Could not be more proud of this team

[nickagneta]

Given the ferocity of part of the fan base under the assumption that tanking is a win only scenario and that the sports media in general proclaimed the Celtics were tanking this season came this:

Ainge of fans of tanking:“They’re [fans] not paying attention. They’re not watching all the games. They’re not watching all the exhibition games and they’re not at practice. That certainly is not the case. Anybody that’s informed that sees what goes on day-to-day would not make those conclusions.”

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2013/11/07/ainge-fans-not-paying-attention-if-you-think-were-tanking/

Brad Stevens on fans who want the Celtics to tank: "I don’t think they’ll like me all that much then."

http://www.celticslife.com/2013/07/brad-stevens-isnt-into-tanking-intent.html

Jared Sullinger: "We just want to win and show everybody that they can kiss our butts about that tanking stuff....Lot of guys expect us to just like tank for Parker or Wiggins. Y’all might as well throw that out the door."

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1873308-jared-sullinger-everybody-can-kiss-our-butts-about-that-tanking-stuff

They haven't tanked. They have developed. Bradley is in his natural SG position and has played lights out since the second week of the season whn the PG experiment was put to rest. Crawford has been developed into a serviceable PG and probably a deadly off the bench combo guard. Sully has been developed into maybe the most versatile two way player on the team. Green and Bass and Lee and Wallace and Humphries are doing what seasoned vets do, adding positively to the team and helping out the youth.Faverani may be the biggest rookie surprise in the league and looks to have along career out in front of him. And in a month, they get the BEST FLOOR GENERAL in the game back to add to the mix.

There's been no tanking.

They are doing it the right way and will rely on the Nets picks to be lottery picks(now and in the future). The Celtics don't need to tank, they needed a change of coaching philosophy, an increase in pace, a commitment to offensive rebounding, and the use of young athletic talent.

I can see a contender in 3-4 year but also a regular playoff visitor in that time, and if people think that is stuck in NBA mediocrity, well I don't. That playoff seasoning this young team get will make them stronger physically and mentally and will pay dividends in a few year

So step away from that open window tank fans, its going to be alright. The Celtics will return to prominence, they will just do it going a different route. One the just might get them there faster.

And btw, maybe, just maybe, when to a person, everyone in an organization tells you they aren't tanking, maybe, just maybe YOU SHOULD BELIEVE THEM and not boo them when they win!!!!!

[Evantime34]

Completely agree.

I do think that they will trade some veterans for cap space/players with potential before the deadline. I would be shocked if they used any picks to get better now.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

Completely agree.

I do think that they will trade some veterans for cap space/players with potential before the deadline. I would be shocked if they used any picks to get better now.

I'm fine with the plethora of ways there will be available for DA to make us better. Trading future picks and players for a top pick now, get a free agent later etc. I am really happy with stevens. coaching style is like night and day compared to doc. You think doc would have gotten what stevens has out of this motley crue? playing his style with terrible rotations, no offensive rebounding and way too many jumpers?heck no. i like the fact our bigs are learning to shoot threes at times to open up the floor for more points in the paint for our dribble drivers and cutters. 

[nickagneta]

Completely agree.

I do think that they will trade some veterans for cap space/players with potential before the deadline. I would be shocked if they used any picks to get better now.

I'm fine with the plethora of ways there will be available for DA to make us better. Trading future picks and players for a top pick now, get a free agent later etc. I am really happy with stevens. coaching style is like night and day compared to doc. You think doc would have gotten what stevens has out of this motley crue? playing his style with terrible rotations, no offensive rebounding and way too many jumpers?heck no. i like the fact our bigs are learning to shoot threes at times to open up the floor for more points in the paint for our dribble drivers and cutters.

I think Doc and excellent coach.I find him to be amongst the best coaches in the game. But he wasn't the right coach for this team and it appears Stevens is. Likewise whereas Doc could not get the most out of this team, there was no way Stevens(if he was the same age then as he is now)would have gotten the players for 2008-2012 to do what Doc got them to do.

