I feel like we're quickly headed to two years of mediocrity

[aporel#18]

I don't agree with the OP, but even if you are right, two years of mediocrity would be better than being the Pistons redux.

Keep the two-year limit for mid-level contracts and we'll be ok in a couple of years, while having a competitive team. Developing assets will be a plus.

[tonyto3690]

I just want to clarify a few things.

1.  I'm not saying we should have traded for Dwight or signed DWill or anything like that.  I agree that the best option for next year right now is to bring KG and Ray back and get Green/Bass back.  That being said, we shouldn't be sacrificing long term success (4 year deal to Bass, 3 year deal to KG, 2 year deal to Ray) for an outside shot at a title next season.  For all we know KG's bonespurs come back and we're stuck with a bunch of bad contracts on a team competing for the 8 seed.


2.  People are massively underestimating the Heat.  Wade was playing on one leg, and Bosh shouldn't have been playing at all.  Those two will assumedly be healthy next year, Lebron has crossed the threshold to greatness, and they will be adding another quality role player with the LLE.   Admittedly Bosh went berserk game 7 but that's beside the point.  Until we have another dominant big next to KG, our defense will keep blowing up in our face every time KG is off the court.  Quite frankly it was a miracle we got to where we did and KG didn't break down through the season since he carried us on defense for so long.



I'm 100% behind bring them back for one more shot next year.  But that's all it should be.  It shouldn't be another 2-3 year window.  It should be one more year of one year deals and then rebuilding around Rondo/Josh Smith/Bradley.

[tyrone biggums]

I just want to clarify a few things.

1.  I'm not saying we should have traded for Dwight or signed DWill or anything like that.  I agree that the best option for next year right now is to bring KG and Ray back and get Green/Bass back.  That being said, we shouldn't be sacrificing long term success (4 year deal to Bass, 3 year deal to KG, 2 year deal to Ray) for an outside shot at a title next season.  For all we know KG's bonespurs come back and we're stuck with a bunch of bad contracts on a team competing for the 8 seed.


2.  People are massively underestimating the Heat.  Wade was playing on one leg, and Bosh shouldn't have been playing at all.  Those two will assumedly be healthy next year, Lebron has crossed the threshold to greatness, and they will be adding another quality role player with the LLE.   Admittedly Bosh went berserk game 7 but that's beside the point.  Until we have another dominant big next to KG, our defense will keep blowing up in our face every time KG is off the court.  Quite frankly it was a miracle we got to where we did and KG didn't break down through the season since he carried us on defense for so long.



I'm 100% behind bring them back for one more shot next year.  But that's all it should be.  It shouldn't be another 2-3 year window.  It should be one more year of one year deals and then rebuilding around Rondo/Josh Smith/Bradley.

1) I don't think anyone on the board is advocating signing Bass to a 4 year deal

2) No one is underestimating the Heat at all, they "won" a title but will Stern want to push LeBron as the next Jordan? If that's the case then it obviously controls how teams will defend him, thus making it difficult for any team to beat the Heat.

Who is out there that is a better option than KG or Allen? If they give KG three years (which is actually 2 years and an option) and Ray 2 years, how exactly is that a bad thing for this team? As I mentioned before we have the deepest bench in recent memory in terms of youth and potential. We can use Bradley as our Posey (Defensive Stopper) and Sullinger as our BBD player that isn't afraid to hit the rim

[cb8883]

If Ray resigns that means we'll have Pierce and Ray for two more years and KG for 2, possibly 3.  We can't expect any of them to do anything but get worse from here on out. 

This year we got by because of KG playing his best ball since 2007 and carrying this team with Rondo.  I really don't see KG being able to duplicate that next year, let alone 2 or 3 years down the road. 

What happened to keeping cap flexibility Ainge?  What happened to not hanging on too long?  Why he is giving Ray a two year deal and KG a 3 year deal (I thought 2 years was pushing it, let alone 3) is just mindboggling.  Pierce is overpaid and got too many years as well.  I'm not saying we need to blow it up, but we shouldn't be preparing ourselves to get stuck in no mans land as a stinker 8 seed.

This is the point I've been trying to make for the last few weeks, the OP hits the nail on the head. This team as constructed cannot beat the Heat, Pacers, maybe not even the Sixers. Another year older, this is rough right now, just either sign Mayo to get much needed youth or let the kids play. I would have rather renounced everyone to get at Hibbert and Mayo if they were going that route...would have been better than this outcome.

[tyrone biggums]

If Ray resigns that means we'll have Pierce and Ray for two more years and KG for 2, possibly 3.  We can't expect any of them to do anything but get worse from here on out. 

