Tankers Need A Reality Check

[u2larkin04]

Unless there are injuries, there is no way we are a team that even gets in the lottery. Too solid to not make the playoffs, but unfortunately, too young to go deep. As much as I'd love a top pick, it's not gonna happen this year.

In my opinion, we are a star center or SG away from being a contender.



DISCUSS!

[Roy H.]

I'm not sure it's fair -- or consistent with our rules -- to tell others they need a "reality check" in this circumstance.

I think a lot of (purportedly) neutral observers are pretty down on the Celtics.  ESPN's survey had us ranked, what, 12th in the East?  Their "insiders" projected us to tank 28th on offense and 30th on defense.

That's perhaps too pessimistic, but I think it's also overly optimistic to think that this team is automatically a playoff team.  We have a mismatched roster, a rookie coach, our only healthy starter that is above-average is Jeff Green (who doesn't have a long track record of playing at a high level), and our best player could miss some time recovering from a serious injury.

[rondoallaturca]

Everything makes sense after reading OP's signature.

[Eja117]

Tanking is for GMs without a plan.


For the pro tankers...I'm a litte confused and curious.
Does the argument start to evolve into us needing to tank twice or three times so we can be like the Thunder and have Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka (and I guess maybe James Harden)....except the Thunder still don't have a championship......or does the theory need to be that you have to have a key injury so you can get a Duncan and then get really lucky to get a Tony Parker late in the first and a Manu in the second and wait on him a couple years?

Do we tank like the Cavs and get Bron and then pick Luke Jackson 10th the next year?  Do we get lucky to get Chris Paul with the 4th pick after the other teams ahead of us take Marvin Williams?

Do we try to get the 2nd pick and get left with a Durant, because the guy ahead of him screws up his knees forever?  Or do we take the guy who screws up his knees so we can be set back and then take a Damian Lillard 6th later on?

If we tank this year and get the #2 pick, was that a successful tank or unsuccessful? 

[u2larkin04]

I'm not sure it's fair -- or consistent with our rules -- to tell others they need a "reality check" in this circumstance.

I think a lot of (purportedly) neutral observers are pretty down on the Celtics.  ESPN's survey had us ranked, what, 12th in the East?  Their "insiders" projected us to tank 28th on offense and 30th on defense.

That's perhaps too pessimistic, but I think it's also overly optimistic to think that this team is automatically a playoff team.  We have a mismatched roster, a rookie coach, our only healthy starter that is above-average is Jeff Green (who doesn't have a long track record of playing at a high level), and our best player could miss some time recovering from a serious injury.

Indeed we have all odds against us in the eyes of most. But I don't think there are 8 teams that are better than the roster we have now. Obviously disregarding injury/major trades I think this team is too good to tank.

[u2larkin04]

Everything makes sense after reading OP's signature.

This forum is a guilty pleasure.. I only have the courage to post after a drop of the pure.

[Roy H.]

Everything makes sense after reading OP's signature.

This forum is a guilty pleasure.. I only have the courage to post after a drop of the pure.

Same here. 

[SamuelAdams]

/Nod.   Scotch helps put out the flames. 

[u2larkin04]

 Drunk or sober, I'll be rooting for the Celtics in the playoffs this year.

[LarBrd33]

I figure we'll win less than 30 games, but I'm excited for the season anyways.  It will be fun to see the little ugly seedlings start to grow.  In a few years we'll be a team of beautiful flowers. 

[Celtics18]

I figure we'll win less than 30 games, but I'm excited for the season anyways.  It will be fun to see the little ugly seedlings start to grow.  In a few years we'll be a team of beautiful flowers.

So poetic.

[nostar]

For the pro tankers...I'm a litte confused and curious.
Does the argument start to evolve into us needing to tank twice or three times so we can be like the Thunder and have Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka (and I guess maybe James Harden)....except the Thunder still don't have a championship......

You know if any GM in the league thought they could tank 2-3 times and end up with Westbrook/Harden/Ibaka they'd do it. Aside from the insane logic involved (Thunder tanked and still don't have a Championship) which means nothing at all I'm not sure if the point is that even if we tank get  great players we'll still lose or ??

