (much like the Sonics/Thunder did) does everyone acknowledge that our best-case scenario (Thunder with Durant) involves at least 2 seasons of lotto play followed by a gradual 2-3 years of improving in the playoffs...  and then potentially being an official "Contender" in 5+ season... when Rajon Rondo will be approaching his mid 30s?

The dude is going to be 27 next year.  If we're content to head towards lotto-land, maybe we should consider trading Rondo for an 18 year old like Andre Drummond.  Rondo's "prime" is right now.  Are you comfortable wasting his "prime" on lotto years?

The Thunder did it right.  They tanked to lotto-ville with a bunch of 19 year olds... now they are on the verge of their first title and their star players are 23, 23 and 22 years old.   That's a Dynasty Done Right.  Those guys are still a good 4 years from their prime.  Rondo's in his prime RIGHT NOW.

Btw... that's the "best case scenario" involving a team tanking and landing top 5 picks three years in a row (one of them being a phenom superstar).  More likely what would happen is we spend the next few seasons of Rondo's prime as a 38-45 win team lead by allstar Rajon Rondo... and consistently get average talent in the 12-17 range.  Perpetual mediocrity.

I think neither Doc nor Danny nor Wyc has the patience for that, especially after the ball bounced the last way the last time.  They will instead attempt the basketball equivalent of refueling the plane mid-flight.

[LarBrd33]

Guys...it's over. It's time to move on. I would much rather be in the lottery for the next two years and pick up the next great 2 guard Shabazz Muhammed and maybe a nice other piece then watch us limp into the playoffs. It's over. Great run, love this team, but its over. Rondo, it's your turn.

  I'd be happy with the Celts going into the lottery for a year or two as long as they can choose which player they get to draft beforehand.

Not trying to stir the pot here... I'm just saying that if the plan is to spend a couple years in the lottery, then presumably gain steam as a contender (much like the Sonics/Thunder did) does everyone acknowledge that our best-case scenario (Thunder with Durant) involves at least 2 seasons of lotto play followed by a gradual 2-3 years of improving in the playoffs...  and then potentially being an official "Contender" in 5+ season... when Rajon Rondo will be approaching his mid 30s?

The dude is going to be 27 next year.  If we're content to head towards lotto-land, maybe we should consider trading Rondo for an 18 year old like Andre Drummond.  Rondo's "prime" is right now.  Are you comfortable wasting his "prime" on lotto years?

The Thunder did it right.  They tanked to lotto-ville with a bunch of 19 year olds... now they are on the verge of their first title and their star players are 23, 23 and 22 years old.   That's a Dynasty Done Right.  Those guys are still a good 4 years from their prime.  Rondo's in his prime RIGHT NOW.

Btw... that's the "best case scenario" involving a team tanking and landing top 5 picks three years in a row (one of them being a phenom superstar).  More likely what would happen is we spend the next few seasons of Rondo's prime as a 38-45 win team lead by allstar Rajon Rondo... and consistently get average talent in the 12-17 range.  Perpetual mediocrity.

I think neither Doc nor Danny nor Wyc has the patience for that, especially after the ball bounced the last way the last time.  They will instead attempt the basketball equivalent of refueling the plane mid-flight.

agreed

[mctyson]

Well the reason it does is because "this team" really never took the floor together in 2011/2012.  We finished the season with an amalgamation (look it up, kids) of a roster.

This roster...

Rondo/Moore
Bradley/Pietrus
Pierce/J. Green
J. Green/JJJ
KG/Stiemer

...is basically the team that had a 70% winning percentage after the All-Star break.  Assuming we are healthy (big assumption as we have learned), there is no reason we shouldn't win 55 games next year.

Um what?  Jeff Green didn't play at any point this season.

I said basically.  Ray sat out a lot during that great stretch of basketball.  People tend to forget that.  We are basically substituting Jeff Green for Ray.  That is basically the same team.  I think it is a better one.

[Celtics18]

I'm all in with retooling and running it back.  Of course the possibility of it ending in heart break is fairly high, but I'll take my chances.  These guys are really fun to root for, and I don't want to stop until I have to. 

[anthony83]

Ainge has to find fits to make a good bench, this year we had a poor bench, no one has helped, look for good players and make a competitive roster.

 Dooling, Hollins=0.

[TheReaLPuba]

The Lottery might seem enticing but for every Durant there's an Oden and a Roy.

OKC hasn't won anything.

Neither has LeBron.

We could get the next Dwight Howard but that doesn't mean we're going to get back to where we are now.

Earlier in the year with a healthy Ray Allen he was having a career year shooting and scoring with great efficiency.

It was PP and KG who came into the season thinking it wasn't going to happen that really kept the C's from getting off to a good start.

Then Rondo goes down for a few games and PP takes over as your point forward and plays like it's '08.

Post AS break and KG is playing like it's '04.

The problem isn't talent with our team.

It's health, depth, and minutes. This team can still win it but they need to play together.

Even young teams like OKC and the Heat get tired...you see it with Wade and Westbrook...all these guys are playing heavy minutes.

[Celtics4ever]

I got news for you either OKC or LeBron is going to win something soon.  Your odds of injury are always greater on an older team.   I can't prove it statistically but I believe it as I have seen it a lot in all sports.   

[Chief]

I don't think this team, can beat the Heat.

If you add Bradley, Green and an MLE big, I think the Celtics can beat Miami. (And I'm not overlooking Bosh's presence. He was huge.)

Remember the Miami gets to use the MLE too.