Would you still follow the Celtics if they decided to tank?

[greenhead85]

I would be so disappointed with the team if they tank next season especially if we still have the two HOFers (KG and PP). Their presence coupled with tanking is unthinkable and inexcusable for a storied franchise.

[D.o.s.]

What people don't get is that the NBA lottery created a greater disincentive for teams to tank than what it replaced.  As it stands, you can have the worst record and end up picking fourth.

The problem isn't that teams tank, the problem is that some teams think tanking is a good strategy when it really isn't.

I would still follow the Celtics if they tanked, but I would be a fan who is very unhappy that his favorite NBA team is being poorly run.

Well said.

You look at ORL. They've gotten a franchise player twice but the rest of the team was so tanked out they ended up being a farm for LA.

I think there's a big difference between the Bobcats, who lost games because they're bad, and a good team that loses on purpose--the Warriors tanked without mercy to keep the Harrison Barnes pick (which would've otherwise got to Brooklyn, I think), and that resulted in some seriously shameful basketball.

I think they had several injuries that hampered them.

Yes, the "injury" of possibly losing their draft pick. The logic behind shelving Steph Curry and David Lee with injuries of dubious severity and trading Monta for (then-injured) Bogut kind of points in one direction. Downward.

Those games were absolutely brutal to watch.

Here's some reading:
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/golden-state-warriors-shamelessly-tanked-151334372.html

[mmmmm]

I think it's interesting that a majority of the replies seem to take a negative view of "tanking."  At the same time, many fans get excited about the prospect of landing a young stud in the draft and are willing to see the team do what it can to get that guy, which, obviously, means tanking. 

This makes for a fairly schizophrenic situation for a sports fan; root for a team to try really hard to win, but to ultimately lose most of the time?!  That just doesn't seem right. It doesn't really seem physically possible for the die hard fan to root this way once the ball is actually tossed up. 

Basically, it's why I'm against the NBA draft altogether, and would like to see the system totally scrapped or significantly revamped. 

I've suggested this before, though, and never gotten any positive responses to the idea.

TP.  I also hate the draft system, but I have no idea what they could substitute for it.  I think we are just stuck with it.  Having the #1 pick is no guarantee of success anyway.

I guess I am the only one who actually likes most of our moves so far.  I think we need a veteran Center and a backup point guard and we will be in good shape.  If KG and PP leave the team I do think we will need someone else (beside Rondo) to provide veteran leadership.  (I hope they stay, personally.)  There are a few on the bench I wouldn't mind moving...Terry, Lee, White, Crawford and maybe Bradley if we could get a good center.  T. Williams is a question mark.

You are not alone.  I like most of the moves they've made as well - we just haven't had good luck with health.

Assuming KG & PP return, I agree, they are just one solid big man and maybe a backup PG from having a very good team.

I still assert that the 5-man unit:  KG+Sully+Green+Pierce+Rondo, if healthy could be one of the best in the NBA, especially with the flexibility of mixing Avery into it for defense against faster lineups (whether in place of Pierce or Sully).

And no - that's not 'running back the same team'.  We never actually had a chance to run that lineup.

Now, I don't think that that alone is 'enough'.  We need _healthy_ depth in the big man rotation beyond just Bass.  We can't have another season where Bass ends up playing more minutes up front than any other big.  And we need someone off the bench who can competently spell Rondo.

But this team is not that far off from being very, very good.

[Birdman]

I will always bleed GREEN!!!!

[PhoSita]

I still assert that the 5-man unit:  KG+Sully+Green+Pierce+Rondo, if healthy could be one of the best in the NBA, especially with the flexibility of mixing Avery into it for defense against faster lineups (whether in place of Pierce or Sully).

The issue with that lineup, as I see it, is that you'd need to have enough quality depth that Pierce and Garnett each average fewer than 32 minutes a game during the regular season, and even get the chance to sit out once every 5-10 games or so (second night of back to backs, that sort of thing).

Pierce and Garnett are still very nice players, but they can't be expected to carry the majority of the load.  With all respect to Jeff Green and Rajon Rondo, I just don't see somebody on the roster who can step up and be the main offensive option on a regular basis when Pierce and Garnett just don't have it, or aren't playing at all.

When I say quality depth, I mean that they'd need big men with legit size and ability (e.g. Splitter) and wings and guards who are versatile and have big game potential.  I'm not confident that Courtney Lee and Brandon Bass can possibly be enough in that regard.

[mmmmm]

I still assert that the 5-man unit:  KG+Sully+Green+Pierce+Rondo, if healthy could be one of the best in the NBA, especially with the flexibility of mixing Avery into it for defense against faster lineups (whether in place of Pierce or Sully).

The issue with that lineup, as I see it, is that you'd need to have enough quality depth that Pierce and Garnett each average fewer than 32 minutes a game during the regular season, and even get the chance to sit out once every 5-10 games or so (second night of back to backs, that sort of thing).

Pierce and Garnett are still very nice players, but they can't be expected to carry the majority of the load.  With all respect to Jeff Green and Rajon Rondo, I just don't see somebody on the roster who can step up and be the main offensive option on a regular basis when Pierce and Garnett just don't have it, or aren't playing at all.

When I say quality depth, I mean that they'd need big men with legit size and ability (e.g. Splitter) and wings and guards who are versatile and have big game potential.  I'm not confident that Courtney Lee and Brandon Bass can possibly be enough in that regard.