What if we trade for great players and still lose? Does that make trading a bad idea?

or does the theory need to be that you have to have a key injury so you can get a Duncan and then get really lucky to get a Tony Parker late in the first and a Manu in the second and wait on him a couple years?

This Spurs are absolutely ridiculous. Lucky with Duncan and just down right scary how well they draft. Buford is just a magical being I guess.

Do we tank like the Cavs and get Bron and then pick Luke Jackson 10th the next year?  Do we get lucky to get Chris Paul with the 4th pick after the other teams ahead of us take Marvin Williams?

From all signs this season points to it. We're hoping to get our own little Lebron on a sweet rookie contract and pair him with an all-star PG and a super athletic supporting cast.

If we tank this year and get the #2 pick, was that a successful tank or unsuccessful?

Yeah I think it would be successful. Getting one of the top-5 picks in this upcoming draft would be a heist especially if we keep Rondo and Green.

Something like top-5 this year to grab Randle and top-10 next year hoping Karl Towns falls to us. Of course we'd all like to have Wiggins

PS I'm in the tank! Pad your stats RONDO!

[timobusa]

I'm not sure it's fair -- or consistent with our rules -- to tell others they need a "reality check" in this circumstance.

I think a lot of (purportedly) neutral observers are pretty down on the Celtics.  ESPN's survey had us ranked, what, 12th in the East?  Their "insiders" projected us to tank 28th on offense and 30th on defense.

That's perhaps too pessimistic, but I think it's also overly optimistic to think that this team is automatically a playoff team.  We have a mismatched roster, a rookie coach, our only healthy starter that is above-average is Jeff Green (who doesn't have a long track record of playing at a high level), and our best player could miss some time recovering from a serious injury.

Being ranked 30th in defense does not sit well with me.

We've got Rondo, Bradley, and Green, all three are above average on defense. All are gonna be starters next season. Bradley being arguably the best defensive guard.

Gerald Wallace is also an above average defender.

Courtney Lee is a great defender.

Keith Bogans has received praises from Thibs, saying "If he's guarding you, you know he's guarding you. He's going to make you work. He's a physical player."

Jared Sullinger at one point last season had the best plus minus even better than KG.

Brandon Bass has proven he can guard Lebron and Carmelo.

So the media can say all they want about the teams offensive struggles, but I don't think this team will be a slouch on defense.

Just my 2 cents.

[LatterDayCelticsfan]

Hmmm, if we are too good to miss the playoffs and too young (let me emphasize young) to go deep, then we are pretty much where Indiana were in 2011. Look how much more progress they have made without a lottery trade or blockbuster trade. I would take that without hesitation!

[Galeto]

I really don't understand the idea that Bass is a proven defender against Lebron and Melo.  When he guarded Lebron in game 6 in 2012 after Pierce got into foul trouble, he looked okay, meaning, he wasn't as awful as expected. When Doc went back to Bass in game 7 against Lebron, he got roasted like expected.  There is no way Bass is a competent defender against Lebron.  He's spent about 15 minutes of game time at most defending Lebron the past two seasons.  Lebron is the most unguardable player in the game and somehow Bass is an effective defender against him?  Yes, that's as absurd as it sounds.

Regarding Melo, the only success Bass had defending Melo was I think in game 6.  All the games before then, he had had little sucess. But about that "success" in game 6.  It wasn't anything Bass did.  Melo sabotaged himself by pulling up for long jumpers even after he had beaten Bass off the dribble.  This is sometimes the conundrum of Melo and his bad shot selection.  After a few clanks and I suppose some talking to by coaches, he stopped pulling up for jumpers and repeatedly drove past Bass.  So no, Bass cannot defend Melo.  Again it's absurd.

Even if Bass had been outstanding in the 40 total minutes he spent defending Melo and Lebron the past two seasons, I think the terrible rebounding, poor awareness on team defense and the near total reluctance to take a charge outweighs whatever he accomplished in 40 minutes.