This year we got by because of KG playing his best ball since 2007 and carrying this team with Rondo.  I really don't see KG being able to duplicate that next year, let alone 2 or 3 years down the road. 

What happened to keeping cap flexibility Ainge?  What happened to not hanging on too long?  Why he is giving Ray a two year deal and KG a 3 year deal (I thought 2 years was pushing it, let alone 3) is just mindboggling.  Pierce is overpaid and got too many years as well.  I'm not saying we need to blow it up, but we shouldn't be preparing ourselves to get stuck in no mans land as a stinker 8 seed.

This is the point I've been trying to make for the last few weeks, the OP hits the nail on the head. This team as constructed cannot beat the Heat, Pacers, maybe not even the Sixers. Another year older, this is rough right now, just either sign Mayo to get much needed youth or let the kids play. I would have rather renounced everyone to get at Hibbert and Mayo if they were going that route...would have been better than this outcome.

So I'm assuming you didn't hear about the Pacers saying they would match ANY OFFER for Hibbert? I would have liked to have had him too...but the Max? I'm not sure I would have done that

[Roy H.]

I would have rather renounced everyone to get at Hibbert and Mayo if they were going that route...would have been better than this outcome.

What's the ceiling on a team made up of Rondo, Mayo, and Hibbert going forward?  Eastern Conference Finals, on that team's absolute best day?

That's where we are now.  I don't see the need to blow it up just to end up equal to, or worse than, where we are now.

[hpantazo]

If Ray resigns that means we'll have Pierce and Ray for two more years and KG for 2, possibly 3.  We can't expect any of them to do anything but get worse from here on out. 

This year we got by because of KG playing his best ball since 2007 and carrying this team with Rondo.  I really don't see KG being able to duplicate that next year, let alone 2 or 3 years down the road. 

What happened to keeping cap flexibility Ainge?  What happened to not hanging on too long?  Why he is giving Ray a two year deal and KG a 3 year deal (I thought 2 years was pushing it, let alone 3) is just mindboggling.  Pierce is overpaid and got too many years as well.  I'm not saying we need to blow it up, but we shouldn't be preparing ourselves to get stuck in no mans land as a stinker 8 seed.

This is the point I've been trying to make for the last few weeks, the OP hits the nail on the head. This team as constructed cannot beat the Heat, Pacers, maybe not even the Sixers. Another year older, this is rough right now, just either sign Mayo to get much needed youth or let the kids play. I would have rather renounced everyone to get at Hibbert and Mayo if they were going that route...would have been better than this outcome.

In 2-3 years, Melo and Sullinger will be much better than Hibbert and Mayo. Giving guys like Hibbert and Mayo large contracts is a surefire way to get stuck in mediocrity.

Also, we are getting younger. We will have Bradley along with Sullinger, Melo, and JJJ all getting minutes. Rondo is young as well. If we get too young, we will be out of contention. Vet teams win championships, just ask OKC.

[tyrone biggums]

If Ray resigns that means we'll have Pierce and Ray for two more years and KG for 2, possibly 3.  We can't expect any of them to do anything but get worse from here on out.  

This year we got by because of KG playing his best ball since 2007 and carrying this team with Rondo.  I really don't see KG being able to duplicate that next year, let alone 2 or 3 years down the road.  

What happened to keeping cap flexibility Ainge?  What happened to not hanging on too long?  Why he is giving Ray a two year deal and KG a 3 year deal (I thought 2 years was pushing it, let alone 3) is just mindboggling.  Pierce is overpaid and got too many years as well.  I'm not saying we need to blow it up, but we shouldn't be preparing ourselves to get stuck in no mans land as a stinker 8 seed.

This is the point I've been trying to make for the last few weeks, the OP hits the nail on the head. This team as constructed cannot beat the Heat, Pacers, maybe not even the Sixers. Another year older, this is rough right now, just either sign Mayo to get much needed youth or let the kids play. I would have rather renounced everyone to get at Hibbert and Mayo if they were going that route...would have been better than this outcome.

In 2-3 years, Melo and Sullinger will be much better than Hibbert and Mayo. Giving guys like Hibbert and Mayo large contracts is a surefire way to get stuck in mediocrity.

Also, we are getting younger. We will have Bradley along with Sullinger, Melo, and JJJ all getting minutes. Rondo is young as well. If we get too young, we will be out of contention. Vet teams win championships, just ask OKC.

I don't think Melo will be anywhere near Hibbert, but it wouldn't be smart to give the guy a MAXIMUM CONTRACT, holy ... the Blazers are dumb

[Edited.  Watch it with the allusions to profanity, please.]