I don't think that reflects poorly on either coach, just shows they are strongest with certain circumstances in place on their teams.

[LooseCannon]

Completely agree.

I do think that they will trade some veterans for cap space/players with potential before the deadline. I would be shocked if they used any picks to get better now.

I'm fine with the plethora of ways there will be available for DA to make us better. Trading future picks and players for a top pick now, get a free agent later etc. I am really happy with stevens. coaching style is like night and day compared to doc. You think doc would have gotten what stevens has out of this motley crue? playing his style with terrible rotations, no offensive rebounding and way too many jumpers?heck no. i like the fact our bigs are learning to shoot threes at times to open up the floor for more points in the paint for our dribble drivers and cutters.

I think Doc and excellent coach.I find him to be amongst the best coaches in the game. But he wasn't the right coach for this team and it appears Stevens is. Likewise whereas Doc could not get the most out of this team, there was no way Stevens(if he was the same age then as he is now)would have gotten the players for 2008-2012 to do what Doc got them to do.

I don't think that reflects poorly on either coach, just shows they are strongest with certain circumstances in place on their teams.

Does that mean that rebuilding with Stevens at the helm means going for less of a star-oriented roster and more of an ensemble cast?

[Jailan34]

Given the ferocity of part of the fan base under the assumption that tanking is a win only scenario and that the sports media in general proclaimed the Celtics were tanking this season came this:

Ainge of fans of tanking:“They’re [fans] not paying attention. They’re not watching all the games. They’re not watching all the exhibition games and they’re not at practice. That certainly is not the case. Anybody that’s informed that sees what goes on day-to-day would not make those conclusions.”

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2013/11/07/ainge-fans-not-paying-attention-if-you-think-were-tanking/

Brad Stevens on fans who want the Celtics to tank: "I don’t think they’ll like me all that much then."

http://www.celticslife.com/2013/07/brad-stevens-isnt-into-tanking-intent.html

Jared Sullinger: "We just want to win and show everybody that they can kiss our butts about that tanking stuff....Lot of guys expect us to just like tank for Parker or Wiggins. Y’all might as well throw that out the door."

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1873308-jared-sullinger-everybody-can-kiss-our-butts-about-that-tanking-stuff

They haven't tanked. They have developed. Bradley is in his natural SG position and has played lights out since the second week of the season whn the PG experiment was put to rest. Crawford has been developed into a serviceable PG and probably a deadly off the bench combo guard. Sully has been developed into maybe the most versatile two way player on the team. Green and Bass and Lee and Wallace and Humphries are doing what seasoned vets do, adding positively to the team and helping out the youth.Faverani may be the biggest rookie surprise in the league and looks to have along career out in front of him. And in a month, they get the BEST FLOOR GENERAL in the game back to add to the mix.

There's been no tanking.

They are doing it the right way and will rely on the Nets picks to be lottery picks(now and in the future). The Celtics don't need to tank, they needed a change of coaching philosophy, an increase in pace, a commitment to offensive rebounding, and the use of young athletic talent.

I can see a contender in 3-4 year but also a regular playoff visitor in that time, and if people think that is stuck in NBA mediocrity, well I don't. That playoff seasoning this young team get will make them stronger physically and mentally and will pay dividends in a few year

So step away from that open window tank fans, its going to be alright. The Celtics will return to prominence, they will just do it going a different route. One the just might get them there faster.

And btw, maybe, just maybe, when to a person, everyone in an organization tells you they aren't tanking, maybe, just maybe YOU SHOULD BELIEVE THEM and not boo them when they win!!!!!

That's all great man, but it comes down to the fact that the NBA is a superstar driven league, you don't have a chance to win unless you have. Every team has had one that won, wheres ours? It won't be through agency, never has happened in the history of the team. We also don't currently have the assets to trade for one. Many tankers, myself included, decided the draft was the best way to get one, and in a year where there looks to be three of them.

