Do we really need to tank......

[slamtheking]

we don't NEED to tank but it would get us a better pick this year.  would help if the Nets just flat out stunk for the next 5 years to expedite our rebuild process.

[wdleehi]

No.  The Celtics are not good enough to make the playoffs the way they are.  They do not have to do anything special to try and lose. 

[LooseCannon]

The Celtics are not good enough to make the playoffs the way they are.

I believe the Celtics have a chance of being an above-average defense.  If you have that, I think you usually have a shot at making the playoffs.

[D.o.s.]

who on this team could lead us to a championship?
Green is far too inconsistent.

  I'd go with the player who's led the team on deep playoff runs in the past. He'll be back soon enough.

Just like Chris Paul lead the Hornets or Clippers to a title? I mean, that KG guy and Paul Pierce really didn't have much to do with it.

  Sorry, I missed Chris Paul leading the Hornets or Clippers to a title. And, yes, KG and PP had something to do with the Celts getting to the finals and the ECF. Just like players like Wade and Bosh had something to do with the Heat winning the last 2 titles, although I doubt you'd protest the claim that LeBron led those teams to titles, or make some weird claim that Rose and Durant had led their teams to titles.

  "led a team to a deep playoff run" doesn't mean "single-handedly led the team" or "was the only player on the team who made any kind of positive contribution". Except in the case of Rondo, where claiming he led a team anywhere is like waiving a red cape in front of a bull.

This year marks the first year that Rondo's the undisputed best player on the team. Any "leading" he'll do happens from here on out, based on the common use of the term "lead."

etc.

so on. so forth.

That's why you can say that Durant or Rose lead their teams and why Rondo's case is a little trickier to make.

  Rondo's been the best player on the Celts for years. And, again, it's a trickier case because of the different standards for Rondo. How far did Durant lead the Thunder when Westbrook was injured? Was anyone besides me watching the Celts beating the Heat in 2012 before Bosh came back? The bulk of the people who will tell you that Rondo needing KG or PP to win shows that he wasn't leading the team will take the opposite stance with the players I mentioned above. That's what makes it tricky.

Again, we'll see how far Rondo can lead the Celtics once he's playing without Pierce and KG. He hasn't played without them yet (losing KG to injury in '09 is one small sample, although if you're comfortable talking about Durant without Westbrook you could certainly talk about RR + Pierce without KG), so it's an unknown, not a different set of standards.

[thirstyboots18]

I am only going to say this once, then I will stop bothering this thread.  It is NOT a player who takes you to the Finals.  It is a TEAM that takes you to the finals.

A player may Get the credit, but it is the team that Deserves the credit.  And that is my honest opinion.

[BballTim]

who on this team could lead us to a championship?
Green is far too inconsistent.

  I'd go with the player who's led the team on deep playoff runs in the past. He'll be back soon enough.

Just like Chris Paul lead the Hornets or Clippers to a title? I mean, that KG guy and Paul Pierce really didn't have much to do with it.

  Sorry, I missed Chris Paul leading the Hornets or Clippers to a title. And, yes, KG and PP had something to do with the Celts getting to the finals and the ECF. Just like players like Wade and Bosh had something to do with the Heat winning the last 2 titles, although I doubt you'd protest the claim that LeBron led those teams to titles, or make some weird claim that Rose and Durant had led their teams to titles.

  "led a team to a deep playoff run" doesn't mean "single-handedly led the team" or "was the only player on the team who made any kind of positive contribution". Except in the case of Rondo, where claiming he led a team anywhere is like waiving a red cape in front of a bull.

This year marks the first year that Rondo's the undisputed best player on the team. Any "leading" he'll do happens from here on out, based on the common use of the term "lead."

etc.

so on. so forth.

That's why you can say that Durant or Rose lead their teams and why Rondo's case is a little trickier to make.

  Rondo's been the best player on the Celts for years. And, again, it's a trickier case because of the different standards for Rondo. How far did Durant lead the Thunder when Westbrook was injured? Was anyone besides me watching the Celts beating the Heat in 2012 before Bosh came back? The bulk of the people who will tell you that Rondo needing KG or PP to win shows that he wasn't leading the team will take the opposite stance with the players I mentioned above. That's what makes it tricky.

Again, we'll see how far Rondo can lead the Celtics once he's playing without Pierce and KG. He hasn't played without them yet (losing KG to injury in '09 is one small sample, although if you're comfortable talking about Durant without Westbrook you could certainly talk about RR + Pierce without KG), so it's an unknown, not a different set of standards.

  The 09 team played pretty well without KG, winning roughly 2/3 of their games and coming close to the conference finals. If that's the standard for teams who don't have a big man rotation any better than Perk/Baby/Scal then fine. Let others beat that. As for the current team, we'll see how far Rondo can lead them and then I'm sure you'll list off plenty of players who would have no trouble contending with no teammates better than Green, only one teammate better than Bass and no players with nba experience taller than Jeff Green.

  Pick almost any team in the league led by pretty much any player, take off the 2nd and 3rd best player (PP and KG this year) without replacing them with anyone better than Wallace and Humphries and then show me that team would be a powerhouse. Then decide whether that lack of success with bad teammates means those other stars aren't capable of leading good teams, or else try and figure out why it means that for Rondo and nobody else.

[celtics2]

No! It's going to take 3-5 years to acquire/develop a top team. We need to work on what we have now and weed out keepers. With the exception of a couple good years of being competitive Management has failed us in the long run.  Other than the owner I don't have much faith in them.

[kozlodoev]

I am only going to say this once, then I will stop bothering this thread.  It is NOT a player who takes you to the Finals.  It is a TEAM that takes you to the finals.

A player may Get the credit, but it is the team that Deserves the credit.  And that is my honest opinion.

A team with talent is what takes you to the finals. Talent without team and team without talent don't.

[DesertDweller]

Wouldn't it be a surprise to everyone if you were staring at the future Celtics on the court right now???
It wouldn't surprise me because Stevens was brought in to build a TEAM not to play nursemaid to a pair of overstuffed egos!!!
this year everything hinges on when and how Rondo comes back and he will not be coming back cold either. remember, Rondo is on that sideline every game, not just watching the game, but fully enveloped in plays and everything else that's going on.  the only thing these guys will have to adjust to, is how fast Rondo is and how unexpectantly they will be getting the ball.
If the team believes why can't you guys???