[cltc5]

If Ray resigns that means we'll have Pierce and Ray for two more years and KG for 2, possibly 3.  We can't expect any of them to do anything but get worse from here on out. 

This year we got by because of KG playing his best ball since 2007 and carrying this team with Rondo.  I really don't see KG being able to duplicate that next year, let alone 2 or 3 years down the road. 

What happened to keeping cap flexibility Ainge?  What happened to not hanging on too long?  Why he is giving Ray a two year deal and KG a 3 year deal (I thought 2 years was pushing it, let alone 3) is just mindboggling.  Pierce is overpaid and got too many years as well.  I'm not saying we need to blow it up, but we shouldn't be preparing ourselves to get stuck in no mans land as a stinker 8 seed.



You mean the sme team that stretched Miami to 7 games sans Bradley, a health Ray, pierce, wilcox, and green?

This is the point I've been trying to make for the last few weeks, the OP hits the nail on the head. This team as constructed cannot beat the Heat, Pacers, maybe not even the Sixers. Another year older, this is rough right now, just either sign Mayo to get much needed youth or let the kids play. I would have rather renounced everyone to get at Hibbert and Mayo if they were going that route...would have been better than this outcome.

[Kwhit10]

I expect mediocrity in the regular season.  I really hope Doc really keeps the minutes of the guys in their 30's to 28 minutes.  We've made deep runs in the playoffs from the 4th seed. 

Keeping their minutes down does two main things.

1) keeps the older players fresh
2) gets the young guys some minutes to see if they are actually worth keeping.  And if they show something of value can be used in trades to upgrade somewhere else or kept as a rotation guy.

[SHAQATTACK]

My advise to OP is don't be so negative , relax and enjoy the team as changes unfold.

There will ups and downs ...remember last season.


We are getting good younger guys, picking carefully , while still allowing fans to enjoy a +500 playoff capiable team.

Might not luck into a group as good as these guys for a long time.

You sometimes don't appreciate what you have till its gone...this maybe the case with our big three.

[CoachBo]

I would have rather renounced everyone to get at Hibbert and Mayo if they were going that route...would have been better than this outcome.

What's the ceiling on a team made up of Rondo, Mayo, and Hibbert going forward?  Eastern Conference Finals, on that team's absolute best day?

That's where we are now.  I don't see the need to blow it up just to end up equal to, or worse than, where we are now.

Precisely.

SMH.

[Neurotic Guy]

I hated seeing this thread title when I just opened the blog. 

This is about as 'half-empty' as this glass can be seen.   This team, WITHOUT Green, Bradley and Wilcox, AND with an ailing Pierce and Ray, took the champions to the 7th game in the ECF.   

Instead of thinking we'll be older and heading downhill, think that KG, PP and Ray will be able to play fewer minutes with a possible combination of Green, Bradley, Wilcox, Sullinger, JJJ, E'twaun, and Melo -- along with whomever they can add via S&T, MLE and BAE.   

This is the most energizing off-season since 2007 and all you can feel is that we are heading to mediocrity?   OF COURSE it COULD happen, but why in the world would you choose to think negatively about the possibilities.

[arambone]

I hated seeing this thread title when I just opened the blog. 

This is about as 'half-empty' as this glass can be seen.   This team, WITHOUT Green, Bradley and Wilcox, AND with an ailing Pierce and Ray, took the champions to the 7th game in the ECF.   

Instead of thinking we'll be older and heading downhill, think that KG, PP and Ray will be able to play fewer minutes with a possible combination of Green, Bradley, Wilcox, Sullinger, JJJ, E'twaun, and Melo -- along with whomever they can add via S&T, MLE and BAE.   

This is the most energizing off-season since 2007 and all you can feel is that we are heading to mediocrity?   OF COURSE it COULD happen, but why in the world would you choose to think negatively about the possibilities.

Some people are simply incapable of imagining draft picks and young players improving in the future.

Like Rondo won't be even better in two years
Like Bradley won't be even better in two years
Like Sullinger, a 20 y.o. 6th ranked talent, won't be a savvy productive vet in 2 years
Like Melo won't get better in his 7th, 8th, and 9th years of playing basketball, mentored as he will be by Garnett and Rivers.

Like Garnett, Pierce, and Allen can't be contributors on championship teams unless they play 35+ minutes.

Sullinger falling to the Celtics was a godsend, and some people haven't even read his scouting reports, much less actually watch his games. Same with Melo.

Watch the freakin' games on espn3!
 

[tyrone biggums]

Gerald Green and Big Al are not walking through that door...accept it and move on!