Part One:
1. Develop the young guys: Check
2. Let them get smacked around for 82 games: Check
3. Let them learn what it takes to win: Check
4. Assess talent - decide which young chips to keep, which to move: Check
5. Let Brad get his feet wet: Check
Part two:
1. Young guys develop well - but lose "a lot": Check
2. This lands us with a top five lottery pick: Check
3. We take one shot at a franchise changing player with this one down season: Check
4. Clear cap space over next 2 seasons while young guys develop: Check, Check, Check
5. Accumulate many, many draft picks: Check, Check, Check
6. Bring back a healthy Rondo late this year or next: Check
What is needed moving forward:
1. Use considerable cap space in the summer of 2015 to try and add:
A) One max player at a position of need
B) One or two solid Vets
I believe that with a little luck and a couple moves we could be back in legitimate ECF contention by the end of the 2015/2016 season.
Surprises so far this season, given our roster:
1. We've actually been more competitive game to game than I expected.
2. The team plays an aggressive, physical style on both ends of the court.
3. I've seen improvements on the boards in the last two games - not getting out rebounded as badly. Impressive given our lack of big players and/or inexperience. Both Detroit and Memphis are big bruising teams on the boards and we held our own.
4. That we're ranked 18th in the league defensively. Very surprised at this - again - given our roster and inexperience.
I think as our talent pool grows exponentially over th next two season - and it will, we are going to see a Brad Stevens team that is:
A) Very tough defensively and on the boards
B) Aggressive offensively
C) Disciplined with execution on both ends.
Let's not forget:
Having Rondo on the floor down the stretch of close games may have made the difference in 2-3 of the four games we've played so far.
What would these look like with:
A) Rondo back
B) Another max player
C) A top five lottery pick
D) A Marcin Gortat level Center _ $7-8 million...
E) another year or two of experience for Vitor, Sully, Olynyk, Pressey, Green, maybe even Brooks...?
Everything is going perfectly - great, great season so far.
Seriously.