Will you be upset if we make the playoffs?

[KGs Knee]

I'm a classy white dude. 

now there's a telling statement 

[BleedGreen1989]

we wont as long as our 2nd best player is gerald wallace

(rondo wont be playing much this year)

  (Do you have a link to back up that claim?)

http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2013-07-01/rajon-rondo-trade-boston-celtics-nets-kevin-garnett-paul-pierce-nba-free-agency

"But Rondo is coming back from an ACL injury, and is expected to miss the start of the season. Even when he does come back, he might not be quite himself from the get-go—very often, players need more than a year to fully get comfortable with a surgically repaired knee. Part of the goal of next year for Rondo, then, will be making his way back to 100 percent."


I'm amazed at how many CB posters believe that Rondo will be back to start the season, and/or will play his regular minutes and dominate. The guy will take a full year or more to recover, and will not rush back. Even when he returns, he will be nowhere near full speed this year.

  I was looking for something from Rondo's camp or the Celts (someone with firsthand knowledge of the situation), not idle speculation by some internet reporter. And didn't his doctor also operate on Adrian Peterson, and wasn't his recovery much, much faster than what you're describing? Obviously Rondo won't dominate right out of the gates but how he'll play this season is much less cut and dried than you're claiming it is.

This. There is absolutely nothing definitive in that article.

[LooseCannon]

we wont as long as our 2nd best player is gerald wallace

(rondo wont be playing much this year)

  (Do you have a link to back up that claim?)

http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2013-07-01/rajon-rondo-trade-boston-celtics-nets-kevin-garnett-paul-pierce-nba-free-agency

"But Rondo is coming back from an ACL injury, and is expected to miss the start of the season. Even when he does come back, he might not be quite himself from the get-go—very often, players need more than a year to fully get comfortable with a surgically repaired knee. Part of the goal of next year for Rondo, then, will be making his way back to 100 percent."


I'm amazed at how many CB posters believe that Rondo will be back to start the season, and/or will play his regular minutes and dominate. The guy will take a full year or more to recover, and will not rush back. Even when he returns, he will be nowhere near full speed this year.

I'm amazed at how many CB posters believe that Rondo's recovery can be predicted precisely.  Rondo could be ready in time for training camp.  Rondo could take a year between games.  I think Rondo being able to play in October is probably a bit more likely than Rondo having his first game in February, but it's much more likely that it's somewhere in-between.  If I had to guess, I would speculate he'll be ready to play 30mg sometime in November.

[bfrombleacher]

we wont as long as our 2nd best player is gerald wallace

(rondo wont be playing much this year)

  (Do you have a link to back up that claim?)

http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2013-07-01/rajon-rondo-trade-boston-celtics-nets-kevin-garnett-paul-pierce-nba-free-agency

"But Rondo is coming back from an ACL injury, and is expected to miss the start of the season. Even when he does come back, he might not be quite himself from the get-go—very often, players need more than a year to fully get comfortable with a surgically repaired knee. Part of the goal of next year for Rondo, then, will be making his way back to 100 percent."


I'm amazed at how many CB posters believe that Rondo will be back to start the season, and/or will play his regular minutes and dominate. The guy will take a full year or more to recover, and will not rush back. Even when he returns, he will be nowhere near full speed this year.

I'm amazed at how many CB posters believe that Rondo's recovery can be predicted precisely.  Rondo could be ready in time for training camp.  Rondo could take a year between games.  I think Rondo being able to play in October is probably a bit more likely than Rondo having his first game in February, but it's much more likely that it's somewhere in-between.  If I had to guess, I would speculate he'll be ready to play 30mg sometime in November.

I think by November he'd be ready for 29.5 mpg, not 30!

[connor]

Yeah I'll be upset.

I think the Nets trade puts us in a position where we are better off tanking. I don't think we have the assets to make the trades necessary to make us contenders again.

If we tank this season and manage to get a pick in the top 10 we are going to have another great trade asset. 2014 draft is loaded and high lottery picks are going to be very valuable trade pieces (or new additions).

I think with that kind of trade chip, along with our other picks and young assets, we could have enough to pull off another blockbuster deal that brings a superstar here.

We have absolutely no chance at a championship next season and I don't think there are any trades we could make to change that. But I'd say we definitely have a good chance of getting a high lottery pick as we are currently constructed.

I'm not saying Wiggins or Randle, but maybe. Top 10?  Most likely. It's our best course for the long term. Playoffs would be fun in the short-term, but not worth it.

[vjcsmoke]

Personally, I'm rooting for the playoffs.

And I'm rooting for Santa Klaus.  But that doesn't mean it's gonna happen.  LOL.

Most likely we win 20-30 games max and get a shot at a top 5 pick.  If we are crazy lucky we will land Wiggins at #1.  Hopefully karma will finally return to us for missing out on both Duncan and Durant!!