I don't want to be just another playoff team, I miss the finals and the guys on this team currently aren't going to take us there.

[nickagneta]

Completely agree.

I do think that they will trade some veterans for cap space/players with potential before the deadline. I would be shocked if they used any picks to get better now.

I'm fine with the plethora of ways there will be available for DA to make us better. Trading future picks and players for a top pick now, get a free agent later etc. I am really happy with stevens. coaching style is like night and day compared to doc. You think doc would have gotten what stevens has out of this motley crue? playing his style with terrible rotations, no offensive rebounding and way too many jumpers?heck no. i like the fact our bigs are learning to shoot threes at times to open up the floor for more points in the paint for our dribble drivers and cutters.

I think Doc and excellent coach.I find him to be amongst the best coaches in the game. But he wasn't the right coach for this team and it appears Stevens is. Likewise whereas Doc could not get the most out of this team, there was no way Stevens(if he was the same age then as he is now)would have gotten the players for 2008-2012 to do what Doc got them to do.

I don't think that reflects poorly on either coach, just shows they are strongest with certain circumstances in place on their teams.

Does that mean that rebuilding with Stevens at the helm means going for less of a star-oriented roster and more of an ensemble cast?

It means that currently Stevens is developing an ensemble cast. If a couple of those players or players yet to get here develop into stars, he will have familiarity with them and so he would be coaching stars that he knew before they were stars. Different dynamic.

But if you brought Stevens in to coach Carmelo, Chris Paul, and LaMarcus Aldridge, I think to start, he would struggle.

[jc3celticsphan]

Completely agree.

I do think that they will trade some veterans for cap space/players with potential before the deadline. I would be shocked if they used any picks to get better now.

I'm fine with the plethora of ways there will be available for DA to make us better. Trading future picks and players for a top pick now, get a free agent later etc. I am really happy with stevens. coaching style is like night and day compared to doc. You think doc would have gotten what stevens has out of this motley crue? playing his style with terrible rotations, no offensive rebounding and way too many jumpers?heck no. i like the fact our bigs are learning to shoot threes at times to open up the floor for more points in the paint for our dribble drivers and cutters.

I think Doc and excellent coach.I find him to be amongst the best coaches in the game. But he wasn't the right coach for this team and it appears Stevens is. Likewise whereas Doc could not get the most out of this team, there was no way Stevens(if he was the same age then as he is now)would have gotten the players for 2008-2012 to do what Doc got them to do.

I don't think that reflects poorly on either coach, just shows they are strongest with certain circumstances in place on their teams.

Does that mean that rebuilding with Stevens at the helm means going for less of a star-oriented roster and more of an ensemble cast?

I think so its realy all we have right now. but that should work great once rondo is back we will suprise alot of people. we realy need one reliable player like this and hopefully that can be rondo

[nickagneta]

Given the ferocity of part of the fan base under the assumption that tanking is a win only scenario and that the sports media in general proclaimed the Celtics were tanking this season came this:

Ainge of fans of tanking:“They’re [fans] not paying attention. They’re not watching all the games. They’re not watching all the exhibition games and they’re not at practice. That certainly is not the case. Anybody that’s informed that sees what goes on day-to-day would not make those conclusions.”

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2013/11/07/ainge-fans-not-paying-attention-if-you-think-were-tanking/

Brad Stevens on fans who want the Celtics to tank: "I don’t think they’ll like me all that much then."

http://www.celticslife.com/2013/07/brad-stevens-isnt-into-tanking-intent.html

Jared Sullinger: "We just want to win and show everybody that they can kiss our butts about that tanking stuff....Lot of guys expect us to just like tank for Parker or Wiggins. Y’all might as well throw that out the door."

