The Thunder are why the C's aren't that far off from contending

[TheReaLPuba]

aren't that far off from contending.

I know everyone feels that our window has closed. Hell even some of the C's players may feel the same way.

But all you have to do is look at the Thunder and realize that you're just an injury away from being just a good team.

The Heat in all likelihood will win the NBA title but that doesn't say much since they're the healthiest team and the rest of the contenders aren't at full strength.

The C's need to make another push because let's face it, we're not going to be horrible enough to win a top lotto pick unless we completely re-build and trade everyone away including Rondo/Green/Bradley for picks...not gonna happen.

We need to shore up our bench...get a couple of rebounding defensive minded bigs and just stay healthy.

[SparzWizard]

So did Kendrick Perkins really costed OKC Thunder a championship and dynasty? He was traded two years ago to Thunder for Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic. His salary costed them a James Harden. His production can easily be replaced by the combination of Joel Anthony and Nazr Mohamed. This is insane!

[LGC88]

aren't that far off from contending.

I know everyone feels that our window has closed. Hell even some of the C's players may feel the same way.

But all you have to do is look at the Thunder and realize that you're just an injury away from being just a good team.

The Heat in all likelihood will win the NBA title but that doesn't say much since they're the healthiest team and the rest of the contenders aren't at full strength.

The C's need to make another push because let's face it, we're not going to be horrible enough to win a top lotto pick unless we completely re-build and trade everyone away including Rondo/Green/Bradley for picks...not gonna happen.

We need to shore up our bench...get a couple of rebounding defensive minded bigs and just stay healthy.

I agres with all you said. Except that we had 2 problems this year, rebounding and scoring. Of course rebounding can be solved with sully healthy and another big, but I'm not sure Rondo will completely solve the scoring issue. We need a guy like korver off the bench at least to be able to be a serious contender.

[vjcsmoke]

Still wish Danny had pushed harder for Harden over Green in the Perkins trade.   

[wdleehi]

So did Kendrick Perkins really costed OKC Thunder a championship and dynasty? He was traded two years ago to Thunder for Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic. His salary costed them a James Harden. His production can easily be replaced by the combination of Joel Anthony and Nazr Mohamed. This is insane!

There are three max or near max players on the Thunder.  They can not afford 4. 


Notice, Perk is not one of those three.

[wdleehi]

Staying together for the purpose of hoping a bunch of teams have major injuries to their top players is not my idea of a good game plan.

[Moranis]

Staying together for the purpose of hoping a bunch of teams have major injuries to their top players is not my idea of a good game plan.

I agree.  Without major injuries to the following teams I just can't see virtually the same team competing: Miami, Chicago, Indiana, New York, and even Brooklyn.  And who really knows what Atlanta will look like.

Boston is not a contender without major additions (and Rondo and Sully are not enough).

[Cman]

Staying together for the purpose of hoping a bunch of teams have major injuries to their top players is not my idea of a good game plan.

I agree.  Without major injuries to the following teams I just can't see virtually the same team competing: Miami, Chicago, Indiana, New York, and even Brooklyn.  And who really knows what Atlanta will look like.

Boston is not a contender without major additions (and Rondo and Sully are not enough).

My thoughts as well. I realize this thread is part of the stream of the blog's current debate on "blow it up now or add a few pieces". But I don't think Danny views it that way -- in other words, there aren't these stark choices. It is clear over the past couple of years that he is willing to trade PP, KG, RR for good players/ picks in return. He is not someone who is hampered by nostalgia, but nor is he someone who will hold a fire sale.

[Moranis]

Staying together for the purpose of hoping a bunch of teams have major injuries to their top players is not my idea of a good game plan.

I agree.  Without major injuries to the following teams I just can't see virtually the same team competing: Miami, Chicago, Indiana, New York, and even Brooklyn.  And who really knows what Atlanta will look like.

Boston is not a contender without major additions (and Rondo and Sully are not enough).

My thoughts as well. I realize this thread is part of the stream of the blog's current debate on "blow it up now or add a few pieces". But I don't think Danny views it that way -- in other words, there aren't these stark choices. It is clear over the past couple of years that he is willing to trade PP, KG, RR for good players/ picks in return. He is not someone who is hampered by nostalgia, but nor is he someone who will hold a fire sale.

He hasn't held one yet, though I think he might this summer.  PP and KG really just don't have much left any more and Ainge might be at the point where he is ready to get whatever he can and move on, especially if he can attach a bad salary to them.