[Celtics18]

Personally, I'm rooting for the playoffs.

And I'm rooting for Santa Klaus.  But that doesn't mean it's gonna happen.  LOL.

Most likely we win 20-30 games max and get a shot at a top 5 pick.  If we are crazy lucky we will land Wiggins at #1.  Hopefully karma will finally return to us for missing out on both Duncan and Durant!!

So, is that a yes, you'll be upset when we make the playoffs. 

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Not at all.

Why would I be upset? Is it because we're supposed to tank? Well, thing is, if we make It to the playoffs, it means our young players are good. Their trade stock will rise and will be easier to flip for a big name.

I want Playoffs. I want Bradley, Sully, Brooks, Olynyk and Melo be productive for us and make atleast a 7th seed.

Id love it. We play to win.

[Smokeeye123]

No because that means jeff Green or some random will breakout and become a star. There is literally no other way we'd make the playoffs.

[Celtics18]

Not at all.

Why would I be upset? Is it because we're supposed to tank? Well, thing is, if we make It to the playoffs, it means our young players are good. Their trade stock will rise and will be easier to flip for a big name.

I want Playoffs. I want Bradley, Sully, Brooks, Olynyk and Melo be productive for us and make atleast a 7th seed.

Exactly.  If our young players show they can help us win, it is only a good thing for the future.  When we talk about acquiring assets, folks sometimes forget that developing the assets that we have is as important, if not more important.

These guys will be seen as much better assets if they learn how to play to win and not just how to play to put up decent numbers.   

[Yoki_IsTheName]

I'm curious if any of the folks who are dead set on tanking for a high draft pick will be upset if the team plays above their expectations and sneaks into the playoffs? 

I'm going to guess that Rondo is going to be very anxious to get back on the court, and that the team won't be able to hold him out if he feels ready to play.  If Sully's back holds up and we get healthy seasons out of Green and Bradley, I could definitely see this team being a contender for a playoff spot. 

If this happens will you curse Rondo and Jeff for playing like winners?  Will you say; "darn it, Kelly Olynyk turned out to be better than I expected"?  Will you root for Sully's back to go out again? 

Personally, I'm rooting for the playoffs.

ding ding ding!

The pro-tankers continually overlook this. Again...and again.

Which is why they want him gone. Our all star, a top 5 PG, they want out because they are afraid that Rondo comes back strong, plays mad and consistently plays like Playoffs Rondo, it would screw up their tanking idea.

[LatterDayCelticsfan]

Even though we found a Rondo with pick No. 21 in one of the most God forsakenly poor drafts in living memory, our ability to get a star in what is supposed to be a really good one apparently hinges on being awarded a lottery pick based on a terrible regylar season? Couldn`t resist

[bfrombleacher]

Not at all.

Why would I be upset? Is it because we're supposed to tank? Well, thing is, if we make It to the playoffs, it means our young players are good. Their trade stock will rise and will be easier to flip for a big name.

I want Playoffs. I want Bradley, Sully, Brooks, Olynyk and Melo be productive for us and make atleast a 7th seed.

Id love it. We play to win.

A point I agree and have been making. Them playing well makes them keepers/movable assets. People are blinded by Wiggins.

No -- I think if this team makes the playoffs it will probably be a very enjoyable team to watch. A scrappy tough minded team that is maxing out their collective ability. East to root for.

And, yes, at the end of the day it's a sport. It's a game. It's a past time. You make of it what you will.

I don't see the joy in being negative all round all the time and rooting for the team to fail.

[LGC88]

Depends on the context.

Did we make the playoffs because Rondo became a straight up stud who not only went into superstar gear in the postseason, but was also able to sustain it for a whole season in order to get to the postseason? If so, I'd be ecstatic. That would finally put Rondo haters to rest and prove that he is a player worth building around.

Did we make the playoffs because we retooled and made SMART acquisitions (keyword on the smart) to build a balanced team with dangerous talents at each position? If so, I'd be ecstatic as well. The key to Memphis/Indiana model teams is gaining chemistry and experience, aka first/second round exits that make the team hungrier.

Or, did we simply make moves for the sake of making moves, such as overpaying for Smith and Jefferson? If so, that would be a much different kind of first/second round exit that I would be very displeased about, because rather than gradual improvements year-by-year like Memphis, we'd be stuck in NBA purgatory like Atlanta or Milwaukee.

This.
I will add that in order to attract big names next year we need to show what our current core is capable of. Not making the playoffs will not do for the fans that booked in advance their season sits. Danny and Wyc knows that when they said "tanking? That's ridiculous,  we are the boston celtics" I don't see them lying on their celtics pride.

[KG Living Legend]

Yes. This is THE year to tank. Than we can move foawrd with Wiggins or Randall . And have about 5 picks left to build the dynasty.