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1873308-jared-sullinger-everybody-can-kiss-our-butts-about-that-tanking-stuff

They haven't tanked. They have developed. Bradley is in his natural SG position and has played lights out since the second week of the season whn the PG experiment was put to rest. Crawford has been developed into a serviceable PG and probably a deadly off the bench combo guard. Sully has been developed into maybe the most versatile two way player on the team. Green and Bass and Lee and Wallace and Humphries are doing what seasoned vets do, adding positively to the team and helping out the youth.Faverani may be the biggest rookie surprise in the league and looks to have along career out in front of him. And in a month, they get the BEST FLOOR GENERAL in the game back to add to the mix.

There's been no tanking.

They are doing it the right way and will rely on the Nets picks to be lottery picks(now and in the future). The Celtics don't need to tank, they needed a change of coaching philosophy, an increase in pace, a commitment to offensive rebounding, and the use of young athletic talent.

I can see a contender in 3-4 year but also a regular playoff visitor in that time, and if people think that is stuck in NBA mediocrity, well I don't. That playoff seasoning this young team get will make them stronger physically and mentally and will pay dividends in a few year

So step away from that open window tank fans, its going to be alright. The Celtics will return to prominence, they will just do it going a different route. One the just might get them there faster.

And btw, maybe, just maybe, when to a person, everyone in an organization tells you they aren't tanking, maybe, just maybe YOU SHOULD BELIEVE THEM and not boo them when they win!!!!!

That's all great man, but it comes down to the fact that the NBA is a superstar driven league, you don't have a chance to win unless you have. Every team has had one that won, wheres ours? It won't be through agency, never has happened in the history of the team. We also don't currently have the assets to trade for one. Many tankers, myself included, decided the draft was the best way to get one, and in a year where there looks to be three of them.

I don't want to be just another playoff team, I miss the finals and the guys on this team currently aren't going to take us there.

Did you know that there will be a kid available in the 2018 draft that portrays out to be the next Tracy McGrady. We have the Nets pick that year. Or that there is a kid in 2017 that projects to be the next KG. We can switch picks with Brooklyn that year. What about the 2016 prospects, know anything about them?

Here's another tough question, until the 2018 draft when all our picks from Brooklyn will be in, how many playoff games do you expect Randle, Parker, Wiggins and Smart to be in. If they are in more than 7 total combined amongst them, I would be shocked.

Meanwhile we will be developing and drafting young stars and instantly be giving them playoff experience as well as turning the current group into a playoff hardened group of talented young vets.

I like this route best of all. Hence, my unbridled pride in this team and organization and what they are doing.

[jc3celticsphan]

Given the ferocity of part of the fan base under the assumption that tanking is a win only scenario and that the sports media in general proclaimed the Celtics were tanking this season came this:

Ainge of fans of tanking:“They’re [fans] not paying attention. They’re not watching all the games. They’re not watching all the exhibition games and they’re not at practice. That certainly is not the case. Anybody that’s informed that sees what goes on day-to-day would not make those conclusions.”

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2013/11/07/ainge-fans-not-paying-attention-if-you-think-were-tanking/

Brad Stevens on fans who want the Celtics to tank: "I don’t think they’ll like me all that much then."

http://www.celticslife.com/2013/07/brad-stevens-isnt-into-tanking-intent.html

Jared Sullinger: "We just want to win and show everybody that they can kiss our butts about that tanking stuff....Lot of guys expect us to just like tank for Parker or Wiggins. Y’all might as well throw that out the door."

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1873308-jared-sullinger-everybody-can-kiss-our-butts-about-that-tanking-stuff

They haven't tanked. They have developed. Bradley is in his natural SG position and has played lights out since the second week of the season whn the PG experiment was put to rest. Crawford has been developed into a serviceable PG and probably a deadly off the bench combo guard. Sully has been developed into maybe the most versatile two way player on the team. Green and Bass and Lee and Wallace and Humphries are doing what seasoned vets do, adding positively to the team and helping out the youth.Faverani may be the biggest rookie surprise in the league and looks to have along career out in front of him. And in a month, they get the BEST FLOOR GENERAL in the game back to add to the mix.

There's been no tanking.

