Will KG make his decision to return before the draft?

[indeedproceed]

You're right, on both counts. That doesn't mean there wasn't solid reasoning then, and there isn't solid reasoning now. It's a valid concern now, and it was one then.

[BballTim]

You're right, on both counts. That doesn't mean there wasn't solid reasoning then, and there isn't solid reasoning now. It's a valid concern now, and it was one then.

  The reasoning might be solid, the conclusions generally haven't been. Adding players like Bradley, Green and Wilcox to a team that went to game 7 of the conference finals doesn't necessarily mean longshot of a longshot.

[indeedproceed]

That's assuming no change In production in those that remain, and a constant of competition level in the playoffs. Neither seem likely.

Conclusions is also the wrong word. Predictions would be much more fitting.

[chambers]

I hope people are considering that we will be facing a tough Bulls team, a better Miami, a better New York, probably a better Nets, and that's just in our conference. God knows what will happen in LA, Dallas, Memphis.

NBA is gonna be tougher next year, we played Miami with no Bosh for the most part, and didn't have to get past Derrek Rose.

Our same squad probably doesn't go this deep again.
Are Green, Wilcox and a healthy Bradley enough to get us over the top without Ray Allen either? I have my doubts.

[colincb]

I hope people are considering that we will be facing a tough Bulls team, a better Miami, a better New York, probably a better Nets, and that's just in our conference. God knows what will happen in LA, Dallas, Memphis.

NBA is gonna be tougher next year, we played Miami with no Bosh for the most part, and didn't have to get past Derrek Rose.

Our same squad probably doesn't go this deep again.
Are Green, Wilcox and a healthy Bradley enough to get us over the top without Ray Allen either? I have my doubts.

-Bulls will be worse without Rose,
-NY can't add any talent as they're over the cap and Amar'e is slipping,
-LA who is cap-strapped is talking about getting rid of Gasol, who is slipping, to fill more than one need;
-Dallas is cap-strapped and can't build a team around Dirk and Dwill if they wanted to;
- Memphis likely has to let Mayo walk as a RFA because of the cap; 
- The Nets don't have enough assets for D12; and
- and Miami's Wade is either hurt or slipping too. They beat us in a seventh game with a full squad BTW.

The team to beat is OKC, but they're up against the cap too with contracts expiring after next season. If the Heat can give them a good battle or even win, then there's no reason we can't contend by having a healthier squad (PP, AB, RA, MP, JG, CW [5 surgeries]), some improvement from AB, EM, GS and JJ, and maybe get a hit on one of two shots in the draft.

[Celestine3]

agree

[anthony83]

According to Ainge, he will talk to KG in the coming days, what do you think now? Will back KG?
What is your opinion you have now?

  Flip Saunders and Mike Gorman said recently that KG will back, however Sherrold Blakely said he will retire.

  To see what happens, this will set the course of the Celtics.

[SHAQATTACK]

Gonna say it...I don't think ROse will ever be as explosive ( first step ) quickness and arobatic as before.   He'll be super good , better than most , but doesn't have the CP3 IQ and passing instincts .   Chicago has issues next year. So does NY .  The HEAT probally will be better.  I worry more about Atlanta/PAcers more than Chicago .

KG comes back , bring PP, Rondo, AB, Green , Wilcox , Pietrus ,Moore add couple FA , more height at center though draft , maybe Williams works out cheap this summer .  We'll be competitive , maybe not dominating ....We need Dwight to add to KG and then we would be a FORCE

[Chris]

I think Danny will know what he needs to know from KG.  KG's decision will hinge on what Danny does on draft day, and perhaps into the free agency period, however, I think Danny and KG (and Pierce for that matter) will have discussed every scenario ahead of time.

So, Danny will know what KG wants the team to look like for him to come back, and he will know how much it will cost to bring him back.  So, he can begin making deals based on the assumption KG will be back for X amount of money.  Or making deals that move on.

