Why do you think we're contenders?

[bfrombleacher]

this is for those who are delusional enough to think we should make the playoffs...

This is a fantastic way to start a thread.

[BASS_THUMPER]

i  expect nuthin less from the
Boston Celtics

[Eja117]

Because I think KO, Sully, and Avery will all be better than expected. Because I think this team will run and then run some more. Because unlike most young players I think there are some guys here who can and will play defense and at least had KG cough on them once or twice.  Because I think Stevens will be a better and more focused coach than Doc ever was. And most of all because I think Rajon Rondo is going to play like a man possessed like we've never seen before. And because other teams are due for the injuries that we had.

[Moranis]

Making the playoffs != believing team is a contender.

Seattle got Kevin Durant PRIOR to trading Ray Allen.

Don't think any of your other points need to be addressed in any fashion.

Not really.  They traded Ray Allen on draft night.  The same draft night they took Kevin Durant.  So they easily could have made the decision to keep Allen and let him guide Durant to his path all while being better.  They did in fact choose to totally rebuild and go for assets though.

Very few teams seem to truly get it right, even those that are bad and get franchise players in the draft, always seem to mess up the future.  I mean look at Cleveland.  Got Lebron James and then totally flubbed the next 8 drafts and free agency.  Orlando did a pretty good job with both Shaq and Howard, though I wonder how different Orlando might have been had they kept Webber and not traded him for Penny and a bunch of firsts.  Denver totally flubbed Carmelo.  Charlotte flubbed building around Chris Paul though at least was able to get David West there. 

So you not only need a franchise player in the draft, you can't totally flub the drafts after him either.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Making the playoffs != believing team is a contender.

Seattle got Kevin Durant PRIOR to trading Ray Allen.

Don't think any of your other points need to be addressed in any fashion.

Not really.  They traded Ray Allen on draft night.  The same draft night they took Kevin Durant.  So they easily could have made the decision to keep Allen and let him guide Durant to his path all while being better.  They did in fact choose to totally rebuild and go for assets though.

Very few teams seem to truly get it right, even those that are bad and get franchise players in the draft, always seem to mess up the future.  I mean look at Cleveland.  Got Lebron James and then totally flubbed the next 8 drafts and free agency.  Orlando did a pretty good job with both Shaq and Howard, though I wonder how different Orlando might have been had they kept Webber and not traded him for Penny and a bunch of firsts.  Denver totally flubbed Carmelo.  Charlotte flubbed building around Chris Paul though at least was able to get David West there. 

So you not only need a franchise player in the draft, you can't totally flub the drafts after him either.

What do you mean not really? Seattle picked Durant, and then they traded Ray Allen, even if it was the same night, so yes they got Durant prior to trading Ray Allen. Point is, more than anything, that the decision to trade Ray Allen or not has no relevance to Seattle's decision or ability to draft Durant.

[chambers]

I don't think that anyone expects us to be 'contenders'. They may expect/hope for us to contend for one of the last playoffs spots in the East.
There's nothing wrong with that. It's a matter of opinion.
Either way, winning a championship involves a monstrous amount of luck. People are talking about Houston and how that's the way to win a ship'.
I mean they got very lucky that OKC had a talent like Harden available in a trade. Most teams won't get 3 players like Durant, Harden, Westbrook on similar scale contracts.

If you don't get incredibly lucky to get Harden and then somehow beat the Lakers and the others getting your hands on someone like Howard it's no different from the lottery.
You have to trade for a guy like Harden and then hope he re-signs. Look what happened to the Lakers when they did the same thing for Howard with the Magic?

Personally, I feel our best shot is through the draft.
We have the management and talent scouts to make better decisions than other teams.

[RJ87]

Is the OP an attempt at trolling? Or is the obsession with lottery picks so deep that all else is inconsequential. Happening to have a lottery pick does not itself win championships any more than hapopening to have Kenyan citizenship will guarantee victory at the Boston Marathon

Well, Houston gathered assets and turned a fringe starter and 2 lottery picks into James Harden, that's pretty conducive to winning potential titles. Harden and smart drafting/cap management turned into Howard, and bada bing, contender, with more assets still (mostly Asik) to trade for better pieces.

Kevin Martin, a guy who has had multiple seasons averaging 20+ points per game, is a fringe starter? Sheesh, tough crowd.

And that's the only thing worth replying to in this thread.

[Tr1boy]

Delusional? We are fans. Even fans of bobcats , magic at least feel they can get 8th place.

Lightspeed why dont you take a yr off and wait for wiggins.