They are doing it the right way and will rely on the Nets picks to be lottery picks(now and in the future). The Celtics don't need to tank, they needed a change of coaching philosophy, an increase in pace, a commitment to offensive rebounding, and the use of young athletic talent.

I can see a contender in 3-4 year but also a regular playoff visitor in that time, and if people think that is stuck in NBA mediocrity, well I don't. That playoff seasoning this young team get will make them stronger physically and mentally and will pay dividends in a few year

So step away from that open window tank fans, its going to be alright. The Celtics will return to prominence, they will just do it going a different route. One the just might get them there faster.

And btw, maybe, just maybe, when to a person, everyone in an organization tells you they aren't tanking, maybe, just maybe YOU SHOULD BELIEVE THEM and not boo them when they win!!!!!

That's all great man, but it comes down to the fact that the NBA is a superstar driven league, you don't have a chance to win unless you have. Every team has had one that won, wheres ours? It won't be through agency, never has happened in the history of the team. We also don't currently have the assets to trade for one. Many tankers, myself included, decided the draft was the best way to get one, and in a year where there looks to be three of them.

I don't want to be just another playoff team, I miss the finals and the guys on this team currently aren't going to take us there.

danny will have so much value on this team to trade for anyone in a few years. good players are picked in the 10-14 range
especially next years draft and we have 2 picks.

pistons won a championship in 2004 no real superstars there and they were contenders every year we already have a better pg then they did

so there is some success there but we have ALOT of talent on this team and brad is making it happen we havnt even seen what brooks is capable of

[SHAQATTACK]

There is no tanking on behalf of the players ...that's for certain......even Hump,  Steez, and Wallace are playing as if we're a title bound team.......I'm enjoying watching ., they seem motivated and happy now to be in Boston.

If they wind up as a lotto pick team ,  well so be it, coach and players aren't quitting .

Right now only Danny controls a tank......by depleting the team of more talent .

So we'll see,  will Danny. Trade Bass and Hump and Wallace for draft picks ,  higher picks ....

Just have to,wait and see.

[PhoSita]

This team has shown some fight.  I like some of the players on this team.

That said, I really think the better than expected record has more to do with how weak the league is outside of the top 8-10 teams.  A team has to be truly, truly terrible through the first part of this season in order to "tank."

[Redz]

This team has shown some fight.  I like some of the players on this team.

That said, I really think the better than expected record has more to do with how weak the league is outside of the top 8-10 teams.  A team has to be truly, truly terrible through the first part of this season in order to "tank."

They'll have the Atlantic Division wrapped up by the All Star break at this point 

[j804]

I agree these guys are leaving it all out there. I too am impressed with Bradley mostly his improved stroke, I think Ron Adams is a big part of that he was a great hire beside Brad. Brad has been awesome everything and then some. He's putting guys in position to score due to their strengths, giving them confidence, and notice we actually exploit mismatches. We have young guys we need to develop along with the culture of winning if you think purposely throwing away games is best for them and the way to go then you don't get it.

[Celtics18]

This team has shown some fight.  I like some of the players on this team.

That said, I really think the better than expected record has more to do with how weak the league is outside of the top 8-10 teams.  A team has to be truly, truly terrible through the first part of this season in order to "tank."

That's one way to look at it.  I must point at, though, that during the off-season, and the early part of the season, many of you were absolutely convinced that our Celtics couldn't possibly be anything but one of the five worst teams in the league.

At the time, some of us (me) tried to point out that one of the primary reasons for thinking this team could compete for a playoff berth was exactly because there were a lot of other teams in the league that didn't look like they'd be particularly imposing as challengers by comparison to the Celtics. 

Of course, I was mostly derided, scoffed at, or just completely ignored for suggesting such anti-Wiggins or Parker heresy. 

Now that the Celtics look like they may be in a better position relative to everybody else than most of you thought was possible, it turns out that no one could have foreseen that this team may be able to compete for a playoff berth?

The truth is that those of us (me) who were paying a little attention could have foreseen it . . . and did.