[Kane3387]

Sorry but the East will likely be weaker next year and we "should" be a better team. Rose won't return before March and won't be full speed again until 2013-14 and maybe never. There is a reason Chicago is flirting with trading Deng to the Kings and drafting Barnes or MKG. It's because they are no longer in win now mode.

Howard is likely going west. The nets just don't have the assets to acquire him. I don't think Orlando really cares what his wishes are at this point. Regardless Orlando won't be as good next year and even if Howard goes to Brooklyn they still don't have enough yet with just Williams and Howard.

Indiana is still very young. Does anyone really believe in the Knicks or Hawks? Philly might get better, but I still think us at full strength is much much better. That should have been a five game series but for the meltdown in game 4.

So:

Miami - Contender - Defending Champ - Hard to repeat and will they be as hungry?
Chicago - Pretender - No Rose. No serious chance.
Orlando - Pretender - Howard is gone. Their roster is bad anyways and we own them.
Atlanta - Pretender - Unless they make a move for like Pau Gasol. Not better then Boston now.
Philly - Pretender - Unless they make a move for like Pau Gasol. Not better then Boston now.
NYC - Unsure - Have Talent, but chemistry and cohesion? Can't really add to team in FA/draft.
Indiana - Unsure - Still think they are too young and don't have the star power to beat Boston.

So in presently looking at the East I see One definite Contender in Miami. I see two teams that can possibly be a better team for four out of seven games against Boston in NY and Indy. Otherwise I don't see the competition for the Celtics. If we can somehow get to the playoffs healthy and stay healthy then other then Miami no one can keep us out of the finals.

[indeedproceed]

So in presently looking at the East I see One definite Contender in Miami. I see two teams that can possibly be a better team for four out of seven games against Boston in NY and Indy. Otherwise I don't see the competition for the Celtics. If we can somehow get to the playoffs healthy and stay healthy then other then Miami no one can keep us out of the finals.

You're assuming the best for the Celtics (stay at current production despite getting a year older, health..) while assuming the worst for everyone else.

Indiana, New York, and Philadelphia should all get better next year, from Indy and Philly further maturing, and NYC adding one more piece and cementing their identity after D'Antoni's departure with a full off-season.

Atlanta and Washington are both going to be dangerous teams, and are sleepers on the outside for a 'tough than you'd want' playoff series.

[Yogi]

So in presently looking at the East I see One definite Contender in Miami. I see two teams that can possibly be a better team for four out of seven games against Boston in NY and Indy. Otherwise I don't see the competition for the Celtics. If we can somehow get to the playoffs healthy and stay healthy then other then Miami no one can keep us out of the finals.

You're assuming the best for the Celtics (stay at current production despite getting a year older, health..) while assuming the worst for everyone else.

Indiana, New York, and Philadelphia should all get better next year, from Indy and Philly further maturing, and NYC adding one more piece and cementing their identity after D'Antoni's departure with a full off-season.

Atlanta and Washington are both going to be dangerous teams, and are sleepers on the outside for a 'tough than you'd want' playoff series.

We have exactly 3 players whose production will decline due to age and at least 10 who will be better with experience.  Those 3 players happen to be first ballot hall-of-famers who take care of their body as well as anyone to ever play the sport. 

[slamtheking]

So in presently looking at the East I see One definite Contender in Miami. I see two teams that can possibly be a better team for four out of seven games against Boston in NY and Indy. Otherwise I don't see the competition for the Celtics. If we can somehow get to the playoffs healthy and stay healthy then other then Miami no one can keep us out of the finals.

You're assuming the best for the Celtics (stay at current production despite getting a year older, health..) while assuming the worst for everyone else.

Indiana, New York, and Philadelphia should all get better next year, from Indy and Philly further maturing, and NYC adding one more piece and cementing their identity after D'Antoni's departure with a full off-season.

Atlanta and Washington are both going to be dangerous teams, and are sleepers on the outside for a 'tough than you'd want' playoff series.