[Cman]

Staying together for the purpose of hoping a bunch of teams have major injuries to their top players is not my idea of a good game plan.

I agree.  Without major injuries to the following teams I just can't see virtually the same team competing: Miami, Chicago, Indiana, New York, and even Brooklyn.  And who really knows what Atlanta will look like.

Boston is not a contender without major additions (and Rondo and Sully are not enough).

My thoughts as well. I realize this thread is part of the stream of the blog's current debate on "blow it up now or add a few pieces". But I don't think Danny views it that way -- in other words, there aren't these stark choices. It is clear over the past couple of years that he is willing to trade PP, KG, RR for good players/ picks in return. He is not someone who is hampered by nostalgia, but nor is he someone who will hold a fire sale.

He hasn't held one yet, though I think he might this summer.  PP and KG really just don't have much left any more and Ainge might be at the point where he is ready to get whatever he can and move on, especially if he can attach a bad salary to them.

They will be "available" this summer, just as they were at the trade deadline this past winter. But I don't DA goes into fire sale mode. If no good trade possibilities over the summer, then he can wait and see what becomes available by the 2014 trade deadline. If nothing, then they just come off the books in summer 2014 IIRC.

[celts55]

Staying together for the purpose of hoping a bunch of teams have major injuries to their top players is not my idea of a good game plan.

I agree.  Without major injuries to the following teams I just can't see virtually the same team competing: Miami, Chicago, Indiana, New York, and even Brooklyn.  And who really knows what Atlanta will look like.

Boston is not a contender without major additions (and Rondo and Sully are not enough).

My thoughts as well. I realize this thread is part of the stream of the blog's current debate on "blow it up now or add a few pieces". But I don't think Danny views it that way -- in other words, there aren't these stark choices. It is clear over the past couple of years that he is willing to trade PP, KG, RR for good players/ picks in return. He is not someone who is hampered by nostalgia, but nor is he someone who will hold a fire sale.

He hasn't held one yet, though I think he might this summer.  PP and KG really just don't have much left any more and Ainge might be at the point where he is ready to get whatever he can and move on, especially if he can attach a bad salary to them.

I think you are correct that Pierce will be gone (makes me sad that he won't finish his career here) but I think KG is back. While he might not be the player he was, he's still the best big on this team. I still think he's top 15 or so in the league. Also I believe he still has that no trade contract and has said he doen't want to play anywhere else.

[Snakehead]

The Thunder are kind of a freak example of lucky drafting scenarios.

I think Memphis is the most hopeful one.  They whiffed on the draft for the most part, made a trade they were crucified for a long time (Pau Gasol), and with smart signings and a good direction they are now contending.

[TheReaLPuba]

Staying together for the purpose of hoping a bunch of teams have major injuries to their top players is not my idea of a good game plan.

I'm not saying we hope to have a bunch of teams get hurt.

I'm saying if we stay a very good team to great team we can at least get to playoffs, to the ECF, or to the Finals and maybe some teams will have injuries as they often do.

If KG, Perkins, Shaq don't get hurt don't you think we'd have a better or even a favorite chance to make it back to the Finals or win another Championship?

The Heat are a top loaded team filled with 3 point shooters and solid role players. I don't think they're a great great team like some historic team. They just have a historic player and an extremely gifted HOF great player in his own right DWade. But other than that their team isn't all that talented.

[BballTim]

Staying together for the purpose of hoping a bunch of teams have major injuries to their top players is not my idea of a good game plan.

I agree.  Without major injuries to the following teams I just can't see virtually the same team competing: Miami, Chicago, Indiana, New York, and even Brooklyn.  And who really knows what Atlanta will look like.

Boston is not a contender without major additions (and Rondo and Sully are not enough).

  With all teams healthy we'd more likely than not beat Brooklyn or NY or Indiana in a playoff series, and we'd more likely than not take Chicago. Put a healthy Rondo and not even Sully on the team and we'd have been looking at a trip to the ecf.

[badshar]

So did Kendrick Perkins really costed OKC Thunder a championship and dynasty? He was traded two years ago to Thunder for Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic. His salary costed them a James Harden. His production can easily be replaced by the combination of Joel Anthony and Nazr Mohamed. This is insane!

You can't just blame Perkins for that. Why did Presti pay him that much to not be able to pay Harden?