But that's not a 'issue with that lineup'.  That's a problem with the rest of the roster.

A contending team always starts, though, with the main 5-man unit.   You have to be able to put 5 men on the floor who can contend with anyone.  If you can't do that, you don't have the ability to beat any team.

That 5-man unit has the ability to score on anyone because it is balanced offensively  both inside & out and has multiple ways it can hurt you.  It is also very strong defensively.  The only vulnerability is fast 2-guards on Pierce (though on the flip side he can probably post up any of those guys on the other end).   You can slide Bradley in for either Pierce or Sully in order to go small or smaller as needed, though.

Yes, minute management is important.  And that's why I called out for needed big man depth.   I also am not confident that Bass is enough.   We need a longer, competent big man who can play defense.  And we need him to stay healthy.

[LooseCannon]

Yes, minute management is important.  And that's why I called out for needed big man depth.   I also am not confident that Bass is enough.   We need a longer, competent big man who can play defense.  And we need him to stay healthy.

The key word is "depth".  It's not enough to replace Bass with a taller, longer big man.  The Celtics need three non-Garnett capable bigs.  Ideally, you'd want a competent center you can pair with Bass in the frontcourt while Garnett sits.

[kgainez]

Honestly, if they head into next season finally looking to start the rebuilding process and move on from this era, I think I'd follow the team with much more interest than if they bring the gang back and the 2013-2014 season is just a year of watching reruns.

you know, i was originally going to say yes but not as much, then this above quote really made sense to me. the rebuilding process is essentially what I want and I want to see the development.

[kgainez]

Honestly, if they head into next season finally looking to start the rebuilding process and move on from this era, I think I'd follow the team with much more interest than if they bring the gang back and the 2013-2014 season is just a year of watching reruns.

I agree with this

For me its still a lot more gratifyig watching pierce drop 40 on the cavs or KG continue to do work on guys like blake griffin kevin love etc etc.

I honestly don't get what's exciting about the rebuilding process. At least after like 15 games when you'll be like "holy moly this is the most brutal team" "We'll never won with any of these guys"

Paul isn't dropping 40 and KG isn't working on guys like Blake or Love. Absolutely not.

[thirstyboots18]

Honestly, if they head into next season finally looking to start the rebuilding process and move on from this era, I think I'd follow the team with much more interest than if they bring the gang back and the 2013-2014 season is just a year of watching reruns.

I agree with this

For me its still a lot more gratifyig watching pierce drop 40 on the cavs or KG continue to do work on guys like blake griffin kevin love etc etc.

I honestly don't get what's exciting about the rebuilding process. At least after like 15 games when you'll be like "holy moly this is the most brutal team" "We'll never won with any of these guys"

Paul isn't dropping 40 and KG isn't working on guys like Blake or Love. Absolutely not.

Maybe not, but Paul and Jeff G. could drop 40, and Sully/kg/another big (maybe Wilcox) could cover Love, etc.   This is more than a 5 man team...we do have depth when all are healthy.

[kgainez]

Honestly, if they head into next season finally looking to start the rebuilding process and move on from this era, I think I'd follow the team with much more interest than if they bring the gang back and the 2013-2014 season is just a year of watching reruns.

I agree with this

For me its still a lot more gratifyig watching pierce drop 40 on the cavs or KG continue to do work on guys like blake griffin kevin love etc etc.

I honestly don't get what's exciting about the rebuilding process. At least after like 15 games when you'll be like "holy moly this is the most brutal team" "We'll never won with any of these guys"

Paul isn't dropping 40 and KG isn't working on guys like Blake or Love. Absolutely not.

Maybe not, but Paul and Jeff G. could drop 40, and Sully/kg/another big (maybe Wilcox) could cover Love, etc.   This is more than a 5 man team...we do have depth when all are healthy.

right...as they should
but saying pp and kg can do it alone is a no go.

[thirstyboots18]

Honestly, if they head into next season finally looking to start the rebuilding process and move on from this era, I think I'd follow the team with much more interest than if they bring the gang back and the 2013-2014 season is just a year of watching reruns.

I agree with this

For me its still a lot more gratifyig watching pierce drop 40 on the cavs or KG continue to do work on guys like blake griffin kevin love etc etc.

I honestly don't get what's exciting about the rebuilding process. At least after like 15 games when you'll be like "holy moly this is the most brutal team" "We'll never won with any of these guys"

Paul isn't dropping 40 and KG isn't working on guys like Blake or Love. Absolutely not.

Maybe not, but Paul and Jeff G. could drop 40, and Sully/kg/another big (maybe Wilcox) could cover Love, etc.   This is more than a 5 man team...we do have depth when all are healthy.

right...as they should
but saying pp and kg can do it alone is a no go.

Of course not.  They never could.  It is a TEAM game.  (LeBron is finding that out right now, as Wade and Bosh are having less than stellar games, presently, much to my delight.)  We need a team where everyone is respected for what he brings, not run down for what he does not.  There are very few perfect players...no matter how brightly emerald your glasses gleam.

I would be willing to bet that the Spurs are glad they didn't go through a blow up as their team started aging.  As I said before, you need young legs on your team, but young talent seldom wins championships no matter how good it is.  Experience and cohesion win.

[dark_lord]

til the day i die

[butterbeanlove]

followed them since 1982... so yes

[KG Living Legend]

 Ummmm Yeah. Diehard Celts Fan.