We have exactly 3 players whose production will decline due to age and at least 10 who will be better with experience.  Those 3 players happen to be first ballot hall-of-famers who take care of their body as well as anyone to ever play the sport. 

That's a bit off I think.
Ray would have to be resigned which I'm on the fence about that.  Until Pietrus was injured, he was looking like a better/more cost-effective SG off the bench because he was a better defender and was hitting his 3's.  He could also play SF.  I think only one returns.

Green, well, he's a big improvement over whoever was used to back up PP last year.  Hopefully he plays better than after the trade too.

Wilcox, if he resigns, was starting to mesh with Rondo so I could see his game improving from a team cohesion perspective but he is who he is as a player which isn't really a difference maker.

Dooling, Quisy, Sasha, Hollins, Williams: bye bye.

Bass could be gone as well.  I think it's a 50/50 shot at this point.  Big whole off the bench if he goes.

Bradley, Steimsma, Moore and JJJ are the ones that any improvement can be hoped for.  Bradley and Steimsma are most likely in the rotation.  Moore possibly as well.  JJJ -- I'm hoping he really shows something in the summer leagues and training camp but right now, that's just hopes and nothing certain.

add in 2-3 rookies that probably won't see the floor and C's are really in need of a starting-quality Center or C/PF player to start with KG and be able to play with Steimsma on the court too.

[Kane3387]

So in presently looking at the East I see One definite Contender in Miami. I see two teams that can possibly be a better team for four out of seven games against Boston in NY and Indy. Otherwise I don't see the competition for the Celtics. If we can somehow get to the playoffs healthy and stay healthy then other then Miami no one can keep us out of the finals.

You're assuming the best for the Celtics (stay at current production despite getting a year older, health..) while assuming the worst for everyone else.

Indiana, New York, and Philadelphia should all get better next year, from Indy and Philly further maturing, and NYC adding one more piece and cementing their identity after D'Antoni's departure with a full off-season.

Atlanta and Washington are both going to be dangerous teams, and are sleepers on the outside for a 'tough than you'd want' playoff series.

I am not assuming the worst for everyone.

In all honesty what can Atlanta do to get better besides being healthy? They don't have the mental toughness to beat us 4 out of 7. Washington? They will be lucky to get to the playoffs. They have no wing scoring and no back to the basket scorer. Wall has to make huge strides for them to compete in the playoffs.

The only piece NY can add is Lin. They are more then likely going to have to use the MLE on Lin, so they don't have that. They will have the MLE but they also will probably lose JR Smith in FA if they don't give him the MLE. Addition by subtraction maybe.Still Woodson is not a good coach and Amare with Melo hasn't shown anyone anything the past 18 months. I also think we agree that Chandler is a bad fit with Amare. I saw Maimi absolutely destroy NY.

I do believe Indiana will be better but I think Boston will too. I said they have the chances to be on our level. Philly? Just not buying it. I know they took us to 7, but they were full strength and we were weren't.

Certainly I am basing my opinion on us being full strength, but isn't that what everyone does at the beginning of the season?

[BballTim]

So in presently looking at the East I see One definite Contender in Miami. I see two teams that can possibly be a better team for four out of seven games against Boston in NY and Indy. Otherwise I don't see the competition for the Celtics. If we can somehow get to the playoffs healthy and stay healthy then other then Miami no one can keep us out of the finals.

You're assuming the best for the Celtics (stay at current production despite getting a year older, health..) while assuming the worst for everyone else.

Indiana, New York, and Philadelphia should all get better next year, from Indy and Philly further maturing, and NYC adding one more piece and cementing their identity after D'Antoni's departure with a full off-season.

Atlanta and Washington are both going to be dangerous teams, and are sleepers on the outside for a 'tough than you'd want' playoff series.

  Paul and KG get older, so do Rondo and Avery and Green and possibly Bass and JJJ/Moore. It's probably more likely to be a benefit than a detriment.